For example, there are both corded and cordless lawn mowers, and electric and petrol-powered lawn mowers.
However, the type of lawn mower that everyone is talking about right now is the stand on mower.
Stand on mowers have become increasingly popular over the last few years, with many gardeners choosing to switch to this type of mower for convenience purposes.
With the rise in the stand on mower’s popularity, more and more models have come onto the market, making it difficult to separate the very best from the less high-quality machines.
For this reason, we decided to find and review the top 7 stand on mowers on the market ourselves, so you don’t have to!
Read on to find out which 7 stand on mowers are a cut above the rest, plus all the information you could ever need about this time-saving type of lawn mower.
The Benefits Of Stand On Mowers
If you’re reading this guide so far and thinking, ‘but why would I want a stand on mower?’ keep reading.
There are so many benefits to using stand on mowers over other types of lawn mowers, hence why they have become so popular.
The best way to summarise the benefits of stand on mowers is that they massively increase productivity because they allow for more grass to be cut in a shorter amount of time.
Compared to zero turn mowers, stand on mowers are faster, and they are more easily manoeuvrable, so if you have tight spaces and obstacles to navigate, a stand on mower is a great choice.
Since stand on mowers are both lighter and shorter, they are also easier to transport, which is especially important for professionals who need to take their tools and machinery with them to various locations.
You could fit up to three stand on mowers onto the same trailer that would typically only accommodate about two zero turn mowers.
Additionally, stand on mowers weigh less than other mowers, which is yet another benefit for manoeuvrability.
These mowers are also shorter, making it easier to turn quickly and efficiently without damaging the turf (unlike zero turns, which have a tendency to damage the turf by turning too fast.
Something many people don’t take into consideration when choosing a lawn mower is the time it takes to get on and off the mower.
Since stand on mowers are shorter, it takes less time to climb up, which could save you about 30 seconds for every yard mowed.
For professionals who may mow as many as 30 yards per day, that’s a total of 15 minutes saved, and over the course of a week, those 15 minutes add up to over 1.5 hours.
So, to summarise, stand on mowers are easier to manoeuvre and transport, save you time, and are less likely to damage the turf because they can turn faster without tearing up the grass. These are all excellent reasons to invest in a stand on mower.
Who Should Buy A Stand On Mower?
From the list of benefits above, it might sound as though a stand on mower is the ideal choice for anyone who needs to mow their lawn.
However, while there are a few reasons why the average person might want to get a stand on mower for their yard, the main demographic for stand on mowers are landscaping and lawn care professionals.
Stand on mowers can be used to maintain residential properties, but they are also suitable for commercial properties since these tend to have more obstacles and tight spaces to get through, and stand on mowers are good at manoeuvring through difficult spaces (Also check out the Best Commercial Hedge Trimmers).
If you are someone who will be making a lot of zero turns while mowing lawns, you should consider a stand on mower since the turns are quicker and much less likely to cause damage to the turf.
If you’re considering getting a stand on lawn mower, you shouldn’t rule out the idea just because you’re not a lawn care professional. This kind of decision needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Many people are initially put off the idea of buying a stand on mower because they would prefer to sit down rather than stand all day.
However, we would strongly caution against letting this put you off because standing is good for your health, and if your lawn mower should run into or over anything, the shock absorption will be better if you’re standing.
In our opinion, the Scag V-Ride II is definitely one of the best stand on mowers on the market, if not the best overall.
Something that sets the Scag V-Ride II apart from competitor lawn mowers is the quality of the cut it produces.
You’ll get impeccable stripes from this lawn mower, so if you want your lawn to look amazing, this is the mower you should get.
There are a couple of minor flaws in the design of the Scag V-Ride II, admittedly.
For one thing, the pad designed for the user to lean on isn’t very comfortable, which somewhat defeats the purpose of having a cushion in the first place. We wish it were more padded and made from higher-quality materials.
Additionally, the gas tank on the right of the mower can cause it to become unbalanced if you’re using it on very uneven or steep terrain, such as hills.
With all of that being said, one of the things that impressed us most about the V-Ride II is the fact that it’s such a huge step up from the V-Ride (the original model).
The platform is larger, the controls are smoother, it’s much faster, and overall, this is an excellent mower that’s well worth the money.
The Z2 and Z3X from Ferris are very similar lawn mowers, and both of them are stand on models. These are some of the best stand on lawn mowers on the market right now for a few reasons.
The standing platform on both the Z3X and the Z2 are sturdy and absorb shock really well, so you’ll be in for a smooth and comfortable ride with either of these machines.
Additionally, they both have a PTO feature with two positions and a platform sensor. This means that the blades stop working when you get off the mower, but the mower itself won’t shut off.
This will save you a lot of time because you won’t need to pull the parking brake - all you need to do is turn off the PTO before dismounting.
Both the Ferriz Z2 and the Ferriz Z3X are fast-moving and compact, meaning that they’re easy to manoeuvre and will allow you to cover more ground in a shorter space of time.
If you really want a fast ride, go for the Z3X, which travels at an impressive 12 miles per hour!
Where the Z3X differs from the Z2 is that it’s the only model on the market currently with a Vanguard Oil Guard engine, which is much more efficient for oil changes and ensures better longevity for your engine overall.
We couldn’t write an article about the best stand on mowers on the market without talking about the Toro Grandstand!
Toro’s Grandstand stand on lawn mower model is a great mower that cuts to a high standard and is easy to maintain, which is an area in which many of its competitors fall short.
While we did notice some issues with the design, such as the uneven weight distribution from the platform and the lack of mud flaps, some of these minor defects can be corrected with some accessories.
For instance, if you put weights on the front of the mower, it shouldn’t get thrown off balance when you use it on hills since the central gas tank ensures a low and balanced centre of gravity.
Another pair of stand on lawn mowers we recommend are the Wright ZK and the Wright X, which are similar enough to be covered in a single mention, but also have their own unique features.
For many people, the Wright ZK is the original stand on mower because Wright was the first company to release a stand on lawn mower.
Since releasing the first model (the Wright ZK), Wright has maintained its high standards and released more stand on lawn mowers, all of great quality.
The Wright ZK is best compared to the Ferris Z3X due to its large size and features. Despite being large for a stand on mower, it’s still compact and moves quickly for maximum efficiency.
With that being said, the controls on the Wright ZK are a little less intuitive than the Ferris controls. You’ll eventually get used to it and it won’t be a problem, but it’s worth being aware that there might be an adjustment process at first.
Something else that caused us not to put the Wright stand on mowers at the top of the list is the fact that the engines and decks on these machines are connected.
This might not seem to be an issue initially, but the problem is that when you lower your mower’s deck, the engine has to go down, too, so there’s more weight to raise and lower every time.
These two minor issues aside, the Wright stand on mowers are excellent quality and highly functional, and if you’re not currently using a stand on mower, one of these will definitely improve your lawn care routine.
We have been very impressed with the quality and performance of the Exmark Vertex stand on mower, so if you’re looking for an affordable and reliable mower to make your lawn care tasks easier, consider investing in this model.
This is one of the more recent stand on mower models, having been released in 2021. The earlier model from Exmark was the Staris, and this wasn’t very well received for a number of reasons, but the Vertex is a huge improvement.
Just some of the ways in which the Exmark Vertex is superior to the Staris include the controls, which are similar to those found on the stand on mowers made by Wright.
In fact, the Vertex is very similar to the Wright stand on models, so some people might consider it to be an unoriginal design, but at least you know the features and functions are solid.
The Gravely Pro-Stance is a good and fairly affordable stand on lawn mower. It’s not the best on our list, hence why it comes in at number 6, but it’s a good investment for lawn care all the same.
Compared to some of the other stand on mowers we’ve discussed today, this model isn’t as compact. It’s quite long (although the foldable platform helps to make it more transportable) and this means that it can’t make zero turns as quickly.
On the other hand, though, the added length means you shouldn’t have too many balance issues on hilly terrain, especially given the added stability offered by the centered gas tank.
We have to say, we absolutely love the deck adjustment feature on this mower. You can raise or lower the deck with just a simple movement of your foot, which saves a lot of time and energy compared to hand-controlled deck adjustment systems.
The cut quality offered by the Gravely Pro-Stance is fair. It might not leave the cleanest or most visually appealing stripes, but your lawn will still look neat and well-maintained.
The final stand on mower we’d like to talk about today is the Cub Cadet Pro X. Cub Cadet is one of the best brands for US-made lawn mowers, and its stand on mowers are especially good quality.
Best of all, though, is the Pro X.
This model was released 3 years ago in 2019, and since then, it has sold a lot of units thanks to its mix of features reminiscent of the Ferris, Scag, and Wright stand on models.
We especially love the suspension platform on this lawn mower, and unlike some other mowers, the thigh pad on this one is comfortable. The deck lift assist is also really convenient.
Unfortunately, the cut quality provided by the Cub Cadet Pro X is what stops it from ranking higher on our list.
It’s not bad by any means, but there are certainly superior models out there if you want some really good looking stripes on your lawn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Most Affordable Stand On Mower?
There are some really fancy stand on mowers on the market right now, but most of us can’t afford to drop a huge sum of money on a lawn mower. So, if you have a budget you need to stick to, you’ll need to prioritize affordable stand on mowers.
If you want a good-quality stand on mower that’s also affordable, you should consider buying from Bradley. Bradley mowers can be purchased from dealerships or online, and considering the low price point, they are well-built.
You will have to sacrifice efficient part replacement and customer support in exchange for a low price, and the performance might not be as slick as you would expect from some of the higher-end brands, but you’ll still be getting good value for your money, so if funds are limited, Bradley is a good choice for stand on mowers.
Which Is The Best Stand On Mower For Hills?
One of the pitfalls of many stand on mowers is their ability to remain stable on hills. If you frequently mow areas of grass that slope either upwards or downwards, you’ll need a lawn mower that won’t overbalance when you try to use it on a hill.
Our recommendation for a stand on lawn mower that’s good for hills is the Ferris Z3X or, alternatively, the Wright ZK. You can find these linked above in our review section.
Both of these models are very stable due to the placement of the gas tanks and the length, so you won’t need to worry about tipping over at any point.
Where Is The Best Place To Buy Stand On Mowers?
You can buy stand on mowers from various places, both in-person and online, so there’s always a way to get your hands on a good-quality stand on mower.
If you want to buy a lawn mower in person, the ideal place to go is your local dealer. If you’re not sure who or where your local dealer is, you can simply search online with the term ‘lawn mower dealer’ followed by the name of your area.
Be sure to look at customer testimonials and reviews since you need to be able to trust the company you’re buying from when it comes to purchasing heavy and potentially dangerous machinery.
Alternatively, if you know which lawn mower you want to buy already, you can save yourself time by searching for the specific model online.
If you have your search engine set to your location, it should return search results based on nearby dealerships.
What Is The Best Stand On Mower For Navigating Gates?
Many gardens and lawns have gates, and this can be a problem when your lawn mower is large and the gate in question is small.
If you’re looking for a stand on mower that can handle small spaces like gates, we recommend either the Scag V-Ride II or the Gravely Pro Stance due to their compact builds and effortless manoeuvrability.
Final Thoughts
There are so many stand on mowers on the market right now due to the increasing popularity of this mower design, but some are definitely superior to the rest.
If you’re looking for the very best stand on mower, consider buying from brands such as Wright, Scag, Toro, Cub Cadet, Exmark, Gravely, and Ferris. For a more budget-friendly option, consider Bradley stand on mowers.
When choosing a stand on mower, prioritise compact designs with easy adjustment features and high-quality cut performance. This way, you’ll get excellent results in less time with minimal stress and effort.
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