Clearing up the autumn leaves with a rake is a tedious and time-consuming job. With a leaf blower, you can blow them all into a neat pile in a fraction of the time. You don’t even have to scoop up the leaves afterwards: choose a blower vac, and you can simply suck them up like a vacuum cleaner.
Many leaf blowers lack oomph, however, while others are horribly noisy or don’t last. We’ve tested the market leaders for power, noise levels, durability and more. Be sure to check out our buyer’s guide too – there’s a lot of variation between leaf blowers, so it pays to do a bit of homework before buying.
How to buy the best leaf blower for you
What are the different kinds of leaf blower?
There are two main types. Leaf blowers blow your leaves into a pile that you can then dispose of. Leaf vacuums, or vacs, work on the opposite principle: they suck up the leaves into a bag, and can collect clippings and litter too. If that appeals, check how easy it is to empty the collection bag, and make sure it’s leak-proof and waterproof if you want to use it during British autumns.
You can also get combined machines that do both. Some let you switch modes by simply pressing a button, while others need reconfiguring. And check the machine doesn’t lose power when in blow mode – a common problem.
Some machines can not only collect debris, but automatically mulch it up for you. Make sure you can access the mulching blades easily and safely, to deal with any blockages – and remember that metal blades are more durable than plastic.
Which is better: Corded or cordless?
Corded machines are the cheapest option, and the most lightweight and agile. The limited reach of the cable, however, means they’re best suited to smaller gardens.
A cordless blower is much more convenient for getting to the far end of a large garden, or for getting into fiddly areas. Battery-operated blowers are more expensive, though, and you get a limited run time before you need to recharge. They’re less powerful too, which means smaller models may struggle to cope with damp leaves.
For really big gardens, or areas with lots of heavy, stubborn wet leaves and other debris, your best bet is a petrol-powered blower. These come in handheld or back-pack models, but they can be heavy, noisy and expensive – and the engine needs regular maintenance.
What else should I look out for?
As always with tools, ergonomics are important. Is the handle comfortable to hold, and the shoulder strap nicely padded? How heavy and noisy is it, and does it vibrate?
Then there’s practical considerations: is it easy to start and use? Does it have sufficient air flow for the task at hand? How easy is it to store? Some models have collapsible tubes and detachable nozzles, which helps if you’re short on storage space. If it’s battery operated, does the price include the batteries, and can you share the batteries and chargers with your other cordless power tools? If you can, that can be a handy money-saver.
The best leaf blowers to buy
1. Stihl BGA 56: Best all-rounder
Price:£189
This cordless leaf blower is quiet and not too heavy – yet it packs a punch when it comes to blowing power. We found the 20 minutes of battery time it gave us was enough to clear leaves and other debris from a medium-sized garden, including the lawn, flowerbeds and patio. Even wet leaves in tight corners were easily dispatched. You get a warning via LED light when it’s time to recharge – which only takes an hour – and the BGA 56 is also comfortable to use, with soft-grip handles and a length-adjustable tube so you don’t have to lean over and get a sore back. It’s quite bulky, but nevertheless a fantastic buy.
http://www.gardenmachinerydirect.co.uk/blowers/stihl-bga-56-compact-cord...
Key specs – Type: Leaf blower; Power source: Battery; Weight including battery: 2.1kg; Blow speed: 194.4 km/h; Battery and charger included?: Yes; Battery compatible with other products by same manufacturer?: Yes; Warranty: 2 years
2. Bosch ALB18 Li: Perfect for smaller gardens
Price:£85
This is the lightest leaf blower we’ve tried: you can easily use it one-handed, yet it has plenty of oomph, which means its 12-minute battery life is enough to clear a small garden of all but the most stubborn wet leaves. The long, narrow nozzle is a godsend for hard-to-reach areas, and makes it easy to direct the leaves towards your pile, “sweep” the patio and clear out cobwebs. The lithium battery, which can also be used with other cordless Bosch tools, take around three and a half hours to charge up. For a larger garden you might need a blower with a longer battery life, but if 12 minutes is enough for you then this is a great blower that’s quiet and easy to store – particularly as you can detach the blower tube.
Key specs – Type: Leaf blower; Power source: Battery; Weight including battery: 1.8kg; Blow speed: 210km/h; Battery and charger included?: Yes; Battery compatible with other products by same manufacturer?: Yes; Warranty: 2 years
2. GTech Leaf Blower: Most powerful cordless blower
Price:£286 – Buy now from GTech
New to the market this year, GTech claims its leaf blower is the most powerful cordless model on the market – and we’d have to agree that, for sheer gusto, there’s very little to approach it. The ergonomics are good too, with a comfortable handle and light touch trigger. We got 20 minutes of use out of it before the battery needed recharging, which is enough to get you through a heck of a lot of leaves. The only downside is that, after that, it takes a leisurely five hours to recharge; if you can’t wait, you can optionally invest in a fast charger, though that costs an extra £100.
The nozzle is quite broad, which initially we weren’t sure about – a narrow airstream can make it easier to direct the leaves. But the sheer power on hand means this isn’t a problem. In all, it’s an expensive blower, and quite heavy, but it’s great for larger gardens and will move the stickiest of debris.
Key specs – Type: Leaf blower; Power source: Battery; Weight including battery: 4.3kg; Blow speed: 136 km/h; Battery and charger included?: Yes; Battery compatible with other products by same manufacturer?: Yes; Warranty: 2 years
3. Handy Eco Vac THEV2600: Best corded blower – and it’s a vac too
Price:£45 – Buy now from B&Q
This corded machine is super-affordable, yet it doesn’t just blow leaves into a neat pile – it can suck them up, and shred them into bits so small that you only rarely have to empty the bag. Other plus points are that it isn’t too big, it’s comfortable to use with the shoulder strap, and it stores away nicely. You’ll need a mains extension lead for all but the very smallest of gardens, and the nozzle can need unblocking from time to time. Emptying the bag is a bit fiddly too – but once you get the knack, it’s not an issue.
Key specs – Type: Blower and vacuum; Power source: Mains; Weight: 4.2kg; Blow speed: 270km/h; Collection capacity: 35L; Cable length: 6m; Warranty: 1 year
5. Makita BHX2501: Best petrol-powered blower
Price:£194
If you have a large garden – or just prefer petrol-powered machinery – this blower will suit you perfectly. It runs for an impressive 60 minutes on a tank of unleaded petrol, and is surprisingly quiet even on full throttle. The four-stroke engine means it doesn’t guzzle petrol, hardly uses any oil and has low emissions, while the compact body and two-part blower tube mean it’s easier to store away than most petrol machines. What’s more, while many petrol leaf blowers weigh a tonne, this one really doesn’t. There are minor niggles – assembly is a bit tricky, and the “cruise control” button isn’t the easiest to use – but none are deal breakers. An optional £50 attachment lets you convert it to a vacuum quickly and easily too.
Key specs – Type: Blower and vacuum (nb. vac attachment sold separately); Power source: Petrol; Weight: 4.5kg; Blow speed: 145mph; Collection capacity: 35L; Warranty: 1 year