(Theres also a locking thumb-lever that keeps the speed where you want it if youre doing a bigger job.) What are the advantages of electric leaf blowers over gas-powered blowers? The powerful air intake shreds and compacts the leaves and other debris as it vacuums them up, fitting more into the collection bag for greater efficiency. Prices and availability of products and services are subject to change without notice. Service Fee may apply, see cart for details. This style is a compromise between clean, quiet operation and available power. In a cordless design, youll appreciate the battery power in the 20-volt Toro 51701 Cordless Leaf Blower. Should the unit become clogged, you want to be able to turn it off quickly. Covering up to 725 cubic feet per minute, this is a suitable choice for heavier duty lawn work. Brushless motor designs for a long life of maintenance-free leaf blowing. A flat, oval, or rectangular nozzle delivers a greater level of precision for sweeping leaves. Blower also has an onboard storage hook for the extension cord. With a 50-foot extension cord most people should have no trouble cleaning their lawns and patios with this plug-in blower, but if you need more length be sure to get 14-gauge extension cords: this blower draws 12 Amps, and that means typical 16 gauge cords will start getting too hot if you daisy-chain them out to 100 feet. The noise that this machine makes is unmistakable. The downsides to a two-stroke gas engine are also readily apparent. Your Best Digs saves you time and money with reviews of the products you need. Ace Hardware and the Ace Hardware logo are registered trademarks of Ace Hardware Corporation. Were here to help you do just that. Power switch: Having a power switch near the main handle of the machine is a key feature. While Toro doesnt offer gas-powered leaf blowers, it has a wide variety of electric models available, ensuring you can find just the right one for your yard. If youre allowed to make more noise during certain times of the day, consider a Toro leaf blower with variable power. If being tethered to an electrical outlet just isnt an option, gasoline-powered blowers are another way to go. There are also bigger lithium-ion cordless systems, like the 56V Power+ from Ego (out of stock when we purchased our testing group) that put out an impressive amount of air, but cant run longer than about 20 minutes on a battery. That also means its a bit easier to be careful about not blowing leaves across property lines or damaging flower beds, but it also means youll spend more time walking. We do extensive research and hands-on testing, so you can trust the products we recommend. Toro Ultra 260 mph 340 CFM 110 V Electric Handheld Leaf Blower/Vacuum, Toro PowerJet F700 140 mph 725 CFM Electric Handheld Leaf Blower, Toro 51821 110 mph 565 CFM 60 V Battery Handheld Leaf Blower Kit (Battery & Charger), Toro Power Sweep 160 mph 155 CFM Electric Handheld Blower, Toro 20V Max 115 mph 146 CFM 20 V Battery Handheld Sweeper Kit (Battery & Charger), Toro 51881 13 in. Theres a catch, though, to drawing all that current from the wall plug: you need to be careful about using a big enough cable to get power to your tool. Ace Rewards members spending $50 or more are eligible to receive free Next Day delivery on in-stock orders. It just doesnt move enough air to be effective at clearing large areas. We expect the majority of homeowners will find a high-quality Toro blower in our matrix. But this blower can go anywhere without worrying about cords, and it doesnt have the inconvenience and weight of a gas-powered blower. If youre concentrating on one spot a cord isnt a big hindrance, but this blower excels at roaming up and down long driveways just as well as clearing hard-to-reach gutters or the corners behind your trash cans. Whether your choose a Toro gas leaf blower or a cordless electric model, you can rely on high-quality engineering for a tool that provides years of reliable, efficient use. Has adjustable speed options. Refilling a gas tank is quick compared to waiting on a battery charger, but dont forget to keep some gas and two-cycle oil on hand in a gas can, or it could take you significantly longer to go re-supply at a gas station or hardware store. This powerful tool simplifies the job of cleaning up fallen leaves, and some models even have a vacuum mode and mulch the leaves for you. Ace Rewards members spending $50 or more are eligible to receive free Next Day delivery on in-stock orders. For big jobs, you might want to have a second battery charging while you use the first. Many experts advocate mulching organic material back into your lawn with a mower that chops up leaves and spreads them as it cuts. We paid $30 for the Greenworks blower, and that does count for something; if you dont already have a long extension cord, itll cost almost as much as this blower does. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. My neighborhood has restrictions on the noise level a leaf blower can generate. Using a cordless model on a slower speed when possible saves battery power. More and more towns are beginning to ban loud leaf blowers, even electric blowers, so find out about local ordinances. Nozzles: The shape of the nozzle helps you finish the job efficiently. Has an ergonomically designed soft-grip handle. A. Toro cordless leaf blowers generate less noise than other designs. The long handle is designed for a more ergonomic grip and the blower is lightweight for ease of use. We tested an additional data point: if you just need to blow a few leaves off your walk early on a Saturday morning, most of these blowers do offer a speed control that will let you turn down the noise. Plug-in blowers are very good at providing just the right amount of power for backyard leaf-blowing, and many also give you the option of vacuuming and mulching leaves for bagging or composting. Replacement battery: Toro PowerPlex 88541 MAX Lithium-Ion Battery The 3 key functions of this versatile blower are a powerful impeller-powered blower, leaf vacuum, and mulcher. Goes up to 120 MPH with turbo speed and can cover 605 cubic feet per minute. Toro offers corded and cordless electric leaf blowers. For clearing the driveway it works very well, unless you have a steep slope: these beasts are much easier to roll down a hill than they are to push back up. Whats more, curbside pickup of bagged leaves might not even be available in your area. Lower vibration levels for less muscle fatigue during use. The way your neighbours perceive the sound of your lawn tools is not the same as measured results, of course. And of course, we also stock a full range of replacement batteries and other components to keep your Toro blower working in peak condition. After two months of testing battery-powered, plug-in as well as two-stroke gas blowers on a ten-acre orchard, we found the Toro 51621 proved itself the best leaf blower. We measured the noise levels of each blower with our calibrated sound pressure level meter setup in three positions: at ear height, from 50 feet away and from 50 feet with the variable-speed control (if the blower has one) turned all the way down. Has a push to start button. You can buy additional battery packs to work longer, but the cost of a battery is a significant part of the tools price. Theres enough to move leaves around, more than the cordless DeWalt and almost as much as the big Worx multi-function machine, but its not any easier to carry around or use than our top pick from Toro. A Toro electric leaf blower takes all the power, efficiency and reliability of a Toro gas leaf blower and adds the valuable benefits of advanced battery technology, including: And what's more, the 60V battery technology used in some Toro cordless blowers delivers best-in-class performance, with excellent power output and run times to keep you working better for longer. Corded: You can find some corded Toro leaf blowers for as little as $40. Toro includes extra nozzles for specialized work and a well-designed vacuum function, making this a complete package. A. Toro only offers corded and cordless electric leaf blowers. Because of the leaf particles and dust flying around, youll want to wear safety glasses and a mask. Professional landscapers use gas-powered blowers not only for freedom of movement, but also because gas motors put out far more power than a compact battery is capable of. Q. Compared to the capacity and voltage comparisons between battery-powered tools, comparisons of plug-in appliances might seem pretty boring. Well take a bit of prying over lacerated fingers any day of the week. For example, we see that the outlet tip on the Toro blower makes the air go faster than the giant tube on Echos blower, so the Toro was able to keep up when blowing leaves around even though it doesnt move as much air overall. This model features a brushless motor and onboard intel for better performance throughout use. The metal impeller on this electric blower gives extra strength to blowing and mulching. Some homeowners strive to achieve the pristine green that you can only get by collecting leaves and clippings, and a blower with vacuum options is one tool that can help. Buying guide for best toro leaf blowers, Toro PowerPlex 88541 MAX Lithium-Ion Battery. Another inexpensive Toro leaf blower that has just a bit more power is the Toro 51617 Rake and Vac Leaf Blower. There are things to like about the TriVac WG509 from Worx, but on the whole its just not competitive. For nearly the same price, the Toro electric blower is much more powerful, more versatile, and easier to use. All of our reviews are unsponsored, so we earn money by using affiliate links. Participation and delivery area vary by store. Cubic feet per minute is a measurement of overall volume of air the blower can move and should always be a relatively accurate measurement of overall power. Toro is one of the most trusted and well-known brand names in outdoor power tools, and its expertise extends to leaf blowers. For those whose primary concern is quickly clearing a driveway or patio, extra power might not be all that important. Q. If you have a small yard, or you only want to blow leaves off the porch and sidewalk, a low-power unit will work nicely. We prefer to hang our cords on a hook in the garage, but Toro is providing real options that the other manufacturers just dont seem interested in. We measured how far each blower could throw a plastic pouch full of leaves with a quick-moving airstream. That said, the recall on a close competitor, the Black+Deckers BV5600, was over a very similar guard that was so loose it would fall off. As is the case with most cordless tools, this blower is very handy and great to have around, and you might be surprised at how little you notice the power difference compared to the ease of working without a cord. Password must be a minimum of 6 characters. (There are gas-powered leaf vacuums, but theyre becoming less and less common.). For spending an entire morning collecting leaves off your yard, this wouldnt be our first choice, but its very convenient not having to worry about cords or gas cans when the leaves start falling and you just want to clear off your deck. Using two hands on the blower better distributes the weight, so you can work for longer periods as well. Youll never have a dead battery with this style of blower. Using a cord in the yard can be a hassle because it can get tangled in bushes or wrapped around trees as you work. Theyre mounted on wheels because they weigh about 150 pounds, but the amount of power on tap is pretty impressive. For battery and gas-powered blowers, weve provided the average running times we achieved after a season of leaf-blowing. The outlet nozzle is small and hides underneath the large vacuum tube, which makes it tricky to maneuver in tight spaces. This is a worst-case runtime, though, with the trigger locked on full and no breaks. Plug-in power means you need a cord long enough to reach wherever youre blowing, but youll never have to worry about batteries or fuel. The 7-amp motor can cover 155 CFM and has up to 160 airspeed capabilities. Some other manufacturers may offer backpack-style units or wheeled units. Corded leaf blowers are inexpensive compared to other designs. Nonoise.org has a good collection of information from many American cities if you cant find info on a local county or city website. Be the first to hear about special offers, events, popular new items and helpful home improvement tips. This 40-volt PowerPlex battery can charge in two hours and works with several different Toro PowerPlex tools, including blowers and chainsaws. Even the on/off switch is about as basic as it could be. Homeowners love the look of stately trees on their propertiesuntil late autumn rolls around, that is. This lineup includes blowers with customer reviews that indicate more than just satisfactory performance and models regarded as quiet and efficient. So, in terms of the health of your ears, a 6dB difference is four times more sound. The second handle is usually positioned at the back of the machine. This is a special category of leaf blower for people who need to clear a large area of pavement or concrete quickly. Choose a few times that work best for you: Simply choose date & time option(s) that fit your schedule. However, you can expect the battery to run down after roughly 30 to 45 minutes of use. However, powerful leaf blowers cost more and generate more noise than blowers that generate less speed and power. For additional protection against flying debris, wear work boots, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, work gloves, and a hat. Carrying a cord around and moving from outlet to outlet isnt our favourite part of blowing leaves, but itll save you money and it means you never have to wait for a battery to charge. If you just let the leaves accumulate, theyll block the sunlight that your grass needs to store energy for winter or worse, the leaves can get soggy and musty. Grips: Toros handheld leaf blowers have either one or two handles. If it stopped there, wed all be a lot happier. If you need to work for longer than 20 minutes, though, the long charge time makes this a poor choice. Cordless: Toro cordless leaf blowers run off battery power. Weighing it at a little over 4.5 pounds, this electric model is easy to use while still delivering on functionality. He emigrated from Canada to California in 2013, and now writes for Your Best Digs full-time. The speed will change, though, depending on how much room the air has to move: a small opening will yield higher speeds with more blasting power, while a wide nozzle might be much better at moving a wide swath. Handyman Service is currently not available in your area. Your neighbors sleeping baby or dog will probably not care if youre below a legally allowable noise level, but its good to know where you stand. 65 dBA at 50 feet is a common daytime maximum, so be careful using any blower around sensitive neighbours. Electric blowers run more quietly and require less maintenance than gas-powered units, too. Lighter weight for easier portability and precise control. Ace Rewards members are eligible to receive free delivery on orders of $50 or more. If you need to move debris and gravel or to lift damp leaves out of your grass, then this is the chart thats going to be most important. Wire heats up when you run electricity through it, and the longer the cable is, the more it will heat up. A. Reduced noise levels ideal for suburban leaf blowing. Enhanced attachments on this blower can be used to calibrate the airflow. Powered by a 20Volt, rechargeable battery and has speed up to 115 MPH. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and, Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Leaf Blower. There are other options if you have a yard too big for a cord: handheld gas blowers like the Hitachi RB24EAP costs less than a backpack blower, but they dont put out significantly more air than our electric top pick. Toros top-selling blower, the plug-in model 51621, comes with a kit that includes mulching and bagging accessories as well as a variety of different air-shaping nozzles. This is a versatile kit, but we picked it primarily for its raw power output. It's easy to handle, quieter than a gas-powered blower and comes complete with accessories for vacuuming and bagging leaves. We tested the Echo PB-580T: a backpack-style blower with almost four times more working power than DeWalts 20V battery model. Battery-powered tools have been evolving steadily since Black & Decker created the first battery-powered drill using Nickel-Cadmium cells back in 1961. Change the power setting to match the noise limitations for the time of the day its in use. Having two handles allows you to aim the nozzle more accurately. A cord does limit the distance you can move around your yard, but theres a huge advantage: all the power youre using is stored in the grid, so you dont need to carry around a fuel tank or a heavy battery. We used a small weighted box to see how much brute force each blower has when you give it a big surface to blow against. The battery isnt going to astound you with its capacity, but theres enough working time for weekly yard chores. You can really only pick two of the following traits: Ease of use, run-time and freedom from cords. On the downside, youre limited in where you can use one by the length of the extension cord. If you take full advantage of the smooth and easy trigger control you should be able to get five or ten more minutes out of a battery, but its difficult to translate that to real-world time walking around your yard without defining exactly how much force you need to push your leaves and how far you need to push them. When utilizing the turbo speed, this battery dies much quicker. Several customers found that it didnt provide enough power. The Worx blower, on the other hand, is only slightly better than the tiny Greenworks blower despite the narrow nozzle. These electric leaf blowers weigh roughly 6 to 10 pounds. Battery-powered leaf blower allows for airflow control with a speed trigger and has a cruise control function. The Toro leaf blower range at Ace includes both traditional gas-powered models and advanced electric cordless blowers to provide your ideal combination of powerful performance and easy portability. Cordless: Toros cordless leaf blowers cost a little more than corded units, with a price range of $75 to $200. Note that the tiny motor does means itll safely run on a cheap 16-gauge extension cord all the way up to 100 feet. Were now seeing widespread use of Lithium Ion cells, very similar to the battery in your laptop or cell phone, which dont have nearly as many problems as older battery types. Gasoline-powered blowers have taken a real beating in the press this year, especially after a number of towns in New York and New Jersey decided to ban them during the summer months when theyre mostly used to clean up grass clippings, not to collect leaves. There is even a lobby organization dedicated to eliminating gas-powered landscaping tools, especially blowers. If youve already got one of those for a plug-in lawn mower, the Toro is an easy pick, but for nearly everyone else we still think its a great machine and worth the hassle. Its slightly less than a typical gas-powered chainsaw or string trimmer, though. These numbers are provided by the manufacturers, and theyre only measuring the amount of energy thats used up rather than the amount of actual work done, but its a handy reference for the size and power of a machine. The backpack blower is a tool that makes no compromises: it goes where corded blowers and even the big walk-behind gas blowers just cant go, but it can keep going for as long as you can keep topping off the fuel tank. With a 270 CC Honda engine attached directly to a giant fan, its rated to push 2260 cfm of air more than five times what our top electric blower puts out. This cordless blower works great to quickly clear dirt, debris, and leaves off the driveway or patio. A round nozzle can move wet leaves and small sticks with additional power. This 100-foot all-purpose cord is good for indoor or outdoor use and comes with a lifetime replacement warranty. For reference, some ordinances prohibit sound levels as low as 50 dBA before 7 AM in residential communities. The battery and the ergonomic handle allow you to work a long time between charges. Hand-held gas blowers didnt make this review since, aside from those noise and pollution complaints, theyre both expensive and require more maintenance than many homeowners will want to deal with. Of course when you pull the trigger to spin the fan up this is a loud machine. Mulch Ratio is how much space youll save if you mulch your leaves instead of raking them into a bag whole. Toro lists 97% reduction to half-inch pieces, while Worx claims an 18:1 reduction. Be sure the mask can capture fine particles. Its easy to ramp the speed up and down if you have a free hand, but its not like the trigger-control on the DeWalt cordless blower that lets you flick precise blasts of air. Has adjustable speed of up to 140 MPH, a low-noise motor, and a long and comfortable handle. Effectively, this blower makes up for a lack of reach by making it easier to get close to the leaves youre blowing.