Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Lawn Mower Review: A Modern Mower with a Classic Name?

There’s a unique frustration that comes with owning a small, awkwardly shaped, or sloping garden. For years, my weekend ritual involved wrestling with a heavy, cumbersome wheeled mower that felt like trying to navigate a supermarket trolley through a china shop. Every sharp turn was a three-point manoeuvre, every slope a battle against gravity, and the edges near the flowerbeds were always left looking ragged and untamed. The dream was simple: a neat, uniform lawn achieved without the back-breaking effort. The reality was a patchy cut, scuffed ankles, and the lingering feeling that there had to be a better way. This is the very problem that hover mowers were born to solve, promising a world where your mower glides effortlessly, floating on a cushion of air to make lawn care feel less like a chore and more like a satisfying glide. It’s this promise of effortless manoeuvrability that draws so many of us to a name like Flymo, a brand synonymous with this very technology.

What to Consider Before Buying a Rotary Hover Mower

A Rotary Mower is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for achieving a healthy and attractive lawn, especially in gardens where traditional mowers fall short. The core benefit of a hover mower like the Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Lawn Mower is its ability to move in any direction—sideways, backwards, forwards—with equal ease. This makes them exceptionally suited for cutting around obstacles like trees, ponds, and complex garden beds. They excel on uneven terrain and steep slopes where wheeled mowers can be dangerous and difficult to control. By floating above the grass, they also reduce the risk of scalping high spots on the lawn, leading to a more consistent finish.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone with a small to medium-sized garden (typically up to around 250m²) featuring irregular shapes, slopes, or numerous obstacles. It’s for the homeowner who values speed and manoeuvrability over creating perfectly straight, striped lines. However, it might not be suitable for those with very large, flat, open lawns where a larger, self-propelled wheeled mower would be more efficient. Likewise, individuals who demand pristine grass collection and minimal cleanup might find the inherent design of many hover mowers, which can sometimes spray clippings, to be a drawback. For those with larger spaces or a desire for battery freedom, cordless or petrol mowers might be a more fitting alternative.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Power & Cutting Width: The motor’s wattage (for corded models) dictates its ability to handle thick, long, or damp grass. A 1700W motor, like the one in the EasiGlide 300, is on the high end for this category, suggesting robust performance. The cutting width (30cm in this case) determines how many passes you’ll need to cover your lawn; a wider deck saves time but can be less nimble in tight spots.
• Grass Collection & Capacity: A key differentiator is how well the mower collects clippings. Hover mowers create a powerful downdraft, and collection efficiency can be mixed. Look at the grass box capacity—a 20-litre box is adequate for small lawns but will require frequent emptying on larger ones. Also, consider how easy the box is to remove and empty.
• Build Quality & Durability: The materials used in the mower’s deck and handles are critical. While modern plastics like polypropylene are lightweight and reduce cost, they can feel less robust than the ABS plastics or metal decks of older or more premium models. Pay attention to how the handles are attached and whether the components feel solid and well-engineered for longevity.
• Ease of Use & Adjustments: Beyond manoeuvrability, consider the practicalities. How is the cutting height adjusted? A single lever is the most convenient, whereas systems requiring tools or blade removal are significantly more cumbersome. Also, check the cable length and the mower’s weight, as this will impact how easy it is to carry and store.

While the Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Lawn Mower is a compelling choice for many, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: A Familiar Orange with a Modern Twist

Unboxing the Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Lawn Mower is a straightforward affair. The signature Flymo orange and grey immediately stand out, a colour scheme that has graced British sheds for decades. The main unit is largely pre-assembled, with only the multi-part handle requiring construction. This is where we hit our first minor snag; while the instructions were adequate, some online video tutorials proved helpful for clarity, a sentiment echoed by several users. The components click together, but the reliance on plastic push-pins for securing the lower handle to the mower deck immediately raised an eyebrow regarding long-term durability.

In the hand, the mower feels impressively light for its power rating, weighing in at just over 10kg. It’s easy to lift and carry, a huge plus for those who need to navigate steps or store it on a wall hook. The plastic used for the main body is polypropylene, which feels functional but lacks the premium, reassuring heft of older models. It’s a trade-off: weight is the enemy of the hover principle, so lightness is paramount. The 10-metre cable is bright orange and feels robust, a practical length for most small gardens. Overall, the initial impression is of a machine built to a specific price point, prioritising a powerful motor and low weight over refined engineering and bomb-proof construction. Let’s see if its performance justifies these compromises. You can see its full feature set and user reviews on its product page.

A Deep Dive into the Flymo EasiGlide 300’s Performance

A mower’s worth is proven on the turf. We put the Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Lawn Mower through its paces on a variety of lawn conditions—from a neat patch of fine grass to a lumpy, weed-infested back garden that hadn’t seen a blade in weeks. The results were a study in contrasts, highlighting both the machine’s impressive power and its frustrating design flaws.

Power and Cutting Performance: The 1700W Heart of the Machine

The standout feature of this mower is undoubtedly its 1700W motor. It is, frankly, a beast for a mower of this size. When we powered it on, the machine roared to life with an authority that belied its lightweight plastic shell. We first tested it on a patch of overgrown, slightly damp grass, and it ploughed through without hesitation. The metal blade, combined with the sheer power, meant there was very little bogging down or stalling. We were particularly impressed with its ability to tackle a “meadow-like” section with thick tufts, a situation confirmed by one user who said, “how wrong I was.. it coped with no problem at all.” For raw grass-cutting ability, this motor delivers. It provides the confidence to tackle a lawn that’s been neglected for a little too long.

However, power alone doesn’t guarantee a perfect cut. While the mower is capable of cutting very low—down to a golf-green-like 10mm—we found the quality of the cut was inconsistent. On longer grass, it sometimes felt like it was tearing and mulching rather than cleanly slicing, leading to a less-than-perfect finish. Some users reported having to make multiple passes to get an even result, with one comparing its efficiency to a weak vacuum cleaner. The powerful airflow that creates the hover effect is also a double-edged sword. While it lifts the grass for cutting, it’s also the primary culprit behind the mower’s biggest weakness: grass collection. This powerful motor is a feature that really sets it apart in its class, but it comes with caveats.

The Hover Experience: Manoeuvrability vs. Reality

Flymo built its brand on the promise of effortless, gliding mowers. The Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Lawn Mower aims to continue this legacy. On flat and uneven ground, it does indeed offer a level of freedom that wheeled mowers simply can’t match. We could effortlessly sweep it side-to-side in a pendulum motion, navigating curved flower beds and tight corners with ease. It’s this fluid movement that makes hover mowing so appealing for complex garden layouts.

However, the “gliding” sensation is heavily dependent on the terrain and the user’s strength. At 10.6kg, it’s light to carry but still has considerable inertia. On a sloped lawn, we found it didn’t just “float”; it required significant effort to push uphill and control on the descent. This experience was shared by a user who noted, “It’s heavy, and with a sloping lawn does not glide.” Furthermore, we experienced noticeable vibration through the handles during operation. One user reported this was so severe it was “borderline vibration white finger,” forcing them to take breaks. While our experience wasn’t that extreme, the vibration was more pronounced than on many comparable electric mowers. The 10m cable provides a decent range for small gardens, but as with all corded mowers, requires constant management to avoid running it over.

Design Flaws and Frustrations: Where It Falls Short

This is where our enthusiasm for the mower’s power began to wane. The machine is plagued by several significant design flaws that detract from the user experience. The most egregious of these is the cutting height adjustment. Instead of a simple lever, changing the height on the EasiGlide 300 requires you to turn the mower over, use the supplied plastic spanner to unscrew the main blade bolt, remove the blade, and then add or remove plastic spacers. This is archaic, inconvenient, and potentially dangerous. We found, as many users did, that the central bolt was incredibly tight from the factory. One user reported getting “a bunch of cuts all over my hand” trying to loosen it with the flimsy tool. Another simply couldn’t budge it at all. This is an unacceptable design for a fundamental function.

The grass collection system is another major point of failure. The integrated 20-litre grass box is small, and its design seems to fight against the mower’s own airflow. We found a significant amount of grass was blown out from the sides and back of the mower, coating our shoes, the patio, and the surrounding garden beds. One user’s exasperated comment, “OMG I’m covered head to toe in grass,” perfectly captures the experience. The box itself is also part of the mower’s main structure, a design one long-time Flymo owner called “flimsy” compared to older models where the bin sat inside a sturdy body. Finally, the build quality of smaller components is questionable. The nylon push-plugs holding the handle in place have a tendency to work themselves loose and pop out during use, a frustrating and potentially hazardous issue that makes you question the mower’s overall longevity. Many users felt these issues represented a “complete fall from grace of the Flymo brand,” and after our testing, it’s hard to disagree with that sentiment if you want to check the latest price and availability.

What Other Users Are Saying

The user feedback for the Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Lawn Mower is deeply divided, painting a picture of a product that works brilliantly for some and is a total failure for others. This polarisation largely stems from the conflict between its powerful motor and its poor design and build quality.

On the positive side, many users praise its raw cutting power. One happy customer, who was initially sceptical, noted it “coped with no problem at all” on their “extremely uneven ..to the point of meadow-like” garden. Another simply said they “Love this mower gives a nice clean cut.. cuts nice and short on the lowest setting.” These comments reflect our own findings that the 1700W motor is the machine’s greatest asset.

However, the negative feedback is substantial and consistent. The primary complaints centre on the disastrous height adjustment system, the shockingly poor grass collection, and the flimsy build quality. One user’s experience is telling: “It churns more grass out that it keeps in the grass box… I don’t think the mower has been tested in real life conditions.” This sentiment is echoed by another who stated, “Hardly collects any of the grass cuttings. Blows grass cuttings everywhere.” The decline of the Flymo brand is a recurring theme, with a long-time owner concluding it demonstrates the “compete fall from grace of the Flymo brand… made from thin, flimsy cheap plastics.” These are not isolated incidents but a clear pattern of user frustration with the product’s fundamental design choices.

Competitors and Alternatives to the Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Lawn Mower

While the Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Lawn Mower has its place, its flaws may lead you to consider other options. Here’s how it compares to three popular alternatives across different categories.

1. Greenworks 40V 41cm Cordless Lawnmower with 2 Batteries

If your main frustration is the power cord and your budget is more flexible, the Greenworks 40V Cordless Mower is a significant step up. It offers complete freedom of movement without the hassle of a cable. Its 41cm cutting width is much larger than the Flymo’s 30cm, making it far more efficient for medium to large lawns. It also features a traditional wheeled design with a large 50L grass bag and a simple single-lever height adjustment. While it lacks the unique sideways manoeuvrability of a hover mower for very complex shapes, it is a more powerful, convenient, and well-rounded machine for the average garden owner who wants to cut the cord.

2. Flymo Hover Vac 270 Electric Hover Lawn Mower

If you’re committed to the Flymo hover concept but have a very small garden and a tighter budget, the Hover Vac 270 is a logical alternative. It’s smaller, lighter, and less powerful (1400W vs 1700W) than the EasiGlide 300, with a narrower 27cm cutting width and a smaller 15L grass box. This makes it exceptionally nimble and perfect for tiny plots, postage-stamp lawns, or navigating extremely tight spaces. It shares the core benefit of hover manoeuvrability but in a more compact package. It’s a downgrade in power and capacity, but for the right user, its smaller footprint and lower cost could make it the more sensible choice.

3. Hyundai Petrol Self Propelled Lawnmower 17″ 139cc

For those with large lawns where power and efficiency are paramount, the Hyundai Petrol Lawnmower represents a completely different class of machine. This is a self-propelled, petrol-powered workhorse. The 139cc engine provides immense torque to handle the toughest conditions, and the self-propulsion system removes the effort of pushing. Its 42cm (17″) cutting width and large 45L collector are built for covering large areas quickly. It’s heavier, louder, and requires more maintenance (oil and fuel) than the Flymo, but for anyone finding the EasiGlide 300 too small or under-featured for their large garden, this Hyundai is the type of robust, powerful tool they should be considering instead.

Our Final Verdict: A Powerful but Flawed Machine

The Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Lawn Mower is a mower of deep contradictions. On one hand, it houses a ferociously powerful 1700W motor that can chew through overgrown and tough grass with an enthusiasm that puts other mowers in its class to shame. It’s lightweight, easy to store, and offers that unique hover manoeuvrability that makes it a potential godsend for small, lumpy, and oddly shaped gardens.

On the other hand, its performance is severely undermined by significant design flaws. The grass collection is poor to the point of being frustrating, the build quality feels cheap in critical areas, and the cutting height adjustment mechanism is one of the worst we have ever tested. It feels like a brilliant engine has been dropped into a poorly thought-out chassis. We can only recommend this mower to a very specific user: someone with a small, challenging lawn who prioritises raw power and a low cut above all else, and who is willing to tolerate the mess and the frustrating adjustments. For everyone else, there are more refined and user-friendly options available. If you believe its power outweighs its drawbacks for your specific needs, you can find the best price for it online here.