Last updated on November 28th, 2023
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I’ve been using petrol leaf blowers for over 20 years, most of which has been on and around my family’s nursery and customers’ gardens as part of the garden maintenance business. I will say that when it comes to raw power and freedom, you can’t beat the power of the best petrol leaf blowers. I mainly recommend this Stihl SH 56 Vacuum Shredder/Leaf Blower, which is an excellent piece of kit but it’s not cheap. However, the McCulloch GBV 322 VX Petrol Leaf Blower/Garden Vacuum would be my second choice for something more affordable.
I’ve also tested and discussed cordless leaf blowers, but they often lack the power of petrol alternatives. When it comes down to power, I always go back to using petrol leaf blowers and Im a big fan of cordless garden tools, especially cordless strimmers and cordless mowers.
You need to consider whether you want a petrol leaf blower with a vacuum attachment to mulch and collect the leaves as pictured above or just a leaf blower itself. I often use the vacuum function to clear up leaves at the end of the job and give gardens a quick tidy. Time is money on the job!
It’s also great for clearing leaves from tight spaces and other nooks and crannies. What I will say is it’s worth taking the time to consider if you will use a vacuum function, as it can save a good chunk of money if you only need the leaf blower.
Before I get into my detailed reviews of each model and buyer’s guide, I will quickly mention some of my favourite petrol leaf blowers I’ve used.
The petrol leaf blower I recommend to most people, especially those looking for reliability and performance, is this Stihl 56 series Petrol Blower. What I will say is this is the leaf blower I use myself regularly although I’m still using the previous generation but its the same kit. Now it’s expensive; however, I’ve found reliability and performance are worth paying extra for. It’s very well built and powered by a powerful two-stroke, 27.2cc engine that features the Stihl Ergo Start system. Basiclly it starts the first time, every time to nice and reliable. I have the Stihl SH 56 leaf blowers vacuum that comes with the vacuum that also mulches the leaves.
If you only need the blower function as pictured above, I recommend just getting the Stihl BG 56 leaf blower which doesn’t include the vacuum attachment and it’s a good amount of money cheaper, no point paying extra for the vacuum function if you won’t use it.
If you’re looking for something more affordable than my Stihl petrol leaf blower as I know it’s expensive just to use around your garden. I really think this McCulloch GBV 322 VX Petrol Leaf Blower, which comes with a vacuum attachment, is hard to beat. Performance and build quality are both on point, and for the price, it offers excellent value for money. I wouldn’t recommend it for heavy professional use, I’d invest a little more and go for a Stihl but thats me. For personal use or even occasional professional use, it’s a great piece of kit for the price and it gets the jobs done and you still have the option to use it as a leaf vacuum too.
Top 7 Best petrol leaf blowers in my review
Below is a quick overview of each petrol leaf blower I recommend.
- Stihl 56 Petrol Blower – Probably the best leaf blower for the price, and it’s a good investment. On the nursery, we’ve had these Stihl leaf blowers for over 15 years. They really are that good!
- McCulloch GBV 322 VX Petrol Leaf Blower/Garden Vacuum – If you’re looking for a petrol leaf blower with a mulcher and vacuum, this is a more affordable option than my Stihl. It’s fantastic quality with excellent performance.
- Makita 4-Stroke Petrol Leaf Blower – This is another good choice, and it’s 4-stroke which means no oil and petrol to mix. It’s expensive, and although it’s amazing, I just prefer my Stilh for similar money.
- McCulloch GB 355 BP Backpack Leaf Blower – If you would prefer a backpack leafblower, this is one of the best options of two I recommend. You can’t beat the performance as well as running times on this.
- Webb WEBV26 2-Stroke 26cc Petrol Garden Blower – An excellent budget-friendly option from a reliable brand with a decent engine. For the money a great piece of kit
- Hyundai HYB5200 Powerful Backpack Leaf Blower – Another good backpack leaf blower option with a decent warranty with these Hyundai tools too.
- Mountfield MBL 270V Petrol Leaf Blower – An excellent alternative to the Webb WEBV26 for those looking for a more affordable option.
Top 7 Best Petrol Leaf Blower Reviews
1. Stihl Petrol Leaf Blower and Leaf Shredder Vacuum
BEST PICKS
When it comes to petrol leaf blowers, we use Stihl leafblowers professionally around the nursery and on garden maintenance jobs, they are a great piece of kit. I’ve been using them for over 20 years since I started gardening and joined the family business and they are just so reliable. With good care and maintenance, they just keep running. There also very well made and can take quite a beating in terms of being loaded and offloaded onto the van and the performance is on another level when compared to most alternatives.
The model I recommend now is the 56 series, and the difference is the SH 56 Stilh leaf blowers vacuum comes with a leaf vacuum attachment which includes a separate suction pipe and collection bag. This also shreds the leaves as they are collected, making them ideal for composting down. The other version is the BG 56 Stihl leaf blower which just comes with the blower attachment as shown above. Other than that, they’re identical, and the latter is usually a good amount cheaper too!
When it comes to starting it’s very reliable, starts the first time every time, a few pumps on the bubble primer and it’s away. It’s worth noting that the choke also returns to its original position to avoid flooding the engine. When it comes to actual performance, it’s hard to beat. I often use it on gravel. However, you need to be careful not to such up stones by holding the nozzle a little bit higher.
The blower nozzle attachment is good. Basiclly is easy to control where you’re blowing the leaves. If you have ever used a cheap leaf blower or a poorly designed Chinese one, you will know what I mean. They usually scatter the leaves rather than directing them into a neat pile.
This Stihl Petrol Blower is a powerful leaf blower and vacuum that’s designed to be easy and convenient to use. I think it’s great for both professional gardeners but also domestic use, especially if you have larger areas to maintain such as paddocks or even larger paved areas. The powerful two-stroke engine starts with a pull of the cord thanks to the semi-automatic choke, as mentioned earlier, and the simplified starting system. To turn off the engine, simply press a button on the top of the handle. It’s that simple!
I also like that maintenance is well thought out and has an air filter on the engine that you easily remove and wash with soapy water. This lengthens the use time between replacements of the filter, saving you money. To be honest, I don’t think I have actually ever changed the filter.
Finally, ergonomically, this Stihl leaf blower is designed for comfort and is fairly well balanced, even with the suction tube and with the bag on and used as a vacuum. It’s easy enough to use for extended periods and feels nice and comfortable in your hand.
Pros
- Professional leaf blower with a vacuum function and shredder.
- The two-stroke, 27.2cc engine is fuel efficient with low emissions to help your budget and the environment.
- Stihl Ergo Start system makes this blower easy to start.
- Anti-vibration system has four springs to reduce the strain on your hands and arms.
- Soft grip handles are ergonomically designed to reduce operator fatigue.
- Lightweight at 4.5 kg so you can carry it for extended periods without undue strain and stress.
My recommendation
This Stihl 56 series Petrol Blower and Vacuum is, without doubt, one of the best leaf blowers, and it’s pretty lightweight at under 5kg. I just like how easy to start it is thanks to the proprietary Ergo Start system in which you just give the starting cord a pull, and the Stihl 2-MIX engine purrs into life. It really is that easy!
Which model you choose, whether it’s the SH 56 or BG 56 depends on whether you need the leaf vacuum feature or if you only need the leaf blower. It will save you a good chunk of change if you don’t need the vacuum attachment.
I personally use the leaf vacuum function on mine alot, but there are times when it’s easier to blow them into the corner and just sweep them up into a ton bag on larger jobs. That being said, it’s good to do one last clean around a customer’s garden, picking up those last few leaves before I leave. It’s also great for blowing hedge clipping into a pile or clearing grass clipping off paths after mowing and strimming. Overall I highly recommend it.
2. McCulloch GBV 322 VX Petrol Leaf Blower/Garden Vacuum
RUNNER UP
If you’re looking for a petrol leaf blower but don’t want to pay Stihl prices, this is what I would recommend, this McCulloch GBV 322 VX Petrol Leaf Blower/Garden Vacuum. What a great piece of kit, especially for domestic use at home, although it will easily handle professional work too.
Just like my Stihl petrol leaf blower, this McCulloch is also a blower and a vacuum, and it mulches the leaves as well. Honestly, it’s probably as good as the Stihl when it comes to performance. It just doesn’t have that Stihl branding which people pay extra for, and I’m guilty of this myself.
A high-performance, 2-stroke 25cc petrol engine, powers it. As it has a 2-stroke engine, you need to mix the fuel with the correct ratio of oil (50 to 1) every time you refuel. This does take a little more effort, especially for those who are not used to using 2 stroke machines. A little tip is just to fill a 5 litre jerry with petrol, add 250ml of oil and have it to hand. This is what we do, and the 5 litres last a long time.
In terms of performance, the engine produces an impressive air speed of 230mph thanks to the performance nozzle. With all this blowing/vacuuming power, the blower makes light work of even the most stubborn wet leaves and garden debris. I also like that the soft start system makes it easy to start the first time, every time – a couple of pulls and it comes to life.
It also has an ergonomic handle with integrated throttle control, basiclly you can control the power with the trigger. The anti-vibration system seems to do the job, and the variable cruise throttle control is great if you’re using it for more extended periods. Overall it has some great features and is well thought out.
The blower’s lightweight design (only 4.5kg, a little lighter than the Stihl) means it’s very easy and comfortable to use for long periods with minimal fatigue.
Just like the Stihl, it has vacuum attachments, and it’s very easy to swap for the blower (but you do have to remove a nut and a bolt, so not quite as easy), but it makes light work of collecting leaves and other garden debris. The waste is sucked up and passes through a steel shredding/mulching blade that reduces the material at a ratio of 16:1, basiclly is a nice mulch ideal for composting. The mulched material is then collected in a large 45-litre collection bag so it’s easy enough to tip it into your compost bin.
This McCulloch multi-function blower comes complete with the vacuum tube and collection bag as standard, so it’s a good deal for the price and much more affordable than the Stihl alturnative.
Pros
- An affordable petrol leaf blower and vacuum that is ideal for both personal and lighter professional use.
- Multi-functional – blower, vacuum and mulcher – so you can reduce the number of pieces of garden equipment you need.
- Up to 220mph airspeed to blow away even the most stubborn leaf pile.
- Includes all the bits and pieces needed for all three tasks, so no hidden costs.
- The lightweight design at 4.5kg makes this blower easy and comfortable.
- Produces mulch for your flower beds, and that’s another cost eliminated from your garden expenses.
- One-year warranty for full peace of mind.
My recommendation
This McCulloch GBV 322 VX Petrol Leaf Blower/Garden Vacuum is a great piece of kit, and if I needed a new leaf blower for personal use (assuming I didn’t have my Stihl), this is what I would have.
Hands down one of the best leaf blowers, it’s well built, reliable, and comes with the leaf blower vacuum option, all for decent money. I’ve had a few McCulloch petrol tools, including this super lightweight cordless strimmer and their great tools, and always start the first time. Highly recommend!
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3. McCulloch GB 355 BP Backpack Leaf Blower
Since I’ve just reviewed the McCulloch petrol leaf blower above, I thought it was worth mentioning this McCulloch GB 355 BP Backpack Leaf Blower, which is a backpack alternative. Just so you know, it’s not more powerful even though it looks it. It’s just a backpack alternative and has a longer running time as it has a larger fuel tank. It has a 1500W engine with a maximum air flow speed of 220mph, so it’s certainly more powerful than most other cheaper models, just not the Stihl or the McCulloch GBV 322 VX Petrol Leaf Blower.
As mentioned, this leaf blower is a backpack model. This distributes the weight of the leaf blower evenly across your back and shoulders for a more comfortable experience. The whole unit weighs 11kg, but much is on your body. Now I prefer the handheld ones. However, my dad prefers backpack leaf blowers but he also has a small holding and is surrounded by woods so plenty of leaves to clear, it’s a day of a job. This is the one he has, so I’ve included it here.
I was slightly concerned about vibrations from the motor going through your body. However, it does have an anti-vibration system that dampens the vibrations, so they’re minimal.
It’s easy enough to use, well, once you got it on your back. The blower tube comes out from the pack on your back, and you hold and direct it by the upright trigger handle. The trigger is to adjust the airspeed and has the cruise control switch. This saves you from having to always hold down the speed trigger – you avoid hand cramps. You set the cruise control to the speed you want, and it stays there until you flip the cruise control off and back to manual.
One note is that the blower tube comes off the right-hand side of the unit, so you can’t use it with your left hand.
Pros
- Ideal for clearing large areas of leaves and other debris if you need longer running times between refuelling.
- Petrol leaf blower with a reliable and powerful 46cc engine.
- A backpack with adjustable shoulder straps contains the engine.
- Anti-vibration system keeps vibrations to a minimum.
- Adjustable airflow speeds up to 220 mph.
- Adjustable trigger handle to control the direction of the blower and adjust speed.
- Cruise control switch.
- The blower comes forward from right-hand side of the backpack.
- Weighs just under 10kg.
My recommendation
If you’re concerned about holding the weight of a leaf blower in one hand for a long period of time, this McCulloch GB 355 BP Backpack Leaf Blower is worth considering.
Overall a great option to consider. Personally, I would choose this over the Hyundai alternative. Both are very similar, it’s very close between them, but this has the edge. It’s a difficult one! Hyundai has a more extended warranty, I’ll put that in there. This has just one year warranty. I don’t know why I prefer the MCcullch backpack leaf blower. I’m just a fan of them.
4. Webb WEBV26 2-Stroke 26cc Petrol Garden Blower
This is a new one to my review, the Webb WEBV26 2-Stroke 26cc Petrol Garden Blower, which has a 26cc engine with low fuel consumption. As a 2-stroke engine, you do have to mix the oil and petrol yourself in the correct ratio before you put it in the engine. If you have other petrol garden tools, you will see how easy this is. However, it comes with instructions that provide you with the correct ratio.
This is a multi-function blower because, as well as blowing leaves, it shreds and mulches them before collecting them into the collection bag. With a capacity of 40L, the bag is large enough for quite a pile of leaves (dry or wet) as the metal blade in the blower shreds them down to 1/12th of their original size as it sucks them up. You can then spread this mulch on your flower beds as additional nutrients and cover or simply compost them down.
The air speed of the blower is adjustable up to a maximum of 113 mph. This is not the fastest air speed of the blowers in my review, but it’s more than good enough. This is where you start to see a drop in performance as you choose between more affordable models. The trigger to control the speed is on the handle in a convenient-to-use position in the handle.
What I do like about this model is that it comes with a shoulder strap so you can take the weight of the blower onto your body instead of just in your arm. This lets you blow leaves more comfortably and for longer.
Pros
- Petrol leaf blower with a 2-stroke 26cc engine with low fuel consumption.
- Features are blower, shredder and vacuum.
- Trigger control for ease of use.
- Easy access to fan to clear blockages.
- The collection bag has a large 40L capacity.
- Shoulder strap to wear the leaf blower comfortably.
- Maximum air speed is 183km/h.
- The shredding blade is metal, built to last.
- The mulch ratio is 12:1 for wet or dry garden waste.
- Lightweight at only 5kg.
My recommendation
This Webb WEBV26 114mph 2-Stroke 26cc Petrol Garden Blower is a relatively lightweight model (for a petrol leaf blower). For the price, this is about as cheap as I would recommend. Webb is a respected brand, and they offer excellent value for money. It’s no Stihl, but it’s much better than the cheaper Chinese leaf blowers you see online that I wouldn’t touch. They are unreliable and a headache to start, don’t be tempted by their cheaper prices. Pay an extra 20 quid and get something like this WEBV26 2-Stroke 26cc Petrol Leaf Blower that won’t disappoint you.
5. Makita 24.5cc 4-Stroke Petrol Leaf Blower
I’m a little biased as I like Makita tools, I’ve got a few, and this Makita 24.55cc 4 Stroke Petrol Leaf Blower really does tick all the boxes when it comes to performance and quality. This is to be expected from such a well-known brand. The only downside is the price; it’s expensive. However, if it’s within your budget it’s worth considering, and I prefer 4-stroke engines over 2-stroke.
At only 4kg, this leaf blower is particularly lightweight for a 4-stroke, and it’s well-balanced, making it very easy to use. It’s pretty quiet on idle and not too bad either when on full power, especially when you compare it to the 2-stroke models I used.
It’s powered by a powerful 24.5cc, 4-stroke petrol engine, which puts out an impressive 140 mph of airflow to move even the most stubborn piles of wet leaves and other garden debris.
The 4-stroke engine is one of the main features that sells this petrol leaf blower. There’s no oil to mix, and this makes it simpler to refuel and probably cheaper to run. This is also one of the reasons it’s so quiet, making it a joy to use. The mechanical decompression system ensures that the motor starts the first time, every time. The engine starts straight away from cold or hot; set a little choke and after just a couple of pulls, it starts – no problem.
The compact design of this blower and the two-part tubes let you put it away into small spaces in your shed or garage. A small issue is that the air intake is on the left side, so if you’re right-handed you might find it starts sucking your pants. This is not a big issue because it’s easy to use with two hands to avoid this. However, be careful wearing shorts.
You must put the leaf blower together yourself, but it’s not too bad. It takes around 15 minutes to set it up from the moment you take it out of the box. The tubes can be very tight to fit but be patient, and you will be fine. This just shows how well-built it is.
You can also use this Makita leaf blower as a vacuum. However, you will need to additionally purchase the Makita suction kit blower that contains the tubes and a bag, this makes an already expensive leaf blower, even more expensive.
Finally, this leaf blower comes with a one-year guarantee which is standard for this kind of product.
Pros
- The four-stroke engine is powerful, and you don’t need to mix oil and petrol together, so that saves you from remembering that task.
- Lightweight at 4.4kg, so your arms don’t get too tired if you’ve let your piles of fallen leaves become too big.
- Airflow is 140mph, so make sure your children aren’t standing between the blower and the leaves.
- Compact design, so it’s easy to hold and fits into a small storage space in the corner of your garden shed.
- Fairly quiet so you won’t disturb the neighbourhood because they can sleep in as you work hard on your fallen leaves.
My recommendation
Simply put, this Makita 24.55cc 4 Stroke Petrol Leaf Blower is one of the best petrol leaf blowers I have reviewed. The build quality is excellent and you can tell from the minute you open the box that this is a machine that is built to last. The powerful 4-stroke engine and the amazing airspeed still result in a well-balanced and lightweight leaf blower that can handle any pile of wet or dry leaves which accumulate in your garden and on your lawn. This is a premium petrol leaf blower that delivers both quality and functionality.
It’s a premium leaf blower in terms of quality and functionality, and, yes, price. But I think that it’s a fantastic machine for someone looking for a top-end petrol leaf blower and who is willing to spend that little bit more on quality and reliability. For me, it’s a good alternative to the Stihl petrol leaf blowers.
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6. Hyundai HYB5200 Powerful Backpack Leaf Blower
This Hyundai HYB5200 Powerful Backpack Leaf Blower performs just one task – blowing leaves – but it does it very well and is an excellent alternative to the McCulloch GB 355 BP Backpack Leaf Blower I reviewed earlier.
The 52cc air-cooled engine runs on a single litre of fuel for almost one hour. As the fuel tank holds 1.5L, that gives you about 90 minutes of leaf blowing time in each session before refuelling, so it’s perfect for large jobs. This makes the Hyundai HYB5200 leaf blower suitable for use in large gardens, sports clubs, caravan, car parks, and huge driveways. I would say it’s a great option for domestic and semi-professional use.
With the backpack design and its low vibration, padded twin harness frame, most people can carry this 9.85kg leaf blower for extended periods. The lockable trigger control – cruise control for the airspeed – stops your hand and arm from becoming tired from holding down the trigger. The fingertip controls let you change the speed easily without moving your hand.
Pros
- The two-stroke, 52cc, air-cooled engine gives the usual Hyundai power for your autumn leaf clearing tasks.
- The backpack design lets you wear this unit and distribute its 9.85kg weight across your shoulders and upper back.
- The control trigger doesn’t require much pressure to operate.
- Runs efficiently for 55 minutes per litre of fuel at full-out throttle, so you can work as fast as you want.
- Lockable throttle acts as ‘cruise control’, so you don’t have to hold it down continually.
- Includes two nozzles that run at different air speeds
- The fuel tank has a generous 1.5L capacity, so you can keep on going once you get into the leaf blowing zone.
- Three-year warranty confirms Hyundai’s high quality.
My recommendation
I recommend the Hyundai HYB5200 Powerful Backpack Leaf Blower if you have a smallholding or a large area clear up from autumn leaves and other garden debris. Honestly, if the McCulloch GB 355 BP Backpack Leaf Blower is not available, this is what I would be getting for my money.
7. Mountfield MBL 270V Petrol Leaf Blower
Finally, another well-respected brand I trust, this Mountfield MBL 270V Petrol Leaf Blower is a three-in-one leaf blower with a powerful but reliable 27.6cc 2-stroke engine. The three functions are leaf blowing, vacuuming up the leaves and mulching wet and dry leaves and other small debris. The blower can also blow away light dry snow.
With an impressive top airflow of 160mph, this Mountfield blower has an adjustable speed in three steps. Choose the speed of air that’s right for the task at hand – high speed for a thick carpet of leaves and low speed to round up the few remaining leaves. And the handle is ergonomically designed so your hand doesn’t cramp holding the speed trigger.
It includes the vacuum attachment and a 55L collection bag. This is a large size bag given that the blower shreds the leaves and other garden bits that are sucked up through the vacuum. These smaller mulch pieces fit better into the bag and you have to empty it less often. Plus you can then turn around and use the mulch as additional cover and nutrients on your flower beds.
And you’re not limited to small, dry leaves with the mulch and vacuum features. The Mountfield MBL handles both wet and dry leaves and some heavier debris. But watch out for stones, none of these petrol leaf blowers handle them well.
Pros
- Petrol leaf blower with a 27.6cc, 1.8 hp engine.
- Three speed settings to a maximum 257.5 km/h.
- Trigger adjusts the speed.
- Includes vacuum attachment and 55L collection bag.
- Ergonomic grip for your comfort.
- Mulches wet and dry leaves and heavier debris.
- Weighs 5kg.
My recommendation
This Mountfield MBL 270V Petrol Leaf Blower has a faster maximum airflow than the Webb WEBV26 and a larger collection bag. This makes it more suitable for a more extensive garden or for one with quite a few shedding trees and bushes. Being able to use the blower with wet leaves means that you don’t have to wait for your garden to completely dry out after an autumn rain storm that encourages the leaves to fall. You can clear up the leafy mess quickly after the storm. Overall, well worth considering and. a good well priced option.
Buyer’s Guide
There is a large choice of reliable, good quality petrol leaf blowers on the market. And my review highlights which I think are the best options and which models offer the most value. Plus, you won’t find the cheap Chinese ones in my review, I wouldn’t be given one!
Most of the models I review are multi-functional, and I haven’t even mentioned blowing away snow in the winter or using them to dry your car after using a pressure washer.
Here are some features I always recommend considering when choosing a petrol elaf blower.
Power
My review covers petrol-powered leaf blowers and these are the most powerful when compared to cordless leaf blowers. Plus you can take them anywhere as long as you have a full jerry can of fuel container with you for refuelling.
However, no questioning that cordless (battery) blowers offer the convenience of being easy to use and extremely mobile as long as you remember to charge the battery or keep an extra fully charged one to hand. Cordless blowers are perfect for small to medium-sized gardens, but they may not have the power to shift large piles of leaves or stubborn soggy ones.
Corded (electric) blowers fall somewhere in the middle of these two options. They’re generally quite powerful and handle most domestic gardens. However, you do need to be within reach of a plug socket or have enough outdoor extension cords to hook together to reach the furthest corners of your property.
Engine Type
There are two types of petrol engines. The first is the 2-stroke engine which you need to mix the oil with the fuel before putting the petrol into the engine, every time you refuel. Then there are 4-stroke engines. With these, you put the fuel and oil into the engine separately, so you only need to top up the fuel. I really like 4-stroke engines because they can be more reliable, and you don’t need to worry about mixing the correct oil and fuel ratio every time you refuel. Generally, there also quieter although these days, even 2-strokes are quieter than they use to be. For less technical gardeners, 4-stroke engines are probably the better choice but there also more expensive and there are not that many available with the Makita 24.5cc 4-Stroke model being one of the ones I recommend.
Fuel tank size
It’s great having the mobility to take your petrol leaf blower anywhere but you do have to keep an eye on how much petrol and/or oil you have left in the tank(s). The capacity of the fuel tank of the models in our review range from 0.4L to 1.5L, but the available work time also depends on how open you run the throttle and how much fuel the blower uses. The manufacturer may offer a guideline as to run time, but you only know from your own experience. It’s best to always have some spare fuel in a fuel can with you.
Air Speed
Whilst you can check the cc or hp of the engine to get an idea of how powerful the petrol leaf blower is, it’s the airspeed that makes the difference. Airflow volume is measured in cc3/minute but it’s easier to understand in kilometres per hour or mph, and that’s what I use in this review. The faster the airspeed, the more oomph behind the air to blow stubborn leaves.
Weight
As petrol leaf blowers have petrol engines, they can be pretty heavy, especially when compared to cordless leaf blowers that can weigh less than 2kg. Petrol leaf blowers generally weigh between 4.4kg and 6kg, with backpack models weighing as much as 10kg. However, backpack leaf blowers have harnesses for you to wear as you would a backpack. This distributes the weight over your shoulders and upper back. If you are planning on using the leaf blower for long periods of time, you might want to opt for a lighter model.
Ergonomics
Along with the weight of the blower goes ergonomics – how comfortable, convenient and easy to use is the petrol leaf blower? Petrol leaf blowers, especially, can be awkward to design because they have to put the engine somewhere. It’s heavy and can easily disturb the centre of gravity of the unit and throw off the balance when you hold the unit single-handed. Petrol blowers are also notoriously noisy, so wear earplugs, even if you choose a quieter model.
Check if the trigger for the throttle can be easily accessed on the handle without having to move your hand into a strange position that might give you cramps after a while. Does the blower have cruise control that lets you set the throttle at a certain speed so that you don’t have to constantly hold it down? Is there soft padding on the handle so you don’t get blisters on the palm of your hand? And is the fan away from your legs so your trouser legs don’t get sucked in?
Look carefully at all the photos of the leaf blower and visualise yourself standing there and using it.
Multi-functional
Only two or three of the models in my review only has one function – blowing leaves. The others either blow leaves and vacuum leaves and debris, or blow, vacuum and mulch organic garden debris. If you have lots of leaves on flower beds, the vacuum feature can be ideal for collecting leaves from around plants and in places that are difficult to blow leaves out of. It’s also great for doing a last minute cleanup after a job.
Mulching the leaves consists of the blower shredding them to one particular size (check your manual) and blowing them into an attached collection bag. You can compost the shredded leaves or store them to mulch around your plants in the winter to protect them. It’s kind of a nice thought that the annoying leaves laying on your lawn can serve a valuable and sustainable purpose.
Warranty & Guarantees
All leaf blower models come with some sort of warranty that should be at least one or two years. If you plan to use the leaf blower for professional jobs, check the length of the professional warranty as it’s usually not as long as the domestic warranty and some brands don’t even cover them if used professionally.
Final Conclusion
Autumn happens every year so you may as well be ready with a petrol leaf blower for the piles of fallen leaves that are guaranteed to accumulate on your lawn and throughout your garden. Even if you don’t have any trees on your own property, leaves from your neighbours’ trees will undoubtedly find their way into your garden.
Petrol leaf blowers are more generally powerful than electric or cordless ones. The multi-function ones I reviewed also vacuum up leaves and shred them to become mulch, which you can then recycle into your garden.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
