Handheld Gas Blowers

Gas leaf blowers give you more range

Gas leaf blowers free you from the restrictions of a cord, and are considerably more powerful than cordless electric blowers. (Handheld gas models have about the same power as the best corded electric leaf blowers.)  Gas blowers cost more and make more noise than electric blowers do; they're also heavier, sometimes harder to start, and pollute more. With the majority of gas-powered leaf blowers, you also have some extra hassle: buying and mixing the gasoline and oil (since most have two-cycle engines), storing the fuel safely, carrying the extra weight and keeping the fumes away from kids. In addition, most gas leaf blowers don't have a vacuum feature.

Among handheld gas blowers, the Husqvarna 125B (*Est. $150) performs well in comparison tests and gets the best reviews from experts. The Husqvarna 125B has a 28 cc engine with a maximum air speed of 170 mph and an air volume of 425 CFM. It includes both round and flat nozzles, cruise control and an adjustable-length blowing tube. The Husqvarna 125B is rated at 70 decibels and weighs 9.4 pounds. An upgraded variant, the 125BVx (*Est. $190), adds a vacuum kit with mulching capability and a shoulder harness. Husqvarna blowers come with two-year warranty coverage.

The Husqvarna 125B leaf blower is recommended by retailer MowersDirect.com, and users  give it high ratings as well. More than 65 owners post reviews at Lowes.com, and the Husqvarna website offers more than 330 owner reviews of the Husqvarna 125B and 125BVx. Though a few owners complain about breakdowns, the majority are pleased, saying that this gas-powered leaf blower is lightweight and easy to use.

The Echo PB-250 (*Est. $160) is another good choice, according to owners.  It has a variable-speed 25.4 cc engine with a maximum speed of 135 mph, and it can kick out 390 CFM of air volume. The PB-250's 68-decibel noise level won't meet standards in some neighborhoods with noise restrictions, but it is lower than that of some other gas blowers (like the Husqvarna 125B). The Echo is covered by one of the best warranties of any model: five years and lifetime coverage on the ignition. We found no expert reviews of this Echo blower, but owners give it high ratings at HomeDepot.com. It's also recommended by members of the National Home Gardening Club (who get free blowers to try out), with a rating of 9.2 out of 10.

The Stihl BG 55 (*Est. $150) performs well in comparison tests. The 9-pound BG 55 is Stihl's lightest (and least expensive) handheld gas leaf blower. It's fairly loud at 69 decibels, with a 27.2 cc engine and variable speed control. The BG 55 has a maximum air speed of 140 mph and a high air volume: 417 CFM. Professional reviewers give it high ratings for its (relatively) light weight as well as its performance. A vacuum kit and gutter-cleaning kit are optional accessories. Stihl leaf blowers are sold through local dealerships and come with a two-year warranty.

Handheld propane leaf blower costs more but is eco-friendly

The Lehr BV025HH Eco Blower (*Est. $190) uses recyclable (but not refillable) 16.4-ounce propane canisters (*Est. $2 to $4 each) for fuel..Reviewers say one canister provides about two hours of runtime. The Eco Blower also vacuums and mulches leaves; its four-cycle, 25 cc engine is rated at a maximum airspeed of 145 mph and an air velocity of 315 CFM. The Lehr's four-cycle engine makes it relatively heavy, at 11.9 pounds, and reviewers say the Eco Blower is as noisy as most handheld gas blowers (no noise rating is provided by the manufacturer). It comes with a two-year warranty, three on the carburetor.

On the plus side, the Eco Blower is environmentally friendly, easy to start and powerful, plus it requires little maintenance. Like gas blowers, it has a broader operating range than electric blowers, but it adds vacuuming and mulching capabilities, features that are harder to find on gas blowers. On the negative side,  the Eco Blower is no more powerful than a good, less costly corded electric blower. It's noisier, too. One review we read says the vacuum function performs poorly; in testing, the included bag didn't hold up for more than a few uses. However, the 20 or so users posting reviews at Amazon.com give it above-average ratings.