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Quick answer
Tracked robot mowers run on tank-style treads instead of wheels, which gives them more grip on steep, wet or rough ground. The Lymow One is the main consumer example, rated for a 45-degree slope, steeper than any wheeled model. In hands-on testing it crossed obstacles and slopes that strand wheeled mowers. The trade-offs are weight, noise and price, and on a flat, tidy lawn a wheeled mower is the smarter buy.
Nearly every robot mower rolls on wheels. A small number run on tank-style tracks, and for one specific kind of yard, the steep, bumpy, awkward kind, that changes what’s possible.
MowReview hasn’t tested these mowers. Every observation below belongs to the tester named, and the drawbacks are real.
Why tracks help on hard ground
A wheel touches the ground at a small point. A track spreads contact along its whole length, which does two useful things: it grips better on slopes and loose or wet surfaces, and it spreads the machine’s weight so it’s less likely to sink or leave ruts. Tracks also climb over lips and roots that a wheel would catch on.
That’s why excavators and tanks use them, and why a tracked mower can go where a wheeled one gives up.
The tracked option
Lymow One
- Stated slope45° (100% grade)
- Stated obstacle clearance2 in
- DriveTank-style tracks
- NavigationRTK + VSLAM cameras
The Lymow One is the tracked mower testers are actually writing about. Freshly Charged ran one for a week in a real backyard with sprinkler heads, uneven ground and concrete borders, and reported it never got stuck once, handling 45-degree slopes and 2-inch obstacles. Techaeris tested the larger One Plus on a property with several slopes and found the tracks provided extraordinary traction over obstacles, roots and gravel. PCWorld measured its noise at 60 to 62 dB(A) and found the cut impressive, with cleanly mulched clippings.
Unlike most robot mowers, which use small razor-style blades, the Lymow uses rotary blades more like a conventional mower, which is what lets it deal with taller, thicker grass.
Good for
- Very steep yards, beyond what wheeled mowers manage
- Rough, rooty, uneven or wet ground
- Thick or slightly overgrown grass
Less good for
- Weight: Freshly Charged put it at 77.6 lb, heavier than the heaviest wheeled mowers
- Noise: louder than most wheeled robots because of the dual blades and tracks
- Flat, tidy lawns, where it’s far more machine than the job needs
- Proprietary blades, which the same reviewer flagged as a cost consideration
Tracked vs. all-wheel-drive wheeled mowers
Tracks aren’t the only way to handle a slope. All-wheel-drive wheeled mowers get most of the way there, and they’re lighter and quieter. Here’s how the two approaches compare.
| Tracked (Lymow One) | Wheeled AWD (e.g. Mammotion LUBA 3) | |
|---|---|---|
| Stated slope | 45° (100%) | About 39° (80%) |
| Very rough ground | Strongest | Good |
| Weight | Heaviest | Lighter |
| Noise | Louder | Quieter |
| Ruts on soft ground | Least likely (weight spread) | More likely |
| Best on a flat lawn? | Overkill | Overkill |
Slope figures are manufacturer-stated. Independent testers have confirmed the Lymow handling 45-degree slopes; treat all such ratings as maximums in good conditions.
A slope rating is still a maximum
Even a 45-degree rating assumes reasonable conditions. Saturated soil and the sharp change from steep slope to flat ground are where any mower is most likely to slip. Follow the manufacturer’s guidance, keep the mower off ground steeper than its rating, and never stand below a mower working on a bank.
If you’d rather avoid any ongoing cost, note that some capable mowers carry cellular fees: see robot mowers with no subscription.
Who should actually consider one
Worth it if your yard has slopes beyond about 39 degrees, or rough ground, roots, loose soil or wet grass that defeats wheeled mowers. This is a genuine problem-solver for a difficult property.
Not worth it if your lawn is flat, tidy and firm. You’d be paying for capability you’ll never use, carrying more weight and living with more noise. A wheeled mower, or an all-wheel-drive one for moderate hills, is the smarter choice. Our slope guide covers the wheeled AWD options, and the main buying guide covers everything else.
One more thing about fall
Rotary blades and thick grass are a strength, but tracked mowers aren’t leaf collectors any more than wheeled ones. One Lymow reviewer notes a heavy leaf or pine-needle drop will overwhelm the cutting deck, so you’ll still clear seasonal debris by hand. Our guide to acorns, pine cones and pine needles covers that.
Questions
How steep a slope can a tracked robot mower climb?
The Lymow One is rated for a 45-degree slope, which is a 100% grade, and independent testers have confirmed it handling 45-degree slopes in real yards. That’s steeper than any wheeled consumer model, where the highest ratings are around 39 to 40 degrees. As always, the rating is a maximum for good conditions.
Are tracked mowers better than all-wheel-drive wheeled ones?
On very steep, rough, wet or loose ground, yes. Tracks grip better and spread weight so they’re less likely to leave ruts. On flat, firm, tidy lawns they’re heavier, louder and more expensive for no benefit, so a wheeled mower is the better buy there.
Do tracked mowers damage the lawn?
Less than you might expect. Because a track spreads the machine’s weight over a long contact area, ground pressure is lower than a heavy wheeled mower, which reviewers note means less compaction and fewer ruts, even on wet grass. Sharp turns are the main thing to watch on any tracked machine.
Sources
- Freshly Charged: Lymow One review (week of backyard testing, weight, obstacles)
- Techaeris: Lymow One Plus review (traction on slopes, roots and gravel)
- GarageShopLawn: Lymow One review (noise, leaf handling, warranty)
- Lymow: Lymow One product page (slope, obstacle, blade and navigation specs)
- TechRadar: Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD review (wheeled AWD slope rating for comparison)
Steep yard, but not sure you need tracks?
All-wheel-drive wheeled mowers handle most hills for less weight and noise. Compare both.
