EmailBest Reviewed
Leaf Blowers
- Best leaf blower for most Toro Ultra Blower Vac 51599 *Est. $75
- Cordless leaf blower Black & Decker NS118 *Est. $70
- Electric blower-broom Toro Power Sweep 51585 *Est. $40
- Handheld gas leaf blower Echo PB-251 *Est. $170
- Backpack blower Echo PB-265L *Est. $270
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Best leaf blower for most
- Quiet and powerful
- Variable-speed motor
- Eco-friendly
- Low maintenance costs
- Lightweight
- Cord limits range to 150 feet
- Vacuum bag can be awkward
Reviews say the electric 12-amp Toro Ultra Blower Vac is the best leaf blower for average-size yards. It has more power than most handheld, gas-powered leaf blowers, but it's lighter (7.3 pounds), quieter and more convenient, and doesn't pollute the environment. You can go as far as 150 feet from an outlet with a 14-gauge extension cord. When it's used to vacuum leaves, serrated metal blades chop them more finely than most blower vacs, and the magnesium impeller is more durable than plastic ones. If you only want to blow leaves off hard surfaces like decks and driveways, reviews recommend the less expensive Toro Power Sweep 51585 (*Est. $40). Both models carry a two-year warranty.
We found the best review of the Toro Ultra Blower Vac on ConsumerReports.org, where the product is ranked and rated alongside 25 other leaf blowers, based on objective tests. CNNMoney.com tests this model less formally and compares it with a few other leaf blowers. Both Consumers Digest and Good Housekeeping magazines recommend it without documenting any testing procedures. We found the greatest number of owner-written reviews of the Toro Ultra Blower Vac at Amazon.com; owner reviews at HomeDepot.com and Sears.com are also useful.
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Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.org
ConsumerReports.org ranks the Toro Ultra Blower Vac 51599 in comparison with other electric leaf blowers. In total, 25 leaf blowers of various types are rated based on objective tests. Noise levels are rated both at 50 feet and at the user's ears, but the decibel levels aren't provided, making it harder to compare blowers.
Review: Power Blowers: More Punch for Plug-ins, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Sept. 2007
2. CNNMoney.com
This comparative review favors the Black & Decker BV4000 Leaf Hog (now discontinued) for its greater power, but notes that the Toro Ultra Blower is lighter and quieter. Reviewer Charles Passy says the Toro's main drawback is the leaf bag, which can be hard to position for comfortable vacuuming.
Review: Powerful. Quiet. Best Leaf Blowers, Charles Passy, Sept. 29, 2006
3. Consumers DigestDetails/Subscribe
This article specifies decibel ratings and recommends the Toro Ultra 51598 -- now the 51599 -- as the best electric leaf blower. Unfortunately, this article, which is available only in print back issues, is now outdated.
Review: Yard Smarts, Neil Soderstrom and Ken Textor, Sept./Oct. 2006
4. Good HousekeepingDetails/Subscribe
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.
Review: Fast Fall Cleanup: New Tools that Make Leaf Duty a Cinch, Editors of Good Housekeeping, Oct. 1, 2007
5. Amazon.com
About 450 owners review the Toro Ultra Blower here, giving it a near-perfect average rating, though a few note quality control or durability problems. Some say that repair service is slow and usually requires paying for shipping. Still, the vast majority is very satisfied with their Toro Ultra Blowers.
Review: Toro Ultra 12 Amp Electric Blower/Vacuum, Contributors to Amazon.com
More than 40 owners rate the Toro Ultra Blower here, giving it a very high average rating and praising its variable speed and relatively quiet motor. The only drawbacks relate to vacuuming; according to a few reviewers, the vacuuming feature has limited suction, and emptying the bag is inconvenient.
Review: Toro Electric Ultra Blower, Contributors to HomeDepot.com
7. Sears.com
Close to 20 owners give the Toro Ultra Blower rave reviews here, with some tips on how to use it as a leaf vacuum.
Review: Toro 235 mpg Ultra Blower/Vac, Contributors to Sears.com
Leaf Blowers Runners Up:
3 picks including: Engadget.com, The Wall Street Journal…
2 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
1 pick including: Consumers Digest…
Toro 51592 Super 12 Amp 2-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum
 from Amazon.com New: $59.99 In Stock.
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