Best Walk-Behind Brush Mower: 4 Picks for Rough Ground
Four walk-behind brush mowers, one bladed rough-cut and three string mowers, with cutting width, engine, wheels and warranty compared, plus who should skip each.
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Top picks at a glance
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- 1
Best OverallEarthquake 473259.6/10View on Amazon - 2
Best Rough-Cut MowerSwisher Predator9.5/10View on Amazon - 3
Best BatteryEarthquake 60V 449659.5/10View on Amazon - 4
Best ValueAMERISUN AM62229.4/10View on Amazon - 5
Anleolife .170" Sawtooth Trimmer Line for Walk-Behind MowersView on Amazon - 6
SENIX 20" Gas Lawn MowerView on Amazon - 7
PowerSmart EasyCut 18-Inch Gas Lawn MowerView on Amazon - 8
30 Pack Universal Walk Behind String Trimmer Mower 21.25"View on Amazon - 9
BILT HARD 20 Inch Gas Lawn Mower with 144cc 4-Stroke OHVView on Amazon - 10
DORTALA Lawn MowerView on Amazon
A walk-behind brush mower is the tool for the ground a lawn mower or rider cannot take: tall weeds, fence lines, field edges and small saplings. The four below are one bladed rough-cut mower and three string mowers, two gas and one battery, and we give the cutting width, engine or battery, wheels and warranty from each listing and mark what it does not state.
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Quick picks
- Best Overall Earthquake 47325: Highest Acre Score here: 160cc engine, stop bail and a 5-year warranty Check price on Amazon
- Best Rough-Cut Mower Swisher Predator: Bladed 24 in deck rated for saplings up to 1.5 in Check price on Amazon
- Best Battery Earthquake 60V 44965: 40 lb, two batteries and a 5 plus 3 year warranty Check price on Amazon
- Best Value AMERISUN AM6222: 170cc engine, 14 in wheels and an offset head Check price on Amazon
Our acreage picks
Earthquake 47325 Walk-Behind String Mower, 160cc, 22 in
Gas string mower with a 22 inch path, a 160cc Viper engine, a Grab-N-Go stop bail and a 5-year warranty.
Who it's for: owners of two to ten acres with tall grass, weeds and fence lines.
Who should skip it: anyone who needs to clear woody saplings.
Read the full review
The 47325 is a 22 in string mower with a 160cc 4-cycle Viper engine, a Hurricane head, tool-less cutting heights from 1 to 4 in and 2.5 x 14.5 in airless wheels. The listing describes a Grab-N-Go bail that pauses the head without stopping the engine, a one-piece steel deck that reaches under fences and a 5-year limited warranty. Weight is not stated.
Pros
- 5-year limited warranty stated on the listing
- Grab-N-Go bail stops and restarts the head without stopping the engine
- Extra-wide airless wheels, never flat
- Hurricane head designed to reduce weed wrap
Cons
- The listing does not state a maximum sapling size
- Weight is not stated
- String line, not a blade, so not for woody growth
- Tool-less line loading is on the head, not a feed system
Swisher Predator 11.5 HP 24 in Self-Propelled Rough Cut Mower
Bladed rough-cut mower with a 24 inch deck and an 11.5 HP engine, rated to clear saplings up to 1.5 inches.
Who it's for: owners clearing overgrown fields and light brush, up to 10+ acres.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants a short, lawn-like cut or who needs to haul it in a car.
Read the full review
The Swisher Predator is a bladed rough-cut mower: an 11.5 HP engine, a 24 in self-propelled deck, a 4-speed transmission with reverse and pneumatic chevron tires. The listing says it clears saplings up to 1.5 in, with cutting heights from 3 to 4.75 in. Weight is 252 lb and the warranty is 1 year residential.
Pros
- States a sapling size, up to 1.5 in
- Self-propelled with a 4-speed transmission and reverse
- Large pneumatic chevron tires for traction
- 24 in rough-cut deck
Cons
- Heavy at 252 lb
- Minimum cutting height is 3 in, too high for a lawn look
- 1-year residential warranty only
- No operator controls or slope rating are stated
Earthquake 60V 22 in Walk-Behind String Mower (44965)
Battery string mower with a 22 inch path, two 4Ah batteries rated up to 90 minutes and 14 inch airless wheels.
Who it's for: owners of up to a few acres who want no engine and a lighter machine.
Who should skip it: anyone who needs more than about 90 minutes of cutting per session.
Read the full review
The 44965 is a 60V battery string mower: a direct-drive brushless motor, two 4Ah batteries rated up to 90 minutes, a 22 in path, a variable speed dial and cutting heights from 1.5 to 4 in. It rolls on 14 in airless wheels and weighs 40 lb. The listing gives a 5-year tool and 3-year battery warranty.
Pros
- Lightest here at 40 lb
- Two 4Ah batteries and up to 90 minutes of runtime
- Variable cutting speed dial
- 5-year tool and 3-year battery warranties
Cons
- Runtime is limited to about 90 minutes on two batteries
- No sapling size or slope rating is stated
- String line, not a blade
- Batteries add cost if you need more runtime
AMERISUN AM6222 22 in 170cc Walk-Behind String Trimmer
Gas string mower with a 170cc OHV engine, 14 inch wheels, an offset trimmer head and a foldable handle.
Who it's for: owners who want a bigger engine and an offset head along fence lines.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants a stated warranty.
Read the full review
The AM6222 listing gives a 170cc 4-stroke OHV engine with forced-air cooling, a 22 in path, 14 in wheels, cutting heights from 1.9 to 4.0 in, an offset trimmer head and a foldable handle. Weight is 62 lb. The listing does not state a warranty term, sapling size or slope rating.
Pros
- 170cc OHV 4-stroke engine with no fuel mixing
- 14 in wheels for rough ground
- Offset head for trimming along fences and trees
- Foldable handle for storage
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- No sapling size or slope rating is stated
- At 62 lb it is heavier than the battery model
- String line, not a blade
Other machines to compare
Anleolife .170" Sawtooth Trimmer Line for Walk-Behind MowersCheck price on Amazon
SENIX 20" Gas Lawn MowerCheck price on Amazon
PowerSmart EasyCut 18-Inch Gas Lawn MowerCheck price on Amazon
30 Pack Universal Walk Behind String Trimmer Mower 21.25"Check price on Amazon
BILT HARD 20 Inch Gas Lawn Mower with 144cc 4-Stroke OHVCheck price on Amazon
DORTALA Lawn MowerCheck price on Amazon
Side-by-side specs
| Model | Acre Score | Type | Cutting width | Max sapling | Engine or battery | Drive | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake 47325 | 9.6/10 | String mower | 22 in | Not stated | 160cc 4-cycle | Push | 5 years limited |
| Swisher Predator | 9.5/10 | Bladed rough-cut | 24 in | 1.5 in | 11.5 HP | Self-propelled, 4-speed | 1 year residential |
| Earthquake 60V | 9.5/10 | String mower | 22 in | Not stated | 60V, 2 x 4Ah | Push | 5 years tool, 3 years battery |
| AMERISUN AM6222 | 9.4/10 | String mower | 22 in | Not stated | 170cc OHV | Push | Not stated |
Specifications are manufacturer rated as listed, collected 6 October 2026.
Acreage and terrain fit
Earthquake 47325 Gas String Mower
Swisher Predator Rough Cut
Earthquake 60V 44965
AMERISUN AM6222
Buying guide: choosing a walk-behind brush mower
String mower vs bladed rough-cut mower
A string mower swings nylon line and cuts weeds, grass and thin growth. A bladed rough-cut mower, like the Swisher Predator, uses a steel blade and a heavier deck, and the listing says it clears saplings up to 1.5 in. The string mowers here do not state a sapling size, so treat them as weed and tall-grass tools.
Cutting width and sapling diameter
Three picks cut a 22 in path and the Swisher cuts 24 in. Only the Swisher listing states a maximum sapling, 1.5 in. If you are clearing woody growth, that figure matters more than width.
Engine size and drive
The gas models are a 160cc 4-cycle Viper engine (Earthquake 47325), a 170cc OHV 4-stroke engine (AMERISUN) and an 11.5 HP engine on the Swisher, which is self-propelled with a 4-speed transmission and reverse. The Earthquake 60V uses a direct-drive brushless motor with two 4Ah batteries, up to 90 minutes of runtime per the listing.
Wheels for rough ground
Wheel size is a real difference here: 14 in airless wheels on the AMERISUN and the 60V, 14.5 in airless wheels on the 47325 and pneumatic chevron tires on the Swisher. Larger wheels roll over roots and ruts more easily.
Brush mower vs tow-behind field mower
A walk-behind suits up to a few acres of rough edges. Past that, a tow-behind field mower needs a tractor, so see the tow-behind attachments hub.
Slopes
None of the listings states a slope rating. Walk across or up and down within the owner’s manual limits, and use the Slope Calculator to measure the slope.
Turn rise and run, or a phone level reading, into degrees and percent, then compare it with typical mower slope ratings.
Walk the area first and clear stones, sticks, wire and toys. Wear eye and hearing protection, long pants and sturdy closed footwear, mow across slopes with a walk-behind (not up and down), and never pull a running mower toward you. Keep kids and pets well away. Refuel only with the engine off and cool. See CPSC lawn mower safety. Read our Safety Disclaimer.
The Acre Score explained
The Acre Score weighs five factors: performance (cutting width, engine or battery, what it can cut), build quality (deck, wheels, drive), value (specs for the money), safety (operator controls such as a stop bail or blade brake) and warranty (years and coverage). A factor the listing does not state scores zero.
| Product | Acre Score | Perf. /35 | Build /25 | Value /25 | Safety /10 | Warranty /5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake 47325 | 9.6 | 30 | 21 | 20 | 4 | 4 |
| Swisher Predator | 9.5 | 32 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 2 |
| Earthquake 60V 44965 | 9.5 | 28 | 21 | 19 | 0 | 4 |
| AMERISUN AM6222 | 9.4 | 30 | 19 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score.
FAQ: mowing large lots
What is the difference between a brush mower and a lawn mower?
A lawn mower is built for turf. A brush mower is built for tall weeds, thick growth and rougher ground, with a stronger deck or heavier line and bigger wheels.
How thick a sapling can a brush mower cut?
Only the Swisher Predator listing states a figure, saplings up to 1.5 in. The string mowers here do not state a maximum.
Walk-behind brush mower or tow-behind?
A walk-behind is simpler and needs no tractor. A tow-behind covers more ground per hour but needs a tractor of the right size.
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