Gardeners with a larger landscape or garden to upkeep are already aware of the benefit of owning a garden or bow rake; this tool can help you keep a pristine-looking garden, exercise, and enjoy the lovely colors of autumn.
Nevertheless, having just any rake is not enough because it can make gardening chores exhausting and difficult.
The bow rake is a versatile tool and can help you collect leaves and debris, work on the mulching, and pick up stones or other heavier items.
There are many options and manufacturers that offer their products on Amazon. Below, we have shared our experience with the best bow rake to help with your decision.
Choosing the right rake with the right features can guarantee long-term use of this versatile tool, and you can read about these in the review section.
Read on!
Top Pick
Fiskars PRO rake is our top pick as the next best tool in your collection. This great product features an aluminum handle and provides great durability and strength. Since the tines are made with hardened metal, you can be confident they won’t corrode or bend anytime soon.
The ergonomic design provides excellent comfort and a firm grip for better working control.
Additionally, the manufacturer offers a full lifetime guarantee, which is a great option when purchasing heavy-duty tools such as a garden rake.
Budget Pick
Furthermore, we recommend the True Temper Bow Rake as a more affordable option for those with a limited budget.
This rake has 14 steel tines, which ensure a strong and durable performance in any type of gardening task, such as loosening, spreading material, and breaking up hard soil.
Thanks to the great design and quality material used in the build of this tool, you have a solid guarantee for durability and long life.
Quick Navigation
What’s A Garden Bow Rake?
As the name implies, this type of rake has a bow-shaped head, usually made of metal, that contains tines connected to the handle. This heavy-duty tool is stronger than a regular leaf rake, which makes it great for leveling gravel.
The bow rake length can vary depending on the tasks and the user. It can be made of wood, metal, or even plastic. Regardless of the handle material, the rake’s tines should be made of metal to handle more difficult tasks.
What’s The Bow Rake Used For?
The bow rake is a versatile tool to help you clean your paved areas and driveway, or upkeep your garden. In any case, you mustn’t compromise on sturdiness, and it’s essential that you choose a tough tool that can withstand and handle different tasks.
Remember that durability affects the weight of the rake, so the stronger it is, the heavier it will be.
The garden bow rakes can be used for:
- Spreading gravel, dirt, mulch, compost, and wood chips with the tines
- Collecting debris with the tines
- Leveling mulch, dirt, and gravel with the flat side of the head
- Loosening soil with the tines
Which Features To Consider?
To find the perfect tool for your gardening needs, you must consider the materials used for the handle and head, as well as the size and other features.
Handle
The handle of the rake bow is an essential component, and it must be the perfect strength and length to provide comfort while working.
When buying the rake, double-check if the handle is included in the package because some sellers offer just the separate parts. The length of the handle can vary between 48 and 64 inches, and some can be adjusted to fit your height or the job you need to finish.
To get a better idea, compare the length with your other tools – this way, you’ll know your comfort level. When it comes to the material, the handles can be wooden, metal, fiberglass, or plastic.
- Wood is the most common choice and one of the most popular options among gardeners because of its durability. It’s difficult to break, but it’s pretty heavy for handling. Also, wooden handles can be prone to rot.
- If you decide to get a metal handle, you must understand what type of metal it is, since some are prone to bending after a specific period of use.
- Plastic is relatively cheap and lightweight, but it might break easily, and it’s not the best eco-friendly choice.
- Last but not least, fiberglass handles are durable and won’t break like the other options.
Tines & Head
The bow rake’s tines and head are also essential features to consider. Garden rakes usually have between 14 and 18 tines placed apart by an inch. On the other hand, the heads of the rakes are generally 16 inches wide, and those made with one piece of metal will last longer.
Weight
The overall weight of the rake depends on the materials the different parts are made of, but the head is usually the heaviest part. A lightweight rake can be used for longer and won’t strain your back and arms.
Handle Grip
Besides these characteristics, you should also check whether the handle has a rubber grip for better comfort and control and if it features an attachment as a second handle, which can reduce fatigue.
Which Safety Tips To Follow When Using A Bow Rake?
As with other tools, bow rakes must be used carefully, and you should wear gardening gloves when working. This can help prevent sore arms and calluses and protect your hands from freezing.
It’s recommended that you wear light, breathable clothes while working in the garden and in direct sunlight. Additionally, you should play it smart when storing the rake and never leave it in the middle of your tool shed, since you might step on it and get injured.
What’s The Right Price?
Also, it’s essential to consider the financial cost of the rake. As we mentioned, there are different types of rakes available online, some of which are relatively expensive. However, our recommendation is to be considerate of the price and not spend too much of your budget on a garden rake.
Maintaining your garden rake is quite easy since it doesn’t require too much care. As long as you clean it after each use and store it away in a dry place, that’s more than enough.
The Best Bow Rake Reviews
1. Fiskars PRO Garden Bow Rake
Highlighted Features
- Durable & sturdy
- Abrasion & bend resistant
- Lifetime warranty
- Offers a smooth finish
- Ideal for grading
According to the manufacturer, this garden rake isn’t only better but smarter. It is designed to last longer, improve gardening efficiency, and lower the physical impact on your hands and back.
Furthermore, you’ll be happy to hear that the rake has great ergonomics. The shaft, shaped like a teardrop, ideally fits the contours of your hands, helping you get the ideal grip position. It also provides you with control and comfort.
This tool is great for moving and spreading mulch, gravel, and dirt, and the back end of the tines creates a smooth finish when grading.
Lastly, thanks to the double-bolted connections and aluminum handle, you can be certain the tool will withstand a lot of work without damage.
2. Garden 16-Inch Bow Rake by Bully Tools
Highlighted Features
- 100% USA Product
- Commercial product
- Great warranty
- 16 tines
- Fiberglass handle
The Bully Tools company has been in operation since 1994, and it has dedicated itself to creating top-notch products with American quality for gardening and forestry. It makes floor scrapers as well as other specialty tools.
Moreover, they have a proven history of quality and best practices when it comes to satisfying their customers’ needs. They constantly strive to improve and adapt to different economies and user needs.
The Bully rake is made with thick commercial-grade steel, while the handle is made with durable fiberglass that is easy to handle and cannot be broken.
These tools are made to last. You can use them for years to come and be certain that they’ll endure different types of hard labor.
3. True Temper 14-Tine Bow Rake
Highlighted Features
- 14-tine steelhead
- Wooden handle
- Ideal for breaking & spreading
- Strong & durable
- Sturdy construction
According to satisfied users, this True Temper bow rake is a great tool for handling gardening activities such as spreading mulch and breaking up tough soil. It can also help you even out your garden area for planting.
Moreover, you can use the rake to collect garden debris, grass, leaves, and hay, thus making your garden shiny and new.
This rake offers much more than simple rake features—it’s well-built and can help you finish your garden work. Its size is ideal for people who aren’t as tall.
4. Ashman Heavy-Duty Bow Rake
Highlighted Features
- Solid construction
- Sharp piercing blade
- High-quality design
- Practical and ergonomic
- Instant replacement
If you’re spending a lot of time caring for your garden, this heavy-duty bow rake by Ashman’s might be just the perfect choice for you. This tool is strong and durable, and you can be sure it will endure all the heavy work you need to do in the garden.
Additionally, the shaft and blade offer great support for digging and uprooting, which is a great feature when cultivating soil—you’ll be able to grow a healthy crop.
Furthermore, the blades of this rake are finely sharpened and can pierce into different types of soil to improve your digging, weeding, and loosening. The blades don’t rust, and thanks to the protective coating, you won’t experience any damage.
Thanks to the blades’ smart L-shape design, you can dig deeper when cultivating and ensure there aren’t any weeds left when preparing the soil for planting.
5. Hooyman Landscape & Metal Bow Rake
Highlighted Features
- Ideal size
- Durable construction
- Reliable features
- Multifunctional
- Easy to use
This metal bow rake by Hooyman has ideal dimensions of 65 inches in length and 16 inches in width and weighs only 4.8 pounds. However, thanks to its great construction materials, such as carbon steel, it guarantees excellent performance and durability.
Some of the best features of this rake include the H-grip on the ergonomic handle, which doesn’t slip when the handle gets wet and provides a safe grip while working in any weather conditions.
Moreover, this tool is really convenient for different tasks such as picking up leaves, grass, or small twigs. You can also use it to gather hay, spread mulch, and break up soil—you can be sure to have a great tool to finish your gardening chores without a problem.
Finally, the bow rake comes with a great lifetime warranty option from the manufacturer and excellent customer support, and it is always ready to assist.
6. Truper Tru Tough Welded Bow Rake
Highlighted Features
- 60-inches
- Fiberglass handle
- Gray-steel finished head
- Easy to clean
- Durable construction
Experienced gardeners testify that they use this rake to spread heavy gravel in their gardens and that it does the job perfectly, helping them keep up with yard work.
They use it for various tasks around the garden, such as trimming, weeding, and moving leaves and branches out of the way. Thanks to its durable material and construction, the rake will not be damaged even in extreme working conditions and heat.
To get the most out of this tool, it’s recommended that you keep it safely stored in your gardening shed next to your other tools so it’s not directly exposed to the elements when not in use. This will avoid unwanted rusting and peeling.
The manufacturer is dedicated to making the best gardening products that look great on the outside and are designed to perform well and last long.
7. True Temper Cushion Grip Bow Rake
Highlighted Features
- 16 tines steel rake
- Ideal for small landscaping
- Comfortable grip
- USA product
- Easy to use
Thanks to the 16 steel-welded tines, this rake can do the hard work for you, breaking up compacted soil and helping spread it around in an even manner. The 57-inch durable hardwood handle features a cushioned end for a better-controlled grip.
According to happy users, this is a very effective tool that does the job, offers sturdiness, is not too heavy, and can be maneuvered easily.
This bow rake is mostly used for breaking up mulch or compacted soil. It can be ideal for gardeners with a smaller gardening area who don’t require a difficult task.
8. A.M. Leonard Ash Handle Bow Rake
Highlighted Features
- Top-quality
- Sturdy forged head
- Curved teeth
- Great grabbing power
- Provides more flex
You can be certain that this rake won’t disappoint and fail you when you need it the most, even after days, months, and hours of use. Thanks to the sturdy welded tines and fastened metal cup, there’s no chance the rake will fall apart even when handling hard soil.
The style and design of this bow rake remind me of the type of construction that was used in the past, and that’s why experienced gardeners rate it as an excellent product.
Although it comes at a higher price than the usual range for gardening rakes, you can surely receive your money’s worth – it’s more than you need.
Keep in mind that this is a long rake, so it’s best for taller people who can handle a heavier rake.
9. Ergie Systems 16-Tine Bow Rake
Highlighted Features
- Added handle
- Snow Joe + Sun Joe Guarantee
- D grip
- Sturdy & Durable
- Easy to handle
If you’re constantly tired and have back pain after working with your garden bow rake, try this Ergie Systems rake. This tool has a great modern design with a double handle that provides more leverage when working, reducing the strain you feel on your back.
In this manner, you won’t work harder but smarter. Plus, you’ll be able to work more hours and improve your garden’s condition.
One of the most common problems gardeners face is storage space. However, this rake model can be completely disassembled into its basic pieces, which allows you to store it away in a small box in your tool shed.
Finally, the bow rake can pick up stones and other larger objects thanks to the ideally positioned steel tines.
10. Bond Manufacturing Bow Rake with Long Handle
Highlighted Features
- Durable steel construction
- Fiberglass handle
- Weather & wear-resistant
- Great leverage
- Easy to use
Bond Manufacturing is famous for its sturdy products and is one of the brands loved by gardeners. This amazing bow rake is made with tempered and heat-treated steel, which guarantees a longer life and improved strength.
The handle is also made of fiberglass, ensuring the product’s durability. When combined with the head, which is powder-coated to resist wear and tear, you can be sure you’ll be using this product for years.
According to satisfied users, this is a great product, delivered as described, and offers great value for the price.
Final Thoughts
Our review features many great options that are affordable and offer great quality and durability. As we already mentioned, some of the most important features to consider are the material of the handle and head, so make sure you read through the entire review before deciding.
If you’re still deciding which of the best bow rakes we reviewed to purchase, don’t hesitate to purchase the top pick—the Fiskars PRO rake. As you’ve already seen in our review, this tool can be a great addition to your gardening set, and thanks to its great design and quality of materials, you can use it for years without any problems.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a cheaper product, the True Temper rake is an excellent option in terms of quality and value for money. This tool works perfectly for breaking up compacted and hard soil or for picking up leaves, debris, and hay.
Make your choice and happy gardening!