Machines like Ryobi’s 40V HP Whisper Series Leaf Blower have to perform on multiple levels to come out on top. It recorded some of the highest numbers of any hand-held blower for airspeed and air volume in our test.

In practical testing, those numbers helped the 40V HP Whisper Series blow last year’s leaves out of dense weeds and brush along the property borders of our test area. With an air volume of 587 CFM, we were able to stand in one place to blow a wall of leaves up to 25 feet away.

The combination of high air speed and volume also made the blower great at clearing debris off hard surfaces like patios, driveways, or the garage floor. And while it is plenty strong enough to use on gutters, its size makes it difficult to use on a ladder. We recommend using a blower of this size on a roof with a gentle slope for gutter cleaning.

The 40V HP Whisper Series blower is well balanced, making it generally easy to use, although some wrist fatigue may set in on longer blowing sessions.

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While it has a smaller battery, the Echo DPB-2500 has a run time more than 25-percent longer than that of the next best hand-held blower we tested—at a discount of $30 or greater. With lower airspeed and volume numbers than some of the more expensive models we tested, the blower is still quite powerful.

Blowing layers of heavy wet leaves–or those tangled up in dense weeds–it did take a little more time to clear out. Still, the DPB-2500 got the job done. Out in the open, moving leaves across the lawn, the lower speed/volume had less impact on performance.

The DPB-2500 was easier to use than other higher powered models for other tasks, like clearing leaves around the patio or flowerbeds. Moderating the air flow to avoid blowing away chair cushions, flowerpots, and other lighter patio décor took less care and effort.

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Echo’s DPB-5800T backpack blower is a powerhouse, boasting the same air speed (148MPH) and volume (608CFM) numbers as the brand’s more expensiveDPB-5900T that we previously tested. It utilizes two 5Ah batteries, giving it a runtime of 24 minutes at max power—and if that’s not enough, there is room for a third battery. Of course, you’ll rarely be blowing leaves at full power the entire time—we were able to work for nearly an hour before exhausting the batteries.

Between the long run time, airspeed, and volume, the DPB-5800T will move plenty of heavy leaf cover. We were able to roll a layer of leaves back and blow them up to 30 feet in some conditions. Slowly walking back and forth across a yard, holding the blower tube steady, we cleared 10-foot strips with each pass. It was the most powerful blower we tested for moving last season’s leaves out of heavy weeds and brush. And it effortlessly blew grass clippings and debris from the driveway.

Make no mistake, this is a pro level machine, albeit with smaller batteries. It will accept up to three 8 Ah batteries for over 50 minutes of run time.

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Ryobi’s 40V HP Brushless Whisper Series Backpack, has almost identical performance to its hand held model we tested–our top pick in this roundup. The one difference? Run time. With two batteries, the backpack version of this blower ran nearly 10 minutes longer. So, like the hand held version, the Whisper Series Backpack worked well blowing leaves from the lawn, brush, and bushes. Likewise, it easily blows debris from hard surfaces like driveways.

There are two differences to note in practical use, though. The first is that this backpack version is better suited for longer leaf blowing sessions in larger areas. Carrying the weight–even though it is light–on your back, takes a lot of strain off your wrist and arm. The second difference to note is that the backpack can make maneuvering in tighter spaces more difficult because it’s bulkier, hanging off your back. So choosing between Ryobi’s 40V Whisper Series Hand Held or Backpack will come down to what tasks you prioritize.

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Bosch’s Profactor 18V Blower is a great option for smaller jobs. With less airspeed and volume than some of the larger models we tested, it’s not effective at moving loads of leaves—but, it will help clear light leaf cover from smaller yards. Plus, its smaller size and lower weight make it easier to handle.

Smaller jobs are where the Profactor excels, largely due to its size. It can be used to clean out gutters with ease, even while perched on a ladder. We found it easy to use on the porch, reaching behind furniture to clear out leaves that had settled in hard-to-reach places. It was also useful in blowing leaves off hanging plants and out of decorative planters. And, if you need to blow debris off the garage floor, the Profactor is a handy way to get the job done quickly.

Probably the biggest consideration in purchasing the Profactor will be whether or not you’re already on the Bosch 18-volt cordless tool platform.

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The lightest and most compact model we tested, Milwaukee’s M18 Handheld Blower, can certainly be used to blow leaves. But it really shines when used for clean-up tasks around the house.

We used it for smaller jobs like blowing debris off the patio and clean-up after cutting up fallen tree limbs. Its smaller size makes it easier to hold and manipulate in small spaces, or froma ladder where we used it to blow debris out of the gutters.

While this Milwaukee blower kit is $300, if you’re already on their M18 tool platform, you can get it for$150 as a tool only, with no battery.

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This is the first Senix tool we’ve tested, and it didn’t disappoint, moving the highest air volume we’ve recorded on a cordless blower, at 850 CFM. That’s squarely in gas backpack blower territory, and it showed in practical testing.

The Senix 60V Max Backpack Blower pushed a wall of air, moving leaves up to 30 feet away. The effective range meant we had to move around a little less to get the leaves where we wanted them. It also excelled at peeling up heavy, wet leaves, sending them airborne.

While the Senix 60V Max was super effective at moving leaves and clearing the lawn, it did have a run time of 17 and a half minutes which was a little short for blowers in this class. Although it was fun to use at max power, we did find that run time could be greatly extended by using restraint, throttling for the basic power needed at any given time.

With a large 7.5Ah battery, the Husqvarna 350iB delivered close to 15 minutes of runtime at max power—and up to 30 minutes at lower settings. Unlike other models we tested, It comes with two tips, one with a smaller opening, which yielded a higher air speed–146 MPH–and more precision, and a larger one that provided greater air volume at 675 CFM.

The higher CFM with the large tip worked well, moving more leaves further. This helped make the 350iB one of the more effective hand-held machines where blowing leaves in the yard is concerned. We confirmed this in our practical testing, moving heavier leaf cover comparably with some of the backpack blowers tested. The 350iB was equally exceptional at freeing leaves from tangled weeds and brush.

Using the smaller tip, we were able to blow leaves with more precision, getting closer to flowerbeds or mulch with minimal disturbance. It also worked well attacking cobwebs along the eves and beneath gutters. And, speaking of gutters, the 350iB is well-suited for clearing them, but using it from a ladder is awkward.

Full Husqvarna 350iB Leaf Blower Review

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