I originally bought the Vivosun Compost Tumbler, with the intention of reviewing it, two years ago. It’s been sitting in my garden, thoroughly tested and thoroughly unreviewed, ever since – far longer than it reasonably should have!
(It’s a sad comment on how often gardening gets in the way of writing for this site.)
Fortunately, with a mix of my early notes and two years of use, I can finally give a proper verdict on how this tumbler performs.
At a glance
I’ve used this tumbler for two years. It’s sturdy, great value, and perfect for small gardens. Just be ready for a fiddly build and keep it sheltered from the rain.
- Capacity: Compact – best for small gardens or patios
- Pros: Easy to turn, tidy design, good moisture visibility
- Cons: Fiddly assembly, can collect rainwater, limited capacity
- Best for: Small households or first-time composters
Assembly
Putting the Vivosun tumbler together isn’t particularly difficult, but it’s fiddly and time-consuming. It took me well over an hour to assemble – there are a lot of screws.
A word of advice: get all the screws in as you go. I missed a few, and trying to reach back through to add them later was a real pain. The central piece also kept popping out until I fitted the final panel, at which point everything finally slotted neatly into place.
Disclaimer: I’m not remotely handy – if you are, you might find the process easier than I did!
Capacity and Use
For its size, the Vivosun tumbler actually holds more than you’d expect. However, for a larger garden, it’s simply not big enough.
To give you an idea, I filled it in no time after adding:
- The contents of two small kitchen caddies from work
- Several buckets of weeds
- Some mature compost
- A few semi-rotted sticks to create air pockets
It’s perfectly suited for small-scale composting, but if you’re managing a big garden, you’ll run out of space quickly.
Turning and Aeration
When empty, the tumbler is so light it turns in the breeze – literally! Once loaded, it gains some resistance, but it still turns smoothly and easily.
For the casual composter, this keeps things easy – you just need the occasional turn to keep compost aerated.
Once it gets wet (see next section), the material gets a lot heavier, and the turning gets more difficult.
Moisture Control
Let’s start with a pro – it’s easy to monitor moisture levels. With a
Unfortunately, it’s not water proof. So after heavy rain, moisture tends to build up inside, slowing decomposition and sometimes causing unpleasant smells.
I live in a very wet climate, and for much of the year the compost material in the tumbler ends up soaking. That leads to anaerobic (airless) composting, which significantly slows the process.
Of course, the same can happen with an open compost heap, unless you cover it. So I wouldn’t let it put you off if you can keep the tumbler under cover or are happy to throw a cover over it.
Who It’s For
The Vivosun Compost Tumbler is best for small-scale composters – people with limited outdoor space who mainly want to recycle kitchen waste and the occasional batch of weeds.
If you have a medium or large garden, you’ll fill it up far too quickly. In that case, a traditional
Verdict
The Vivosun Compost Tumbler is a solid, beginner-friendly composter that’s ideal for small gardens or patios. Once assembled, it’s tidy, easy to use, and great for waste from kitchens/small gardens.
If you have a larger garden or can’t protect it from rain, you’ll want something bigger or better sealed. But for first-time composters or anyone short on space, it’s a good start.