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. Free delivery offer excludes same day delivery. We picked the plug-in Toro for its great balance of impressive power that comes in a quiet and maneuverable package. A few of our Toro cordless leaf blower models can be seamlessly switched to vacuum mode for extra clearing versatility for round the yard chores. We looked primarily at brands that are well-reviewed and easy to find and purchase. FREE for Ace Rewards Members on Orders $50+ Sign In/Join Now. How do I know how much power I need in a Toro leaf blower? Its still as loud as a vacuum cleaner, so youre not going to be some kind of lawn ninja who clears leaves unnoticed, but its a nice perk. Its a high-pitched whine, too, definitely something your neighbours and family will notice. However, powerful leaf blowers cost more and generate more noise than blowers that generate less speed and power. 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. None of our reviews are sponsored. 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. Certain models of Toro leaf blowers can generate air speeds as high as 250 mph on the most powerful setting. Has a push to start button. This cordless blower works great to quickly clear dirt, debris, and leaves off the driveway or patio. 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. 16-gauge cords are common and will work well for our big plug-in blowers at 50 feet, but thats not the end of the story. 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. All rights reserved. If youre still raking leaves, you need to invest in a Toro leaf blower. The long handle is designed for a more ergonomic grip and the blower is lightweight for ease of use. If being tethered to an electrical outlet just isnt an option, gasoline-powered blowers are another way to go. 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. We picked two models with vacuum and bagging options, both well-regarded for their capabilities there. Rest assured, we'll call to confirm. Covering up to 725 cubic feet per minute, this is a suitable choice for heavier duty lawn work. 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. Unless youre blowing for more than a few hours every day, only the gas-powered blower is loud enough reach noise exposure levels that cause damage. Comes with 2 speed options, has a quiet motor, and the smaller size makes it easy to store. Ultra 250 MPH 350 CFM Electric 12 Amp Blower/Vacuum/Mulcher. Another feature that solidified the Toros spot in first place is a blue hook that slips over the blower tube and gives you a way to wrap your extension cord neatly around the blower for storage. Powered by a 20Volt, rechargeable battery and has speed up to 115 MPH. If you've struggled to find places to plug in your lawn tools, this battery-powered blower will save you from over-long extension cords. When utilizing the turbo speed, this battery dies much quicker. For screen reader problems with this website, please call. Has adjustable speed of up to 140 MPH, a low-noise motor, and a long and comfortable handle. We do extensive research and hands-on testing, so you can trust the products we recommend. Brushless motor designs for a long life of maintenance-free leaf blowing. You need to mix special oil into the gasoline (or buy pre-mixed fuel), and the difference in noise levels is huge. You can carry a cordless leaf blower anywhere on your property because you arent limited by the length of an extension cord. My neighborhood has restrictions on the noise level a leaf blower can generate. It has a USB port and convenient handle, too. Cordless: Toros cordless leaf blowers cost a little more than corded units, with a price range of $75 to $200. The added accessories do make a difference, though. Greenworks didnt provide any consideration for vacuuming, different blower patterns, variable speed or easy cord-wrapping. 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. What about safety for you, the owner of the blower? If you need to buy a 100 cord or tie two 50 cords together, you should go up in size to 14-gauge wire. 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. Participation and delivery area vary by store. 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. Or, if you need any advice on your choice of Toro blower, parts or accessories, call into your local Ace Hardware and our expert staff will be happy to help. The only reason we might recommend this blower over the Toro is if you need to switch quickly and frequently between blowing and vacuuming leaves: Worx made this blower so you can leave the bag attached all the time, and switch the output between the bag and the blower tube with a simple flip of a lever. Sign in for faster checkout and to redeem and earn rewards! This is a versatile kit, but we picked it primarily for its raw power output. The PB-580T from Echo is a representative pick: this was a well-reviewed and economical choice from a wide field of two-cycle gas blowers. A. Theres no definitive standard for where or how to measure airspeed, so weve done actual testing with weighted test objects and common tasks to give you an idea of how the blowers put their power to work. 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. 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. Theyre mounted on wheels because they weigh about 150 pounds, but the amount of power on tap is pretty impressive. 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. The price is especially hard to swallow, basically double what you pay for a good plug-in blower like our top pick. 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. Even the backpack blower isnt as loud as a chainsaw or a weed wacker, but if youre using any blower for a full day at work you should definitely be wearing hearing protection such as ear plugs. Daniel is a Canadian farm boy who grew up to be a nerd with a literature degree and too many hobbies to count. (If you want a gas-powered leaf blower, youll have to try a different manufacturer.) Gas-powered blowers are also becoming increasingly less popular with neighbours and city councils, so think carefully about who might be affected by your leaf-blower choices. With a large area to tend, a powerful blower can help you do the job faster. The battery isnt going to astound you with its capacity, but theres enough working time for weekly yard chores. Electric blowers run more quietly and require less maintenance than gas-powered units, too. 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. Black+Deckers BV5600 got a good review from The Wirecutter and Popular Mechanics and goes together as a kit in a similar way. If you select a corded leaf blower, you need to purchase a high-quality extension cord to reach all areas of your property. It has more power than the cordless DeWalt blower or the little GreenWorks blower, but compared with the Toro its very underwhelming. The 3 key functions of this versatile blower are a powerful impeller-powered blower, leaf vacuum, and mulcher. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and, Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Leaf Blower. 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. See Details, I am interested in: (check all that apply). Some other manufacturers may offer backpack-style units or wheeled units. For reference, some ordinances prohibit sound levels as low as 50 dBA before 7 AM in residential communities. The lower output also means this is also a very quiet blower, and the variable-speed trigger is by far the easiest to use of the bunch. Toro offers corded and cordless electric leaf blowers. Ace Rewards members spending $50 or more are eligible to receive free Next Day delivery on in-stock orders. Mulching leaves is a valuable part of lawn management, but we cant say that theres a leaf vacuum on the market that will make bagging an entire lawn worth of leaves easy. Check the leaf blowers user guide for any other specific safety gear to use with that particular model. Be the first to hear about special offers, events, popular new items and helpful home improvement tips. That reliability also comes with plenty of performance, with turbo boost modes providing powerful blowing speeds, making it simple to dislodge compacted clumps of leaves before lowering the speed for extended run times. However, if youre seeking different features, we did consider a few other products. The way your neighbours perceive the sound of your lawn tools is not the same as measured results, of course. We earn a commission when you purchase items through our links. We looked at top-rated blowers from publications like Consumer Reports, Popular Mechanics and GardeningProductsReview.com. If youre allowed to make more noise during certain times of the day, consider a Toro leaf blower with variable power. Join our newsletter to get notified of the best products available for your home. The noise that this machine makes is unmistakable. 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. A flat, oval, or rectangular nozzle delivers a greater level of precision for sweeping leaves. 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. Toro includes extra nozzles for specialized work and a well-designed vacuum function, making this a complete package. Its slightly less than a typical gas-powered chainsaw or string trimmer, though. Replacement battery: Toro PowerPlex 88541 MAX Lithium-Ion Battery
Blower also has an onboard storage hook for the extension cord. 2022 Ace Hardware. Cordless tools, on the other hand, will rarely advertise how much energy theyre actually consuming, nearly always emphasizing the voltage and capacity (amp-hours or watt-hours) of the battery instead. Buying guide for best toro leaf blowers, Toro PowerPlex 88541 MAX Lithium-Ion Battery. Enhanced attachments on this blower can be used to calibrate the airflow. Grips: Toros handheld leaf blowers have either one or two handles. Being able to switch to vacuum-mode means you can do jobs that simple blowers cant. 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. A 14-gauge extension cord is not as easy to find or inexpensive as a 16-gauge cord, but its well worth the cost when you consider what might happen if you melt a cord running too much current through it. This cordless blower has a brushless motor for longer runtime and more power. There are things to like about the TriVac WG509 from Worx, but on the whole its just not competitive. Electric blowers weigh less than gas-powered leaf blowers, allowing you to use them for longer periods without wearing out your arms. Having two handles allows you to aim the nozzle more accurately. Features include a wide-coverage oscillating nozzle attachment for blower mode, a shredding ring for the leaves, and a zippered bag to hold all the debris. This style is a compromise between clean, quiet operation and available power. Bigger is better, right? (There are gas-powered leaf vacuums, but theyre becoming less and less common.). Trees provide plenty of shade all spring and summer. 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. 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. Select 2 or more products for side-by-side feature comparison. Starting never took more than a few pulls if we followed the prime/choke/throttle/pull procedure carefully, but thats still a lot of steps compared to the power-and-go simplicity of electric blowers. Even the on/off switch is about as basic as it could be. The outlet nozzle is small and hides underneath the large vacuum tube, which makes it tricky to maneuver in tight spaces. Our delivery program lets you get the qualifying items delivered from the store to your door by a helpful Ace associate. advocate mulching organic material back into your lawn, this study from Michigan State University, Consumer Reports has published this guide, our brains respond in an even less linear way to changes in sound. For nearly the same price, the Toro electric blower is much more powerful, more versatile, and easier to use. A. Toro cordless leaf blowers generate less noise than other designs. We definitely appreciated having the vacuum options on two of the blowers we tested, but we found them most useful for selective work. A. Toro only offers corded and cordless electric leaf blowers. The Toro 51621 is a blower that will do everything you need a backyard blower or vacuum to do, if you have a long enough cord. You can buy additional battery packs to work longer, but the cost of a battery is a significant part of the tools price. Measurements are A-weighted (as most industry regulations require) and averaged over 30 seconds using Room EQ Wizard to ensure consistency. Corded leaf blowers are inexpensive compared to other designs. Extension cord: Iron Forge Cable Extension Cord
Pre-mixed gas like TruFuel is a handy way to keep fuel on hand for occasional use, but its not cheap. Amps is a measurement of the amount of electricity that travels through a circuit each second. Its not a vacuum or mulcher, and its not lightweight or quiet, but if you need to clean a -mile-uphill driveway its practically perfect. But this blower can go anywhere without worrying about cords, and it doesnt have the inconvenience and weight of a gas-powered blower. Has a strong vibration when using it that can be uncomfortable. Has an ergonomically designed soft-grip handle. Password must be a minimum of 6 characters. Greenworks makes a lot of inexpensive lawn tools, and the 24012 is pretty much what youd expect. 2022 Your Best Digs - All rights reserved. Q. Many experts advocate mulching organic material back into your lawn with a mower that chops up leaves and spreads them as it cuts. There is even a lobby organization dedicated to eliminating gas-powered landscaping tools, especially blowers. Youd be wise to wear hearing protection like ear plugswhen youre doing big jobs, but it doesnt put out the ear-splitting volume of something like a chainsaw. Using two hands on the blower better distributes the weight, so you can work for longer periods as well. 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. Compared to the capacity and voltage comparisons between battery-powered tools, comparisons of plug-in appliances might seem pretty boring. Nozzles: The shape of the nozzle helps you finish the job efficiently. Be sure the mask can capture fine particles. We didnt test a hand-held gas blower because the electric models were so highly rated, but gasoline still has a place on a property with lots of ground to cover. Toros top-seller has all the power and accessories you could want. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections. You can carry one for long periods without tiring. If you buy a battery-powered Toro leaf blower, youll need a replacement battery at some point, because the battery naturally loses its ability to hold a full charge after a few years of use. To use it as a vacuum, you can exchange the blower tube for a bag, and the guard over the intake fan for a vacuum tube. Because Toro leaf blowers are only offered as corded and cordless electric, they are less expensive than gas-powered leaf blowers from other manufacturers. The wide nozzle seems to make it difficult to control the direction of leaves and debris. A. The downsides, naturally, are many. Orders must be placed on days the store is open, before 4pm local time or 2 hours before store closing time, whichever is earlier. If we had to pick just one blower for an urban backyard, it would definitely be plug-in. All of our reviews are unsponsored, so we earn money by using affiliate links. It's easy to handle, quieter than a gas-powered blower and comes complete with accessories for vacuuming and bagging leaves. Weighing it at a little over 4.5 pounds, this electric model is easy to use while still delivering on functionality. 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. That means you can clear a long driveway as quickly as you can push the blower, but it wont do much for a big lawn with the on-road-only wheels. In our distance test, el Toro threw our weighted test objects almost as far as the big backpack blower did. Beyond the safety recall, Consumer Reports gave it a much lower score because it lacked power, so we stuck with the Toro. Additionally, understand that Toro only makes handheld blowers. Tends to get clogged if it is used on wet leaves, or if sticks get vacuumed up. Most of the blowers we tested fall into this category. If youre planning to use this blower for long periods of time on the lowest power setting, the big speed controller does have a tricky habit of bumping to off if you jiggle it or even if you shake the blower. Battery power is very convenient for short bursts of moderate power, like daily sweeping on a small yard and a driveway. 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 is a worst-case runtime, though, with the trigger locked on full and no breaks. We expect the majority of homeowners will find a high-quality Toro blower in our matrix. More and more towns are beginning to ban loud leaf blowers, even electric blowers, so find out about local ordinances. Remembering to charge the battery is a bit of a pain, but its still faster and easier to drop the battery in a charger after each use than to untangle a heavy extension cord or remember to fill a gas can. Q. But, eventually, those leaves have to fall from the tree and land in the yard, creating a big job for the homeowner. Using a cordless model on a slower speed when possible saves battery power. What can I do? Weve spotlighted some of our favorite Toro leaf blowers in our matrix, and our buying guide can help you zero in on just what you need. So, in terms of the health of your ears, a 6dB difference is four times more sound. In testing, this blower doesnt move very much air. Well take a bit of prying over lacerated fingers any day of the week. As a blower, though, its just not great. The Toro 51585 Power Sweep isnt quite as powerful as some of the other models, but its lightweight, generates an air speed of 160 mph, comes with a two-year warranty, and has an extremely low price. The included oscillating tip makes it a little bit more efficient for sweeping off wide areas of concrete, though we didnt notice much change when we were working on grass. 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. Consumer Reports has published this guide that discusses strategies for using a leaf vacuum. Power switch: Having a power switch near the main handle of the machine is a key feature. The metal impeller on this electric blower gives extra strength to blowing and mulching. Cordless: Toro cordless leaf blowers run off battery power. Several features are available on Toro leaf blowers. Miles per hour, on the other hand, is a measurement of the speed of the air thats coming out of a blower. 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. The speed control works if you need to turn things down for careful work around flower beds, but low-speed work is not its strong suit. We'll reach out to you shortly to discuss your project and answer any questions you may have. Theres a bit of controversy surrounding leaves, mulching and bagging. Think about the amount of time you spend on yard maintenance. 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. At the end of the day this didnt make our top pick because an 18-minute runtime is just not going to be enough for some jobs, and stopping in the middle of a job to wait more than an hour for charging is just a pain. Right now, it really is still worth the hassle of a power cord to gain the power and run-time of a blower like our top pick. (Smaller number, bigger wire.) We tested the Echo PB-580T: a backpack-style blower with almost four times more working power than DeWalts 20V battery model. Toros blower isnt perfect. Speed: Some Toro electric leaf blowers allow you to adjust the operational speed. The chart lists the distance our two-pound weight was pushed beside the manufacturers rating for total blower output in cubic feet per minute. 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. Daniel remains unapologetic about Canadian spelling, serial commas, and the destruction of expensive travel mugs. The second handle is usually positioned at the back of the machine. This lineup includes blowers with customer reviews that indicate more than just satisfactory performance and models regarded as quiet and efficient. Prices and availability of products and services are subject to change without notice. This might make it sound like a niche tool, but we found ourselves reaching for the DeWalt first when doing frequent, easy jobs like blowing off walkways after mowing. Then in the early autumn, the beautiful green leaves turn orange, yellow, red, and brown. 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. Has adjustable speed options. Toro makes leaf blowers that weigh less than those of some other manufacturers. This 100-foot all-purpose cord is good for indoor or outdoor use and comes with a lifetime replacement warranty. Finding the very best leaf blower for your particular situation is sometimes a tricky exercise, even without factoring price or power. The best thing about it is definitely the price, but it deserves the high 4.5-star overall rating on Amazon since it does what it can within a budget. Q. This 40-volt PowerPlex battery can charge in two hours and works with several different Toro PowerPlex tools, including blowers and chainsaws. What are the advantages of electric leaf blowers over gas-powered blowers? At the end of our testing period, we have mixed feelings about this blower. Additionally, running it at a slower speed creates less vibration in the machine, which results in less arm fatigue for you. Lower vibration levels for less muscle fatigue during use. Electric corded model weighs 6.6 pounds for easy carrying throughout the yard. It just doesnt move enough air to be effective at clearing large areas. Corded: Toro corded leaf blowers are highly reliable. Mulch Ratio is how much space youll save if you mulch your leaves instead of raking them into a bag whole. Leaves have to be composted, rather than going to a landfill, and it takes even more energy to transport all the leaves to a city composting site than it does for you to bag them. That said, Its easy to see why gas-powered tools are still popular among professionals. A 20V lithium-ion battery cant deliver as much power as a gas engine or a 120V extension cord, but the Dewalt DCBL720P1 earned our respect with usable power and the freedom of lightweight cordless use. Q. For those whose primary concern is quickly clearing a driveway or patio, extra power might not be all that important. Should the unit become clogged, you want to be able to turn it off quickly. Nonoise.org has a good collection of information from many American cities if you cant find info on a local county or city website. The 7-amp motor can cover 155 CFM and has up to 160 airspeed capabilities. Orders must be placed on days the store is open, before 4pm local time or 2 hours before store closing time, whichever is earlier. Available at an accessible price. 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. 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.
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