Comparison Stiga SBC 252 D vs Stiga Collector 43

- Lawnmower. Classic wheeled lawn mowers in the form of trolleys with two or four wheels. They can have different types of engines; there are both non-self-propelled and self-propelled models. Such units are intended mainly for flat areas of small and medium-sized areas - for example, for caring for a lawn in the courtyard of a private house or a lawn on a city street. At the same time, a lawn mower is in many ways more convenient than a manual trimmer (see below): it does not need to be “carried”, and the design often includes a special bag for collecting grass. On the other hand, traditional mowers are not well suited for tight spaces, uneven areas and tall grass.

— Trimmer. A hand-held garden tool, a kind of mechanized analogue of a scythe. Consists of a motor, a cutting attachment and a handle(s) mounted on one rod. The small width of the working attachment allows you to work even in narrow spaces where the lawn mower cannot pass; with one stroke of the trimmer you can capture a fairly wide strip of grass; and you can cut at any height—including vegetation that is too tall for traditional lawnmowers. In addition, a special fishing line is most often used as a cutting attachment in such devices, which is not afraid of collisions with hard objects (although there are also models with blade knives). The disadvantages of a trimmer are traditional for hand tools: you have to constantly carry the unit on yourself, which can be tiring...during long-term work; and the cutting height has to be adjusted “by eye” (the exception is models with rollers - see “Advanced”).

— Rider (mini tractor). A self-propelled machine that the operator rides on horseback; in essence, it is a smaller and simplified analogue of an agricultural tractor. Note that although riders and mini tractors are combined into one category here, they are still somewhat different units. So, in riders, the engine is usually located in the rear, and the mowing deck or other equipment is in the front; Thanks to this arrangement, the grass is not crushed by the wheels before cutting, and it also makes it possible to work in hard-to-reach places (for example, close to trees). And in general, riders are quite maneuverable and well suited for cramped conditions. Mini tractors, in turn, are not so agile, but they are more powerful, heavier and more passable; the engine in such units is located in the front, the mowing deck is located below, between the axles, and additional equipment (if the possibility of its use is provided at all) can be suspended from below instead of the deck, from the back and/or from the front, depending on the model. The common features of riders and mini tractors are, on the one hand, convenience and comfort during operation (some models can even be equipped with closed cabins), on the other hand, high cost, bulkiness and significant weight. So you should pay attention to this category only if you need a mower for large spaces - it is in such conditions that riders and mini tractors show their best side.

- Haymaker. A type of lawn mower with a reinforced design, designed to work primarily in “wild” conditions, outside manicured lawns - in meadows, long-uncultivated and heavily overgrown areas, etc. In fact, such units belong more to professional agricultural machinery than to lawn mowers in the traditional sense of the word. Most mowers have a distinctive appearance: the body is mounted on two large wheels, and the front part houses a scissor-type cutting system (see below). This design ensures maneuverability on uneven terrain and allows you to effectively cope with even thick stems, even bushes and young trees.

— Robotic lawnmower. The most automated type of lawn mower: in fact, it is enough to set such a machine a program, release it onto the site and press the start button - the robot will do the rest itself. The simplest models use movement along random routes and obstacle sensors; more advanced ones can use a full-fledged mapping system (see “Functions”) and even systems for “smart” recognition of grass height and “memorization” of the areas traversed. Robots are generally able to return to the charging station on their own; Some models may even include solar panels to save energy and increase autonomy. At the same time, the efficiency and productivity of such devices is low; in general, robotic mowers are designed mainly for regular maintenance of already “cultivated” lawns.

— Combisystem. Structurally, such lawn mowers are similar to trimmers: they are based on a rod on which the engine and attachment are mounted, and the tool must be held in your hands when working (in the classic mode of use, like a scythe). The main difference between combisystems is the ability to install a variety of different attachments, thanks to which the functionality is significantly expanded. In addition to standard options like a paddle blade or a line reel, models of this type are compatible with attachments for mowing hay, trimming branches, and even cultivators. Note that attachments can either be included in the standard equipment of the lawn mower or purchased separately. Combisystems are useful primarily for small but complex areas, where, on the one hand, there is no need to process a large area, and on the other hand, one has to deal with an abundance of tasks of a different nature.

- Hovercraft. A rather rare and specific type of lawn mower that uses the principle of an air cushion: when the engine is running, air is pumped under the sole, lifting the entire device above the ground. Such units are not self-propelled, but they are very easy to move: there is practically no friction when moving, and you can push the mower in any direction, not just back and forth. At the same time, the air cushion requires high engine power and is effective only on relatively flat surfaces; and the ability to adjust the height in such models is limited, which is why they are so rare.

The capture width provided by the unit, in other words, the width of the strip of land cultivated in one pass. In fact, this size corresponds to the width of the working nozzle.

The large working width is useful when processing large open spaces, as it allows you to finish the job in a small number of passes. On the other hand, for hard-to-reach places, relatively narrow tools are better suited, able to go where a wider unit will not fit. In addition, the width of the tool directly affects the weight and price.

In general, it makes sense to compare in terms of working width only units of the same type (see above). However, it is worth noting here that trimmers do not differ so much from each other — most models capture from 25 to 45 cm (and a wide processing band is provided by moving the nozzle from side to side). As for the other types, in the most modest models the capture width does not exceed 40 cm, in the heaviest and most powerful it can be 56 – 60 cm or even more(in mini tractors — up to 1.5 m).

The width (diameter) of the trimmer knife characterizes the size of the paddle knife (or saw blade). Such a nozzle has a smaller capture width than a fishing line, however, it allows you to mow more dense thickets, including shrubs.

The minimum cutting height provided by the lawnmower — that is, the smallest height of grass that can remain after the passage of the machine. It makes sense to pay attention to this indicator mainly in cases where the lawn is planned to be cut as short as possible. In addition, the lower the minimum height (with the same maximum), the wider the height adjustment range of this model.

The maximum cutting height that the lawn mower can achieve is the maximum height of grass that can be left after the machine has passed.

This parameter is relevant mainly for those cases when you want to leave the grass on the lawn relatively long. In addition, lawn mowers with high cutting heights have a wide range of mowing adjustments.

The number of cutting height settings provided by the lawn mower. The more such settings (with the same adjustment range) — the more accurately you can choose the mowing height. Note that in some robots (see "Type") this number reaches 30 or more with a range of 30 to 60 mm; in other words, you can select the height to the nearest millimetre.

The cutting height adjustment method provided in the machine.

— Synchronous. Adjustment carried out "in one movement" — as opposed to the manual described below. In traditional lawn mowers, it is usually carried out by a lever that changes the height of all wheels at the same time; in other units, not the wheels, but the cutting tool itself, can be adjusted in height. Anyway, synchronous adjustment is much more convenient than manual adjustment, and for some devices (for example, robots and riders, see "Type") this is generally the only technically possible option. However, in classic mowers, such a system complicates and increases the cost of construction.

— Manual. The meaning of this type of adjustment depends on the type of device. So, for trimmers, this is almost the only possible way by definition: in them, the cutting height is regulated by how high the operator holds the working nozzle. In lawn mowers, manual adjustment means that you need to separately adjust the height of each axle, and even each individual wheel. Such systems are simpler and cheaper than synchronous systems, but less convenient to use.

The area of the site for which the lawn mower is designed. It cannot be argued that this parameter is critical when choosing a device, these are only manufacturer's recommendations and are very conditional. However, they are more than justified and generally show the available front of work based on the heating of the motor, the capacity of the tank or battery, and other factors that affect the duration of work.

Direction of ejection of grass cut by the lawnmower.

The main options for the direction of ejection are back or sideways; there are also models in which you can choose the direction. At the same time, we note that in classic units, the ejection back is almost always carried out into the bag(up to the point that when the bag is removed, the hole is automatically covered with a lid), but when the bag is ejected from the side, it may not be — this is convenient, for example, when mulching ( see above).

Also note that riders (see "Type") have their own specifics: in units with rear discharge, after removing the bag, it is necessary to install a special plug, and then the cut grass will simply remain under the deck. In some mini-tractors, a similar way of working (without a bag) is provided initially; it is also considered a rear ejection, although the grass does not flow backwards, but downwards.