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Cheap Leaf Blowers

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In this review:
  1. Cheap Leaf Blowers
  2. Gas Leaf Blowers
  3. Electric Leaf Blowers
  4. Blower Vacs
  1. Leaf Blower Reviews
  2. Best Leaf Blower
  3. Leaf Blower Deals
  4. Discount Leaf Blowers Features Comparison Table
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Cheap Leaf Blowers Buying Guide

When the leaves are falling around your house or you need to clean up your yard after a storm, a cheap leaf blower can save you lots of time and effort. Although you can pay up to $500 for a professional-grade Stihl backpack blower, that kind of power isn't really necessary unless your yard is so large and your trees so numerous that carrying around a handheld blower would be too tiring.
Most people can render their driveways, decks, and yards leafless with an electric blower for under $100 or a gas blower for less than $150.

There are also propane-powered blowers, which are more environmentally friendly than gas blowers. Backpack blowers are gas-powered and designed to travel on your back rather than on your shoulder, relieving some strain. If your yard is huge and has tons of trees, you might want to skip the portable option altogether and consider walk-behind blowers, which are gas-powered and extremely powerful, though out of the budget price range. Cordless leaf blowers are cheap and don't tie you to a power source like a typical electric blower, but they are far less powerful and typically don't run for more than 20 minutes on a charge.

If you're thinking of trading in your rake, specs to note in a cheap leaf blower include the speed at which the air exits the machine, measured in mph, and the volume of air that's pushed through, measured in cubic feet per minute, or CFM -- the higher, the better. Pay attention to the weight, as well, and choose something that will be comfortable for you to carry. Some leaf blowers also vacuum or have a mulcher or shredder, and come with a bag for leaves and other debris. Many have two or more speeds, so you can vary the air speed depending on the job you need to do.

Manufacturers of higher-end models, including Toro, Black & Decker, Craftsman, and Weed Eater, also dominate the market for cheap leaf blowers. The Toro 51599 Ultra (starting at $70, Amazon) is top-rated by both consumers and experts for its impressive power and ultra-adjustable air control. Users rave about the light weight of the Husqvarna 125B (starting at $143, Amazon), which weighs only nine pounds, and they say it starts within three pulls. The Craftsman 74828 (starting at $75) is powerful and lightweight and comes with a blaster nozzle to get rid of stuck debris. The Weed Eater FB25 (starting at $77, Amazon) earns accolades for durability and ease of assembly. The Black & Decker BV2500 (starting at $50, Amazon) looks great on paper, with plenty of power and features, but reports of durability issues give us pause. Likewise, the Troy-Bilt TB310QS (starting at $133, Amazon) boasts impressive features and a large-capacity gas tank, but users find it heavy, noisy, and not very durable.

Review continues below

Before you buy any cheap leaf blower, make sure local municipal ordinances permit you to operate one at all. Several cities -- particularly in California, which has very strict emissions standards -- ban gas-powered leaf blowers. Other communities restrict or prohibit leaf blowers because of noise. As a result, leaf blower manufacturers have redesigned their products to make them quieter. There are plenty of inexpensive options that will satisfy both noise and budget restrictions.

A final note of caution: Cheap leaf blowers -- and gas blowers in particular -- are noisy enough to cause hearing loss, so wear ear protection. It's also a good idea to wear goggles to protect your eyes and a dust mask, because not only leaves and dust but pollutants such as bird droppings and chemicals get blown around as well. Keep other people and pets away in case debris flies in their direction.

by Elizabeth Sheer (Google+ Profile)

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Best Cheap Leaf Blowers

Toro 51599 Ultra
Gold Medal

Toro 51599 Ultra

 This electric blower vac wins acclaim from experts and consumers for its power. At the same time, it's quiet and easy to carry, at just 7.5 pounds. It also mulches the leaves it vacuums, and reviewers appreciate its metal impeller, which resists damage from pebbles, twigs, pinecones, and other debris. Read more »
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Husqvarna 125B
Gold Medal

Husqvarna 125B

 This small, 9.4-pound blower packs a wallop with a strong, powerful engine that moves even wet leaves easily. Users seem to have almost no trouble getting it started, even after it's been sitting all winter. It also complies with California's strict emissions standards and is not too loud for a gas machine. Read more »
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Good Cheap Leaf Blowers

Craftsman 74828
Gold Medal

Craftsman 74828

 In addition to its substantial power for the price, users like this electric blower vac's additional features, such as an oscillating tip, a leaf blaster, and a rake attachment. It can also reduce 16 bushels of leaves to a single bushel of mulch with its metal impeller. However, users complain that it is uncomfortably noisy at its highest speed. Read more »
Where to buy
Weed Eater FB25
Gold Medal

Weed Eater FB25

 Remarkably light, at 8.1 pounds, this is an easy-to-carry gas blower that isn't uber-powerful but can still take care of most chores around a deck, driveway, or small yard. It just might not do the trick on huge piles of leaves. Users say it starts within three pulls for the most part, and they like that its handle minimizes vibration. This machine does not meet California's emissions requirements, and while it's not noisy for a gas blower, it's still pretty loud. Read more »
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Don't Bother Cheap Leaf Blowers

Black & Decker BV2500

Many users seem to like the Black & Decker BV2500, but it mulches at a lower ratio than other, more powerful mulching blowers and has a plastic impeller, which can be easily damaged. The real Achilles' heel of this model, though, is its lack of durability. Read more »

Troy-Bilt TB310QS

Rather than requiring users to switch nozzles when they move from blowing to vacuuming, this gas-powered machine lets them simply flip a switch, a feature that users admire. However, it's heavy, it's very loud, and its emission levels are too high to meet California standards. Many users complain that it's hard to start and doesn't last long. Read more »

 
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