When the leaves start piling up this fall, don't sweat it. Our high-powered yard-clearing arsenal stands at the ready to turn that age-old chore into, well, less of one
Type: Electric blower-vac Blower rating: Fair Vacuum rating: Very good Impeller blade: Plastic
Balance and comfort: The large handle is easy to hold, but the unit is a bit out of balance—it leans toward the motor.
Overall: The unit is a very good mulcher despite not having a metal impeller, and the tube is easy to remove for storage. However, the paddle that controls the direction of the air for the blower and vacuum tubes doesn't seat very well. As a result, it will actually suck up leaves as it's blowing. The vacuum tube is angled comfortably toward the ground, but, as with the Troy-Bilt, it hovers over the blower tube, so you have to guess where the air is coming out. The bag has a heavy-duty zipper and is comfortable to carry on a shoulder. The opening on the blower tube is also the narrowest tested; that makes for a very tight air stream, which means you have to move the blower more.
Specs: 8.4 pounds. 12 amps. Maximum blower speed/volume at tube end: 210 mph (cfm not available). 70 dB at 50 feet. 10:1 mulching ratio. 1.8-cubic-foot bag. Four-year warranty.
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