Toro 51599 Ultra Review
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.
People who need to clean up a small yard or a hard surface such as a deck or sidewalk are delighted with this electric blower vac, according to Toro 51599 (starting at $70, Amazon
The Toro 51599 Ultra is relatively quiet and boasts a lot of power and features for a low price.
It offers variable speed, which is valuable when you're working around delicate plants and decorative features in a garden. The blower weighs in at a mere 7.5 pounds. For its small size, it packs a big punch, pushing through 255 cubic feet of air per minute on blow and 390 CFM on vacuum, at a maximum of 235 mph. In a Toro 51599 review at the website of retailer Northern Tool + Equipment, a user says it blows away even wet leaves and pine needles with ease.
The vacuum feature requires that you change the nozzle, but consumers posting Toro 51599 reviews put up with this and find it an easy switch. The machine works fairly well as a vacuum but not spectacularly, according to Toro 51599 reviews on Amazon. The best method is to blow the leaves into a pile and then vacuum up the pile, users say, although you have to hold the machine at what can quickly become an uncomfortable angle. Users posting Toro 51599 reviews also note that the machine can get clogged, but stuck leaves are easy to dislodge. This model has a metal impeller with serrated blades and a 16:1 mulching ratio, meaning it can chop 16 bushels of leaves into one bushel of mulch. Some users say they doubt the ratio is that high, but they are pleased with the machine's mulching ability. As with most blower vacs, perhaps the biggest problem is with the attached bag. It gets very heavy when it is full of leaves and does not seem as durable as the rest of the machine. Despite these drawbacks, this electric blower is top-rated by experts and users and provides a lot of power for the money, making it an appealing choice if you don't mind being tethered to a power cord.
Other Recommended Leaf Blowers
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 »
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 »| Buy it from Sears |
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 »
