Handheld Gas Blowers

Gas leaf blowers give you more range

Gas leaf blowers are noisier, heavier and sometimes harder to start than electric models, but you're not tethered to a cord. The handheld models have about the same power as the best corded electric leaf blowers, but since gas leaf blowers cost more and make more noise, experts recommend them only if you really need the extra range. With a gas-powered leaf blower, you also have some extra hassle -- buying and mixing the gasoline and oil, storing the flammable fuel safely, carrying the extra weight and keeping the fumes away from kids. In addition, most gas leaf blowers can't vacuum leaves.

The Stihl BG 55 and Echo PB-251 compete for top ranking among handheld gas blowers. The 9-pound Stihl BG 55 (*Est. $150) is Stihl's lightest (and least expensive) leaf blower; it's fairly loud at 69 decibels, and has a 27.2 cc engine. Its maximum air speed is 140 mph, but its air volume is high, rated at 417 CFM. Professional reviewers give it high ratings for its light weight as well as its performance. A vacuum kit and gutter cleaning kit are optional accessories. Big box stores don't carry Stihl products and they're not available online. Stihl leaf blowers are sold through local dealerships and come with a one-year warranty.

The gas-powered Echo PB-251 (*Est. $170), has a 25.4 cc engine, 145-mph maximum air speed and 390 CFM air volume. It weighs 9.9 pounds. The PB-251's 65 decibel noise rating is quiet enough to meet standards in neighborhoods with noise restrictions, and significantly lower than that of the Stihl BG 55 (Stihl has quieter models, but they cost more). Experts say sound level doubles with a difference of only ten decibels. Like all Echo gas blowers, the Echo PB-251 has a five-year warranty and a lifetime warranty on the ignition.

One discussion thread in the Tool Shed Forum on GardenWeb.com compares the Stihl BG 55 and the Echo PB-251. The Echo leaf blower receives general praise and is favored over the Stihl BG 55 by most users. In another thread about the Echo PB-251 on Lawnsite.com, owners generally praise it, though one person says the Stihl BG 85 (now the BG 86, (*Est. $240)) is a better choice. At HomeDepot.com, of the 15 owners who review the PB-251, only two give it less than a five-star (out of five) rating.

Echo recently introduced a new handheld gas leaf blower, the Echo PB-255 (*Est. $230), but no reviews of this model are available yet. It's rated at 65 decibels, and comes with both a round and a flared nozzle for the blowing tube; air flow and volume vary depending on which nozzle is used.

The Craftsman Pro 79481 (*Est. $180) is the top-rated handheld gas leaf blower at Sears.com: About a dozen owners give it a perfect five-of-five-star rating. Its two-cycle, 28 cc engine provides plenty of power; it's rated at 170 mph, 470 CFM. However, the Craftsman Pro 79481 weighs a hefty 12 pounds. A vacuum attachment is offered separately. Sears doesn't provide a noise level, but owners say it's not as loud as other blowers they've used. This particular Craftsman leaf blower comes with a three-year warranty.

The less expensive Craftsman 358794740 (*Est. $100) gets mixed reviews but an above-average overall rating from owners at Sears.com. Some love it, while others find it hard to start. A few owners note that the vacuum feature is too inconvenient to bother with. This Craftsman leaf blower weighs 10 pounds and comes with a two-year warranty. Craftsman gas blowers all have a starter feature that makes them easier to get going than most gas blowers, according to About.com landscaping guide David Beaulieu.

We found lower scores for budget gas leaf blowers; if you want to spend less than $90, you might consider the top-rated electric Toro Ultra Blower Vac instead. For example, the two-speed Weed Eater FL1500LE (*Est. $85) gets mixed reviews from owners, some of whom report frustrating reliability problems. We found low average ratings from owners reviewing it at Epinions and Amazon.com. Its 23 cc engine provides airflow with a maximum speed of only 150 mph, with 300 CFM average air volume -- less blowing power than a good electric leaf blower.