Best Cordless Leaf Blower
Best Cordless Leaf Blowers
When it’s that time of year where all the trees lose their leaves the ground seems to suddenly disappear under a thick cover of fallen leaves. If you’ve been cleaning them up manually, with a rake or shovel (or worse, with your hands) you know how tiring and awkward that can be. So it’s no wonder that so many people resort to using a leaf blower instead. The rise in their popularity means that they are now available in many different models, from multiple brands, and at a fairly inexpensive price. But there are many differences between them, from how they are powered to what functions they have.
These days, it just makes sense to use cordless leaf blowers, they are more practical and very easy to use. They are also very powerful, so it doesn’t matter if the task at hand is large or small as they are complete workhorses.
At Wonkee Donkee we regularly test, compare and review the best power tools on the market to provide you with all the information you need in order to make the right buying choice for you. Before writing this review, we got hold of all the top cordless leaf blowers available on the market and tested them against each other to find out which is best.
When we completed our testing, we were left with two cordless leaf blowers that we love. The reason these two models stood out among the crowd is that all-in-all they offer the best balance between quality, performance and price. If you want to find out more about the different types of leaf blower and which performed best when we tested them then check out our best leaf blowers review.
Makita BHX2500CA 24.5cc 4-Stroke Leaf Blower
The first one is the Makita BHX2500CA Commercial Grade 4-Stroke 24.5cc Handheld Blower, which straight away you notice is a fairly high grade and powerful device. This is the best in class for this price range and has many extra features like an energy-efficient 4-stroke engine and a low compression quick start – so that starting it up is really easy and fast. It also packs a lot of punch for the price, with a huge 145mph max airspeed which is strong enough to move even the most stubborn leaves.
Another very similar model is the Husqvarna 125BVx 28cc 2-Cycle cordless Powered 170 MPH Blower/Vac With Smart Start, which also boosts having a quick start function, and comes in at around the same price. The Husqvarna is slightly more powerful with higher maximum speed but the design and usability of the Makita mean that between the 2, we would go for the Makita. Power isn’t always everything and we think overall the Makita is much more well-rounded and offers more.
There are a load of great extra features which are built-in to the Makita Makita BHX2500CA. For example, the variable fan speed and an included flare nozzle means that you can get more tasks done. There are also a load of little extra accessories that can be useful depending on your landscape so having them already means you are ready to go at any time. It is also lightweight and ergonomic which makes it really comfortable to use, especially for long periods of time. We simply think that the Makita BHX2500CA leaf blower is an incredible cordless leaf blower. If you are not sure whether to believe us or not then just check out all of their customer reviews and find out what people who use it every day.
Specifications
- Motor Size: 24.5cc
- Weight: 9.5 Pounds
- Maximum Ouput: 145 MPH
What We Like:
- 4-Stroke Engine
- Low Compression Quick Start
- Variable Fan Speed
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Hitachi RB24EAP Gas Powered Leaf Blower
The Hitachi RB24EAP 23.9cc 2 Stroke 170 MPH Cordless Blower is made by a more well-known company and comes in at a lower price. This cordless leaf blower has a two-stroke engine, so it is not as powerful as the Makita BHX2500CA. But it does have a load of great features. Some of these make using this leaf blower so easy like the quick start function and an auto-resume stop switch. The combination of low price and high usability is why the Hitachi RB24EAP has earned its place on our best cordless leaf blowers review.
We love tools that offer great value for money. But they have to stand the test of time and be durable, not just cheap. This Hitachi cordless leaf blower is really reasonably priced for what is capable of and as it is made by Hitachi, it’s built with high-quality materials in a robust design. If you don’t have a massive budget to spend and you’re after the cordless leaf blower that gives you the most value for money then the Hitachi RB24EAP is the leaf blower for you.
The design is intelligent to maximise power whilst staying lightweight and easy to operate. Hitachi also offer a shoulder strap add-on to help you distribute the weight of the tool if you are using it for long periods of time. Add to this the complete peace of mind you get with their huge 7-year warranty on this leaf blower when used personally. If you are buying this cordless leaf blower for commercial or rental uses this warranty is reduced to 2-years, which in fairness is still pretty good.
As we previously mentioned if you are after value for money then the Hitachi RB24EAP cordless leaf blower is an absolute steal. If you are searching for a high-quality leaf blower then you simply won’t get anything better for the money, and for us, a 7-year warranty is just the cherry on top of the cake.
Specifications
- Motor Size: 23.9 cc
- Weight: 8.6 Pounds
- Maximum Output: 170MPH
What We Like:
- Low Emission Engine
- Auto Resume Switch
- 7-Year Warranty
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Cordless Leaf Blower Buying Guide
For those who live on properties where there’s a lot of trees, it’s the same story every year. The trees lose their leaves, and you end up with a carpet of dead leaves on the ground. Getting them out with a shovel or rake can be time-consuming, tiring and just simply annoying. This is why a lot of people now use a leaf blower instead. It’s much more convenient, quicker and easier to use. This means that the job is done in no time and you can get on with more important things.
Now you’ve decided that you are interested in buying a leaf blower then that’s the hard bit done right? Well, not quite. There are now a load of different brands and leaf blower models out there. At Wonkee Donkee, we have put a quick cordless leaf blower buying guide together in order to help you on your way.
Here are the 3 things that you should know before you buy a leaf blower:
Power Source
First, there’s the type of power used in your leaf blower. Currently, there are three popular types of leaf blower: gas/petrol powered, cordless electric and corded electric. Each of these has its own positive and negative features.
A gas-powered leaf blower is also a cordless model and typically is heavier and vibrate more when in use. But this little extra weight translates into a lot more output power. One of the reasons behind the weight is the fact you have to carry around the fuel tank on the device. This is usually built-in to the handheld device or attached to a backpack that you carry on your back. As it uses fuel to work then you will need to fill it up before use. Most normal fuel is acceptable to use but some brands have created specific fuel to help get the maximum performance from your leaf blower.
We always recommend that you read the guide specific to your leaf blower model before putting in any fuel into the power tool. All of these slight drawbacks have their purpose though. Petrol leaf blowers can operate for longer and are much more powerful, so you can get the job done faster. The other key advantage over other options is that you are not restricted by a cord or by having to wait for the device’s battery to recharge.
Corded electric leaf blowers are more suited to small properties and non-commercial use. With reasonable power output, less vibration and the ability to run for hours, they are a great option if you have well-located power sources. Unfortunately, their drawback is the cord. It not only restricts you on how far away from a power socket you can use the device but it is also just seemingly in the way when you are using it.
The third option are cordless electric leaf blowers. These typically use to lithium-ion batteries which are high-quality and give you up to 4 hours operating time. Their power output is the lowest on the market but you have complete portability and they are the lightest models available. Their main drawback is obvious and that is that you have to recharge the battery between uses. This means that if you have a large property or area to cover you could end up spending a lot of time waiting around waiting for it to recharge.
Combination Models
Most leaf blowers are simply blowers, meaning they blow away the leaves. This can be fine for a front yard where you can send all those leaves to the street, and the city workers clean them up. However, you may have a large land where you don’t have anywhere to send them. This means that once you have collected all the leaves in a neat pile, you still have the task of collecting and disposing of them. Well, that was once the case. But now, some higher-end models offer a combo of blowing, vacuuming and even mulching.
The majority of these models come with a backpack unit that can store leaves that you vacuum up with the device (you can get some models which offer a wheeled storage system if that suits you better). Leaf blowers that offer mulching functions go one step further. These units shred the leaves as they are sucked up by the vacuum. This allows them to store more in the holding bag, so you have to make fewer trips to the compost bin.
Noise Limits
Finally, once you’re set on the type of power, model and price of your next leaf blower, don’t forget to check if your town has noise ordinances. Some of these devices, especially the cordless gas-powered ones, can be quite noisy, and you may get complaints if you don’t respect the rules. A quick Google search will help you find these and it is worth making sure that you find out the correct information before you go out and buy a brand new leaf blower. Once you know everything there is to know about leaf blowers, then feel free to make your purchase, and enjoy getting rid of those leaves in a much easier and fun way.
