Bosch Rotak 36 R
Bosch Rotak 36 R Specifications
| Manufacturer | Bosch |
| Model | Rotak 36 R |
| Dimensions (H x L x W) | 61.8 x 40.4 x 37cm |
| Type | Walk behind, rotary mower |
| Weight | 11.1KG |
| Power | Corded electric |
| Wattage | 1400W |
| Cable length | 12m |
| Cutting width | 36cm |
| Blade material | Metal |
| Cutting height | 20 - 70mm |
| Grass box | 40L |
| Mulching capability | ❌ |
| Rear roller | ✅ |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Price | Check on Amazon |
Bosch Rotak 36 R Review
The Bosch Rotak 36 R is a mid-budget electric corded mower. Featuring a 36cm cutting width, it’s designed for small to medium sized lawns. A 12m long power cable is included – there is no battery or petrol engine on the Rotak 36 R.
This electric rotary lawn mower has five cutting height settings, from 20mm up to 70mm, and comes with a large 40L grass collection box. There is also a rear roller for stripes on the back of this mower, helping to create patterns on your lawn if desired.
Although this isn’t the cheapest lawn mower on the market, it’s one of the cheapest lawn mowers with a 36cm cutting width and a rear roller.
Assembly
Before you plug in and begin using your new Bosch mower, some assembly is required.
On the whole, it’s not difficult to put this mower together, although the instructions could be more clear.
You should be able to assemble the grass box, attach the handle, and have the mower ready to use after about 15 to 20 minutes.
Ease of use
The Bosch Rotak 36R is very easy to use. To get going, all you need to do is plug it in, and you’re ready to mow.
It’s an easy mower to manoeuvre, mostly because it has a lightweight feel to it. In fact, the grass collection box does feel a bit flimsy.
This is a matter of personal preference really. If you prefer lightweight lawn mowers that are easy to move around, then you’ll like this mower. But if you’d prefer something more sturdy, you may have to pay a little more for a heavier mower.
Apart from that, the grass box is easy to open and empty out. Bosch have also designed the front corners of the mower so as to allow for easy mowing right up to the edge of your grass, which is a nice touch. Most lawn mowers at this price point don’t come with grass combs.
Power
Bosch includes a 1400W electric motor with this lawn mower. For the price, this wattage is about what you’d expect. It’s slightly lower than the 1500W included on the Flymo Speedi-Mo 360C, which is a very similar mower.
The Bosch motor provides plenty of power though – this mower works well on thick grass, as well as slightly damp lawns.
Corded electric mowers like this one typically either come with a 10m or 12m power cable. For example, the Rotak 32 R, which we’ve also taken the time to review, comes with the shorter 10m cable.
Fortunately though, the 36 R comes with a longer 12m cable, giving you a bit more freedom to mow a slightly larger lawn. You should still check that this is enough length to reach from the nearest mains outlet, otherwise you might need an extension lead to bridge the distance.
Mowing effectiveness
With its 36cm cutting width, 1400W motor and quality steel blade design, the Bosch Rotak 36 R mower produces a clean cut on basically anything you throw at it. As we mentioned above, it’ll reach the edges of your grass, thanks to its grass combs, and isn’t fazed by thicker, longer grass.
Another thing we really like about this mower is the five available cutting height adjustment settings. The 20mm – 70mm range of cutting heights provided just about covers any type of mowing you might be doing – from a short cut to manage fast-growing grass in summer, to a higher 70mm cut as you prepare your grass for hibernation in winter.
Having a mower at this price with a 36cm cutting width is really great. In terms of mowing efficiency, the difference between 30 and 36cm is night and day. Do note however that you might want a smaller mower if you have a very small patch of lawn, as the Rotak 36 R might feel a bit big in this type of garden.
The only thing this mower struggles with is steep slopes. If you have an uneven lawn you may be better off looking at hover mowers.
Mulching
There is no mulching plug or other mulching setting on the Bosch Rotak 36 R. You’ll have to collect your grass clippings in the included 40L grass box.
We must say that this Bosch mower does perform well when it comes to collecting clippings. It doesn’t make a massive mess of your garden. And the grass box provides plenty of capacity for small to medium sized gardens.
If you’re looking for a mower to mulch your clippings, check out our mulching mower buyer’s guide.
Ergonomics
This mower is one of the few at this price point that advertises its ergonomics as a key selling point. What Bosch has done is include “Ergoflex” ergonomic handles, made of soft rubber, that point at a 90-degree angle to the actual handle of the lawn mower. These handles are included on most Bosch mowers these days.
But do they make a difference?
They’re nothing ground breaking, but we do like the 90-degree handle extensions Bosch has included. They’re adjustable, and can be more comfortable for some people than just pushing the main handle. Rememeber, you can always ignore the Ergoflex handles and just grab the mower by its normal handle if you prefer.
Another thing we like about the handles is how Bosch have included multiple triggers. Rather than having just one trigger handle, which can sometimes be quite flimsy, there are four trigger points to choose from. This is a nice little feature that makes just the mower very slightly easier to use.
Durability
The grass box on this mower is quite flimsy, and the entire mower is made largely of plastic. This is how Bosch has been able to keep the weight down so much.
As a result, this isn’t the most durable mower in the world. It will do fine with regular use, but we’d recommend being relatively delicate with the outer shell on the top, and the grass box, when storing it away for example.
Also, if you do buy this mower, be sure to activate the product on the Bosch website. This gets you a 3-year warranty, rather than the 2 years included by default.
Value for money
This isn’t the cheapest lawn mower in the world, but it’s by no means expensive either.
You get a decent bit in return for what you pay. For example, very few mowers at this price would have a 3-year warranty, and few would work as well on tall grass.
Overall, the Rotak 36 R is great value for money.
The verdict
4.2/5 – Efficient, reasonably-priced, easy to use lawn mower
There are very few downsides to this mower. The slightly flimsy feel is the only real thing letting it down.
If you’re looking for an electric rotary mower to cut a small or medium sized patch of grass, this option is definitely worth considering. It mows well, is easy to use, and has a good range of cutting height adjustment settings.
Just ensure to activate the complete warranty if you do buy this mower, in case one of the more flimsy parts ends up breaking.
Bosch Rotak 36 R alternatives
Looking for a cheaper mower, a smaller option, or something more sturdy?
Here are some alternatives to the Bosch Rotak 36 R.
I’m Josh, and I’m the head writer at Lawn Care Pro.
I love everything lawns, but I’m a bit of a lawn mower nerd. I spend a lot of my free time tinkering with mowers, and planning my mowing schedule for the next few weeks.
I’m also into cars, which comes in very helpful when servicing a mower engine!
