A leaf vacuum is the perfectionist’s outside 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, quite than blow them to the curb, since most leaf vacuums function 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 assessments are multi-purpose machines that carry out each duties. As with different outside energy gear that passes via the Home Enchancment & Outside Lab, from strain washers to snow blowers, our consultants thought of efficiency, ease of use, sturdiness, noise and extra of their evaluation of greater than 20 leaf vacuums. Listed here are the ten that made the lower.
Our prime picks:
After trying out our picks, learn on for extra particulars on how our testers select one of the best leaf vacuums, plus every part you’ll want to know to seek out the appropriate mannequin in your home. It’s also possible to choose up different knowledgeable recommendation on yard care, together with suggestions for mulching and our newest round-up of top-rated garden mowers.
Greatest General Leaf Vacuum
Worx Electrical Trivac
Our consultants like the flexibility of the corded-electric Worx Trivac, a highly effective three-in-one blower, vacuum and mulcher that handles every job with ease and effectivity, which the 5600+ five-star evaluations 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 geared up with an on-board conversion swap, so that you could 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 home 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 at least one, and this mannequin comes with a 10-gallon reusable assortment bag. Whereas it’s additionally very quiet, the massive draw back is the wire, which is a nuisance to pull round and likewise means you’ll want an exterior-grade extension wire if in case you have a big yard.
Greatest 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 outside energy gear that always punches above its weight,” says Rothman. The gadget’s 14-amp motor blows as much as 240 miles per hour with six adjustable speeds so you may tailor it to numerous duties, and testers say it’s straightforward to modify between modes. Rothman additionally known as out the devoted gutter cleansing package, with its 15-foot telescoping attachment that permits you to blast leaves out of gutters from the protection of the bottom. Although the producer doesn’t listing its noise score, testers discovered the motor on the Solar Joe to be comparatively quiet.
Greatest Heavy-Responsibility Leaf Vacuum
Stihl SHA 56 Shredder Vacuum/Blower Equipment Vacuum
Stihl’s outside energy gear has impressed our testers with its mixture of outstanding energy and quiet operation — the latter being vital 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 powerful discipline assessments, 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, take a look at engineer on the Good Housekeeping Institute.
It’s an amazing match for owners whose yard accommodates a number 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 assessments, it’s not as straightforward as flipping a swap, a comfort discovered on fashions that use the identical attachment for each modes. Plus, the additional components require extra cupboard space. However ultimately, we expect that’s a small value to pay in case your precedence is most toughness and energy in a leaf vacuum.
Greatest Variable-Velocity 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 inexpensive choice that gathered and eliminated leaves shortly in our assessments. Our consultants just like the variable pace management, which seamlessly permits you to modify the ability in each vacuuming and blowing modes. The gadget can also be straightforward to function, because of its push-button electrical begin and quick-release latch that permits you to swap from blowing to vacuuming with out instruments. However you’ll need to cope with the ability wire, plus the added price of an exterior-grade extension wire if in case you have a number of floor to cowl.
Greatest Massive-Capability Leaf Vacuum
Ryobi 40-volt Handheld Blower/Vacuum/Mulcher
Ryobi’s 40-volt leaf vacuum is a good choose if in case you have a number of leaves to comb up, because of its large 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 glorious at decreasing leaves to a superb matter, getting probably the most capability out of each bagful. “The one downside is the steel impeller was a little bit extra liable to jamming when sucking up more durable stuff like twigs,” says Scherma. “However that is the right vacuum for those who’re primarily clearing numerous free 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 modify attachments, so it’s not probably the most convertible combo we examined. The Ryobi can also be on the costly aspect, nevertheless it’s necessary to notice that the package features a pair of 4.0 Ah batteries, which collectively delivered greater than half-hour of run time in our assessments, even when working the variable pace motor at full tilt.
Greatest Light-weight Fuel Leaf Vacuum
Husqvarna Fuel Blower Vacuum
Don’t need the trouble of a wire? A gas-powered leaf blower is the best way to go, particularly for those who’re additionally searching for most energy. This Husqvarna gas-powered leaf vacuum can transfer a number of air in a rush — 425 cubic toes per minute at a pace 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 if in case you have a number of leaves to suck up and don’t want to modify speeds. Simply be ready for the noisier operation, which is loud sufficient that you just’ll wish to put on ear safety.
Greatest Worth Fuel Leaf Vacuum
Craftsman Fuel Leaf Blower
This Craftsman incorporates a strong gas-powered engine that generates a strong mixture of air pace and move. Our consultants say the vacuum’s light-weight design reduces hand and arm fatigue. Additionally they just like the function set, which features a translucent gasoline tank and a variable pace motor, useful when switching between yard cleansing duties or shifting 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 should additionally want extra upkeep, together with routine oil checks.
Greatest Backpack Leaf Vacuum
Black + Decker Backpack Blower Vacuum
In case your property has a number of leafy bushes, it would make sense to improve to a backpack-style leaf vacuum. Our engineers say this corded electrical Black + Decker mannequin is nice for blowing and mulching, particularly in small- to mid-sized yards (like all corded fashions, it’s not excellent for bigger properties due to wire constraints). Testers say the two-speed blower is able to shifting 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 powerful 16:1 discount ratio in mulching mode.
Greatest 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 outside gear. This cordless leaf vacuum is one other instance, with its mixture of reliability and efficiency. Although the air move 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 wire, 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 gadget can convert from a vacuum to a blower, it makes use of separate tubes for every operate, so it’s not as straightforward as flipping a swap, the best way you may with different prime picks.
Greatest Stroll-Behind Leaf Vacuum
Troy-Bilt Fuel Chipper Shredder Vacuum
Take one look and you may see straight away 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 for those who reside on a big property with a number of bushes and fallen branches. It makes use of a special engine than gasoline leaf blowers, which is why the producer doesn’t listing air pace and move. 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 a number of floor quick in the course of 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 a number of garden gear, so ensure you’ll put it to work earlier than making the funding.
How we take a look at one of the best leaf vacuums
Our product consultants within the Home Enchancment & Outside Lab begin by surveying {the marketplace} to determine top-selling leaf vacuums that you just’re most certainly to seek out at shops and on-line. We additionally attend commerce reveals and {industry} occasions like Equip Exposition to remain on prime of the newest in garden and yard care. Subsequent, we determine manufacturers which have carried out one of the best and proved probably the most dependable via years of testing on the Good Housekeeping Institute. We additionally contemplate newer manufacturers with distinctive options or improvements.
Based mostly on an intensive evaluate of technical knowledge, our consultants chosen varied 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 home to judge them within the real-world circumstances of their yards. Efficiency assessments targeted on how shortly and cleanly fashions sucked up small piles of leaves across the yard, in addition to from gutters when that function was provided. 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 stage of the motor.
What to search for when selecting one of the best leaf vacuum
There are a number of common elements 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 kind, the dimensions and type of its assortment bag, in addition to its weight and sturdiness.
✔️Energy kind: Leaf vacuum engines might be battery-powered, gas-powered or corded electrical. The ability kind that’s greatest for you relies upon largely on the dimensions of the undertaking.
- Battery-powered leaf vacuums provide cordless operation and so they’re additionally the quietest. Because of enhancements in battery expertise, they’re additionally almost as highly effective as gasoline machines.
- Fuel-powered leaf vacuums nonetheless are typically probably the most highly effective however they’re additionally louder, harder to start out and require additional care upkeep, together with mixing the oil and gasoline.
- Electrical leaf vacuums have a wire that restricts mobility however ensures an infinite runtime.
✔️Assortment bag kind and dimension: Some assortment baggage might be worn on the consumer’s again whereas others are connected straight beneath the engine. Backpack assortment baggage typically have a larger quantity than people who cling straight beneath a handheld engine. In case your vacuum has mulching capabilities, you’ll wish to make observe of its discount ratio with a purpose to decide what number of shredded leaves can match within 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: In the event you’re seeking to buy an all-in-one instrument that’ll allow you to fight fallen leaves and particles, you might wish to contemplate one of many many engines that may convert between leaf blowing, vacuuming and mulching. It’s necessary to think about the benefit of changing between totally different capabilities when buying a convertible instrument. Some convertible vacuums/blowers/mulchers are geared up with a swap that enables them to alternate from operate to operate. Different machines include totally different tubes or nozzles that you must connect and detach with a purpose to convert. That’s extra of a problem, however our assessments 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. In the event you’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 typically heavier and probably harder to function. “Light-weight leaf vacuums that weigh as little as 5 kilos are superb for minor clean-ups, however you ought to be ready to lug round no less than a 10-pound machine for those who plan on sucking up a number of yard particles,” says Rothman. Heavier vacuums additionally are typically extra sturdy.
How is leaf vacuum energy measured?
There are just a few elements concerned. If the gear has a mulching mode, you’ll additionally wish to take note of its claimed capability.
- Cubic toes per minute (CFM): The ability of a leaf vacuum is partly decided by the air move, or how a lot air it’s in a position to absorb, which is measured in cubic toes per minute. The upper the CFM, the extra air it will possibly absorb. Essentially the most highly effective vacuums have 400 CFMs and up.
- Miles per hour (MPH): Then there’s air pace, 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 have been lowered to via mulching. Most mulchers have a discount ratio of both 10:1 or 16:1.
Why belief Good Housekeeping?
The Good Housekeeping Institute Home Enchancment & Outside Lab gives knowledgeable evaluations and recommendation on all issues home-related, together with leaf vacuums. In his function as Director of the Home Enchancment & Outside Lab, Dan DiClerico brings greater than 20 years of expertise to the Institute, having reviewed 1000’s of merchandise, together with all types of out of doors energy gear for Good Housekeeping, in addition to manufacturers like Shopper Experiences 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 lower.
For this report, Dan labored intently 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 home enchancment area. She additionally routinely assessments leaf vacuums and different kinds of out of doors energy gear at her home on Lengthy Island, NY.
Home Enchancment & Outside Director
Having written 1000’s of product evaluations and how-to articles on all facets of home possession, from routine upkeep to main renovations, Dan (he/him) brings greater than 20 years of {industry} expertise to his function because the director of the Home Enchancment & Outside Lab on the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can typically be discovered protecting home at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, the place he lives together with his spouse and children.