Leaf Blower Review

Comparing reviews of leaf blowers

The best leaf-blower reviews balance ratings for performance, durability, and ease of use with noise and air pollution concerns. We found a number of articles covering the ongoing controversy over leaf-blower noise. Reviewers note that if you're using a leaf blower made several years ago, a newer blower will operate more cleanly and quietly.

The quietest and least polluting type of leaf blowers are electric blowers, and most owners and reviewers say an electric leaf blower will suit most homeowners very well. Electric blowers are also easier to maintain. Experts recommend gas leaf blowers only for homeowners who have yards so large that a 150-foot extension cord can't reach all areas.

We found the best leaf-blower review at ConsumerReports.org, where 26 blowers are rated based on objective testing. 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. We wish it were more up-to-date, but ConsumerReports.org has the most recent professional test we found. In another older review, CNNMoney.com 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 feedback from neighbors. A review in The Wall Street Journal evaluates sound quality as well as decibel level, 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. Owner-written reviews and ratings, on the other hand, provide data on leaf blowers' reliability and performance over years of use. Retailers Home Depot, Sears, Lowe's and Northern Tool and Equipment have joined Amazon.com and Epinions.com in publishing owner-written reviews and ratings. In making our assessments, we looked at these as well as expert reviews.