The Husqvarna 350iB has earned the top spot in our roundup with its longer runtime, shorter length, more CFM, and more sensitive variable-speed trigger than the other tested tools. It not only met my expectations, but blew away (pardon the pun) the competition.

The 350iB replaces our previous Best Overall title holder, the Ego Power+ 6054, which is now featured in this buying guide as Best for Focused Airstream.

Boasting the highest amp hour rating of any blower that I tested at 7.5, the Husqvarna has an impressive runtime of 34 minutes, and even with its 7.5 Ah battery, weighed less than many of our other top performers.

Also much appreciated is how this leaf blower is capable of adjusting when just a light touch is needed. It has a precise variable-speed trigger, so I was able to clear areas next to flower beds without disturbing any mulch. This blower effectively gave me broom-level control which is priceless considering this is the same blower that can blast out 800 CFM at its maximum settings.

Full Husqvarna 350iB Leaf Blower Review

Key Specs

One of the lighter cordless leaf blowers included here at 8.8 pounds, this Greenworks model could potentially replace a gas-powered unit.

During tests with an anemometer, Ford clocked its airspeed at a respectable 127 mph, which falls in the middle of the range for handheld gas blowers. The tube tip is tapered at the end, creating a little narrower, focused air stream, evident in the pattern left in our sawdust test.

Ford also noted more precision when blowing leaves out of the test area, which was cleared in seconds, taking just a few steps. Compared to other models, runtime is fair—considering the 2.5-Ah battery.

Greenworks offers compatible 80-volt batteries up to 5 Ah, which would significantly lengthen how long you can use the BL80L2510 in one shot. And if you already have a battery from another of the brand's tools, use it and buy just the leaf blower without batteries to save some cash.

This lightweight, low-power blower is a solid choice for tight budgets or for spot cleaning small areas. At slightly over 3 pounds with the battery, its build means you’ll likely find yourself reaching for it more often than heavier blowers.

The Bosch GBL18V-71N comes with a needle-nose nozzle and a large, clear plastic tube that can go around the needle-nose. (This allows you to put the full force of the blower into small holes, and capture any debris in the tube, rather than scatter it over your workspace. It's ideal for clearing out masonry anchor holes.)

A big drawback is with airflow—relatively small 71 CFM. But the two-speed switch does provide a burst of increased blowing power when warranted.

Our test team confirmed with a Bosch representative that this model is only sold as a “bare tool” so there is no option to purchase this blower bundled with a battery and charger. It’s compatible with any battery in Bosch’s popular 18V line, or any other brand under the AMPShare compatibility umbrella. If you don’t already have an AMPShare system, you can buy a separate battery and charger, but it’s often much more affordable to buy an 18V drill that comes bundled with a battery and charger.

The DeWalt DCBL777, the newer, bigger version of our previous DeWalt 60V recommendation, doesn’t have a long runtime, but exerts a tremendous amount of air while it lasts. It’s listed at 157 mph and 760 CFM, but when I used it, it felt like it put out even more airflow than that.

This model ships with a shoulder strap and two nozzles, one focus and one wide angle. With the sheer speed and volume this delivers, I’m looking forward to moving a ton of leaves with the wide angle this fall.

If you look at the DCBL777 online, you may notice that the battery says 12 Ah, while our specs say 4 Ah battery. That’s because the DeWalt ships with a FlexVolt battery which can be used with either 20V or 60V tools. I love the FlexVolts—it means I have less batteries taking up space in my shop. But the Ah rating shown on the side is for the lower voltage use. When used with a 60V tool, such as this blower, it’s rated at 4 Ah.

One minor issue: the air intake, which is located at the far rear of the unit, is prone to sucking up shorts or shirt tails. The fan blades are set in far enough that there’s no real chance of clothing getting caught, but it can be annoying.

The DeWalt has three speed settings and a variable speed trigger. It does have a cruise control, but it’s a mechanical trigger lock that only functions when the trigger is fully depressed. As a result, the cruise control only has three speeds, in contrast to dial-in or electric cruise controls which can be set at any speed.

It’s a great choice for jobs that need bursts of high power, or if you already have tools that are FlexVolt compatible.

Sometimes you want to move air over the widest area possible, and sometimes you want an airstream with near-laser focus. EGO blowers, and the Power+ 6504 in particular, excel at delivering that focused airflow.

At one point the EGO Power+ 6504 was our Best Overall. This is still a high-quality, versatile blower that packs more than enough power for even the most demanding DIY projects.

Previous Popular Mechanics sawdust testing found that this blower has tightly focused airstream. In fact, those testers found that they could clear most of their test area by simply sweeping the 6504 back and forth.

EGO blowers are the longest models I tested, and the tip of the 6504 drags on the ground unless I actively lift it. At 10 pounds, it doesn’t take too long to feel some strain at having to do this. During testing, I asked users with a range of heights to hold the EGO, and it seemed that around 6-feet was the tipping point for whether or not this was an issue.

Most of the blower’s weight comes from its hefty 5 Ah battery, and I was more than happy to make that trade-off. I loved the generous runtime (almost a half hour at maximum energy usage). The 6504 includes both wide and focus nozzles. I do wish that it included a shoulder strap, but there’s a mounting point for a strap, so you can clip one on if you like. It has a variable speed trigger, a turbo button, and a dial-set cruise control that let me dial in the precise speed I wanted to use.

The longer length does make it a great choice for clearing gutters. When I focused all that air into a clogged gutter, it cleared the clog in dramatic fashion.

One area where the 6504 improved since our original testing is its noise levels. The volume is significantly reduced from our original testing, both at the point of operation and at a distance.

This Greenworks model is the lightest and most compact of the backpack blowers Ford tested. Its runtime was a modest 19 minutes (at full turbo power). But at that setting, the blower’s air stream forms an effective leaf-moving zone—even if it appeared to be weaker on the outside edges.

The machine also scored high marks for its comfortable and highly adjustable shoulder straps, an ergonomic handle, and the 90-degree elbow that connects the impeller housing to the flexible blower tube. That elbow permits the blower tube to pivot straight up, so it takes up less space when you store this model in the garage or shed.

The Ryobi should be on your short list if your overarching requirement is finding a quiet handheld blower. This one is part of a lineup called the "Whisper" series. Clearly, it gets high marks for being quiet. Fortunately, its low operating volume doesn’t come at the expense of leaf-moving power. This blower has enough oomph for battling dry leaf cover, removing grass clippings and leaves from paved surfaces, and cleaning out the garage or a dryer vent. No, it’s not the most powerful leaf blower our test team has used, but it’s certainly one of the quietest and most pleasant.

Other user-friendly features include a well-positioned latch to the left of and above the adjustable-speed trigger, a booster button for more air output, and a detachable nose cone made out of rubber that concentrates the airspeed up to 190 mph.

The cone’s circumference is marked with the airspeeds it will produce at three intervals (from base to tip): 190, 175, and 160 mph. You could slice the cone at any of the two intervals (175 and 160), shortening it to provide less airspeed. Of course, once you cut closer to the tip, it’s a permanent choice, so experiment with it first before deciding.

Key Specs

Leaf blowers and string trimmers work great when used side by side, and they’re even more convenient when they have compatible batteries. There are options that can transform from one to the other, but if you want a dedicated tool for each task, then this bundle from EGO delivers a high-performing blower and string trimmer at a user-friendly price.

The 6150 has a variable speed trigger, a turbo button, and cruise control dial. It produces 615 CFM of airflow and comes with a 2.5 Ah battery and charger.

EGO blowers are longer than any other leaf blowers I tested—even without the focus nozzle on, the blower hit the ground when I walked, forcing me to carry it at an angle and adding stress to my forearm. The included shoulder strap makes it easier to sling over my shoulder and move around the yard while I worked.

When it came to gutter tests, however, that same additional length made the 6150 a stand-out in ease of use, as it easily slipped into the gutter as I walked the roofline.

If you’re in the market for a decent all-around leaf blower and string trimmer, this bundled deal from EGO is worth considering.

Key Specs