What kind of leaf blower do i need

This is a notable feature, especially now that more and more of your neighbors are likely spending a lot of time at home. We never considered the other cordless blower to be loud, but after having used the Ryobi for a bit, they sounded squealy. The handle of the Ryobi is another high point. The Ego tends to tip forward, so wrist effort is needed to tip it up. With the ability to lock in the angle of the Ryobi's body, we could nearly eliminate all wrist strain.

This feature also works to offset the heavy weight of the Ryobi, over 10 pounds by our measurement. For downsides, other than not having the overwhelming power or run time of the Ego, the Ryobi has the rear intake, which can pull in clothing as the blower is passed in front of you.

Note too, however, that these volt batteries are not compatible with Ryobi cordless tools such as drills and saws. This blower achieves its 40 volts of power through two volt batteries that both attach to the blower. Charging these would be an inconvenience, but the dual port charger is capable of filling both batteries at the same time. It has a very long run time and, at almost 29 minutes, it exceeds the run time of our Ego pick.

Also, because the volt batteries are so small, the Worx blower is very, very light. Our measurement put it at a little over 7 pounds, about 3 pounds lighter than the Ryobi and Ego.

A last thing to consider with the Worx is that its volt platform is fairly large and includes a lot of smaller hand tools, like drills and saws. There are some interesting items like a robot mower, but for an overall complete package, Ryobi has more to offer.

Of all the gas blowers our landscapers looked at, this was the one model they universally loved. The fact that the BR moved leaves better than the other backpack blowers set it ahead of the pack, but all of the small touches in the overall design were what especially appealed to Walker and his crew. None of the other blowers we looked at combined such power with such smart features.

You can find more powerful blowers than the Stihl BR , but as far as Walker is concerned, this midsize model offers all the blowing power anyone would ever need. Comparing that blower with models of a similar size, Walker and his crew liked the BT for its ample power, manageable weight, and relatively quiet operation.

But it took longer to move leaves than the Stihl BR Walker and his crew have used the Stihl BR for more than four years, and it has continued to be well received. We prefer the low cost and high performance of the Toro F But its leaf-blasting ability was just not on a par with that of the Toro F or the Worx WG in our tests.

On top of that, the variable-speed knob is so far from the handle that you need to operate it with a second hand.

There are definite differences between models and we think that the picks above offer the best combination of performance, features, and cost. But the other models, especially those from reputable companies like DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Toro are all solid tools as well. We value an uncluttered life and the streamlined nature of a single battery system, may outweigh the cost as well as the performance differences found in these dismissed models.

First, it has a very short runtime. In our test, the battery expired at the 13 minute mark, considerably shorter than the Ego and five minutes less than the Ryobi VNM, which we recommend.

The price difference is minimal, so we prefer the LB But we think the extra power and convenience of the larger battery is worth the extra cost for most people. We prefer the premium run time of the Ego LB It has two battery ports, so you can drop a second battery in and it will run on them sequentially for a longer total run time.

A fully charged battery lasted only 9 minutes. The Oregon BL had a short run time of just over 13 minutes on high. We tested the Kobalt 80 V Lithium-Ion Cordless Blower , and we found it to be powerful but hamstrung by an 8-minute run time. Stihl also has a cordless blower, the BGA 85 , but we did not test it due to its exorbitant price. Judging from their low run times in a recent Popular Mechanics test, we determined that they would be unlikely to match our picks' performance.

The BR let out a high-pitched, ear-withering squeal that was impossible to ignore even with our hearing protection on. At first, Walker and his crew liked the looks of the now-discontinued Ryobi RYA 42cc Backpack Blower , praising it for its ergonomics and general ease of use. That, combined with positive reviews from Popular Mechanics and other sites, led us to choose this model as a budget pick in our guide.

Unfortunately, this blower did not hold up well during long-term testing: After only a few months of using this model, Walker reported, his crew began to avoid it due to problems starting a hot engine. They immediately identified the knob that tightens the joystick control in place as a weak point. We also had problems securing the blower tubes on the BT. This leading marketer of electric and battery leaf blowers uses the Leaf Hog line name on some models.

Craftsman is one of the leading brands of electric and gas leaf blowers. The Craftsman gas leaf blower line includes handhelds and backpacks. Echo makes professional-grade handheld and backpack gas leaf blowers. Its gas blowers tend to be lighter weight but offer considerable power.

They're available at Home Depot, outdoor power-equipment dealers, and hardware stores. Ego makes battery-powered handheld and backpack-style blowers. Ego leaf blowers use the same volt battery that powers the company's electric lawn mowers, string trimmers, chain saws, and snow blowers.

Ego leaf blowers and other outdoor power tools are available online and at Lowe's. A major manufacturer of gas-powered outdoor power equipment, Husqvarna—from Sweden—makes leaf blowers, chain saws, and string trimmers, among other tools.

Its products are sold at local dealers as well as Lowe's stores. It makes premium handheld gas and battery blowers, as well as backpack blowers, many of which are marketed to professionals. A Lowe's exclusive brand of leaf blowers, string trimmers, mowers, and other outdoor power equipment. Kobalt makes primarily battery handheld leaf blowers. The house brand at Home Depot, Ryobi is a major manufacturer of leaf blowers in most configurations, particularly handhelds. It makes gas and battery handheld leaf blowers, as well as gas-powered backpack units.

Stihl makes professional-grade gas leaf blowers and high-end electric models. It sells exclusively through outdoor power-equipment dealers. Stihl uses the HomeScaper line name on some consumer-grade models. Another leading brand of electric leaf blowers, Toro makes lightweight plug-in electric models that weigh 5 to 8 pounds.

Toro leaf blowers are among the most widely available and can be found at mass merchants, home centers, web retailers, and hardware stores. Weed Eater sells electric and gas leaf blowers. The products are value-priced, and many are lightweight.

Weed Eater can be found at mass merchants, web retailers, and hardware stores. When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. Learn more. Sharing is Nice Yes, send me a copy of this email. Send We respect your privacy. Decent all-around performance Scraper tip. Broad, effective airstream Well balanced. Short run time.

Lightweight Works well on hard surfaces. Not effective on deep or wet leaves. Ryobi Very quiet Reasonably powerful.

Heavier than other options. Nitro WG Worx amazon. Adaptable Reasonably powerful. High-pitched whine. Off-set blower tube Double duty as a leaf vacuum. Could be loud for neighbors. Makita walmart. Lightweight Shares volt batteries with other tools. Broad air stream Quiet, for a gas blower. Arm fatigue on long sessions. BR C-E Magnum. Stihl stihlusa.

Maximum leaf-clearing power. Husqvarna amazon. Good blend of comfort and power. Surprisingly loud. Greenworks amazon. Light and compact Comfortable straps. Non-turbo mode too slow for deeper leaves. Echo PBT. Massive power Works on wet leaves. Ryobi homedepot. Quiet Highly adjustable straps. Stiff cruise control lever. Husqvarna lowes. Powerful airstream Easy to start.

Roy Berendsohn Senior Home Editor Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. Bradley Ford Test Editor Brad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano. More From Power Tools Guide. They are blower tubes that are attached to the machine.

They also feature a unique curved feature section at their nozzle end. This element enables the quick clearance of built-up detritus from a gutter without the demand and need to climb up your ladder and hold a cumbersome device above the shoulder height for extended hours. The accessory makes it easy for you to clean up the gutters in the safest ways possible.

You can also quickly blast dried leaves as well as other additional debris when keeping both your feet planted on the ground. Ideal for homeowners and professionals, vacuum cleaners and the kits have successfully demonstrated that if you have the right type of accessories in hand, then a leaf blower can provide an exceptional level of versatility accompanied by the simplicity of the design. As a result, you can always rest assured of long-lasting performance coupled with quality, depending on your chosen attachments.

The corded electric model is one of the most affordable leaf blowers in the world. Cordless leaf blowers are expensive because of their convenience. However, its battery life is not as mind-blowing. If you want a better battery life, coupled with additional impeccable features, then you can pay more than the standard amount stipulated initially.

This highly depends on the features as well as brand type. Save your money on the battery. Many manufacturers have two standard batteries coupled with chargers.

They are compatible with various tools. So before you purchase one, you need to check and ensure that the existing tools have a battery and a charger that will be used with the one you intend to purchase, as this can save you money. At the same time, you may see it as a perfect chance to buy another battery for the tools.

This is because, in many cases, batteries are cheaper, especially when purchased with a machine. Most of the time, it is useful to have a second one charged as well as ready to go immediately you are prepared to blow those leaves away.

You need to note that the price of a leaf blower does not necessarily guarantee its quality. So you should check our leaf blower reviews before finding the best brand that suits your budget. By using an ideal and high-quality leaf blower, you will be in a position to deal with the autumn leaves.

A lousy model on the other side is likely to make you struggle when it comes to cleaning. What features do different types of leaf blowers have? What elements do the best brands on the market contain? We did extensive research.

In this next paragraph, you shall learn what it takes to pick the right leaf blower for your cleaning needs. Every type of leaf blower comes with its pros and cons, as we stated earlier.

For the gas-powered devices, one drawback you need to weigh in on is the fact that it is heavier than an electric leaf blower. On the other hand, an electric leaf blower comes with a cord. This limits your movement in many ways. Deciding what really works best for your cleaning demands can play a role in synching your research. All too often, it is essential to learn that gas blowers come with two leading engine types, but they all use gas, of course.

Some leaf blowers with the four-cylinder engine need a gas and oil hybrid that can cost slightly more than the typical gas-fed motors. And of course, even in the case of the gas-fed engine motors, you shall still need to incorporate additional maintenance costs such as purchasing oil.

On that note, gas-powered leaf blowers appear to be more advantageous. The electric leaf blowers are quieter. They are also lighter as they do not require oil maintenance. But the blowers come with a cord as well as a bare battery charged. But the blowers come with a cord as well as a rare battery charged.

The batteries can quickly run out, depending on the frequency of usage. Here, electric leaf blowers appear to be ideal for smaller jobs. To choose the best leaf blower for you, you have to look at several factors. Here is a detailed checklist:.

Acquiring a leaf blower is a necessary purchase. It should take you some time as well as consideration. Our breakdown herein entails what you need to look for, especially for a start. Using our buying guide, you should be in a position to select an ideal leaf blower for the demands you have.

Share our tips with your friends, co-workers, or family who may need a user guide. A two-stroke gasoline engine forms the backbone of various essential power tools such as a chainsaw. Gasoline chainsaws need to be topped up with fuel before they can be used. The fuel is usually A chainsaw requires timely maintenance to make sure its performance stays up to the mark.

Poorly maintained chainsaws can encounter numerous issues during operation. Some of them can lead to costly