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Leaf Blowers: Ratings of Sources
Total of 15 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
Sept. 2007
Power Blowers: More Punch for Plug-ins
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This report compares the performance of 26 electric and gas leaf blowers. This review offers the best objective comparison tests, rating both electric and gas leaf blowers for performance in sweeping, loosening and vacuuming debris, along with ratings for handling and noise. We wish this report were a bit more up to date, but even so, the majority of the tested models are still available.
2. CNNMoney.com
Oct. 2006
Powerful. Quiet. Best Leaf Blowers
by Charles Passy
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This review compares five leaf blowers based on one user's tests in his yard. Charles Passy, the author of the article, gauges power by directing the blowers toward a stack of bricks. Noise levels are evaluated by neighbors' reactions. The highest rating overall goes to a gas backpack blower, the Stihl BR 500. Because of this article's age, several models are now discontinued.
3. Amazon.com
As of Sept. 2009
Leaf Blowers
by Contributors to Amazon.com
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Amazon's owner-written reviews and ratings often give useful details about annoyances, reliability, long-term durability and customer service. Some leaf blowers that get top ratings in comparison tests get lower average ratings here, based on owners' problems with breakdowns and parts durability. Electric leaf blowers get better ratings than gas leaf blowers do.
4. HomeDepot.com
As of Sept. 2009
Blowers
by Contributors to HomeDepot.com
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Home Depot invites readers to rate leaf blowers on their website, but there's no easy way to compare overall ratings; you're forced to click on each product individually. The gas-powered Echo PB-251 and… California Air Resources Board-certified PB-251C get near-perfect ratings from owners. Echo's gas PB-413 and 413C (the CARB version) also get great ratings; they have been discontinued but are still available in some Home Depot stores. In addition to the top-rated Toro Ultra 51599, several other Toro leaf blowers get reasonably good ratings, though some quality problems are noted.

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5. Sears.com
As of Sept. 2009
Leaf Blowers
by Contributors to Sears.com
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Sears publishes both ratings and reviews written by owners, and since Sears is the only retailer that sells Craftsman tools, this is the best place to read user reviews on Craftsman blowers. Among gas… blowers, the Craftsman 358794740 Blower Vac gets high ratings from almost 50 people; the Craftsman Pro 79481 also gets high marks. One electric leaf blower, the 7.5-amp Craftsman 358748200, is rated a perfect five of five stars by almost 20 owners. Other high-rated electric blowers include the Craftsman Variable Speed 74828 and the Toro Ultra Blower Vac.

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6. Good Housekeeping
Oct. 2007
Fast Fall Cleanup
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This brief article on fall leaf cleanup recommends only one leaf blower, the Toro Ultra Blower Vac -- praising it as light, quiet and eco-friendly.
7. The Wall Street Journal
Sept. 16, 2005
Leaf Blowers: Quiet, Please
by Sara Schaefer Munoz
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This outdated article recommends three powerful gas leaf blowers, mostly on the basis of their relatively low noise levels. The noise levels on the recommended blowers have not only been certified by the… American National Standards Institute, but they've been tested and confirmed by the reviewer (with a decibel meter) as well. The Husqvarna 356BTx (now the 356BT) uses an enclosed engine to lower the sound to 64 decibels, and the Stihl BR 500 is only slightly louder at 65 decibels. The John Deere BH25LE is even louder at 68 decibels, but the sound is lower-pitched and less annoying than most, and its 4-cycle engine minimizes emissions.

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8. Engadget.com
Sept. 23, 2005
Quiet Leaf-blowers Attempt to Stop Epidemic of Lawn Rage
by Marc Perton
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This older review highlights two relatively quiet leaf blowers, the Echo PB-460LN Quiet 1 and the Husqvarna 356BTx (now 356BT), both of which are backpack blowers suitable for large lawns or professional landscapers. Both run at about 65 decibels and are extremely quiet compared with the 90-decibel average for most leaf blowers of this type.
9. About.com
Not Dated
Top 5 Leaf Blowers, Vacuums, Mulching Lawn Mowers, Wood Chippers
by David Beaulieu
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

David Beaulieu, About.com's landscaping guide, reviews two electric leaf blower-vacs. He recommends the Black & Decker BV2500 leaf blower, equipped with the optional trash can adapter, for small to… medium-size yards. This report links to Beaulieu's review of a discontinued Craftsman 4-cycle gas leaf blower vac. Beaulieu likes electric blowers much better than gas ones. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

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10. GardenWeb.com
As of Sept. 2009
Tool Shed Forum
by Contributors to GardenWeb.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The Tool Shed Forum at GardenWeb.com is searchable, so it's possible to find information from users about a specific leaf blower model or brand. There are no ratings, just informal exchanges based on people's experiences. We found a discussion thread comparing the Echo PB-251 and the Stihl BG 55, with most favoring the Echo model.
11. Lowes.com
As of Sept. 2009
Blowers
by Contributors to Lowes.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Lowe's invites owners to publish ratings and comments about leaf blowers. Overall, gas blowers receive more positive reviews than electric blowers do. Two gas backpack blowers, the Troy-BiIt 269580 and the… Husqvarna 150BT, get very high ratings, as does a Husqvarna handheld leaf blower, the 125B. The cordless Black& Decker NS118 gets very high marks as well, but from fewer than 10 people. The Black & Decker LH4500 blower vac is rated slightly above average by almost 20 people.

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12. ConsumerGuide.com
As of Sept. 2009
Blower/Vacs
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Consumer Guide publishes single-product reviews and ratings of leaf blowers, but most are outdated. There are reviews of 10 models here, but most date back to 2007 (one to 2006) and there's no evidence of… any testing. Two electric blowers are named Best Buys: the Craftsman 12-amp 358748240 and the Black & Decker Leaf Hog BV4000 (this model has been discontinued but can still be purchased online from several vendors). A gas model, the Troy-Bilt QuickShift Blower Vac TB310QS, is named a Budget Buy. The cordless Black & Decker NS118 also gets a high rating.

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13. Northerntool.com
As of Sept. 2009
Blowers
by Contributors to NorthernTool.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Retailer NorthernTool.com publishes owner-written reviews and ratings, but only a few leaf blowers have accumulated enough feedback for the average rating to carry much weight. The Weed Eater Featherlite FL1500 (a reconditioned one is sold here) gets high ratings from about 30 owners; only nine rate the Troy-Bilt TB25BP, but they give it high ratings as well.
14. PopularMechanics.com
Sept. 2004
7 Pieces of Heavy-Duty Yard Equipment
by Joe Provey
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This article is more of a buyer's guide than a comparison test. The author advises against trying to use the vacuuming feature found on some leaf blowers, because of frequent clogging and the weight of… collected leaves. He recommends electric leaf blowers for small yards, handheld gas-powered leaf blowers for yards up to a half-acre in size, and backpack gas leaf blowers or wheeled leaf blowers for larger yards.

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15. BackyardBoss.com
As of Sept. 2009
Reviews
by Contributors to BackyardBoss.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment BackyardBoss.com summarizes owners' ratings of gas leaf blowers in two charts; one for handheld models, another for backpack blowers. The chart includes sound levels and other basic specifications, but lags behind the current models. Reviews are detailed, but most ratings are based on only a few reviews.

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