Leaf Blowers for Year Round Use
Cordless leaf blowers aren’t just for leaves in autumn! We use our cordless blowers year round, and especially in fall for leaves and for the pollen, seed and petals debris in spring.
Cordless blowers replace the broom. Blowing dust, dirt, leaves, and other yard debris is a breeze with cordless blowers. We didn’t use our corded blower because the cord was a hassle.
Corded blowers are a hassle: managing the long cord takes more time than using a broom for small to medium tasks. It can take more time to get the cord out and re-wound and put away properly than to briskly using the broom or rake.
Which is best, cordless leaf blowers or corded blowers?
Cordless leaf blowers are the hands down winner for us.
Blowing Through Our History of Leaf Blowers
Preparing for this leaf blower comparison, I found myself reminiscing on the various leaf blowers we’ve owned over the years.
Audio Article – Cordless Leaf Blower:
Echo Jetpack
During our landscape maintenance days, we used a 30 pound Echo backpack leaf blower. Resembling a jetpack, its two-stroke engine could move a lot of leaves in a hurry. It was also really loud. With the engine so close to the ears, heavy earmuffs were worn.
The Echo was a great machine, but it developed a persistent fuel leak that was never fully resolved at the repair shop. Eventually, we sold it and having less need for a commercial blower, we replaced it with an electric corded type.
Toro Ultra
A consumer magazine’s top rated electric model for homeowners, the Toro Ultra, performed except for the occasional issues you get with any corded leaf blower. The cords on corded blowers invariably hang up on something.
The other issue for us is that a single 100-foot cord never quite reached to the end of our drive, which means an extension cord was also needed. Then there was always the extra task of rewinding and stowing the cord. Yet, the leaf blower itself certainly was lighter and easier handling than the backpack blower.
Eventually, the Toro gave out after several years. It seemed related to having been left out in the rain… the kinds of incidents that happen more often with a young teen family member taking over as the primary user. The next blower, another Toro Ultra model, lasted around two and a half years with its teenage operator, and this time, the power switch failed. It was well beyond its warranty.
Given the potential added wear and tear of male teens, we can’t say for sure if it was man or machine that contributed to the demise of the Toro. But we moved on and decided to give the battery powered leaf blowers a shot.
Battery Powered Leaf Blower Comparison – Stihl and Greenworks
Greenworks Leaf Blower
Our next leaf blower replacement was a cordless 40-volt battery powered leaf blower manufactured by Greenworks.
This choice was actually due to an earlier purchase of a Greenworks battery powered pole saw. The investment in the pole saw, its power supply, and its charger incentivized us to purchase their cordless leaf blower that used the same kind of battery.
When we purchased the Greenworks leaf blower, we ordered another longer use time battery. Our experience with anything and everything battery powered is that there never seemed to be quite enough juice to finish the job.
To get the job done, you’ll want extra batteries.
So, a general recommendation for those out there looking for cordless tools is to consider if the manufacturer has other tools that use the same kind of battery. We have done this with the cameras, drills, flashlights, and various other devices. Greenworks also makes a battery-compatible cordless weed trimmer and a cordless chainsaw.
TOOL TIP: When purchasing any battery powered tool, consider investing in brands that use the same kind of batteries.
Stihl Leaf Blower
Having several properties to maintain, we saw the need for another leaf blower. Stihl is a familiar brand of well made and well reviewed outdoor equipment. Like Greenworks, Stihl also makes a line of cordless power tools, including a 36 volt blower.
We have used Stihl gas-powered chainsaws and weed trimmers for years. So, we decided to look into their BGA-56 cordless leaf blower.
A demonstration at our local Ace Hardware Stihl dealership showed us how well the Stihl blower worked. Of course, we went against our own advice and got a different brand rather than have two Greenworks blowers. This also set up for a side-by-side comparison.
Which is the best cordless battery operated leaf blower? Stihl or Greenworks? Here’s how they matched up.
Cordless Leaf Blower Comparison
The first thing we noticed about both the Stihl and the Greenworks blowers is how lightweight they are. With battery, the Stihl weighs in at 7.3 lbs while the Greenworks with battery weighs in at 9.5 lbs.
Weight can make a difference in operator fatigue when blowing a lot of leaves for a stretch of time. Also, both blowers are relatively quiet. Earmuffs or earplugs are not really necessary.
Weight Comparison with Battery
- Stihl 7.3 lbs
- Greenworks 9.5
Both the Stihl and the Greenworks cordless leaf blowers are relatively quiet, no earmuffs needed.
