12in 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower Manual Lawn Mower, Walk-Behind Lawn Mower with 6 Gallons Grass Catcher, 0.47-1.77 inches Manual Adjustable Cutting Height, for a Green Healthy Lawn (Green, 12in) Review

By the Mowers.Cloud editorial team · How we research & rate · Updated June 2026

★★★★ 4/5 (5 reviews)
$89.99
Brand: Walk-Behind
12in 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower Manual Lawn Mower, Walk-Behind Lawn Mower with 6 Gallons Grass Catcher, 0.47-1.77 inches Manual Adjustable Cutting Height, for a Green Healthy Lawn (Green, 12in)
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Overview

The Walk-Behind 12in 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower is a compact, manual reel mower designed for small lawns, tight spaces, and eco-conscious homeowners who want a clean, scissor-like cut without gas, oil, or extension cords. At $89.99, it’s an affordable entry point for anyone with a quarter-acre or less who values a quiet, low-maintenance mowing experience—especially if you’re tired of wrestling with a trimmer around flower beds and fence lines.

Who Should Buy This

1. Small-lot homeowners (under 1/4 acre) – If your lawn is more postage stamp than pasture, this 12-inch cutting width is plenty. It’s ideal for tiny front yards, narrow side strips, or urban patches where a full-size mower feels like overkill.

2. Eco-conscious mowers who hate gas cans – No fumes, no spillage, no engine maintenance. This reel mower is 100% human-powered, so your carbon footprint is literally just your footsteps. Perfect for anyone who wants a green lawn without the green guilt.

3. Homeowners with delicate or low-growing grass – The 5-blade reel gives a clean scissor cut that’s gentler on fine fescues, Bermuda, and Zoysia than a gas rotary mower. If you’re maintaining a golf-green-style lawn, this is your tool.

4. Budget-minded buyers who want a backup mower – At under $90, it’s cheap enough to keep as a spare for quick touch-ups, or for the kid who wants to earn allowance without waking the neighbors.

Key Features Breakdown

12-inch cutting width – This is a narrow mower. That’s a pro for tight spaces (think garden paths, around raised beds, or between shrubs) but a con for open lawns. Expect more passes to cover ground.

5-blade reel – More blades mean a finer cut per rotation. The 5-blade design creates a smoother, more precise finish than cheaper 3-blade models. It’s especially good for low-growing grass where you want a carpet-like look.

6-gallon grass catcher – This is a removable rear bag that clips onto the mower. Six gallons is modest—expect to empty it every 200–300 square feet of dense grass. It works fine for light clipping collection, but wet or tall grass will clog it quickly.

Manual adjustable cutting height (0.47–1.77 inches) – Adjustment is done by moving a lever or bolt on each wheel (check the manual—some models use a pin system). The range covers very short cuts (ideal for Bermuda at 0.5 inches) up to a moderate height (good for fescue at 1.5–1.75 inches). No tool-free dial here, but it’s simple once you set it.

Walk-behind manual design – No motor, no battery, no cord. You push, the reel spins, blades shear against a bed knife. Lightweight (around 15–20 lbs) and easy to maneuver, but your legs do all the work. On flat ground, it’s a pleasant stroll. On hills, you’ll sweat.

Pros

  1. Absolute silence – Mow at dawn or dusk without waking anyone. The only sound is the whir of blades cutting grass. No engine drone, no exhaust.

  2. Zero maintenance – No oil changes, no spark plugs, no air filters. Just keep the blades sharp (a simple file job every season) and lubricate the bearings occasionally.

  3. Safer than powered mowers – No spinning blades that can throw rocks or debris. The reel turns at walking speed, so injuries are rare and minor (mostly pinched fingers).

  4. Lightweight and easy to store – At under 20 lbs, you can hang it on a wall hook or stash it in a closet. No gas can, no battery charger taking up shelf space.

  5. Great exercise – Pushing a reel mower for 30 minutes burns about 150 calories and works your legs, core, and arms. It’s a workout disguised as yard work.

  6. Excellent cut quality – The scissor action slices grass cleanly instead of tearing it (like a dull rotary blade does). This means less browning at the tips and a healthier lawn over time.

Cons

  1. Narrow cutting width – 12 inches is fine for tight spots but painfully slow for anything larger than a 2,000-square-foot lawn. You’ll be making 30+ passes on a typical suburban lot.

  2. Pickiness with grass height – This mower struggles with grass over 4 inches tall. If you let the lawn get shaggy, you’ll have to go over it twice—or cut it with a string trimmer first. Tall, thick grass will stall the reel.

  3. Clumping issues in wet grass – The 6-gallon catcher is small and prone to clogging with damp clippings. Dry grass is fine, but wet grass will jam the reel and leave piles on your lawn.

  4. No self-propulsion – On any incline, you’re pushing the entire weight plus the cutting resistance. Hills over 10% grade will leave you huffing. Flat lawns only, please.

Bottom Line

The Walk-Behind 12in 5-Blade Reel Mower is a niche tool that excels in its lane: small, flat, well-maintained lawns where quiet, clean, and green are the priorities. It’s not for everyone—if you have a 1/2-acre lot or let grass get away from you, you’ll hate it. But for the urban gardener, the eco-purist, or the homeowner with a tiny patch of fine fescue, this $90 mower delivers a cut quality that rivals $500 gas models. Just keep the grass short, mow dry, and accept the workout. I recommend it for anyone with under 2,500 square feet of flat lawn who values precision over speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can this mower handle St. Augustine or thick Bermuda grass?
A: It works fine on short Bermuda (under 2 inches) and thin-bladed grasses. St. Augustine’s thick, coarse runners will stall the reel and require frequent clearing. Stick to fine fescues, Kentucky bluegrass, or well-maintained Bermuda.

Q: How do I sharpen the blades?
A: Remove the reel assembly (usually two bolts), then use a flat file to lightly pass over each blade edge at the same angle. Also sharpen the stationary bed knife. A sharpening kit costs about $15 and lasts years. Do it once a season or after hitting rocks.

Q: The grass catcher fills up fast. Can I mow without it?
A: Yes. You can detach the bag and let clippings fall (mulching). But with no mulching plug or deflector, clippings will

How It Compares

Here is a head-to-head comparison of the two products you listed.

Important Note: These two items are not direct competitors. MOWER A is a manual reel lawn mower. MOWER B (the Gorilla Carts Poly Garden Dump Cart) is a utility wagon designed to be pulled by a lawn tractor or ATV—it is not a lawn mower. This comparison will be framed as a choice between a manual mower and a non-mowing cart, which is an unusual but instructive contrast.


Quick Verdict

MOWER A wins if you need to actually cut grass right now (it is the only mower here), but the Gorilla Cart wins overall for utility and value because it is a highly-rated, proven tool for hauling yard waste, while MOWER A is a niche, low-volume product with minimal user feedback.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature MOWER A (12in Reel Mower) MOWER B (Gorilla Carts Dump Cart)
Price $89.99 $129.99
Power Source Manual (human push) Manual (towed by vehicle)
Cutting Width 12 inches N/A (does not cut grass)
Self-Propelled? No No (must be pulled by a tractor/ATV)
Best Yard Size Tiny lawns (< 1,500 sq ft) N/A (used for hauling, not mowing)
Warranty Not specified (likely 90 days) Not specified (but brand reputation suggests 1 year)
User Rating 4.0 / 5 (5 reviews) 4.7 / 5 (30,488 reviews)

Where MOWER A (Walk-Behind) Wins

  1. It Actually Cuts Grass. This is the only product in this comparison that performs the primary function of lawn mowing. If your goal is to trim a small, flat lawn without gas or electricity, MOWER A is the functional choice.
  2. Quiet & Eco-Friendly Operation. As a manual reel mower, it produces zero emissions and is nearly silent. You can mow early morning or late evening without disturbing neighbors.
  3. Very Low Maintenance & Cost. No engine, no spark plugs, no oil changes, and no fuel costs. The only regular maintenance is sharpening the reel blades (every 1-2 seasons). At $89.99, it is also cheaper than any powered mower.

Where MOWER B (Gorilla Cart) Wins

  1. Overwhelming User Trust. With 30,488 reviews and a 4.7-star rating, the Gorilla Cart is a proven, reliable product. MOWER A has only 5 reviews, meaning virtually no real-world performance data exists.
  2. Massive Utility & Capacity. The Gorilla Cart can haul 600 lbs of grass clippings, soil, mulch, or firewood. MOWER A’s 6-gallon grass catcher (about 1.5 cubic feet) is tiny and fills up in minutes. The Cart’s 4 cubic foot tub and quick-release dump feature make it far more useful for yard cleanup.
  3. Versatility for Real Yard Work. MOWER A is a single-purpose tool (mowing tiny lawns). The Gorilla Cart is a multi-purpose hauler that works with any lawn tractor or ATV. It is far more valuable for anyone with a larger property who needs to move heavy or bulky loads.

Which Should You Buy?

Buy MOWER A if:

  • You have a very small, flat lawn (under 1,500 sq ft) and want the cheapest, quietest, most eco-friendly way to cut it.
  • You enjoy the manual exercise of mowing and want zero reliance on fuel or batteries.
  • You are okay with a product that has almost no user reviews and a very narrow use case (tiny lawns only).

Buy MOWER B (Gorilla Cart) if:

  • You already own a riding mower, garden tractor, or ATV and need a reliable way to haul grass clippings, dirt, or garden waste.
  • You want a highly-rated, proven product with tens of thousands of happy users—not a gamble on an unproven manual mower.
  • You need a multi-purpose yard tool that will save you time and back strain moving heavy loads (600 lb capacity), even if it does not cut grass.

Buy Neither if:

  • You need to mow a medium or large lawn. MOWER A is too small (12-inch cut) and slow. The Gorilla Cart cannot mow at all. In this case, buy a standard 20-21 inch gas or electric push mower.

Quick Verdict

There is no single winner here because these are fundamentally different tools for different jobs, but if you need to mow a small, flat lawn with no cords or batteries, Mower A wins for that specific task; otherwise, the WORX WG163 is the more versatile, powerful, and reliable choice for trimming and edging.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature Mower A (Reel Mower) Mower B (WORX WG163)
Price $89.99 $89.99
Power Source Manual (push) Cordless (20V battery)
Cutting Width 12 inches 12 inches
Self-Propelled No No (but string head pivots for edging)
Best Yard Size Under 1,000 sq. ft. (tiny lawns) Trimming/edging only (any size lawn)
Warranty Not specified (likely 1 year) 3 years (standard WORX)

Where Walk-Behind Wins

  1. Quiet, Eco-Friendly Operation – Mower A produces zero emissions and almost no noise. You can mow early morning or late evening without disturbing neighbors, and there’s no gas, oil, or battery charging to worry about. It’s the purest green option.

  2. No Ongoing Costs – No batteries to replace, no fuel to buy, no chargers to plug in. Once you buy it, the only maintenance is occasional blade sharpening (every few seasons for small lawns). The 6-gallon grass catcher is included, saving you from raking.

  3. Better for Very Small Lawns – If your “lawn” is a 10x10 patch or a narrow strip between driveways, this reel mower is actually faster than dragging out a string trimmer. The 12-inch width matches the WORX, but the reel mower cuts cleanly in one pass without needing to swing back and forth.

Where WORX Wins

  1. Versatility – Trims AND Edges – The WORX WG163 is not a lawn mower; it’s a string trimmer and edger in one. The head pivots 90 degrees for edging along sidewalks and driveways. This single tool replaces two separate tools (trimmer + edger), while Mower A only cuts grass—and only on flat ground.

  2. Proven Reliability & User Base – With 27,806 reviews and a 4.4-star average, the WORX has been tested by tens of thousands of users. It includes two 20V batteries and a charger in the box, so you can swap batteries to keep working. Mower A has only 5 reviews, making it an unknown quantity.

  3. Handles Thick Grass and Weeds – The WORX’s string head can cut through tall grass, weeds, and overgrowth that a reel mower would simply bend over or jam on. If your lawn has any uneven ground, thick patches, or weeds, the WORX will handle it. Mower A requires a perfectly manicured, flat lawn to work well.

Which Should You Buy?

Buy Mower A if: You have a tiny, flat, well-maintained lawn under 500 square feet, you want zero noise and zero emissions, and you never need to edge or trim around obstacles. This is for the person who wants a manual, meditative mowing experience and doesn’t mind pushing.

Buy Mower B (WORX) if: You already own a gas or electric mower and need a reliable trimmer/edger for cleanup, or if your lawn has any slopes, thick grass, weeds, or edges that need detailing. This is for the vast majority of homeowners—the WORX handles the jobs a mower can’t.

Buy Neither if: You need to mow a lawn larger than 1,000 square feet. Mower A is too small and slow for any real lawn, and the WORX is a trimmer, not a mower. Instead, look for a 20-inch self-propelled mower (gas or battery) for that job.

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Last updated: June 2026