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Leaf Blowers Reviews
Updated August 2007
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. Experts note that electric leaf blowers contribute much less to global warming than do gas leaf blowers, and two Toro electric leaf blowers have been revamped to be even quieter than last year's models. 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 Troy-Bilt and Craftsman leaf blowers (both made by MTD) don't fare well
in comparison reviews or in ratings by owners. Poulan Pro, Weed Eater and Husqvarna
leaf blowers usually rank in the middle for performance. For two years in a
row, however, owners give unusually low ratings to the Poulan Pro PBV200 (*est.
$90) at Lowes.com, especially for build quality.
... Continued
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
Among electric leaf blower-vacs, the Toro Super Blower Vac gets the most recommendations, followed by the Toro Ultra Blower and the Black & Decker BV4000. The John Deere BH25LE is the most-recommended handheld gas blower, but reviews say the Echo PB-200 series is even quieter. Among backpack gas blowers, reviews recommend the Husqvarna 356BTx Quiet Blower and the quieter Stihl BR-500, but again, an Echo blower is quietest. The Black & Decker electric blowers are recommended for vacuuming leaves, especially when equipped with the optional trashcan adapter. Advertisement
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Leaf Blowers Reviews |
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© 2008 ConsumerSearch, Inc. A service from 
, a part of The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.
ConsumerSearch and ConsumerSearch.com are registered trademarks of ConsumerSearch, Inc. Other trademarks or service marks on this site are the property of their respective owners. ConsumerSearch is not sponsored by any source reviewed, and we accept no consideration or payment for including, excluding, or ranking any reviews, products or services in our reports.
* Pricing information is approximate as of the time this report was written and is based on observed market selling prices and/or list prices. Actual selling prices may differ.
