Leaf Blower Review

Introduction to Leaf Blowers

The best reviews of leaf blowers balance a concern for noise and air pollution with ratings for performance, comfort and ease of use. We found quite a few articles on the continuing controversy over leaf blower noise. Reviews note that if you're using a leaf blower made several years ago, a newer blower will likely be less noisy, with fewer emissions.

The most dramatic improvements have been made in backpack gas leaf blowers, but most reviewers say electric leaf blowers are the way to go. They're quieter, less polluting and easier to maintain overall. Reviews recommend gas leaf blowers only for homeowners who have yards that are too big for a 150-foot extension cord to reach.

We found the best and most up-to-date leaf blower review at Consumer Reports, where 26 blowers are run through objective tests. While most reviews measure the noise level 50 feet away from the leaf blower (to gauge how great a nuisance it will be to neighbors), Consumer Reports also rates the sound level at the user's ear. Money Magazine reviews five leaf blowers, comparing them for power, noise and comfort in use. Instead of relying on manufacturers' ratings or decibel meters to evaluate noise, this review bases the ratings on reports from neighbors. A review at The Wall Street Journal also evaluates sound quality as well as decibels, since it's the annoying whine that tends to bother people even more than the volume.

While comparison reviews are useful in identifying the best of each type of leaf blower based on performance, most experts judge models only for brief periods of time. To gauge reliability and performance over years or use, detailed owner-written leaf blower reviews prove useful. Home Depot, Sears, Lowe's and Northern Tool have joined Amazon.com and Epinions in publishing owner-written reviews and leaf blower ratings.

Most gas leaf blowers in the lowest price range get low average ratings for reliability. The Homelite UT08951 (*Est. $100), however, gets the lowest possible rating from each owner reviewing it at Home Depot. Experts advise that if you must buy a gas leaf blower, you'll save money in the long run by spending more for a model that will last several seasons and not just one. The gas-powered Craftsman 358794740 *Est. $100 in the same price range gets mixed reviews from owners posting comments to Sears.com. Several owners say the carburetor broke down after only a few uses, and others say the vibration is so bad they just can't use it very long. The more expensive 4-cycle Craftsman 41AS360G799 *Est. $160 gets better reviews in this respect, and several owners who owned both 2-cycle and 4-cycle Craftsman blowers say the more expensive model is much quieter.