Do you ever feel tired after a day of raking leaves and trash in the yard? Are you tired of using heavy and bulky tools that take up too much space in the garage or shed? A folding rake for yard work could be the solution to your problems. In this guide, we’ll give you all the information you need about folding rakes, including their benefits and uses.
We’ve analyzed all of the Collapsible Rakes on the market, looking at reviews, cost, ease of purchase, and many other factors.
Thus, we have compiled a ranking of the best Collapsible Rakes.
Сollapsible leaf rake: In a nutshell
- This rake allows the user to hold the handle comfortably but firmly while performing the repetitive raking motions necessary to pick up dry leaves.
- The adjustable rake head allows users to adjust finger spreading for different tasks.
What is a Collapsible rake?
It is a wide fan-shaped rake with long, slightly flexible tines designed for raking fallen leaves. The rake head is attached to a long handle designed to allow the user to rake without bending over.
Best Collapsible rake
TABOR TOOLS J16A Telescopic Metal Rake
Features:
- The rake’s teeth extend from 8″ to 23″ wide and lock in any position in between.
- Lightweight telescopic handle. Full length: 63″, collapsed size: 32″.
- The handle features a rubberized comfort grip handle.
- Low Maintenance: the teeth are made of galvanized steel wires to prevent rust.
This rake can be put to work in smaller areas that are difficult to reach for conventional rakes, like under hedges or in between flower beds. When the fan head of the rake is set to a smaller position, it allows you to rake in between perennials without damaging your plants. The fan head adjusts with a click system and the handle telescopes with a simple turn of the hand.
Kings County Tools Adjustable Garden & Leaf Rake
Features:
- The springy garden rake steel tines can be compressed as close as 7″ for work between shrubs and flower beds using a convenient locking lever.
- As the tines spread out to 22” wide, it is superb for rapidly raking large lawns or other surface of loose debris.
- A simple twist-lock handle on lawn rake governs how long the handle is as it can be expanded up to 5’ long or collapsed down to 3’.
This rake allows me to vary the width while working through and around all of the different plants and crowded areas. Plus, the telescoping handle helps when there isn’t much room.
This is so useful in my garden beds! It adjusts easily and smoothly. The narrow size has been useful in reaching the difficult back parts of my flower beds. The adjustable width makes it ideal to get into tight corners or in-between stepping-stones. It also makes it easier to get the leaves or weeds without getting the dirt. Collapsing the tines and handle makes it easy to store.
Barcetine Bow Rake
Features:
- The handle of the gardening rake is made of multiple pieces, you could custom the length as you like.
- The blade of the bow rake is attached to the pole securely, it could withstand the heavy work at the garden.
- Multi-function: It could loosen the soil up, mix soil with fertilizers better, gather leaves, and so on.
Steel Workers Adjustable Telescopic Folding Rake
Features:
- Ergonomic rubberized handle.
- The handle telescopes from 37″ to 68″ for all your raking needs.
- The tough steel tines adjust from 7.5″ to 21.75″ wide.
- Perfect for clearing leaves or debris, this rake is also perfect for tight spaces.
Corona GT 3050 Extendable Handle Rake
Features:
- With Extra Reach 18″-36″.
- Strong, lightweight aluminum handle adjusts from 18″ to 32″ for extra reach.
- Head is fully heat treated for enhanced durability.
- Long-lasting coating resists chips and rust.
Camco Telescopic Collapsible Rake
Features:
- Opens to 60″ long with 22″W rake end.
- Folds down to 30″ x 8.5″ to easily fit into storage.
- Keep your campsite near with this full-size compactable rake.
LGsilent Telescopic Metal Rake
Features:
Shrinkage size of nail rake: 7.4*32.2inch.
Spreading size of the nail rake: 20.8*63.3inch.
Lightweight, suitable for young and old people, it hardly needs storage space.
Material: Stainless steel.
Ergonomic non-slip handle.
What is a Collapsible Rake for Yard Work?
A folding yard rake is a tool designed to make yard work easier and more efficient. They are lightweight and compact rakes that can be easily folded or unfolded for storage. Folding rakes are usually made of durable materials such as steel, aluminum or plastic, and come in a variety of sizes and shapes.
Folding rakes can be used for a variety of jobs in the yard, including raking leaves, picking up grass clippings, and removing debris from the lawn or garden. They are ideal for those with limited storage space or the need to transport yard work tools to different locations.
Advantages of using a folding rake for yard work
- Save Space: One of the main benefits of using a folding rake is that it takes up less storage space. When you’re not using a rake, you can easily fold it up and store it in a small corner of your garage or shed.
- Lightweight and Portable: Folding rakes are generally lighter than traditional rakes, making them easier to handle and transport. You can easily take them with you to different places, such as your neighbor’s yard, the park, or the cottage.
- Versatility: folding rakes can be used for a variety of tasks, including raking leaves, picking up trash, and collecting grass clippings. They are also suitable for use on different types of surfaces, including lawns, gardens and driveways.
- Durability: Folding rakes are usually made of high-quality materials, making them more durable and long-lasting than traditional rakes. They are designed for heavy use and exposure to a variety of weather conditions.
Using a folding rake for yard work
- Raking Leaves: When raking leaves with a collapsible rake, start by raking the leaves into a pile. Once you have the leaves in a pile, use the rake to move them to a bag or container for disposal.
- Collect grass clippings: To collect grass clippings, use a rake to collect grass clippings in a pile. Once you have collected the pile, use the rake to move the grass clippings into a bag or bin for disposal.
- Scavenging: A folding rake is also useful for picking up trash in your yard or garden. Use the rake to pick up trash such as sticks, rocks, and branches in a pile. Once you’ve collected the pile, use the rake to transfer the trash to a bag or container for disposal.
How do I choose the right folding rake for yard work?
Consider the following factors when choosing a folding rake for yard work:
- Size and shape: Choose a rake of the right size and shape for yard work. If you have a small yard, a smaller rake will suffice. If you have a large yard, you may need a larger rake.
- Material: Choose a rake made of durable materials such as steel, aluminum, or plastic. These materials are stronger and more durable than cheaper materials.
- Handle: Choose a rake with a comfortable handle that is easy to grip. Look for a handle made of non-slip material to avoid accidents.
Types of a collapsible rake
A leaf rake is not the same as a garden rake, which has a stiff, wide head with short steel tines at right angles to the handle. A garden rake can break up clumps of earth and cut grass from the lawn. A leaf rake is not suitable for this kind of work.
- A standard leaf rake has a wide fan-shaped head with long, slightly flexible tines. Because the wider fan head covers a larger area, it usually rakes leaves faster. The head is attached to a long handle, designed so that the user can rake without having to bend over.
- Scoop leaf rakes come in two styles: single-headed and double-headed. A single-headed bucket rake resembles a standard leaf rake, but the fan-shaped head is folded inward using a swivel or pulling mechanism on the handle. This allows the user to rake, then pick up leaves and lift them into a bag or compost pile. The double-headed style is designed not to rake, but to lift leaves. It has two opposing scoop heads that open and close to grab and lift the leaves.
- Mini/manual rakes – buckets usually have two separate curved rakes – one for each hand. The user picks up the dry leaves and lifts them into a bag or trash can.
Collapsible rake Buying Criteria
Gardeners know that having the right tool makes yard work a lot easier. Fortunately, there are rakes made of different materials and with the right length of tines to make outdoor work easier for whoever is doing it. If you’re buying your first rake or replacing an unusable rake, it’s important to buy a rake that fits both you and the task at hand.
The following criteria represent the most important aspects to consider when deciding which leaf rake is best for your needs.
Longevity
No one wants to buy a rake only to have it break the first time on the job. Cheap plastic rakes that are actually designed for one-time use and are only meant to last a season are often susceptible to this.
Ask yourself, how long do these rakes last with regular seasonal use? The answer should be decades, but we’ll stop at least five years to make it cost-effective and less harmful to the environment. Durable rakes usually have two main features: metal tines attached to a spring-loaded metal hinge and a sturdy ergonomic handle.
Tines
Metal tines are important for many reasons. First, if they don’t rust due to poor maintenance or storage, they will last you a lifetime or longer. Second, they provide the right amount of flexibility and strength you need for leaves, small branches and debris.
Most rakes have tines made of metal, plastic, or resin. In addition to the tines being splayed, each one bends sharply downward at its outer end. These curved tines help grab the fallen leaves. Depending on the rake, the tines will usually feature one or more cross braces near the point where they’re attached to the handle for stability. The more cross braces a leaf rake has, the sturdier the tines are and the less they will flex when raking.
- Metal tines are the most durable and suitable option for medium to heavy yard work. Metal rakes with steel tines tend to be heavier and more expensive than rakes made of plastic, bamboo and resin.
- Plastic tines have the least strength. They are more suitable for light tasks because there is a greater risk of breakage. Plastic rakes are lightweight and inexpensive, but they do not last as long as other materials.
- Polyresin rakes are a compromise between metal and plastic. This durable polymer combines the durability of metal with the flexibility of plastic for heavy-duty work.
Handle
Rake handles are usually made of wood, steel, aluminum, or fiberglass. Consider the following material characteristics when selecting your preferred handle.
- Wood is the heaviest option, and while it is durable, it is still susceptible to damage. Wood has the least resistance to weathering and is prone to rot if left outdoors. Also, the wooden handle can break over time if the rake is used for more demanding yard work.
- Steel and aluminum are more durable in comparison. Steel is a stronger metal and less prone to bending or denting. On the other hand, stainless steel, carbon steel and aluminum handles are resistant to corrosion and rust. Aluminum is also lighter than steel and often less expensive.
- Fiberglass is stronger and lighter than steel, although it weighs more than an aluminum handle. Compared to these metals, a rake with a fiberglass handle is more expensive.
The length of the collapsible rake determines its reach and ease of use. Rake handles range in length from 36 to 67 inches or more. Be sure to consider the user’s height when choosing a rake. Generally speaking, longer handles are better for taller users.
Weight
Heavier rakes can become cumbersome and difficult to use during a long day of leaf collection, while lighter rakes make a long day of collecting dry leaves easier. However, lighter rakes may not be as sturdy and incapable of performing heavy tasks.
Rakes can weigh from less than a pound to 5 pounds or more. Heavier rakes are useful for tasks such as spreading mulch. If yard work involves both lighter and heavier tasks, a compromise is to pick a medium-weight 2 to 3-pound multi-purpose rake.
Comfort
Raking can strain your muscles. When it comes to rakes, bigger is not better. It is important that the dimensions of the rake be comfortable and have good ergonomics for the user. Ideally, each member of the family should have their own rake. If that is not possible, find a lightweight rake with an adjustable handle and perhaps even adjustable tines.
Additional Features
The rake has a variety of additional features that affect convenience and usability.
- The telescoping handle allows users to adjust the length of the handle to their preference or to accommodate multiple users of different heights.
- The adjustable rake head allows users to adjust finger spread for different tasks.
- A grip tool built into the head eliminates the need to bend over to pick up swept leaves.
- A soft handle, usually made of rubber or foam, provides added comfort and reduces hand fatigue.
- The folding handle saves space and makes it easy to store the rake in the garage or shed.
Collapsible rake Price:
Collapsible rake under $30:
- TABOR TOOLS J16A Telescopic Metal Rake;
- LGsilent Telescopic Metal Rake;
- Barcetine Bow Rake;
- Corona GT 3050 Extendable Handle Rake;
- Kings County Tools Adjustable Garden & Leaf Rake;
- Steel Workers Adjustable Telescopic Folding Rake.
Collapsible rake under $20:
- Camco Telescopic Collapsible Rake
FAQ about collapsible rake
How long is a leaf rake?
Handheld leaf rakes (for raised beds) can be as short as 18 inches, while full-size leaf rakes may be 72 inches long or longer.
Is a metal or plastic rake better for leaves?
Both metal and plastic rakes will expedite leaf raking, but metal usually lasts longer. However, the new polyresin used in many of today’s plastic-type rakes is more durable than the plastic of yesteryear.