A leaf vacuum is the perfectionist’s out of doors energy instrument, nice for sucking up each final leaf from underneath bushes and round basis partitions. It’s additionally useful for owners who must bag their leaves, fairly than blow them to the curb, since most leaf vacuums characteristic mulching capabilities that allow you to hoover up many extra leaves right into a single bag.
Can’t determine between a leaf blower and a leaf vacuum? You don’t must! That’s as a result of many of the prime picks from Good Housekeeping Institute’s newest checks are multi-purpose machines that carry out each duties. As with different out of doors energy gear that passes by way of the Dwelling Enchancment & Out of doors Lab, from stress washers to snow blowers, our consultants thought-about efficiency, ease of use, sturdiness, noise and extra of their evaluation of greater than 20 leaf vacuums. Listed below are the ten that made the reduce.
Our prime picks:
After trying out our picks, learn on for extra particulars on how our testers select the perfect leaf vacuums, plus all the things you should know to seek out the suitable mannequin in your dwelling. You can even choose up different professional recommendation on yard care, together with suggestions for mulching and our newest round-up of top-rated garden mowers.
Finest Total Leaf Vacuum
Worx Electrical Trivac
WORX Electrical Trivac
WORX Electrical Trivac
Now 14% Off
| Sort | Corded-electric |
|---|---|
| Air circulate | 350 cfm |
| Air velocity | 210 mph |
| Weight | 9.3 lbs |
| Bag dimension | 10.5 gallons |
| Noise score | 50 dB |
Our consultants like the flexibility of the corded-electric Worx Trivac, a highly effective three-in-one blower, vacuum and mulcher that handles every process with ease and effectivity, which the 5600+ five-star critiques on Amazon attest to. In our testing, it was notably adept at scarfing up leaf fragments and different small particles. “I like that it’s outfitted with an on-board conversion change, so as to flip between features shortly and with out the trouble of separate tubes and attachments,” says Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist on the Good Housekeeping Institute, who examined the Worx over a number of weeks at her dwelling on Lengthy Island, NY.
She notes that the curled finish of the vacuum tube was useful for sucking leaves from gutters and different hard-to-reach locations. The Worx’s steel impeller has an 18:1 discount ratio, which means it will possibly mulch 18 baggage of leaves down to 1, and this mannequin comes with a 10-gallon reusable assortment bag. Whereas it’s additionally very quiet, the massive draw back is the twine, which is a nuisance to pull round and likewise means you’ll want an exterior-grade extension twine in case you have a big yard.
Finest Worth Leaf Vacuum
Solar Joe Electrical Handheld Blower/Vacuum/Mulcher
This budget-friendly three-in-one leaf vacuum, blower and mulcher carried out in addition to some fashions costing two and thrice as a lot. “Like its cold-weather model mate Snow Joe, whose snow blowers we’ve examined, Solar Joe has established itself has a value-driven title in out of doors energy gear that usually punches above its weight,” says Rothman. The system’s 14-amp motor blows as much as 240 miles per hour with six adjustable speeds so you’ll be able to tailor it to varied duties, and testers say it’s simple to change between modes. Rothman additionally known as out the devoted gutter cleansing equipment, with its 15-foot telescoping attachment that permits you to blast leaves out of gutters from the security of the bottom. Although the producer doesn’t checklist its noise score, testers discovered the motor on the Solar Joe to be comparatively quiet.
Finest Heavy-Obligation Leaf Vacuum
Stihl SHA 56 Shredder Vacuum/Blower Package Vacuum
Stihl’s out of doors energy gear has impressed our testers with its mixture of remarkable energy and quiet operation — the latter being important in municipalities with strict noise ordinances. The SHA 56 2-in-1 vacuum blower lives as much as the identical excessive normal. The battery-powered machine was an absolute beast in our robust area checks, sucking up all method of yard particles and shredding it into a rough mulch that allowed testers to achieve most capability within the 10.5-gallon bag. “Regardless of all that stellar sucking energy, the Stihl was one of many quietest leaf vacuums we examined,” says Alec Scherma, check engineer on the Good Housekeeping Institute.
It’s an amazing match for owners whose yard incorporates loads of tough particles, together with twigs, acorns and the like. The SHA 56 can also be an outstanding leaf blower for individuals who must cope with a thick blanket of leaves come autumn. Take observe, nevertheless: The machine has separate tubes for its vacuum and blower modes. Whereas making the conversion was pretty easy in our checks, it’s not as simple as flipping a change, a comfort discovered on fashions that use the identical attachment for each modes. Plus, the additional components require extra cupboard space. However ultimately, we predict that’s a small value to pay in case your precedence is most toughness and energy in a leaf vacuum.
Finest Variable-Pace Leaf Vacuum
Toro Electrical Extremely Blower Vacuum
This Toro is one other plug-in leaf vacuum that scored factors with our testers for its mixture of energy and light-weight design. “It’s an amazing selection for owners with small- to mid-size yards,” says Rothman, who notes that the Toro is a simple to make use of and reasonably priced possibility that gathered and eliminated leaves shortly in our checks. Our consultants just like the variable velocity management, which seamlessly permits you to alter the facility in each vacuuming and blowing modes. The system can also be simple to function, because of its push-button electrical begin and quick-release latch that allows you to change from blowing to vacuuming with out instruments. However you’ll need to cope with the facility twine, plus the added value of an exterior-grade extension twine in case you have loads of floor to cowl.
Finest Giant-Capability Leaf Vacuum
Ryobi 40-volt Handheld Blower/Vacuum/Mulcher
Ryobi’s 40-volt leaf vacuum is a superb choose in case you have loads of leaves to brush up, because of its huge 600 CFMs of vacuum energy and its ample 10.5-gallon bag. The Ryobi additionally has an industry-best 20-to-1 mulching ratio, so it’s wonderful at decreasing leaves to a tremendous matter, getting essentially the most capability out of each bagful. “The one disadvantage is the steel impeller was a little bit extra liable to jamming when sucking up tougher stuff like twigs,” says Scherma. “However that is the proper vacuum in case you’re primarily clearing plenty of unfastened leaves out of your garden.”
It converts from vacuum to blower mode with the flip of a knob on the principle deal with, however you additionally want to change attachments, so it’s not essentially the most convertible combo we examined. The Ryobi can also be on the costly facet, nevertheless it’s vital to notice that the equipment features a pair of 4.0 Ah batteries, which collectively delivered greater than half-hour of run time in our checks, even when working the variable velocity motor at full tilt.
Finest Light-weight Gasoline Leaf Vacuum
Husqvarna Gasoline Blower Vacuum
Don’t need the trouble of a twine? A gas-powered leaf blower is the way in which to go, particularly in case you’re additionally searching for most energy. This Husqvarna gas-powered leaf vacuum can transfer loads of air in a rush — 425 cubic ft per minute at a velocity of 170 miles per hour. Our consultants say it ought to carry out capably whether or not you set it to hoover, blow or mulch leaves and different yard particles. The light-weight building and ergonomic design maximize consolation and management, whereas the cruise management setting is good in case you have loads of leaves to suck up and don’t want to change speeds. Simply be ready for the noisier operation, which is loud sufficient that you just’ll wish to put on ear safety.
Finest Worth Gasoline Leaf Vacuum
Craftsman Gasoline Leaf Blower
This Craftsman incorporates a strong gas-powered engine that generates a strong mixture of air velocity and circulate. Our consultants say the vacuum’s light-weight design reduces hand and arm fatigue. In addition they just like the characteristic set, which features a translucent gas tank and a variable velocity motor, useful when switching between yard cleansing duties or transferring throughout totally different surfaces from thick lawns to paved driveways. As with all gas-powered blowers, the Craftsman is pretty noisy, so take that into consideration if there are neighbors shut by. It’ll additionally want extra upkeep, together with routine oil checks.
Finest Backpack Leaf Vacuum
Black + Decker Backpack Blower Vacuum
BLACK+DECKER Backpack Blower Vacuum
BLACK+DECKER Backpack Blower Vacuum
Now 29% Off
| Sort | Corded-electric |
|---|---|
| Air circulate | 400 cfm |
| Air velocity | 250 mph |
| Weight | 11.1 lbs |
| Bag dimension | Not listed |
| Noise score | 75 dB |
In case your property has loads of leafy bushes, it’d make sense to improve to a backpack-style leaf vacuum. Our engineers say this corded electrical Black + Decker mannequin is sweet for blowing and mulching, particularly in small- to mid-sized yards (like all corded fashions, it’s not very best for bigger properties due to twine constraints). Testers say the two-speed blower is able to transferring a good quantity of air in a short time. This mannequin comes with an easy-to-carry backpack-style assortment bag, because of the snug harness, and has a formidable 16:1 discount ratio in mulching mode.
Finest Light-weight Cordless Leaf Vacuum
Greenworks Cordless Blower Vacuum
Our consultants have been testing Greenworks merchandise for the higher a part of a decade and so they’ve come to know the model as a pacesetter in battery-powered out of doors gear. This cordless leaf vacuum is one other instance, with its mixture of reliability and efficiency. Although the air circulate isn’t as highly effective as with gasoline or corded-electric units, this battery-operated mannequin permits you to clear and take away leaves unrestricted by a twine, plus it’s extraordinarily light-weight. Our engineers say the brushless motor ought to ship an extended runtime and improved torque, whereas additionally decreasing pressure and increasing the vacuum’s lifetime. Although the system can convert from a vacuum to a blower, it makes use of separate tubes for every perform, so it’s not as simple as flipping a change, the way in which you’ll be able to with different prime picks.
Finest Stroll-Behind Leaf Vacuum
Troy-Bilt Gasoline Chipper Shredder Vacuum
Troy-Bilt Gasoline-Powered Chipper Shredder Vacuum
Troy-Bilt Gasoline-Powered Chipper Shredder Vacuum
Professionals
- Provides in a chipper and shredder
- Good for big properties
Cons
- Requires far more storage
| Sort | Gasoline-powered |
|---|---|
| Air circulate | Not listed |
| Air velocity | Not listed |
| Weight | 125 lbs |
| Bag dimension | 18 gallons |
| Noise score | Not listed |
Take one look and you’ll see immediately that walk-behind leaf vacuums are a special breed of garden care gear. This one from Troy-Bilt provides in a chipper and a shredder, good in case you reside on a big property with loads of bushes and fallen branches. It makes use of a special engine than gasoline leaf blowers, which is why the producer doesn’t checklist air velocity and circulate. Our consultants solely admired it from afar, however they’re impressed by the specs, beginning with the 24-inch-wide vacuum head, which helps you cowl loads of floor quick throughout the leafiest weeks of fall. The 7-foot vacuum hose is useful for sucking up smaller leaves and twigs from underneath bushes. However make no mistake: Weighing in at 116 kilos, this walk-behind leaf vacuum is loads of garden gear, so be sure to’ll put it to work earlier than making the funding.
How we check the perfect leaf vacuums
Our product consultants within the Dwelling Enchancment & Out of doors Lab begin by surveying {the marketplace} to establish top-selling leaf vacuums that you just’re probably to seek out at shops and on-line. We additionally attend commerce exhibits and {industry} occasions like Equip Exposition to remain on prime of the newest in garden and yard care. Subsequent, we establish manufacturers which have carried out the perfect and proved essentially the most dependable by way of years of testing on the Good Housekeeping Institute. We additionally contemplate newer manufacturers with distinctive options or improvements.
Primarily based on an in depth evaluation of technical knowledge, our consultants chosen numerous fashions for hands-on testing, which began in our Lab the place we assessed ease of meeting, high quality of building, comfort options and extra. A number of of our product consultants additionally took leaf vacuums dwelling to guage them within the real-world circumstances of their yards. Efficiency checks targeted on how shortly and cleanly fashions sucked up small piles of leaves across the yard, in addition to from gutters when that characteristic was supplied. We additionally evaluated usability — for instance, how simply the bag goes on and off, intuitiveness of the controls, the runtime of battery-powered vacuums and the noise degree of the motor.
What to search for when selecting the perfect leaf vacuum
There are a number of normal components to think about when deciding which leaf vacuum is greatest for you. No matter whether or not the vacuum can convert right into a blower or mulcher, you’ll wish to take note of a vacuum’s energy sort, the dimensions and type of its assortment bag, in addition to its weight and sturdiness.
✔️Energy sort: Leaf vacuum engines might be battery-powered, gas-powered or corded electrical. The ability sort that’s greatest for you relies upon largely on the dimensions of the challenge.
- Battery-powered leaf vacuums supply cordless operation and so they’re additionally the quietest. Due to enhancements in battery expertise, they’re additionally almost as highly effective as gasoline machines.
- Gasoline-powered leaf vacuums nonetheless are usually essentially the most highly effective however they’re additionally louder, tougher to start out and require additional care upkeep, together with mixing the oil and gasoline.
- Electrical leaf vacuums have a twine that restricts mobility however ensures an infinite runtime.
✔️Assortment bag type and dimension: Some assortment baggage might be worn on the person’s again whereas others are connected immediately beneath the engine. Backpack assortment baggage typically have a better quantity than people who dangle immediately beneath a handheld engine. In case your vacuum has mulching capabilities, you’ll wish to make observe of its discount ratio in an effort to decide what number of shredded leaves can match inside the gathering bag (for instance, a mulcher with a ten:1 ratio can match 100 gallons of dry leaves in a 10-gallon assortment bag). Many assortment baggage are reusable whereas others are disposable.
✔️Convertibility: If you happen to’re trying to buy an all-in-one instrument that’ll show you how to fight fallen leaves and particles, chances are you’ll wish to contemplate one of many many engines that may convert between leaf blowing, vacuuming and mulching. It’s vital to think about the convenience of changing between totally different capabilities when buying a convertible instrument. Some convertible vacuums/blowers/mulchers are outfitted with a change that permits them to alternate from perform to perform. Different machines include totally different tubes or nozzles that it’s important to connect and detach in an effort to convert. That’s extra of a problem, however our checks have discovered that these units are likely to carry out higher at each vacuuming and blowing.
✔️Weight: Most leaf vacuums are handheld and comparatively light-weight. If you happen to’re searching for one thing extra heavy-duty, like a extra highly effective leaf blower that additionally has robust vacuum capabilities, you’ll have to think about that extra highly effective engines are usually heavier and probably tougher to function. “Light-weight leaf vacuums that weigh as little as 5 kilos are tremendous for minor clean-ups, however you have to be ready to lug round no less than a 10-pound machine in case you plan on sucking up loads of yard particles,” says Rothman. Heavier vacuums additionally are usually extra sturdy.
How is leaf vacuum energy measured?
There are a number of components concerned. If the gear has a mulching mode, you’ll additionally wish to take note of its claimed capability.
- Cubic ft per minute (CFM): The ability of a leaf vacuum is partly decided by the air circulate, or how a lot air it’s ready to soak up, which is measured in cubic ft per minute. The upper the CFM, the extra air it will possibly soak up. Essentially the most highly effective vacuums have 400 CFMs and up.
- Miles per hour (MPH): Then there’s air velocity, i.e. how shortly a lead vacuum takes in air, which is measured in miles per hour (mph). Above 200 mph is good.
- Mulcher discount ratio: That is the ratio between the variety of baggage of leaves that the vacuum encountered and the variety of baggage that the leaves had been diminished to by way of mulching. Most mulchers have a discount ratio of both 10:1 or 16:1.
Why belief Good Housekeeping?
The Good Housekeeping Institute Dwelling Enchancment & Out of doors Lab gives professional critiques and recommendation on all issues home-related, together with leaf vacuums. In his position as Director of the Dwelling Enchancment & Out of doors Lab, Dan DiClerico brings greater than 20 years of expertise to the Institute, having reviewed hundreds of merchandise, together with all types of out of doors energy gear for Good Housekeeping, in addition to manufacturers like Client Stories and This Previous Home. He has huge hands-on expertise with each model included on this report, in addition to many others that didn’t make the reduce.
For this report, Dan labored carefully with Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist & Director of Engineering on the Institute. For greater than 15 years, Rachel has put her coaching in mechanical engineering and utilized arithmetic to work by researching, testing and writing about merchandise throughout the house enchancment house. She additionally routinely checks leaf vacuums and other forms of out of doors energy gear at her dwelling on Lengthy Island, NY.
Dwelling Enchancment & Out of doors Director
Having written hundreds of product critiques and how-to articles on all features of dwelling possession, from routine upkeep to main renovations, Dan (he/him) brings greater than 20 years of {industry} expertise to his position because the director of the Dwelling Enchancment & Out of doors Lab on the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can typically be discovered holding home at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, the place he lives together with his spouse and youngsters.
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