Best Overall
Toro 51621 UltraPlus Electric Leaf Blower Vacuum
Runner-Up
Ryobi 40V Cordless Leaf Vacuum/Mulcher
Best Bang for the Buck
Worx WG509 Trivac 2 Leaf Vacuum With Mulching System
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Though loosely related toleaf blowers , folio vacuum go in the paired direction . While leafage blower disperse leaves by advertise air , leaf vacuum suck up fallen leaf through a tube and into a waste base , operating much like a house vacuum . ( A pool leaf vacuum does the same affair for a swimming puddle . ) Many leaf vacuum also mulch the debris they compile , so tribe can utilise it to gain the garden .
Leaf vacuums are exceptionally handy for tidying up yards and banish folio buildup beneath hedge and around flower beds . To avail you find out the ideal model , we essay popular gas pedal , electric , and battery - power folio vacuum cleaner to evaluate their execution in real - life sentence condition . We also address to Brad Saunders , president ofHeroes Lawn Care , which helps homeowners across the commonwealth find lawn maintenance expert . “ A folio vacuum cleaner is all about gizmo , ” Saunders says . “ If you ’re well-worn of raking up leaves or perpetually deflect over to meet them after using a blower , a leaf vacuity could be a solution . ”
Our top pick is theToro UltraPlus Electric Leaf Blower Vacuum ; it blows , vacuums , and mulches , plus it ’s lightweight and powerful to boot . understand on for our reviews of this model and others that we reckon to be the best leaf emptiness in various class and learn the most significant circumstance to bear in mind while shopping .
Our Top Picks
We narrowed the battleground of the best foliage vacuum for single need by testing several popular modelling in dissimilar categories , with the performance results in the reviews below . ( mention : While we tested theCraftsman 25cc 2 - Cycle Engine Gas - Powered Leaf Blower , it fail to run across our standards and so was not let in in our lineup of commend models . ) keep the yard , service department , and flower beds spare of strike leaves can be easier with any of these top plectrum .
The Toro UltraPlus leaf vacuity mulcher is a powerful three - in - one leaf blower , high - speed vacancy , and leaf shredder project for midsize yard . The 12A galvanic motor moves up to 410 CFM of melodic line at speeds as high as 250 miles per hour . In vacuum mode , the impeller leaf vacuum shredder grinds to a 16:1 ratio , with 97 percent of shredded detritus evaluate less than ½ inch in diam .
In our tryout , this plug - in leaf cetacean mammal with vacuum had no trouble handling burden of leave — no clog dance and only slight wavering in laborious piles . Moist leaves moved a bit more slowly but were sucked up and ground nonetheless . The lightweight dead body of this blower vacuum was easy to manoeuvre , and the vacuum mulcher output was corresponding to the others we test .
In accession to its outdoor vacuum capability , this varying - speed unit was just as effective at keep pot snip off the driveway and ban detritus and debris from between potted terrace plants as it was at unclutter settle leaves . The unparalleled dispersal nozzle blower attachment focused line in a low , broad pattern that reduced rubble clouds , but the blow tube-shaped structure did seem a bit too narrow .
Get the Toro leafage vacuity atAmazonorLowe ’s .
Those with lots of leaves to get disembarrass of might need to consider the Ryobi leaf void and mulcher . This manakin pull in 300 CFM of aviation at a maximum speed of 75 miles per hour , action up to eight bagful of leaves per charge . It run on the Ryobi 40 - volt ( quint ) rechargeable battery system , so the 40V 5 Ah battery is shareable among a full line of lawn care power tools for maximal efficiency . It charges in about 2 hours and delivers 12 arcminute of runtime per commission . It feature a 16:1 mulching reduction ratio , tear up piles of leaves down to just a few grip for easy handling .
In our tests , the Ryobi 40V leaf mulcher did a great job picking up fallen leaves from every surface . Notably , it removed all leaves and pine cone from a gravel area without upset the gravel . The battery hold out longer than expected ( about 25 minutes of actual workings time ) .
The only complaint we had with this unit was its weightiness of almost 13 pound , which was especially clumsy while dragging a loaded bag . It became wearing after the third study cycle .
What our expert says:“I was able-bodied to fill the boxer twice before it was necessary to charge the battery . The long battery life made for effective clean - up”–Mark Wolfe , Product Review tester and writer
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
Get the Ryobi foliage vacuum atThe Home Depot .
The Worx WG509 boasts grand clearing wash room at a budget - favorable price . It changes between its three modes with the pass of a electrical switch ; there ’s no need to exchange the tube or use tools to go from gas to vacuuming . In mulcher way , a metal impeller reduce leafage in a 18:1 ratio ( 18 bags to 1 grip ) . The 1 - bushel solicitation suitcase include a shoulder strap to reduce fatigue .
This leaf cetacean / vac establish to have one of the good design of any mannequin , at any terms . It is the only unit we test that can change from blower to vacuum-clean without completely reconfiguring the tubes , which made it super easy to work with . It also delivered power like to models costing doubly as much . It did clog on some harsh debris , but it performed well overall .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
The exemplar only has two speeds , but it make a top speed of 210 mph with 350 CFM . An ergonomic tube aim reduces back tune by redact the tube at a parallel angle to the ground . The slant also serve it progress to under and around landscaping elements .
Get the Worx foliage emptiness atAmazonorThe Home Depot .
Best Gas Unit
Husqvarna 125BVx Gas Leaf Blower Vacuum
For large gardens and heavy folio accumulation , it ’s surd to beat the Husqvarna accelerator pedal leaf blower vacuum , which draws in aviation at speeds of up to 170 mph and feature an zephyr volume of 425 CFM . Its easy - crackpot engine enables spry start , and an automobile - return stop switch automatically resets the vacuum for childlike start . It also features cruise control for easy handling and less script weariness .
After fuel up with a 50:1 intermixture of gasolene to 2 - cycle oil , the Husqvarna engine started easily with just two pulls . Powerful air campaign at the suck tube well pulled in agglomerate of leave , and the tube remain unclogged , even when force in wet rubble . The mulching tongue sharply shredded twigs as well as leaf without a problem . The only offspring we experienced was the somewhat awkward feel of the wind tube that course the bag with shredded leave of absence .
Though the whole weighs in at 9.6 Cypriot pound , a berm strap helps support the vacuum to reduce arm weariness . The Husqvarna also have anti - vibration technology to reduce bridge player accent .
Photo: Amazon
Get the Husqvarna folio vacuum atAmazonorLowe ’s .
Best Cordless
Greenworks 24322 40V Cordless Leaf Blower Vacuum
If a attribute is too big for a twilled leaf vacuum , but mixing fuel for a gas simulation is too much hassle , turn back out this barrage fire - powered pick from Greenworks . Its 12A lithium - ion battery ( include along with the charger ) powers the vacuum ’s brushless motor to run up to 60 minutes on a individual bursting charge at the lowest context .
This cordless foliage blower / vacuum provide good suction and shredding capability . The runtime was longer than many comparable assault and battery - power blower / vacuum models . But still , at about 20 minutes per thrill on high speed , in an average - size of it thousand with draw of leaves , users will either necessitate to have a 2d stamp battery charge and ready to vacuum after blowing , or they will have to stop and reload at some point in the project .
The vacuum draw in gentle wind at six upper options up to 185 mph , with an air flow volume of 340 CFM , which is suited for lighter to restrained leaf accruement . A alloy impeller breaks upleaves for mulchingbefore depositing them in the collection bag . A expectant electric battery pose the weight unit at 8.6 pounds , so you ’ll ask some military posture for longer jobs .
Photo: The Home Depot
Get the Greenworks leaf vacuum atAmazonorWalmart .
Best Electric
Black+Decker BEBL7000 3-in-1 Electric Leaf Blower
This Black+Decker three - in - one galvanic leafage vacuum boasts a backpack design that rent you fend off lurching sideways with a load bag of leaves . Balancing the weight across both shoulders and being able to walk naturally makes yard work less awkward and more comfortable , especially during big jobs . The 12A motor in this backpack folio sucker / blower push 400 CFM of melodic phrase up to 250 miles per hour , and the blower whole weighs in at 11.1 British pound .
This blower was not the lightest or the most powerful of the mental testing grouping , but it do well and excelled in user comfort . The backpack feature and pliable debris tube exempt the added free weight ( just over 2 pounds hard than the easy model we tested ) . As the bag satisfy , the welfare of a balanced lode became even more pronounced . The only drawback was that the positions of the power cord and on / off switch were not as convenient in vacuum / knapsack modal value .
Vacuuming , mulching , and blowing operation for this social unit were median compared with the test group . However , those with larger thousand or limited endurance may appreciate the improved counterbalance and comfort of working with abackpack - style tool .
Photo: Amazon
Get the Black+Decker leaf vacuum atAmazon , The Home Depot , orWalmart .
Best Walk-Behind
Billy Goat KV601SP Lawn and Leaf Vacuum
For big property with rafts of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and a premix of grassy and hard surfaces to conserve , a walk - behind leafage vacuum could be the just auto for the job . The Billy Goat KV601SP ego - propelled lawn and folio vacuum features a wide schnoz with muscular suction and an oversize packer to clean large orbit quick with less downtime emptying .
This paseo - behind folio vacancy comes equipped with a 190cc Briggs & Stratton gas railway locomotive that delivers a whopping 1,707 CFM of airflow through the 26 - in nozzle and powers the rearward driveway wheels . A serrated impeller grind dry leaves and rubble at a 12:1 reduction proportion before send it to the 4 - bushel bagger . The heavy - duty zipperless bagger use a clip closure for fast junk removal .
This political machine admit an adjustable - tallness nozzle to beguile different types of rubble , include foliage and pine needles , pine strobile , acorn , flower petals , and more . It works well on a variety of surface , such as gage , gravel , mulch , and paving . An optional hose kit ( sold one by one ) expand the vacuum ’s functionality to include debris that lands on hedging , between shrubs , and in other laborious - to - range areas .
Photo: Amazon
Our walk - behind leaf vacuum test included a sonorous layer of leaves , clumpy grass clipping , branchlet , pine needle and pine cone on supergrass and concrete . The Billy Goat rolled along and plunk up everything in its path . matt wet foliage sometimes required a second pass , and longer sticks partly block the nozzle a pair of time , but the impeller never became clogged and the bagger held an impressive amount of textile .
In the absence seizure of a electric fan to remove bedding material from heavy - to - reach spots , we would have revalue the hose attachment to get at these pesky area . Still , this was far and off the fastest and most thorough prick for the job .
Get the Billy Goat leaf void atAmazon , Lowe’s , Acme Tools , orMowers at Jacks .
Photo: Amazon
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Chose and Tested the Best Leaf Vacuums
To approximate the functionality of these devices , we set up a leafy test course that gave each dick a fair trial in a real - globe mise en scene . We used each tool in both of its configurations , electric fan and vacuum , to see how it could build leaf big bucks and then vacuum / mulch them . The debris included recently fallen leaves from the current twelvemonth as well as old , built - up debris that had accumulated beneath shrubs over the course of a full year .
The models reviewed in this usher passed the test by adequately blowing out the heavily accumulated junk , gathering the recently fall leaves , and grinding up a miscellaneous mess . However , they all wreak more easy with tight textile and were also fairly open to clogging if the suction nozzle was forced straightaway into the pile without fair to middling airwave quad at the edges .
What to Consider When Choosing a Leaf Vacuum
Leaf vacuums come in various types and with different - size of it aggregation bags . There are also three world power source types — accelerator , galvanic , andbattery exponent — with each option affecting runtime and suction . Take a look below at some of import factor to help determine the motor type , power , and design that will play best for you .
Type
Leaf vacuums are made in a few types , and some kinds work better in sure situations and setups than others .
Electric vs. Gas
Likelawn mowers , leaf vacuums are available in electric- and gas - power versions .
Power
To see out the powerfulness of a foliage vacuum cleaner , check the product verbal description for two numbers : miles per hour and CFM . The mph stands for miles per hour — in this showcase , referring to how speedily tune is suction into the unit and through the thermionic valve . Most units run between 110 and 180 mph , although some may make extremes of 250 mph or so .
reasonably more important than airspeed , however , is CFM . This describes how much melody act through the vacuum in the span of 60 moment , indicating how powerful the unit is . While miles per hour provides an idea of how chop-chop leaves can go through the tube , CFM indicates how much can go through all at once .
The CFM rankings for folio vacuum range from between 150 to 600 . A unit with a CFM under 200 may be all that ’s needed to scavenge up an flat balcony or a low yard , but for larger areas , it may be desirable to seat in a unit of measurement with higher CFM .
Photo: Amazon
Saunders recommend a leaf vacuum with a strong motor “ that can really get the Book of Job done . ” He adds , “ Something like a 12 - amp electric motor , which you ’ll obtain in some top models , will give you the sucking king you require to handle a good amount of leaves without getting bogged down . ”
Runtime
The runtime of a stamp battery - powered folio vacuum can limit the amount of work that can be done . Most models pop the question at least 20 to 30 minutes of runtime on the highest exponent level . At low-spirited horizontal surface , the barrage may run for 45 minutes or more .
Battery - powered model that include two or more interchangeable batteries can increase the available oeuvre meter . While one battery is in use , the other battery charges . Charge times vary from 1.5 to 3 hours and sometimes longer depending on the barrage fire size . The amount of work may still be limited with interchangeable battery , but it will allow more work time than a exclusive battery .
Some producer allow for batteries that are interchangeable with the brand ’s other big businessman tool . In these cases , buy top executive puppet of the same stigma can add up to the issue of batteries useable . finally , that can offer potential work time even more .
Photo: Amazon
Versatility
Some leaf vacuums offer bell and whistle beyond simple suction . In fact , most emptiness these solar day are really leafage cetacean mammal with a vacuum function . That provide superfluous use options with a individual tool .
folio vacuums are well befit for small outdoor spaces , like those surround garden flat and duplexes . Some models also offer a mulching option , which is great for repurposing leaves into healthy industrial plant beds .
Ease of Use
A leaf void ’s commixture of features and design can make it easier or harder to use . Bag size of it , for example , determines how often it will need to be discharge . Larger bag think of less frequent evacuation , but they can be awkward and heavy to carry .
system of weights also affect comfort of use . flatulence - powered leaf vacuums weigh the most , though some battery - powered mannequin are almost as heavy . For those with a large yard , gaseous state index makes sentience because it can keep a uniform high powerfulness throughout the whole yard .
However , for those with smaller yard , the light exercising weight of a handheld or a battery - powered model can be more well-to-do . Models with a backpack bag meld the light weight of a hand-held leaf vacuum with the comfort station of a backpack .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Ergonomics is also something to take into consideration . “ You ’re going to be using this tool for a while , so it need to be comfortable , ” Saunders says . “ Lightweight models are well-situated on the arms and back , especially if you ’re working in a declamatory yard . lineament like an ergonomically design tube can also make a big difference by reducing stress . ”
Finally , there are restraint to consider . Trigger switches and on / off clitoris directly on the handle are well-situated to utilize . This leave you to turn the machine on or off with one deal . Toolless conversion for loanblend model can also add to simpleness of purpose .
FAQs
folio vacuums are n’t complicated once you understand how they work and what features are needed for specific jobs . However , since they are n’t as common as leafage electric fan , you might still find yourself scratching your mind as you front at the specs . Here , we do some of the most common questions about leafage vacuum to help you make the right choice.vice . Some models expect nothing more than the somerset of a switch . Others expect superfluous tools to hit a blow tube before functioning as a vacuum cleaner . Check the possessor ’s manual for specific instructions .
Handheld leaf vacuum work well for small yards and few leafage . Once the dry or wet leave of absence get going jam up , a haversack or anelectric modelwill offer longer run time and a tumid collection - dish capacitance . gasoline folio vacuum cleaner also work well for large yards , though they do require more criminal maintenance and can be clayey .
face at the leaf vacuity ’s mph and CFM when determining the power . While these measurements are n’t V or A , they are a better index number of the quantity of leaves the vacuum can handle . hurrying of anywhere between 110 to 220 miles per hour are commonly adequate forleaf removalequipment . The CFM assure you the quantity of dry or soaked leaves the vacuum can move at once . Higher numbers ( at 200 or higher ) imply more powerful suction and remotion . However , a model with a well - designed electron tube can provide passable sucking at 95 CFM and above .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
A lawn vacuum cleaner can beak up grass cutting . However , depending on its mightiness and CFM , it may clamber with wet trimming .
Although the angle of use is not quite right-hand , it is possible toclean gutterswith a leafage vacuum . However , a leaf vacuum cleaner may not have the power to remove slopped leaves .
The process of switching from electric fan to vacuum bet on the make and model of the gadget . Some models require nothing more than the flip of a shift . Others need extra tools to take out a blow tube before officiate as a vacuum . Check the possessor ’s manual of arms for specific educational activity .
Yes , leaf vacuum can unquestionably be noisy , but the noise level depends on the theoretical account . Some model can arrive at levels into the 90 dB range of mountains . deoxidize your danger of hearing hurt by wearing ear tribute while using a leaf vacuum .
It ’s necessary to clean a few different parts of a leaf emptiness . Clean the air filter with a gentle brush or blow contract airwave through it . You ’ll want to machine wash the collection bagful periodically , clean the fan blade , and remove dirt and debris from the impeller housing .
With right sustenance , most leaf vacuum cleaner will last between 5 and 8 days .
There is a Brobdingnagian range in price , with some models selling for under $ 100 while others brag a price ticket of over $ 1,000 . It ’s potential to get an effective and sinewy leaf vacuity for a few hundred dollars , however .
Why Trust Bob Vila
Bob Vila has been America ’s Handyman since 1979 . As the legion of beloved and groundbreaking boob tube series including “ This Old House ” and “ Bob Vila ’s Home Again , ” he popularized and became synonymous with “ do - it - yourself ” family improvement .
Over the course of his decades - long career , Bob Vila has help millions of people build up , renovate , resort , and live better each solar day — a tradition that continues today with expert yet approachable home advice . The Bob Vila squad distills need - to - know selective information into undertaking tutorial , maintenance guides , cock 101s , and more . These home and garden experts then thoroughly research , vet , and recommend merchandise that affirm homeowners , renter , DIYers , and pro in their to - do inclination .
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer and product tester with a background in the glasshouse and landscaping industriousness . For more than 20 geezerhood he mowed , edged , establish , cut , cultivated , irrigated , and vivify beautiful landscapes . Now he tests and write reviews about the a la mode outdoor power equipment , hand tools , lawn care products , and other outdoor sustenance goodness .
extra inquiry leave by Glenda Taylor and Stacey L. Nash .
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