Gardeners who have 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, it’s not enough to have just any rake because this can make your 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 and to help with your decision, below we have shared our experience with the best bow rake.
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 and bend any time soon.
The great ergonomic design provides you with great comfort and a strong grip for better control while working.
Additionally, the manufacturer offers a full lifetime guarantee which is a great option to have when purchasing heavy-duty tools such as a garden rake.
Budget Pick
Furthermore, we also recommend the True Temper Bow Rake as a more affordable option for those with a limited budget.
This rake has 14 tines made with steel which ensures a strong and durable performance with 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 which is usually made of metal that contains tines and the tines are connected to the handle. This is a heavy-duty tool that can give you more strength than a regular leaf rake which makes it great for leveling gravel.
Depending on the tasks and user, the bow rake length can vary, and it can be made of wood, metal, and even plastic. Regardless of the handle material, the rake’s tines should be made of metal to be able to handle more difficult tasks.
What’s The Bow Rake Used For?
The bow rake is a versatile tool and can be used to help you clean your paved areas and driveway or to upkeep your garden – in any case, you mustn’t compromise on the sturdiness and it’s essential that you choose a tough tool that can resist and handle different tasks.
Have in mind that the durability will affect 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, 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 that the handle and head are made of plus the size and some other features.
Handle
The handle of the rake bow is an essential component, and it must be with the perfect strength and length to provide you with comfort while working.
When buying the rake, double-check if the handle is included in the package because there are some sellers that offer just the separate parts. The length of the handle can vary between 48 to 64 inches and some can be adjusted to fit your height or the job you need to finish.
To get a better idea, try to 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 quite heavy for handling. Also, wooden handles can be prone to rot.
- If you decide to get a metal handle, then you must understand what type of metal it is since some are prone to bending after a certain period of use.
- Plastic is quite 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 tines and the head of the bow rake are also important features to consider. Garden rakes usually have between 14 to 18 tines that are placed apart by an inch. On the other hand, the heads of the rakes are usually 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. It goes without saying that a lightweight rake can be used for longer and it won’t cause strain on 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 they feature an attachment as a second handle which can reduce fatigue.
Which Safety Tips To Follow When Using A Bow Rake?
As is with other tools, bow rakes must be used carefully and you should use gardening gloves when working – this can help you 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 if working in direct sunlight. Additionally, you should be playing 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 important to consider the financial cost of the rake. As we mentioned before, there are different types of rakes available online and some of them are rather 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 and 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 smooth finish
- Ideal for grading
According to the manufacturer, this garden rake isn’t only better, but smarter and is designed in a way to last longer, to improve gardening efficiency, and to lower any physical impact on your hands and back.
Furthermore, you’ll be happy to hear that the rake has great ergonomics and the shaft shaped in the form of a teardrop ideally fits the contours of your hands and can help you get the ideal grip position and it provides you with control and comfort at the same time.
This tool is great for moving and spreading mulch, gravel, and dirt and the back end of the tines is great for creating a smooth finish when grading.
Lastly, thanks to the double-bolted connections and aluminum handle, you can be certain the tool will last through a lot of work without any damage.
2. Garden 16-Inches Bow Rake by Bully Tools
Highlighted Features
- 100% USA Product
- Commercial product
- Great warranty
- 16 tines
- Fiberglass handle
The Bully Tools company has been working since 1994 and they’ve dedicated their work to creating top-notch products with American quality for gardening, forestry, they make 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 customer’s needs, they constantly strive to improve and adapt to the different economies and user needs.
The Bully rake is made with commercial-grade steel which is thick while the handle is made with a durable fiberglass material that can’t be broken and is easy to handle.
These tools are made to last and 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 that helps them handle their gardening activities such as spreading mulch, and breaking up tough soil, and it can help you even your garden area for planting.
Moreover, you can use the rake to collect garden debris, grass, collect leaves, and hay thus making your garden shiny and new.
This rake offers much more than just simple rake features – it’s well-built and it can help you finish your garden work, and its size is ideal for people that 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 taking care of your garden, then 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 certain 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 and this 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 soil. The blades don’t rust and thanks to the protective coating you won’t experience any damage.
Thanks to the smart L-shape design of the blades, you have the chance to dig deeper when cultivating and make sure 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 it weighs only 4.8 pounds – however, thanks to the great construction materials such as carbon steel it can guarantee great performance and durability.
Some of the best features of this rake include the H-grip of the ergonomic handle which doesn’t slip when the handle gets wet and it 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 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 with no problem.
Finally, the bow rake comes with a great lifetime warranty option from the manufacturer and great customer support which 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 work perfectly to help them keep up with yard work.
They use it for handling different tasks around the garden such as trimming, weeding, and moving leaves and branches out of their way. Thanks to the durable material and construction, the rake won’t 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 way you’ll avoid unwanted rusting and peeling.
The manufacturer is dedicated to making the best gardening products that not only look great on the outside but are also 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 welded tines made of steel, this rake can do the hard work for you and break up compacted soil and help spread it around in an even manner and the 57-inches durable handle made of hardwood 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, but it’s not too heavy and can be maneuvered easily.
This bow rake is mostly used for breaking up mulch or compacted soil and it can be ideal for gardeners who have a smaller gardening area that doesn’t require a too 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 and even after days, months, and hours of use. Thanks to the sturdy welded tines and fastened metal cup there’s no chance that the rake will fall apart even when handling hard soil.
The style and design of this bow rake remind of the type of construction that was used back in the days and that’s why experienced gardeners rate is an excellent product.
Although it comes at a higher price than the usual range for gardening rakes, you can be certain to receive your money’s worth – it’s more than what you need.
Have in mind that this is a long rake, so it’s the best fit for people who are taller and 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, it’s time you tried this Ergie Systems rake. This tool has a great modern design with a double handle that provides more leverage when working which in turn reduces the strain you feel on your back.
In this manner, you won’t work harder, but smarter plus, you’ll be able to spend more hours working and improve your garden condition.
One of the most common problems we face as gardeners is storage room – however, this rake model can be completely disassembled to its basic pieces which allows you to store it away in a small box in your tool shed.
Finally, thanks to the steel tines which have been positioned ideally, you can use the bow rake to pick up stones and other larger objects.
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 that are loved by gardeners. This amazing bow rake is made with tempered and heat-treated steel which guarantees a longer life and improved strength.
Additionally, the handle is made with fiberglass which ensures the durability of the product and 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, and it was delivered as described – it offers great value for the price.
Final Thoughts
Our review features a lot of great options that you can choose from that are both 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 thinking about which one to choose from the best bow rake we reviewed, 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 the great design and quality of the materials you can use it for years without any problems.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a cheaper product, the True Temper rake is a great 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!