Best Rake

[VenasNursery]

Looking to switch rakes and wondering what everyone’s favorite rake brand is? Currently working with the AM Leonard Forestry Rake. They last forever, but poor performance. We don’t care for the Grounds Keeper Rake.

 

[Dan Thornton]

I was wondering the same. Saw the Beaver Rake Head at arborist.com and liked the idea of using it on poles I already store, but have no idea how well it would work.

 

[Boomslang]

Groundskeeper hands down

 

[Jehinten]

BMG rake

Aside from that I also keep a groundskeeper rake, standard metal tined leaf rake and a garden raken depending on the task.

90% of the time the BMG and backpack blower take care of everything.

 

[AdkEric]

Huge fan of Razorback Multipurpose rakes.

Multi-Purpose Rake, Flex Steel Tines, 51 In. Fiberglass Handle

Razor-Back 20 Tine Flex Steel Multi-Purpose Rake with 51″ Fiberglass Handle. This heavy-duty rake is ideal for lawn raking, moving stones, mulch, and more. It features an innovative tine angle for better attack and ease of use. The curved steel tines dig deeper into the ground than standard...

www.truevalue.com

 

[Matias]

I was gifted a few of these 3 years ago, and they were already 2 years old, and they still jam.

 

[EasternArborist]

Ive had the best luck with the spring rakes. Just pickup big stuff first with the green barrel.

 

[EasternArborist]

Ive had the best luck with the spring rakes. Just pickup big stuff first with the green barrel.

Ace 65 in. 24 Tine Steel Rake Fiberglass Handle - Ace Hardware

The Ace 24-Tine Steel Leaf rake is used for clearing leaves and debris from lawns. The flexible steel tines will pull out thatch for a healthier lawn. The steel head is bolted to the handle for a secure connection while raking.Find the RAKE FBRGLS 24X65 at Ace.

www.acehardware.com

 

[kludge]

My favorite is still a basic steal tined rake for most tasks: light, doesn’t drag too much in turf. (I find grounds keeper and forestry rakes tend to drag more and are heavier therefore are more tiring to use).

But I will note we do a lot of raking in fields, so deal with a lot of non-lawn turf.

 

[Serf Life]

Huge fan of Razorback Multipurpose rakes.

Multi-Purpose Rake, Flex Steel Tines, 51 In. Fiberglass Handle

Razor-Back 20 Tine Flex Steel Multi-Purpose Rake with 51″ Fiberglass Handle. This heavy-duty rake is ideal for lawn raking, moving stones, mulch, and more. It features an innovative tine angle for better attack and ease of use. The curved steel tines dig deeper into the ground than standard...

www.truevalue.com

Can you compare it to groundskeeper?

 

[Winchman]

I like the clog-free rake I've had for several years. It's plastic, but mine has held up well.

Several companies sell similar rakes. I can't recall who made my yellow one, but the design is almost identical to the Craftsman version.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

In '04 I had a crew do a comparison between metal and plastic rakes. I think there are details in the archives. Short report: plastic is faster by 25% at least.

Using a pole saw pole for a rake handle is sure bomb proof but its terrible ergonomically. Think of all that weight you're swinging around. Not on my crew.

I used to buy curved rakes from Home Depot. Not sure the name brand. Some of them had crappy handles that would break. I had some good broom handles that got fitted to the rakes.

 

[flushcut]

My favorite is a rake called The Maintainer. Almost the same as a Groundskeeper but has a longer handle and the tines aren’t as curved. Has all the flick but less grab on the grass. Corona steel tine leaf rakes are my second favorite. Good stiff tines for nice grab on twigs but easy on the turf, good flick but are somewhat short lived. You can extend life buy adding a hose clamp by the attachment bolt on top of the bracket that holds the tines together.

 

[Boomslang]

Plastic never lasts as long. It loses it's flex and "fling" within a month or two.

One thing I really appreciate about the Groundskeeper is it works great in snow. Very important to those of us who have to deal with that shit.

 

[Njdelaney]

This is a timely topic since we have broken 3 or 4 rakes in the last two months. Always the handle. We made a song up about the cheap rakes that goes "Ace is the place where the plastic rakes all break!"

 

[AdkEric]

Can you compare it to groundskeeper?

Think hybrid of a groundskeeper and standard metal tine leaf rake. Best of both worlds imo. Works great moving wood chips and stump grindings, yet not as aggressive on turf as the grounds keeper. The wide tines don't clog up with leaves as easily as the groundskeeper.

 

[Boomslang]

Huge fan of Razorback Multipurpose rakes.

Multi-Purpose Rake, Flex Steel Tines, 51 In. Fiberglass Handle

Razor-Back 20 Tine Flex Steel Multi-Purpose Rake with 51″ Fiberglass Handle. This heavy-duty rake is ideal for lawn raking, moving stones, mulch, and more. It features an innovative tine angle for better attack and ease of use. The curved steel tines dig deeper into the ground than standard...

www.truevalue.com

These used to be my go to. Sold under the Garrant name up here (plus other manufacturers I'm sure). Very good rake, but I found the plastic where the handle connects to be a weak point.

 

[AdkEric]

These used to be my go to. Sold under the Garrant name up here (plus other manufacturers I'm sure). Very good rake, but I found the plastic where the handle connects to be a weak point.

I noticed the same, but generally only when I was being aggressive with heavy stump grindings.
I share your thoughts on the groundskeeper in the snow.

 

[ATH]

I like the clog-free rake I've had for several years. It's plastic, but mine has held up well.
View attachment 92327
Several companies sell similar rakes. I can't recall who made my yellow one, but the design is almost identical to the Craftsman version.

That's what we use. They last less than a year, but they aren't that expensive. If the tines don't break off, they do get "sanded" down.

I haven't tried the "lifetime warranty" that Craftsman offers...tempting, but I know we abuse them more than they should be.

 

[ATH]

This is a timely topic since we have broken 3 or 4 rakes in the last two months. Always the handle. We made a song up about the cheap rakes that goes "Ace is the place where the plastic rakes all break!"

Have you tried the warranty? Ace sells Craftsman and Ames which both have 15yr or lifetime warranties. I would for a broken handle...but as said above, I don't when we just wear them out.