Research-led review · Updated May 2026
Mountfield Princess 34 Review
By The Best Mowers UK · Research-led assessment from specs and verified owner reviews
Specs
| Cutting width | 34 cm |
|---|---|
| Motor | 1400W electric |
| Power source | Corded (extension lead required) |
| Weight | 14 kg |
| Cut heights | 5 positions, 12-52 mm |
| Grass box | 35 litres |
| Rear roller | Yes (full-width) |
| Mulching | No |
| Self-propelled | No |
| Warranty | 2 years |
What owners praise
- Proper stripes at £249 - the full-width rear roller delivers. Visible, defined stripes after every mow. The cheapest way to get this result without spending Hayter money.
- Low cut height - goes down to 12 mm, which is bowling-green territory. If you're maintaining a fine ornamental lawn, this range is ideal.
- Solid build - Mountfield's Italian engineering shows. The deck feels rigid, the roller is properly weighted, and owner reports over a year or more describe nothing loosening or degrading.
- Quiet operation - corded electric with rear roller. Quieter than any petrol and you can mow early morning without disturbing anyone.
The drawbacks
- Corded - the eternal compromise. Managing a 20-25 m extension lead while mowing is tedious. You'll develop a system, but it's never elegant.
- 34 cm deck is narrow - lots of passes needed on anything over 200 m². Slow going on larger lawns.
- No mulching - collect only. The rear-roller design doesn't accommodate it. Fine if you always bag clippings; annoying if you prefer to mulch.
- Rear roller adds drag - at 14 kg with the roller resistance, you feel it pushing uphill. Not self-propelled, so you're providing all the force.
How it compares
The Flymo UltraGlide at £149 also has a rear roller but it's a hover hybrid - less defined stripes, more suited to uneven terrain. The Hayter Harrier 41 at £899 is the premium petrol alternative - vastly sharper stripes, self-propelled, but 3.5x the price. The Einhell GE-EM 1233 M at £139 is cheaper but has no roller - no stripes.
Who should buy it
UK gardeners with small, flat lawns (under 300 m²) who want proper stripes without spending Hayter money. Ornamental lawn enthusiasts who maintain low cut heights (12-30 mm). Anyone who values lawn aesthetics over convenience and doesn't mind a cable.
Don't buy it if your lawn is over 300 m² (too slow and the cable is a nightmare), if you need mulching (not available), if your garden has slopes (rear roller drag + push-only = hard work), or if you just want a basic mow without caring about stripes (Einhell at £139).
What owners actually say
Recurring feedback drawn from real owner reviews and forums. Attributed to source, not our own testing.
Owners buy it for the rear roller and the classic British stripe, and on that it delivers. The honest caveat from reviewers: being lightweight, the stripes are not as deep or long-lasting as a heavy petrol mower.
- LIKED
"The integrated rear roller leaves neat classic stripes with no extra effort." Mountfield owner reviews
- LIKED
"A solid steel deck and proper roller at a fraction of a petrol Princess." EasyLawnMowing
- GRIPE
"Being lightweight, the stripes it presses in do not last as long as a heavier mower would manage." Paul's Mower Reviews
- GRIPE
"The 34 cm model ships with a single 2 Ah battery; the 38 cm version adds a second for bigger lawns." Owner reviews
Sources: EasyLawnMowing, Paul's Mower Reviews, Mountfield owner reviews. Owner opinions are summarised and attributed; they reflect their authors, not The Best Mowers.