In the world of garden tools, the leaf blower might be the most fun. With this tool in hand, you can pretend you’re a wind-wielding superhero or a Greek god. All while impressing the neighbors. And if you’re in the market for a cordless model, our Ryobi leaf blower review will help you find the best tool for the job.
Going cordless can be a very convenient way to clean your yard, and it can help you save some cash, as well. Plus, what weather-controlling superhero wants to get tangled up in power cords and inconvenient outlets? But can a cordless Ryobi leaf blower really compare to a gas-powered model?
Before you take the plunge and buy a Ryobi leaf blower, there are a few things you should know. Does your chosen model offer enough power? How much does it cost? And how does it compare to other cordless leaf blowers?
Comparizon Table
RYOBI LEAF BLOWER REVIEW: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOw
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Ryobi offers a range of cordless, rechargeable leaf blowers. As a brand, Ryobi largely caters to homeowners and DIYers with its lightweight and easy-to-use designs.
That said, it’s not unusual to see professionals reach for Ryobi leaf blowers when they need something quick and easy. Ryobi products generally don’t offer the same power or quality as professional-level products. But they do provide great value for a relatively low price.
The line of Ryobi leaf blowers is no exception.When it comes to Ryobi leaf blowers, there are several different models from which to choose. We’ll take a closer look at these later on in our Ryobi leaf blower review.
First, though, let’s cover a general overview of Ryobi’s cordless leaf blowers and what they have to offer to the average homeowner.
PRODUCT FEATURES
Of course, our Ryobi leaf blower review wouldn’t be complete without looking at the brand’s key product features.
Different versions of the Ryobi leaf blower will have slightly different features. That said, there are a few things that nearly all of them have in common.
One of the biggest selling points for the Ryobi leaf blower line is that they are cordless and run on lithium-ion batteries. Most newer models also include Jet Fan Technology. This feature delivers gas-like power from these battery-operated leaf blowers.
Additionally, most models come with variable speed control. This feature allows you to dictate how much power you’re using simply by squeezing your grip. While you might think stronger is always better when it comes to a leaf blower, this setting is crucial for delicate plants, mulch, and more precise projects.
As you’ve probably noticed throughout our Ryobi leaf blower review, all of these products are extremely lightweight and easy to use. This low-fuss design makes them great for all types of customers.
PRODUCT FEATURES
Of course, our Ryobi leaf blower review wouldn’t be complete without looking at the brand’s key product features.
Different versions of the Ryobi leaf blower will have slightly different features. That said, there are a few things that nearly all of them have in common.
One of the biggest selling points for the Ryobi leaf blower line is that they are cordless and run on lithium-ion batteries. Most newer models also include Jet Fan Technology. This feature delivers gas-like power from these battery-operated leaf blowers.
Additionally, most models come with variable speed control. This feature allows you to dictate how much power you’re using simply by squeezing your grip. While you might think stronger is always better when it comes to a leaf blower, this setting is crucial for delicate plants, mulch, and more precise projects.
As you’ve probably noticed throughout our Ryobi leaf blower review, all of these products are extremely lightweight and easy to use. This low-fuss design makes them great for all types of customers.
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POWER AND PERFORMANCE
In truth, you can only expect so much from a cordless leaf blower. Most Ryobi leaf blowers have plenty of power, but you can’t really compare it to a gas-powered leaf blower. If you have a heavy-duty job to take care of, then you might want to reach for a different brand altogether.
But the average homeowner will probably be pleasantly surprised by the power of Ryobi’s leaf blower line. Read through almost any Ryobi leaf blower review and you’ll see this sentiment repeated.
Many people are shocked by how much power can come from such a light, cordless leaf blower. This makes it ideal for light-to-average yardwork. It’s not a gas-powered blower, but it could very well be the next best thing.
Almost every Ryobi leaf blower review we could find was overwhelmingly positive. As stated before, customers were generally surprised by how much power these leaf blowers delivered. In terms of power, Ryobi’s blowers offered exactly what they needed.
Customers also loved how light and easy these leaf blowers are to use. Even inexperienced power tool users felt comfortable wielding one of Ryobi’s leaf blowers.
Product features
Of course, our Ryobi leaf blower review wouldn’t be complete without looking at the brand’s key product features.
Different versions of the Ryobi leaf blower will have slightly different features. That said, there are a few things that nearly all of them have in common.
One of the biggest selling points for the Ryobi leaf blower line is that they are cordless and run on lithium-ion batteries. Most newer models also include Jet Fan Technology. This feature delivers gas-like power from these battery-operated leaf blowers.
Additionally, most models come with variable speed control. This feature allows you to dictate how much power you’re using simply by squeezing your grip. While you might think stronger is always better when it comes to a leaf blower, this setting is crucial for delicate plants, mulch, and more precise projects.
As you’ve probably noticed throughout our Ryobi leaf blower review, all of these products are extremely lightweight and easy to use. This low-fuss design makes them great for all types of customers.
Power and performance
In truth, you can only expect so much from a cordless leaf blower. Most Ryobi leaf blowers have plenty of power, but you can’t really compare it to a gas-powered leaf blower. If you have a heavy-duty job to take care of, then you might want to reach for a different brand altogether.
But the average homeowner will probably be pleasantly surprised by the power of Ryobi’s leaf blower line. Read through almost any Ryobi leaf blower review and you’ll see this sentiment repeated.
Many people are shocked by how much power can come from such a light, cordless leaf blower. This makes it ideal for light-to-average yardwork.
It’s not a gas-powered blower, but it could very well be the next best thing.
Customer ratings and reviews
Almost every Ryobi leaf blower review we could find was overwhelmingly positive. As stated before, customers were generally surprised by how much power these leaf blowers delivered. In terms of power, Ryobi’s blowers offered exactly what they needed.
Customers also loved how light and easy these leaf blowers are to use. Even inexperienced power tool users felt comfortable wielding one of Ryobi’s leaf blowers.
Finding a negative Ryobi leaf blower review is pretty rare, at least in our experience. However, some reviewers did complain about the short battery life.
Many people said they were only able to use this blower for less than half an hour at a time. For small, touch-up projects, this isn’t a big deal. But for those with large lawns or professional landscapers, this battery life issue could be a major concern.
On the subject of battery life, some of the Ryobi leaf blowers don’t come with a battery. That means customers have to spend more money than originally expected.
If this Ryobi leaf blower review has you considering one of these power tools for yourself, keep this in mind. Odds are, you’ll need to buy a separate battery.
Finding a negative Ryobi leaf blower review is pretty rare, at least in our experience. However, some reviewers did complain about the short battery life.
Many people said they were only able to use this blower for less than half an hour at a time. For small, touch-up projects, this isn’t a big deal. But for those with large lawns or professional landscapers, this battery life issue could be a major concern.
On the subject of battery life, some of the Ryobi leaf blowers don’t come with a battery. That means customers have to spend more money than originally expected.
If this Ryobi leaf blower review has you considering one of these power tools for yourself, keep this in mind. Odds are, you’ll need to buy a separate battery.
THE MOST POPULAR RYOBI LEAF BLOWER MODELS
Again, Ryobi offers a few different options when it comes to their leaf blowers. Whether you just need something quick and easy for your suburban lawncare needs or are starting a homegrown landscaping business, Ryobi offers a range of different models from which to choose.Let’s take a closer look at some of their more popular leaf blowers currently on the market:
Ryobi r40402
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One of the most popular models is the Ryobi R40402. This leaf blower uses the aforementioned Jet Fan Technology to deliver gas-like power. As a result, it’s able to blow at speeds of 155 MPH and 300 CFM.
The Ryobi R40402 uses 40-Volt lithium-ion batteries. Unfortunately, these batteries are sold separately.
RYOBI 40V 500 CFM JET FAN BLOWER
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Another popular model is the Ryobi 40V 500 CFM Jet Fan Blower. As implied by the name, this leaf blower has 500 CFM. It also offers 110 MPH of blowing power.
Unlike most models, this particular blower features both variable speed control and a turbo button. That gives you an added level of control when performing yard work. It uses 40-Volt lithium-ion batteries, but these are sold separately
HOW WE REVIEWED
For these reviews, we used Amazon as our main source of information. We also used the products’ official websites when they were available. Additionally, our opinions routinely referenced customer reviews from Amazon.When reviewing these leaf blowers, we chose to focus on a few important aspects. These included main features, power, ease-of-use, and battery life. Price was also a major factor in our reviews.
THE COMPETITION IN THE CORDLESS LEAF BLOWER MARKET
Obviously, our Ryobi leaf blower review wouldn’t be complete without looking at the competition. There are many other excellent leaf blowers on the market, including several lightweight, cordless models.
Let’s see how Ryobi measures up:
DEWALT 20V MAX LITHIUM ION XR
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- Battery operated leaf blower gets up to 400 CFM of air volume at 90 MPH to clear debris
- High-efficiency brushless motor maximizing run time and motor life of the cordless blower
- Innovative axial fan design that maximizes on air output and run time of the battery leaf blower
One of the most popular cordless leaf blowers on the market is the DeWalt 20V MAX Lithium Ion XR. This leaf blower features a brushless motor and innovative axial fan design. These features allow it to perform at 90 MPH and 400 CFM.
This DeWalt leaf blower also offers a variable speed control and speed lock. With these features, you have full control over your lawncare project. Moreover, the frame is lightweight and offers an ergonomic design. This leaf blower comes with a charger and a 20V lithium-ion 5Ah battery.
Many reviewers appreciated the variable speed control and speed lock functions. Plus, they loved the long battery life. On top of that, they also enjoyed its light weight and overall ease-of-use.
As far as downsides are concerned, some reviewers complained that this leaf blower is not as powerful as a gas-powered leaf blower. Many also wished it had a smaller tube to give it more velocity. Additionally, some customers had trouble getting the battery to recharge after dying.
WORX TURBINE 56V
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- Battery operated leaf blower gets up to 400 CFM of air volume at 90 MPH to clear debris
- High-efficiency brushless motor maximizing run time and motor life of the cordless blower
- Innovative axial fan design that maximizes on air output and run time of the battery leaf blower
The WORX Turbine 56V is another excellent cordless leaf blower. It features turbine fan technology that delivers high-capacity air volume. This model also has a brushless motor. These features allow it to perform at 125 MPH and 465 CFM.
This WORX leaf blower offers multi-speed fan controls and a turbo boost for your heavy-duty jobs.
This leaf blower comes with both a battery charger and a 56V MaxLithium battery. This battery promises to last up to 90 minutes at a time.
Plenty of customers were very impressed with this leaf blower’s power. Many of them stated that this power is actually comparable to a gas-powered leaf blower. Several reviewers also appreciated the lightweight design despite offering so much power.
Unfortunately, there have been multiple complaints about the battery. For many reviewers, the battery fails to live up to its 90-minute promise. In fact, several people said it barely lasts 10 minutes on its highest setting. If that wasn’t enough of an issue, some customers reported difficulty recharging their WORX battery
MAKITA XBU02PT 18V X2
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- Delivers up to 28 minutes of run time at mid-speed (15,800 RPM) using two 18V LXT 5.0Ah batteries
- BL Brushless motor delivers up to 120 MPH air velocity and 473 CFM of air volume
- Sound pressure rating of 61 dB(A); measured per ANSI B 175.2 standard
Finally, we have the Makita XBU02PT 18V X2. Like the WORX blower, this cordless leaf blower features a brushless motor. With this motor, the Makita leaf blower can blow up to 120 MPH and 473 CFM.
This model features six different air velocity settings. These different settings are in addition to variable speed controls, which allow you to control how much power you use when you’re working.
This Makita leaf blower includes two 18V LXT lithium-ion 5ah batteries and a dual-port charger.
Many customers stated that the power this blower generates is quite impressive. Speaking of power, several customers also appreciated being able to choose between different speed settings.
However, this leaf blower is also quite a bit heavier than any other model mentioned in our Ryobi leaf blower review. That is definitely something to consider if you have trouble carrying heavy equipment.
And once again, the battery life for this blower can be an issue. Customers report that it only lasts a few minutes on its highest setting.
RYOBI LEAF BLOWER REVIEW: PROS AND CONS
As you’ve seen throughout our Ryobi leaf blower review, this line of blowers has a lot of great things going for it. Ryobi’s leaf blowers are light, quiet, cordless, and often deceptively powerful.
On top of all that, Ryobi offers some of the most affordable cordless leaf blowers on the consumer market. If you have a to-do list full of light yard work, this blower will definitely help get the job done.
On the other hand, Ryobi leaf blowers (and, really, all of the cordless blowers mentioned in our Ryobi leaf blower review) have a very short battery life. And if you buy a Ryobi leaf blower, the batteries are usually sold separately. That can make an otherwise affordable product much more expensive.
Here are some of our final pros and cons for Ryobi’s range of cordless leaf blowers:
Pros
- Offers surprising power
- Very lightweight and easy to use
- Reasonably priced compared to competing brands
- Quiet operation
Cons
- Nowhere near the power of a gas-powered model
- Battery life is short and sometimes unreliable
- Batteries are sold separately
CAN THE RYOBI LEAF BLOWER BLOW AWAY THE COMPETITION?
At the end of the day, Ryobi’s line of leaf blowers is definitely worth the price if you need something small and lightweight. For the average homeowner, these blowers are deceptively powerful and capable of handling most household lawn projects.
Ryobi leaf blowers are light and ergonomic in design, so most people shouldn’t have any trouble using one.
The only real issue you might encounter is the battery. However, the reported issues with battery life and recharging are common across all cordless leaf blower brands.
It’s also a shame that the battery is sold separately. That makes an otherwise reasonable product much more expensive than its price tag would suggest.
But if you can overlook this fact, you’ll find the Ryobi leaf blower is an excellent product that can handle almost any task. It could be exactly what you need to get your yard looking fresh and clean.
Do you own one of the cordless leaf blowers mentioned in our Ryobi leaf blower review? Whether you love it or hate it, let us know your experiences with blowing power and battery life in the comments below!
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