Best Garden Rakes of 2025: Leaf, Bow, Thatching, and Lawn Rakes Reviewed
A rake looks like the simplest tool in the shed. A long handle and a fan of tines. What could go wrong? Plenty, as it turns out. A flimsy rake bends the first time you hit a wet pile of leaves. A cheap rake snaps the handle at the ferrule halfway through the season. A heavy rake makes your arms ache before you finish the front yard. We tested seven rakes across four categories, leaf rakes for clearing debris, bow rakes for soil work and gravel, thatching rakes for dethatching lawns, and lawn rakes for fine debris. We raked leaves, spread mulch, thatched patches of overgrown grass, and leveled soil beds. Here is what we found. ...