1. Start
  2. Expert reviews

Updated  

The Best Leaf Blowers of 2022

Elina Blom

Our team have tested the most popular leaf blowers. You could say we were blown away by the test winner. The best gardening machines packs heaps of power and are highly reliable while being easy to start.

The Best Leaf Blowers of 2022

How we did our leaf blower reviews

Our tests are independently conducted and reflect the test editor's honest and objective opinions. Selection of products and test results are in no way influenced by manufacturers, retailers or other internal or external parties.

We carried out all of our leaf blower tests ourselves and tested all products in real conditions. We tested leaf blowers on different types of surfaces and in different weather conditions – everything from blowing leaves on dewy morning grass to gravel paths on hot summer days. All leaf blowers have been evaluated in respect of a number of factors:

  • Performance: What can the machine achieve in terms of blowing? Can it cope with dry leaves on hard surfaces? Can it cope with dry leaves on a lawn? Can it cope with damp leaves? Can it manage with sticks, pine cones and stones? Can it blow a large area in a single sweep? Can you target the blowing function?

  • Ease of use: How easy is it to get started? How well positioned are the controls? Is it easy to understand? How clear is the manual? Can you quickly change between different accessories?

  • Functions: Can you do more than just blow leaves with it? Can you adjust the blowing speed? Can you lock it, or do you have to keep the throttle pressed in throughout the session? Does it have other useful functions?

  • Accessories: If it is a battery operated model, can you change the battery? Does it include different types of blowing nozzles?

Leaf blower review

We have considered these factors and ergonomics, operating time and build quality, when allocating a score. Yet, we also considered how good the leaf blower is in terms of its value for money. What do you actually get for your purchase?

1. Husqvarna 525BX - BEST CHOICE LEAF BLOWER 2022

Power, user-friendliness and useful functions in a single machine

Power: 0.85 kW Power source: Petrol Noise level: 91 dB Air flow: 13 m³/min Maximum blowing speed: 157 m/s Weight: 4.3 kg Collector: No Tank volume: 0.45 l Accessories included: Flat and round blowing nozzle

Husqvarna 525BX

The Husqvarna 525BX is one of the most powerful leaf blowers with a user-friendly design and functionality, which given its current price tag, we nominate as the best leaf blower of 2020. We had no problems blowing large lawns or damp ditch borders clean.

Because the blowing nozzle length is adjustable, you can get very close to the ground without having to bend down, even if you're tall. The nozzle length is easy to adjust and requires neither tools nor a manual. However, you can only adjust it by a few centimetres. But for a tall person those few centimetres make all the difference.

One really good function on this leaf blower is the setting for blowing speed. It means that you can use it more gently, for example when you're blowing leaves from gravel, and increase the power when you're blowing damp leaves or larger areas. The 525BX feels intuitive to use and all of the functions are visible and close to each other.

husqvarna-525bx-leaf-blower

The package includes both a flat and an open blowing nozzle. The flat nozzle gives a more targeted and powerful air flow, which is useful when you're blowing leaves from a damp surface, for example first thing in the morning when the grass may still be a little dewy. The open blowing nozzle is better if you're blowing leaves, pine cones and other debris from large dry surfaces. The fuel lasts for around one hour.

The 525BX weighs just over four kilos, so you can use that time effectively, even if it may feel a little heavy towards the end. There's an extra handle on the bottom edge which is useful when you're blowing on more complicated angles or if your arms start to get tired.

Overall, this is a very competent, good value for money leaf blower for people with large gardens and who need to be able to adapt the machine’s power in an effortless way.

Cruise controluser-friendly designvery powerful
Rather heavy

Price Comparison

Compare all prices

Husqvarna 525BX Gas Powered 459 CFM 25cc Professional Handheld Leaf Blower

£236.90

Husqvarna 525BX Petrol Leaf Blower

£349.00

Husqvarna 525BX Leaf blower

£387.18

2. Stiga BL 500e - BEST BATTERY LEAF BLOWER

Lots of power in a compact body

Power source: Battery (48V) Measured battery life: 15-17 min (battery model 520), 20-25 min (battery model 540) Measured noise level: 65.4 dB (setting 1), 76.2 dB (setting 2), 78.6 dB (setting 3) Maximum blowing speed: 55 m/s Weight: 3569 g (inc. battery model 520) Collector: No Accessories included: Round blowing nozzle Miscellaneous: 3 strength settings

Stiga SAB 500 AE Solo

The Stiga BL 500e is a very powerful but simultaneously light and handy leaf blower that can cope both with blowing damp leaves on your lawn and snow off your car. Despite the fact that it’s quite compact and the nozzle has a round opening, it delivers an impressive result. For example, we tested it on spreading out heaps of soaking wet leaves on the vegetable bed, and it worked very well. It even shifts branches and gravel on the highest setting.

The leaf blower has three strength settings. The first one is for use when you’re blowing sawdust off your workbench, for example, while the second and third are more intended for leaf blowing and other heavier tasks. The third one gives an extra nudge to the machine’s capacity, but under normal conditions where leaves are dry the second setting is perfectly sufficient.

Stiga leaf blower

A well-designed leaf blower

The battery system on the BL 500e is the same as on several of Stiga’s other 48-volt machines. So you can share batteries between your hedge trimmer and leaf blower, for example.

Unfortunately it only includes one blowing nozzle, with a round end. This will get you quite a long way, but if you want to target the air flow to get more control it’s immediately more difficult without an angled nozzle. Nor does it include a shoulder strap. On the other hand, we don't feel like you need one because the BL 500e is so light and well balanced.

The build quality of this leaf blower feels good and we don’t experience any unpleasant vibrations.

The design is also user-friendly. There’s an on/off button and one to control the strength. The grip is rubberised, and the battery also has a handle that means you can use the battery as a grip for the other hand when you’re working on areas that are difficult to access.

The Stiga BL 500e is ideal for anyone who wants a powerful battery leaf blower. It's suitable for a range of tasks, from blowing dirt and dust from your workshop or wheelbarrow to blowing leaves or cleaning up around the bird table.

Great performancealmost no vibrationsgood grip & well balancedseveral strength settingsuser-friendly design
No carrying straponly includes one nozzle

3. Stihl BGA 57

Ergonomic powerhouse with lots of setting options

Power source: Battery (36V) Measured battery life: 22 mins 27 s (4 Ah) 5.6 mins/Ah Measured noise level: 77.6 dB Maximum blowing speed: 55 m/s Weight: 1870 g excluding battery (battery: 1,227 g) Collector: No

Stihl BGA 57 Solo

The Stihl BGA 57 is a lightweight leaf blower offering a low noise level and great ergonomics. In addition to all of that, it is really powerful.

This leaf blower can move both dry and damp leaves relatively efficiently across your lawn. It can also move piles of leaves. Overall the performance is amongst the very best of battery models in this price range.

Battery life is OK, but considering the price, we would have liked to have seen even better values.

Ergonomically the balance of this machine is very good. The tube of the leaf blower tilts slightly downwards.

Stihl-BGA-57

Feel the quality

The Stihl BGA 57 has a number of interesting functions. For example, it has a safety catch, so when you grab the handle you can’t go unless you first push the catch forwards – a kind of simple two-stage approach that works very well when you get used to it.

Furthermore, the tube is adjustable in three different lengths, so that everyone in the family can use it. You set it based on your own height, and at maximum length it is excellent for people up to as much 1.90 metres tall. It‘s also easy to reduce the length to suit shorter individuals.

In terms of battery you have the same type as in Stihl's chainsaws and grass trimmers (36-volt) – which is convenient if you already own other garden machines from this manufacturer.

The battery has a two-stage release where it partially pops out at first, but still remains in place. If you then press it again, it releases the whole battery. This is a very convenient and user-friendly solution. The battery also has a clear battery indicator at the back.

The machine has a bracket for hanging on a wall when not in use.

The Stihl BGA 57 is great if you’re looking for lightweight battery leaf blower with a really good design which is user-friendly, so long as you are happy paying a bit extra for all that. And if you also have other garden machines in the same series, you can share a battery between them.

Adjustable lengthvery good performancewell balancedquiet
Could have had a slightly better battery life given the price

4. Husqvarna 120iB

Powerful with user-friendly construction

Power source: Battery (36 V) Measured battery life: 10 min 13 s (4 Ah), 12 min (5 Ah) Measured noise level: 86 dB Weight: 2059 kg (excluding battery) Collector: No Accessories: Round blowing nozzle Miscellaneous: Speed adjustment, digital on/off

Husqvarna 120iB (1x4.0Ah)

The Husqvarna 120iB is a powerful leaf blower in the 36-volt class, where you feel the performance as soon as you start it. In terms of performance, it’s not far off being the best battery model, but unfortunately it falls short when it comes to battery life. The battery life isn’t bad, but it's still significantly shorter than desirable in a test winner.

On the other hand, the Husqvarna 120iB has a lot of other things going for it. For example, it can be hung up on the wall when not in use. Other user-friendly details include clear speed settings and the digital on/off function that makes it easy to start.

Good performance

In terms of performance, the blower is able to blow together large piles of both small and large leaves. It can also blow damp leaves as long as the terrain isn’t too rugged. We also blew 5-7 centimetres of moss from a roof without any problems.

The blowing nozzle is a bit short so you won’t get very close to the ground, unfortunately. It’s also a bit tricky to release it from the machine body when the leaf blower isn’t in use.

With the fast charger, you can charge 120iB in around 30 minutes. With a normal charger, you can count on that taking an hour.

The Husqvarna 120iB is a powerful leaf blower with robust build quality and rubberised, comfortable handles. It has plenty of performance, but it's not so great in terms of operating time. However, it’s far from a bad buy, especially if you already have Husqvarna batteries to swap between tools.

Very good performanceclear speed settingmaximum performance from the startcan be hung up
Short battery lifea bit stiff to disassemble

5. Stiga SAB 700 AE

Strong battery powered leaf blower with attachment for carrying strap

**Power source: Battery (48V) Measured battery life: 26.47 mins (5 Ah), 5.3 mins/Ah Measured noise level: 68 dB (mode 1), 75,7 dB (mode 2), 83 dB (mode 3) Maximum blowing speed: 55 m/s Weight: 2890 g excluding battery (battery: 1402 g for 5 Ah) Collector: No Accessories included: Round nozzle, flat nozzle Miscellaneous: 3 strength modes

Stiga SAB 700 AE Solo

The Stiga SAB 700 AE is very similar to the Stiga 500 AE with the difference being that the 700 model is a little heavier and has an attachment for a harness. No harness is included, but the fact that you can fit one is a definite advantage.

When it comes to performance, with this machine you do get plenty of power. In principle, this machine is the same as the previously tested 500 AE. You can blow dry and damp leaves into piles, and it can move the piles – even in slightly taller grass. Your lawn doesn’t need to be neatly mown, as it has to be with some competitors.

The leaf blower also handles tasks such as blowing away chestnuts, gravel and other larger objects.

Stiga have supplemented this model with a nozzle that looks like a duckbill. In practice, however, this nozzle makes no major difference when blowing leaves. On the other hand, it does help when you’re blowing dust from shelves and the like because the air flow becomes more focused. When blowing leaves, it’s better to have an efficient and powerful model that can blow a large area of leaves at the same time.

The SAB 700 AE has three power modes that regulate the blowing strength. It works well to use the machine at a lower strength if you’re going to blow a workshop floor clean or remove dust from shelves because then the dirt isn’t whipped up into the air too much. For leaf blowing, you can go up to step two or three depending on how damp the leaves are.

All buttons and grips are well designed. The machine has comfortable buttons with a very good response, which are easily accessible regardless of whether you are right or left-handed.

Stiga-SAB-700-AE

Can hang freely from your fingers Stiga SAB 700 AE has a form of soft start function. This makes it feel like it starts up slowly, where many other leaf blowers start with a jerk which also gives a good effect on the leaves. Here, the power builds up over a short period of time.

Last year's batteries had a handle that we liked. The handle allowed you to hold the leaf blower with two hands, and you could easily get the battery out. This year's batteries lack that handle. We think that's a shame because the batteries are a bit tricky to get out without one. Having said all that, this leaf blower is usually sold without a battery, and you buy the batteries and charger separately.

Operating time is OK given the price. It doesn’t stand out either positively or negatively.

The SAB 700 AE is a very well-balanced leaf blower that’s easy to carry around even for longer periods, even without using a harness. It’s so well balanced that you can balance it on your finger when the machine is running.

Unfortunately, it does suck in some air from the side, as it has an air intake there. This means you risk your trousers or whatever being sucked in if you hold the blower too close to your leg. This isn’t a huge problem, but something we consider a minor drawback.

The Stiga SAB 700 AE is an excellent leaf blower which also offers you the opportunity to fit a harness for extra support. It is powerful, easy to use and has a well-thought-out design.

Can take a harnesshigh performance levelswell balanced
No handle on the batterysometimes sucks your clothes in

6. Cub Cadet LH5 B60

Powerful leaf blower for small areas

Power source: Battery (54V) Measured battery life: 10 min (2.5 AH), approx. 4 min/AH Measured sound level: 90.5 dB Maximum blow rate: 50 m/s Weight: 2,770 g excluding battery, battery: 1092 g Collector: No

The Cub Cadet LH5 B60 is a leaf blower with plenty of power and some smart features. You adjust the blowing force seamlessly, which is convenient as you can then adapt it entirely to different types of surfaces. You can also lock the throttle so you don't have to hold it in by hand. This is appreciated.

The handle is rubberised for the best possible grip. Furthermore, the leaf blower itself is well balanced and therefore rests well in your hand at all strengths.

As said before, the power is substantial. It has no trouble blowing large objects such as chestnuts and gravel, as well as both wet or dry leaves. We also tested blowing sheet metal clean, after leaves rained down and then started to decay into soil, and it has no problem blowing them away either.

Unfortunately, it has a slightly malplaced intake. When you push it at maximum power, it tends to suck itself onto your pants.

Affordable for small areas

The LH5 B60 has a hook underneath so you can easily hang it away in the workshop. It also has the advantage that you can place it flat on the slope without it wobbling.

Battery life is okay, but not impressive. The approximate ten minutes we get out of a 50-minute charge is definitely not much.

The battery is easy to insert and remove. There are three LEDs on the display that indicate when it is time to charge.

The Cub Cadet LH5 B60 is for those who want a powerful, easy-to-use leaf blower. It does not have test-winning battery life, and the performance difference is minimal compared to those with a top position in the test. But this is still a really good leaf blower, and if you have other machines from the same manufacturer and can therefore share a battery, you have a competent leaf blower in this model.

Good grip & well balancedpowerful
Sucks itself onto trousers sometimesslightly shorter battery life

7. Bosch ALB 36 Li

User-friendly and quite strong

Power source: Battery Noise level: 70.1 dB Maximum blowing speed: 170-250 km/h Weight: 3 kg Collector: No Accessories included: Flat blowing nozzle

Bosch ALB 36 Li (1x2.0Ah)

The Bosch ALB 36 Li is a rather heavy but well-balanced 36-volt leaf blower with a user-friendly design. It's easy to understand the functions at first glance – partly because there aren't many of them, and partly because they are clearly marked.

All the parts you can interact with in some way are bright red, while the body of the leaf blower is green.

It's easy to insert and remove the battery. It even comes with battery indicators with three stages so that you can see when it's nearly time to recharge. The 2 Ah battery lasts about 15 minutes if you run the ALB 36 Li on maximum speed. It then charges back up again in an hour. We think the battery life is on the short side. But if you have other 36 V machines from Bosch, you can swap batteries between them.

The Bosch ALB 36 Li is strong for such a simple leaf blower. It can easily clean leaves off your terrace or patio. But if you're going to be blowing damp leaves off your lawn, or from another uneven surface, it probably won't cope so well. It also loses power when the battery starts to run down, which can be irritating. But at full charge the machine is quite powerful compared to many competing battery leaf blowers.

You can reduce the strength via a stepless control to save on battery life during simpler tasks. However, this function is rarely useful because you generally want to clean areas as efficiently as possible. The control doubles as an on/off button. The noise level on maximum strength is medium-high; it’s certainly not a noiseless leaf blower.

The ALB 36 Li is primarily suitable for blowing dry leaves from even surfaces such as asphalt drives or patios.

User-friendly designquite quick chargingwell balanced
Struggles with damp leavesrather heavyslightly short battery life

8. Stihl BG86 C-E

A leaf blower that can even blow stones

Power source: Petrol Noise level: 90 dB Air flow: 755/620 m³/h Maximum blowing speed: 63/74 m/s (round/flat blowing nozzle) Weight: 4.4 kg Collector: No Tank volume: 0.44 l Accessories included: Flat and round blowing nozzle

Stihl BG 56 C-E

The Stihl BG86 C-E is one of the most powerful leaf blowers that can blow everything from leaves to small stones. It also copes easily with removing pine cones from lawns and paths. With the flat blowing nozzle installed, it has no problems with damp leaves, and with the round blowing nozzle you can blow large amounts of leaves at once.

On the side of the BG86 is a button that, when set to the central position, enables the leaf blower to run on medium power automatically. This function is sufficient for most tasks, but if you know that you'll be working on sensitive surfaces such as gravel paths and flowerbeds with a visible layer of soil, you can also set the throttle in another position. You press the throttle in until you have achieved the desired power and then lock the button with another control. Unfortunately, there's not much difference between full throttle and idling, so it can be tricky to get the desired strength. But once you've got used to the machine it gets easier.

The button on the side of the BG86 is also used when you start the leaf blower. You set it to the furthest position for choke, and then you pull the starting cord and give it throttle – the button then returns to its original position. This works well once you've learned how to hold the leaf blower while starting it, and when it's relevant to use the choke. It often starts with 2-3 pulls.

The fuel lasts for about 45 minutes of active leaf blowing, which feels a tad short. However, while using it there are no problems holding the leaf blower on the right angle from an ergonomic point of view. It weighs just over four kilos and produces very few vibrations.

It gets a bit heavy towards the end, but underneath it there's an extra handle which is handy at these times. And it’s useful if you're going to be blowing on more awkward angles or where there's garden furniture in the way. The build quality feels good, and it's easy to change between different accessories. The rubberised grip is comfortable to hold, but the throttle could have been partially rubberised too.

Overall, this is a well-made leaf blower with a lot of power that's straightforward to use once you've got the hang of it.

Double handlequite powerfuladjustable throttle
A bit of a learning curvehefty price tag

9. AL-KO LB 2060 EasyFlex

Useful for blowing sawdust in your workshop

Power source: Battery (18V, 2.5 Ah) Measured battery life: 16 min Maximum blowing speed: 200 km/h Length: 88 cm Weight: 659 g Collector: No Accessories included: Flat blowing nozzle

AL-KO LB 2060 EasyFlex Solo

The AL-KO LB 2060 Easyflex is a cordless leaf blower with an angled nozzle, which feels like a well-designed detail. The angle of the nozzle means that you can get quite close to whatever you’re blowing, and still move it forwards. We give it major plus points for this.

When it comes to blowing power, however, the Easyflex is far too weak. The leaves have to be tinder dry, spread out and lying on a level and even surface – such as a broad piece of decking – for it to be able to move them. And despite this, you still have to get quite close with the nozzle.

In other words, there’s no way you’ll be using it for blowing heaps of leaves together on the lawn, or moving heaps of leaves you've already collected. In one of our reference measurements for blowing capability - an empty PET bottle over some decking - the bottle only moved a metre, which isn’t impressive given what other leaf blowers in the same price class could achieve.

The battery life of 16 minutes isn’t long compared to a petrol model, but it's still generous compared to some other battery operated leaf blowers in this price range.

Cheap and simple leaf blower

Because it’s lightweight and small, the LB 2060 Easyflex is easy to carry around. It has on/off buttons, but nothing more complex than that. On the other hand, we hadn’t expected any extra functions, given its cheaper price tag.

The AL-KO LB 2060 Easyflex is suitable if you're looking for a lightweight and cheap battery leaf blower, above all to clean up simple spaces, such as blowing leaves off your patio or sawdust in your workshop. The cheap price and nice touches, such as the well-designed nozzle, compensate for the poor performance, which means it still gets a reasonable score from us.

Handy sizevery lightweightangled end on the blower piperelatively long battery life
Poor performancelimited functionality

10. Ryobi RY36BLA

Leaf blower with turbo mode suitable for light work

Power source: Battery (36V) Measured battery life: 31 mins (5 AH), 6.2 mins per Ah Measured noise levels: 82.7 dB (turbo mode), 78.9 dB (standard mode) Maximum blowing speed: 42 m/s Weight: 2960 g excluding battery (battery: 1,458 g) Collector: No

Ryobi RY36BLA-0

The Ryobi RY36BLA is a leaf blower with two power modes and a rather unique design. For example, it has an adjustable handle that can be set to five different positions.

To adjust the handle, simply slacken a screw and then rotate the handle. In the upright position, you get the best balance, although it’s unfortunately still a bit heavy at the back, but in other positions the ergonomics are a lot worse. The whole thing feels a little strange considering that it is intended for blowing leaves with and so would normally be directed downwards.

Ryobi-RY36BLA

Can it blow leaves?

Apart from the imbalance in the machine, this leaf blower still performs OK. In standard mode, it manages to blow together piles of leaves if the leaves are dry, at least as long as there aren’t large amounts of them. If you need more power, you have turbo mode, and it’s really this mode that saves the RY36BLA in terms of performance. If you use turbo mode, it can also move big piles of leaves and blow together smaller amounts of damp leaves. It’s not very efficient, but still does the job.

The turbo mode is controlled by pressing a button. This means you have to hold the button down with your thumb – at all times – to maintain the turbo effect, which quickly becomes very tiring. We’d rather it was possible to set the mode and then leave it running like that until you turned it off again.

Removing the battery isn’t a lot of fun either, as the button is on the underside. It's a little tricky to access, but the battery does slide out smoothly. We give the machine a plus because it has a battery indicator.

The machine’s grip is rubberised and you get good stability, but unfortunately the machine weighs a lot and has neither a carrying strap or an attachment for one.

Unfortunately, we really don’t feel that the Ryobi RY36BLA performs well enough given its price. It’s more suitable for those who already have 36-volt machines from Ryobi, and can share batteries between them. You also need to have a small lawn with few trees and shrubs.

Pretty good performance in turbo modegood battery life
Not enough power in standard modeweighs a lot and lacks a carrying strapturbo button is very tiring to use

11. Stihl BGA45

Lots of power for its price class but does have shortcomings

Voltage: 18 volt Power source: Battery Noise level: 86 dB Air flow: 420 m³/h Maximum blowing speed: 38 m/s Weight: 2.1 kg Collector: No Accessories included: Round blowing nozzle

Stihl BGA 45

The cordless Stihl BGA45 is unexpectedly powerful given its price, and despite a relatively low battery voltage can cope with blowing dry leaves from a dry lawn without any problems. At a short distance, it can blow everything from pine cones and twigs to larger gravel, despite its round blowing nozzle – sadly it doesn't include a flat one.

The disadvantage with all this power is, of course, that the battery life gets drained quickly. It gives around ten minutes, which is too short, and the battery is also integrated so you can't replace it. This means that you can't change the battery or use a more economical one. As the charging time is several hours long, this is an enormous weakness.

The BGA45 also suffers from quite a lot of vibration. Because the grips aren't rubberised, the overall experience isn't all that positive, and the grips do get slippery.

On the plus side, the BGA45 is very simple to assemble and operate. Just like many larger leaf blowers, it has a double blowing nozzle, which means that you can get close to the ground without having to bend over.

Sadly, you can't control the air flow with the throttle or a separate control. Nor can you lock it in this position. Instead, you have to keep the throttle pressed throughout the session. There are better solutions to this issue on the market. The fact that you have to use a key and then press three different buttons to get the machine started also feels like they’re overdoing the safety functions. Unfortunately, these aspects mean that an otherwise very powerful leaf blower loses something in its user-friendliness and comfort.

But if you can live with this and only want lots of power for a small surface at a cheap price, this is still not a bad buy.

Very powerfulcompact formatlightweight
Unpleasant vibrationsfiddly start procedurebuilt-in batteryshort battery lifegrips not rubberised

12. Black + Decker BCBLV36

Better as a vacuum cleaner than a leaf blower

Power source: Battery (36V) Measured battery life: 10 mins 40 s (2.5 Ah) 4.3 min/Ah Measured noise level: 85.9 dB Maximum blowing speed: 75 m/s Weight: 3500 g excluding battery (battery: 692 g) Collector: No Accessories included: Leaf bag

Black & Decker BCBLV3625L1 (1x2.5Ah)

The **Black + Decker BCBLV36 is both a leaf blower and a leaf vacuum. So you can blow the leaves together into a pile and then suck them up so that they end up in a bag.

According to the specification, this machine should have a very good blowing speed, but in practice it didn’t. It essentially only blows dry leaves, but unfortunately it doesn’t even blow these very efficiently. As for damp leaves, forget it.

On the other hand, it’s a good leaf vacuum, and we have definitely encountered worse models before. For the leaf vacuum function, you suspend a bag under the machine and use a quick button to switch from blow to suction. It then sucks up leaves pretty well.

But if you have to suck up a large pile of leaves you’ve got a problem, because the bag is quite small. If you can put up with this, it works very well. You can also suck up sawdust, light wood shavings and the like. It’s easy to release the bag and it has a zip so you can quickly empty the contents.

And that’s about it, in terms of a leaf vacuum. It works. But the bag is quite small.

Black-Decker-BCBLV36

Wheels at the front To start the Black & Decker BCBLV36, you rotate a recessed wheel. It starts with a click and then you set the suction or blow level steplessly by turning the wheel, an excellent solution that means you don’t have to hold down buttons or throttle controls while you work.

This leaf blower has a nice rubberised handle which gives an excellent grip.

It also has a wheel at the front that’s intended to help with the load. You can’t use this when blowing. If you do, the opening of the pipe ends up wrong in relation to the ground. Which is a bit of a shame because this leaf blower is quite heavy. The wheel is only of any use when you use it as a leaf vacuum.

It’s easy to change the battery on the BCBLV36 and it has a battery indicator. Unfortunately, the battery life is pretty bad.

One thing we liked, however, is that you can so easily remove the housing that covers the fan. Because this leaf blower has a leaf vacuum function, there is a certain risk that it will get blocked, but thanks to the fact that you can remove the housing, it should be easy to clean.

The Black and Decker BCBLV36 isn’t great but might be OK if you have a small garden without too many trees and want to be able to suck up the leaves.

Good as a leaf vacuumeasy to get going and switch between modeseasy to clean
Weighs a fair bitpoor as a leaf blower

13. AL-KO LBV 4090

Good battery life and easy to carry

Power source: Battery (36 V) Measured battery life: 13 min (4 Ah), 18 min 49 s (5 Ah) Measured noise level: 88.3 dB Weight: 3,776 kg (excluding battery) Collector: Yes Accessories: Round blowing nozzle, leaf sack Miscellaneous: Stepless speed adjustment

AL-KO LBV 4090 EnergyFlex

The AL-KO LBV 4090 is a combined leaf blower and leaf sucker. This means you can collect leaves in piles and then suck them up to grind or compost them for other uses.

It’s easy to hang the bag on the machine and just as easy to understand the construction in general. There’s an adjustable handle on the front so you can change the ergonomics to suit, and a knob to switch between blow and suck. So this leaf blower is easy to use. In addition to that, it also has good battery life. But that’s where most of the positive things end.

Poor blowing power

After testing the leaf blower thoroughly for a long period, although the LBV 4090 does have many good functions, we have to say that in terms of performance this machine isn’t great. It can blow very flimsy, light leaves. But the leaves don’t even have to be damp before it lacks the strength to blow them around, and even slightly bigger leaves cause the machine to struggle.

You could in theory blow individual leaves and collect them into small piles. But it’s really just faster to use a rake.

The same applies to the leaf suction function. The LBV 4090 can suck up individual leaves, but it’s actually faster – and good exercise! – to just do the job manually. The machine also vibrates quite a lot when you use it at maximum power. The leaves get stuck in the fan and the machine becomes unbalanced.

All of which is a shame because this is a leaf blower with many good functions. For example, it has a wheel on the front so that users without the strength to carry it can roll it over the ground instead. It also comes with a shoulder strap. Another nice detail is the stepless speed control – which unfortunately does not fulfil any major practical use because you have to run it on maximum speed all the time if the leaf blower is to perform at all.

The AL-KO LBV 4090 is aimed at people who have a few trees with small leaves and who only intend to blow them in dry weather when the leaves aren’t damp, and even then, preferably on soil that doesn’t give the leaves any excuse to stick. It has several practical functions, particularly if you can’t carry this kind of weight for long periods.

Many well-thought-out functionsgood battery life
Really poor at blowing leavesvery poor at sucking leavesunbalanced

14. Greenworks GD24X2BV

Leaf blower with leaf suction and double batteries

Power source: Battery (48 V, double 25 V) Measured battery life: 8 min. Maximum blow rate: 321 km/h Weight: 2748 g (excl. battery), 3618 g (incl. double 2 Ah batteries) Collector: Yes Accessories included: Round blowpipes Other: Leaf suction unit

Greenworks GD24X2BV is a 48 volt leaf blower with accompanying leaf suction unit. You have six different power modes to choose from and you turn a dial to make your choice. There’s also a turbo mode, which gives you an extra boost in performance, and you don't have to hold down the turbo button while you’re using it.

The power of this blower is quite standard in terms of price. It is not super effective, but it can blow semi-moist leaves and dry leaves into smaller piles, as long as you don't blow too many leaves at once.

Unusable as a leaf suction unit

GD24X2BV is a rather heavy leaf blower, partly due to its built-in suction function. We expected a leaf suction unit that powerfully sucked up the leaves we collected. But the leaves hardly moved when we started sucking. The leaf suction unit is completely unusable. It would be more efficient to pick up a rake and rake the leaves into a bag.

In addition, the battery life of this leaf blower is short. You can blow leaves for just over eight minutes before it is time to recharge it, even though it has two batteries installed. It will not start if you have not inserted both batteries. This means that you always need to have two batteries charged, and therefore it would be best to have two chargers at home.

Greenworks GD24X2BV is suitable for those of you who have other garden machines from Greenworks and can therefore share batteries between them. Otherwise, it is not particularly cost-effective or useful.

Continuous power when using the turbo button
Terrible leaf suction unitneed to have two charged batterieslow battery life

What Is a Leaf blower?

Do you want to keep your lawn free of leaves? Or maybe the patio? With a leaf blower, you can quickly and simply blow away leaves and other debris. The most powerful machines can even blow away large gravel.

Different types of leaf blower

There are several different types of leaf blower on the market. Just like other machines for garden jobs, they can be divided into mains-powered machines, as well as battery or petrol-operated leaf blowers.

Mains powered (electric cable)

The major advantage with the mains powered electric leaf blowers is that you can achieve the same power as a petrol-operated machine but for a third of the price. Of course, this does assume that your garden is a simple shape; otherwise you quickly end up with the cable wound around trees and bushes. So your garden needs to be small enough for you to easily reach everywhere you want to, and you mustn't have too many trees, bushes or flower beds to navigate around.

Battery-operated

If you can't face coping with a cable, a battery-operated leaf blower is a good option. If you buy a good battery in the lower voltage class around 18 volts, you will be able to blow clean both your patio and other paved areas with no problems. But if you want to be able to blow damp leaves away from your lawn, you must have a battery of at least 36 volts for the leaf blower to have sufficient power. The disadvantage of battery-operated leaf blowers is that you have to charge them, but the majority of manufacturers today have systems that allow you to buy two batteries and change between them, which is usually enough. The advantage of this is that you can use the same battery for a number of different machines, and that the batteries can be replaced so you can continue working even when one battery needs recharging.

Petrol-operated

But if you want to be completely unhindered, a petrol-operated leaf blower is the best choice. The petrol-operated machines are very powerful, but have the disadvantage that they emit exhaust gases. And in the long run, it gets expensive to buy petrol to power them. However, the majority of these machines today are more economical when it comes down to fuel consumption. With a good machine, you get about an hour's worth of leaf blowing before you need to fill up. Unfortunately, petrol-operated leaf blowers are quite noisy and significantly heavier than other types. They're usually more expensive too.

Functions you need to look for

The vast majority of leaf blowers in the budget class have only a single position throttle. But the more expensive models with more power will provide the opportunity to alter the blowing speed effortlessly. This is great if you have delicate surfaces, such as flower beds and gravel paths, that you want to blow clean without causing damage. In these instances, you can set the speed to a less powerful position and avoid problems.

There are also a number of leaf blowers on the market that can act as leaf vacuums. This means you attach a bag and the machine then sucks up the leaves. You can then empty the leaves directly onto a compost heap or your garden waste bin. Some people use leaf blowers with these functions for other jobs, such as for dust collector tasks around your outer window ledges. You will need extra parts for your leaf blower to do complete these jobs, and you should only use parts supplied by the same manufacturer.

If the leaf blower also has a built-in leaf shredder, the leaves are reduced to smaller pieces, giving more space in the bag. In the long run, this means that you don't have to empty it as often.

  • Expert reviews
  • Sale
  • Guides
  • How to use
  • About us