Choosing a leaf blower: what air volume, air speed and blowing force tell you, and which blower suits your yard

The question asked most often about a leaf blower is how powerful it is. The product page and the packaging give three figures for this: air volume in cubic metres per hour, air speed in metres per second and blowing force in newtons. One of them says considerably more about the work than the others, and a fourth figure, battery capacity, decides whether the yard can be cleared on a single charge. Below we explain what these figures mean, how to choose between a handheld and a backpack blower, what to bear in mind while working, and which EGO Power+ blower suits which yard. 

Air volume moves the leaves, air speed tears them loose

Air volume (m³/h) shows how much air the blower pushes through the tube per hour. It determines how wide a strip you clear in one pass and how quickly a large lawn or car park is emptied. Air speed (m/s) shows how fast the air leaves the end of the tube. A fast, narrow stream loosens wet leaves, debris stuck between stones and a damp layer of twigs and leaves. Neither figure is enough on its own: a fast air flow with a small volume does lift the leaf into the air but takes it nowhere, and a large volume of slow air will not free a leaf that is stuck to the surface.

That is why EGO gives a third figure for every blower, the blowing force in newtons (N). This is the force with which the air flow pushes against an obstacle, and it takes both the air volume and the speed into account at the same time. For comparing two models it is the fairest single figure. An example from the EGO range: LB6150E and LBX1000 the air speed of both is 67 m/s, but the air volume of the first is 1045 and of the second 1700 m³/h. The blowing force is 18.5 N and 32 N respectively, so with an equally fast stream the LBX1000 moves debris that is nearly twice as heavy. The opposite example is the leaf vacuum LV5000E: with the tapered nozzle its air speed is 93 m/s, the highest in the whole range, but at an air volume of 850 m³/h the blowing force stays at 15 N. The speed figure alone therefore says little about the actual work.

The nozzle changes the shape of the stream, not the air volume. A narrower round or tapered nozzle raises the air speed: LB7650E blows at 74 m/s without a nozzle and at 87 m/s with the tapered nozzle, while the air volume stays at 1300 m³/h in both cases. The flat nozzle makes the stream wide and low, which suits both gathering dry leaves off a smooth surface and dealing with wet leaves. The round nozzle concentrates the stream into a narrow one and is better for stuck debris and the gaps between stones.

What jobs a leaf blower is used for

Autumn leaf clearing is the main job a leaf blower does, but not the only one. A leaf blower, or air broom, also suits clearing sand, mowing debris and dust off a terrace, driveway and pavement, clearing sawdust off a workshop or shed floor, and cleaning gutters, the terrace and the area around the barbecue instead of using a garden hose or brush. In spring it gathers winter debris off the lawn, in summer the clippings from hedge cutting, and in winter light fresh snow off steps and pathways.

Clearing leaves off the lawn is not only a question of appearance. A thick layer of leaves left under the snow creates a favourable environment for snow mould and other fungal diseases, and in spring the result is dried-out patches in the lawn. On a gravel yard and a sandy path the leaves lift dust into the air as well, so it is worth working at a lower speed there and wearing safety glasses in addition to ear defenders.

Handheld or backpack blower

In the EGO range, handheld blowers weigh only 2.1 to 3.3 kg without a battery, to which the weight of the battery is added. A backpack blower weighs 5.7 to 9.6 kg depending on the model, but the weight rests on your back and only the light tube is in your hand, so an hour's work is less tiring than working with a small handheld blower. A backpack model is worth considering when the area to be cleared is large or the job regularly runs over an hour: a large property, the grounds of an apartment block, a cemetery, a park or property maintenance.

There is another way to make a long job easier with a handheld blower. EGO handheld blowers work with a backpack battery: the battery sits in a backpack or a harness and a cable connects it to the tool. Suitable options are the BH1001 backpack harness for a standard 56 V battery, or the Pro X series BAX1500 backpack battery, which holds 28 Ah or 1568 Wh and gives the LB6150E or LB6700E blower up to 1120 minutes of run time at low speed.

The larger backpack models LBP8000E, LBPX8000 and LBPX1100 use two batteries at once. EGO calls this Peak Power technology: two 56 V batteries together give more power and a longer run time than one. With two 10 Ah batteries, LBPX8000 runs for up to 200 minutes at low speed and 40 minutes in Boost mode.

Battery capacity decides the run time and partly also the power

In the EGO Power+ system one battery serves every tool: the same 56 V ARC Lithium battery fits the blower, the lawn mower, the trimmer and the hedge trimmer. Batteries are available in 2.5, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.5, 8.0, 10 and 12 Ah, plus the 28 Ah BAX1500 backpack battery. If you already have an EGO mower or trimmer at home, it makes sense to buy the bare tool without a battery and use the batteries you have; that is the cornerstone of the EGO 56V system. We wrote about the battery system at greater length in the article Discover the EGO 56V battery system and about the battery versus petrol comparison in the article Battery vs petrol. The full range is in the batteries and chargers category.

A blower is one of the most demanding tools for a battery, because in Boost mode the motor draws a lot of current at once. This has two consequences. First, the run time in Boost mode is several times shorter than at low speed: LB6700E runs with a 5 Ah battery for up to 200 minutes at low speed, 30 minutes at high speed and 15 minutes in Boost mode. In practice Boost is used in short bursts on wet leaves or stuck debris, and the rest of the time you work at a lower setting. Second, a small battery will not give a large blower full power. With the LBX1000, for example, you have to allow for the fact that with a lower-capacity battery the tool only reaches speed setting 2. Using at least a 4 Ah battery is recommended. If the blower stops unexpectedly in Boost mode, this is the battery's protection cut-out and not a fault: taking the battery out and putting it back is enough.

Noise: what the decibels mean and when you may use a blower

Noise is a justified concern with a leaf blower and one of the main reasons why a cordless blower is a better choice than a petrol one. In the specifications of each model the manufacturer usually gives two figures: the sound pressure level at the operator's ear (LpA) and the guaranteed sound power level (LwA), which is required by the European Union's noise directive for equipment used outdoors. For the user the first one matters. On EGO blowers it falls between 82 and 91 dB(A): the LB6000E and LBPX8000 82, the LB7650E 83, the LBX1000 86, the LB6150E and LV5000E 88, and the LB6700E 91 dB(A). All of these values are above 80 dB(A), the point at which occupational safety rules begin to recommend hearing protection.

In a densely built-up area it makes sense to leave blowing for daytime hours even outside quiet hours, and to get it done in one go rather than over several evenings in a row. To reduce noise, EGO recommends working at the lowest setting that still does the job well. 

The EGO Power+ leaf blower range at Saemeister

The EGO blower range is set out below. Run times are given with one 5 Ah battery, and for two-battery backpack models with two 5 Ah batteries, in the order low speed / high speed / Boost. Noise is the sound pressure level at the operator's ear. Weight is without the battery.

	Model	Type	Air volume, m³/h	Air speed, m/s	Blowing force, N	Weight, kg	Noise LpA, dB(A)	Run time with a 5 Ah battery, min
	LB6150E	handheld	1045	67	18,5	2,15	88	200 / 30 / 18
	LB6700E	handheld	1138	71	21	2,17	91	200 / 30 / 15
	LB7650E	handheld	1300	74	26	2,1	82,8	150 / 25 / 17
	LBX1000 Pro X	handheld	1700	67	32	3,3	86	50 / 17 / 10
	LBX6000 Pro X	handheld, with a backpack battery	1014	65	19,2	2,7	84,5	With BAX1500 battery 350 / – / 70
	LV5000E	leaf vacuum and blower	850	71	15	4.2 as a blower, 5.8 as a vacuum	88	75 / 12 / –
	LB6000E	backpack, 1 battery	1020	64	19,2	5,7	82	120 / 22 / 15
	LBP8000E	backpack, 2 batteries	1360	71	26	7,2	86,2	With 2 × 6 Ah batteries 76 / 36 / 24
	LBPX8000 Pro X	backpack, 2 batteries	1360	72	26	7,4	82	100 / 26 / 20
	LBPX1100 Pro X	backpack, 2 batteries	1870	71	36	9,6	83	100 / 18 / 15

Handheld blowers for the home garden

LB6150E is the lightest blower in the EGO range: 2.15 kg without a battery, 1045 m³/h and 18.5 N. The speed is changed with a wheel on the handle and the Boost button gives full power for a short time. The AN6000R round nozzle and the AN6000F flat nozzle are included. The tool is also available as a kit with a 2.5 Ah battery and a standard charger, giving up to 100 minutes of run time at low speed. It is a good choice for a smaller or medium-sized home garden where the leaves are mostly dry.

LB6700E has the same housing but is more powerful: 1138 m³/h and 21 N. The kit contains a 5 Ah battery and a rapid charger. 2.5 N more blowing force means that wet leaves and debris stuck to stone surfaces move more easily, and the larger battery gives a longer run time. It suits a medium-sized or larger home garden that also has a terrace and a driveway.

LB7650E is the most powerful of the standard-series handheld blowers: 1300 m³/h, 26 N and only 2.1 kg. The speed is adjusted with a thumb-operated wheel, and Boost mode can be locked so that a large volume of leaves can be moved on without holding the button down all the time. A tapered and a flat nozzle are included. The domestic-use warranty is 5 years and the professional-use warranty 2 years, so it also works as a machine for a smaller property maintenance firm or an apartment association.

If you want everything in one box, we also stock previous-generation kits LB5301E (900 m³/h, 16 N, a 2.5 Ah battery and a standard charger, which gives up to 75 minutes of run time) and LB5804E (986 m³/h, 18 N, a 5 Ah battery and a rapid charger, up to 200 minutes, with both a flat and a round nozzle included).

Pro X handheld blowers

LBX1000 Yes  the most powerful cordless handheld blower on the market: 1700 m³/h and 32 N, which is backpack-blower level force in a 3.3 kg tool. Five speed settings plus Boost, an LCD display for battery charge and operating status, an LED light for dim conditions, an IPX5 water-resistance rating and a Bluetooth connection to the EGO Connect app. For full power it needs at least a 4 Ah battery; with a 10 Ah battery the run time is up to 100 / 33 / 20 minutes. The professional-use warranty is 3 years.

LBX6000 is a light handheld blower in the Pro X series, 2.7 kg and 19.2 N, which does not carry the battery on the tool itself: power comes by cable from a backpack battery. With the BAX1500 backpack battery the run time is, according to the EGO product page, up to 350 minutes at the lowest setting and 70 minutes in Boost mode; a standard 56 V battery can be fitted for carrying on the back to the BH1001 backpack harness. Both a round and a flat nozzle are included, and with the flat nozzle the noise level at the operator's ear is 80.2 dB(A) according to the manual, the lowest in the range. It suits a full day's work where the tool is constantly passed from hand to hand.

Backpack blowers

LB6000E is a single-battery backpack blower: 1020 m³/h, 19.2 N and 5.7 kg, with a chest-strap harness and a flexible bellows tube. With a 5 Ah battery the run time is up to 120 / 22 / 15 minutes and with a 10 Ah battery up to 240 / 44 / 30 minutes. The professional-use warranty is 2 years. A good choice for a large property or an apartment association, especially if the household already has one larger EGO battery.

LBP8000E needs two batteries and delivers 1360 m³/h and 26 N in a 7.2 kg tool, with an IPX5 water-resistance rating. With two 6 Ah batteries the run time is 76 minutes at low speed, 36 at high speed and 24 minutes in Boost mode.

LBPX8000 is the Pro X model in the same power class: 1360 m³/h, 26 N, 7.4 kg, a telescopic tube, an LCD display and a Bluetooth connection for tracking software, battery charge and run times. With two 5 Ah batteries the run time is up to 100 / 26 / 20 minutes and with two 10 Ah batteries up to 200 / 52 / 40 minutes. The professional-use warranty is 3 years.

LBPX1100 Yes the most powerful battery-powered backpack blower on the market: 1870 m³/h and 36 N. The tool weighs 9.6 kg, the battery ports are on either side of the padded harness, the handle has an LCD display and an LED light, and the water-resistance rating is IPX5. With two 10 Ah batteries the run time is up to 200 / 36 / 30 minutes. This is a machine for the professional who clears wet, heavy debris over large areas every day.

LV5000E leaf vacuum: blows, vacuums and mulches

LV5000E is a three-in-one tool: as a blower 850 m³/h and 15 N; as a vacuum it shreds the leaves fine, reducing their volume by up to 16 times, and collects them in a 40-litre bag. As a blower it weighs 4.2 kg and as a vacuum 5.8 kg. With a 5 Ah battery the run time is up to 75 minutes at low speed and 12 minutes at high speed. The tool is also available as a kit with a 5 Ah battery and a rapid charger. It is the right choice for a small or medium-sized garden where the leaves have to be taken away rather than just gathered up, because shredded leaves take up several times less space in a bag and in the compost.

Accessories that turn the blower into a multi-purpose tool

AGC1001 gutter cleaning kit attaches to the LB5300E and LB5800E blowers and lets you clean gutters while standing on the ground. AST1000 short tube gives the LB5300E, LB5800E and LB7650E blowers a more concentrated stream that is easier to control at close range, for example when cleaning a terrace or steps. AN6000F flat nozzle and the AN6000R round nozzle fit the LB5800E and LBX6000 blowers and are included with the LB6150E and LB6700E. For the LB5300E there is the AN5300 wide nozzle. The full range is in the leaf blower accessories category.

Safety and techniques that save time

In every case, safety glasses with side shields and hearing protection must be worn when working with a blower. Never aim the stream at people or animals, and always remove the battery from the tool before cleaning or maintenance. The Pro X and two-battery backpack models have an IPX5 water-resistance rating and the standard-series handheld models IPX4, which means protection against splashes or a jet of water.

Techniques that apply to every blower:

• Blow the pile from its outer edge, not from the middle, and the leaves will not scatter.
• Select a windless day or work with the wind behind you so that the leaves move in one direction.
• Loosen stuck debris and a wet layer of leaves first with a rake or broom, and a lower speed will then be enough.
• Watch out for children, pets, open windows and freshly washed cars, and direct the debris away from them.
• Gather the leaves onto a tarpaulin or straight to the compost bin and clear the debris away when you finish. Leaves shredded with a mulching lawn mower take up several times less space.

Maintenance and winter storage

Maintaining a cordless blower is simple. Keep the air intakes clean, wipe the housing with a damp cloth and do not use solvents on the plastic. At the end of the season, remove the battery, clean the air intakes and keep the tool indoors, out of reach of children and away from garden chemicals and de-icing salt, which damage plastic and metal. The recommended operating temperature for the machines is -15 to +40 °C, the charging temperature +5 to +40 °C and the storage temperature -20 to +70 °C.

There are no separate winter requirements for the battery. After 30 days of standing idle an EGO battery brings itself to 30 per cent, which is the best storage level for a lithium battery, and it does not need charging during the winter. Keep the battery dry. We wrote about getting the rest of your garden machinery ready for winter in the article Winter storage of mowers and other garden equipment. To get a longer manufacturer's warranty, register your EGO tool after purchase at egopowerplus.ee.

Which leaf blower to choose

For a small yard, a terrace and dry leaves the LB6150E blower or the LB5301E kit is enough. For a medium-sized or larger garden with stone surfaces and wet leaves in autumn, choose the LB6700E or LB7650E. If the leaves have to be collected and taken away, the right tool is the LV5000E leaf vacuum. For a large property, the grounds of an apartment block or long working days, the LBX1000 or the backpack LB6000E and LBPX8000 will suit. The LBPX1100 is intended for the professional who clears heavy, wet debris every day, and the LBX6000 for anyone who prefers the combination of a light handheld blower and a backpack battery. If you already have an EGO battery, buy the bare tool and put your existing battery to work.

In summary

With a leaf blower, look first at the blowing force in newtons and at the air volume, not at the air speed; plan the battery capacity according to how long the job lasts in one go; and put on hearing protection even when a cordless blower seems quiet. That way leaf clearing is a quick and comfortable job too.

You will find the full range in the leaf blowers category, and nozzles, tubes and collection bags under accessories. The same category also holds STIHL and STIGA blowers, and the same selection principles apply to them. If you are unsure which model is right for your yard, visit us in Tartu at Aardla 25, or write to saemeister@saemeister.ee / call +372 7