Summer is great for riding your bike, heading to the pool, and cruising in your convertible. It also means it’s time to break out the lawn mower to cut the grass, which is usually less than pleasurable. The right mower can make the process a little less stressful. So here are three of the best gas lawn mowers recommended by Bob Vila.

Honda 21 in. 3-in-1 Variable Speed Gas Self Propelled Lawn Mower

Like so many things which are propelled by a motor, Honda comes out on top once again. It’s ranked as Best Overall by Bob Vila, with good reason. 

The Honda 21 in. 3-in-1 Variable speed gas propelled lawn mower comes equipped with a 170cc engine. It also has two offset blades, as opposed to the usual one, which helps chop your grass into much smaller pieces. 

For those who have terrain that can be a pain to cut, like steep hills, the rear-wheel drive setup helps make dealing with this more manageable. 

One of the most attractive features of this mower is that you can switch between side discharge, mulching, or bagging. The current price is $549.00, which is one of the two things that Bob Vila was disappointed about because it’s more expensive than other models. The other was that it is rather heavy to push at 80 lbs.

Cub Cadet X1 Enduro LT

There are mowers for small yards, and then there are mowers for large yards. If you have over three acres, then just any mower isn’t going to do. The Cub Cadet X1 Enduro LT Gas Riding Lawn Mower is the perfect lawn mower for the job, however.

It comes equipped with a 22-hp engine, which sits on a 46-inch broad deck. Bob Vila was very impressed with the 16-inch turning radius, as well as the excellent steering system.

For those who prefer to mow when the sun isn’t beating down on your head, there is a nighttime mowing option, as well as LED lights. You can also use the 12 deck-height positions to change up the lawn height, depending on the current needs of your yard.

You can either use the side discharge or mulch. If you want to bag, you’ll have to buy a separate kit. A quick deck-washing system makes up for this.

Bob Vila enjoyed the engine, which is one of the most powerful you can get in a lawn mower, as well as the hydrostatic automatic transmission. The cons include the lack of bagging, as well as the high price for Cub Cadet mowers in general. In this case, the X1 Enduro LT costs $2,399.99. 

Troy-Bilt 21 in. Gas Walk Behind Push Lawn Mower

If you’re looking for a mower that is cheap but offers plenty of options, Bob Vila has named the Troy-Bilt 21 inch the Best Bang for the Buck. With a price of $329.00, it’s hard to argue with that.

The Troy-Bilt 21-inch mower comes equipped with a Briggs and Stratton 140cc engine. It doesn’t require oil changes, and you don’t have to flip it over to clean the deck thanks to a wash port. If that’s not cool enough, for this price you get functions like bagging, mulching, and side discharge.

The 11-inch rear wheels are perfect for those who have that awkward terrain that leaves you pushing the mower up steep hills and over terrain so rough you consider having it leveled. 

Bob Vila only had one complaint about this mower. The engine isn’t quite as large as those placed in other 21-inch mowers. With that being said, for the price, it’s definitely not a dealbreaker.