Best Handheld Leaf Vacuum – There are a handful of factors to consider when shopping for a leaf vacuum. Unsurprisingly, the first thing you’ll need to do is assess where you’ll be using it. Our tests determined that leaf vacuums work best to remove leaves from hard surfaces like asphalt, brick, concrete, and flagstone.
They work on decks, just as long as the leaves aren’t wedged between the deck boards. You can also use them to clear debris from small patches of grass — but if you have a large yard, we recommend raking first, and then sucking up the pile of leaves you just accumulated.
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1.Greenworks 40V
If you don’t want to be held back by a cord or deal with gas fumes, this cordless, battery-powered vac from Greenworks is your best option. This is the same manufacturer behind our favorite budget electric snowblower.
This kit comes with a 40-volt 4Ah battery, two attachments, and a debris bag. It has a 60-minute run time, weighs about 6 pounds, and has a convenient push-button start. Despite being battery-powered, it offers 185 mph blowing speeds, which is strong enough to move even wet leaves.
2.Troy Bilt CSV-060
The Troy-Bilt shredder is a midrange push leaf vacuum with loads of performance. It can shred leaves and chip small branches up to 1.5 inches in diameter, and its 7-foot vacuum hose will take care of tight corners and narrow passages with ease. Our only complaint is that it’s not self-propelled.
Regardless, it still turns on a dime and isn’t too difficult to push. What you’ll like most, though, is that it eliminates the need to carry a heavy bag of leaves around your shoulder.
3.WORX WG512
This tool from Worx is the ultimate triple threat. It functions as a blower, a mulcher, and a yard vacuum, and it switches among them in seconds.
According to Popular Mechanics’ Roy Berendsohn, you can simply turn a dial on the machine’s side to rotate its motor by 90 degrees, and then slip the vacuum collection bag into place over the impeller to change from blower to vac modes.
4.Toro 51621
This blower vac from Toro is one of the most powerful vacs money can buy. You get a 250 mph airspeed that’s strong enough even for wet leaves that are clumped together. It offers an ergonomic design that’s comfortable to hold, but it weighs 9 pounds — so it’s not the best option to use one-handed.
The Toro is bundled with plenty of attachments for getting around tight spaces. It comes with a bag, is equipped with a rugged metal impeller for crushing leaves, offers variable speed control, and is covered by a 2-year warranty.
5.BLACK+DECKER
One of the biggest downsides to leaf vacuums is that their included leaf bags are usually satchel-style — similar to a mailbag. They’re awkward to sling over your shoulder because they need to be frequently adjusted, and they start feeling heavy extremely fast … especially if you’re sucking up wet leaves.
BLACK+DECKER’s VACPACK is a much more comfortable solution to sucking leaves, as its vacuum bag is styled more like a backpack.
6.Husqvarna
If you prefer the convenience of a gas-powered vacuum and don’t want to fuss with any annoying cords or swapping battery packs, this Husqvarna is equally reliable, convenient, and powerful.
Our colleagues at Popular Mechanics say that this vacuum is extremely well-built: It starts easily with just one pull, and it has enough power to suck up and shred dry leaves with a vengeance.
7.Craftsman B215
POWERFUL ENGINE: High performance 25cc 2-cycle lightweight engine with air volume and air speed up to 430 csm/200 mph. Work more efficiently and effectively on yard work, lawn care, and other projects.
EASY-START TECHNOLOGY: Faster starts with 3 simple steps: prime, choke, and pull.
USER-FRIENDLY ENGAGEMENT: User friendly features such as the lightweight design to reduce user fatigue, variable speed throttle for more control, and the translucent tank to tell you when to refuel. Designed to make you work smarter and not harder.
WRAP UP
Best Handheld Leaf Vacuum – You’ll also want to pay attention to the vacuum’s power source (more on that below), the size and shape of its collection bag, as well as its weight — that way, you know you can handle it and are confident it’s large enough for the jobs you need to complete.
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