Best gas leaf blowers

Have you ever thought about what could be the best labor-saving garden device of the 21^st century? The loud, difficult to handle lawnmower? The dangerous and again, hard to use hedge trimmer? Maybe the sprinklers in your front yard that always catch you off guard on your way to work?

No, it must be, of course, the ground-breaking, ultimate time-saving gas leaf blower.

Knowing what makes the best gas leaf blower though is no easy task. We hope this article will help you find the gas leaf blower that best suits your needs.

Best gas leaf blowers

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Gas leaf blower reviews

Hitachi RB24EAP – Best gas leaf blower in 2022 (Editor’s choice)

This could well be the best handheld gas leaf blower. All main criteria considered, it averages out as the best value for money for anyone who is a ‘gas leaf blower buying’ virgin and is looking for something that does the job.

All the important features are spoken for, including power, weight, and reliability. Its handheld design is lightweight and practical, allowing you to move around comfortably, blowing leaves to your heart’s content, even in hard to reach places.

Blowing speed

This machine will blow leaves at a notable 18 feet per 16.54 seconds. It does this with an air volume of 441 cubic feet per minute. What this means is that every minute 441 cubic feet of air is coming out the end of the nozzle. It doesn’t come out as the top-rated gas leaf blower for this category but it’s not the lowest either. We were still surprised at how fast it can clear debris, leaves, and even bits of hard mud.

7-year warranty

The 7-year domestic warranty is an industry leader warranty- meaning it’s the best you’ll find. For commercial use, the warranty is still an impressive 2 years. Reliability is one of the key factors we look for when defining the best gas leaf blower. This warranty assures you that the seller not only relies on it for 7 years but is also ready to give you another absolutely free if it gives in.

Tapered nozzle

Having a lot of power is not going to be of any use if you can’t actually get your gas blowing in those hard to reach nooks and crannies. The tapered nozzle on this model will also help you direct your blowing more accurately.

Ease of use

The Hitachi is both handheld and light-weight, reducing fatigue. A handheld machine is suited for use in small yards if you do not plan on using the blower for hours at a time. The light weight and compact design will ensure that if you really had to, it wouldn’t be too much of a strain. The throttle has a large two-finger lever, for user comfort and ease of operation when activating your blower. Overall, these features come to assemble a fairly reliable machine for an average household.

Husqvarna 125BU

The greatness of the Husqvarna 125B comes not in its specs and figures but in the unique features that make it easy to use. The multiple detachable blowing tubes will help make shifting those intolerable leaves a lot quicker, as you discover which to use in which situation. The adjustable lengths can also allow you to adapt the machine to the specified size of the user.

Unfortunately, it probably cannot handle heavy-duty commercial requirements. Maneuverability, however, is maximized through its controls and weight. Therefore, these features, along with it being a good value for money, may make it your best gas-powered leaf blower on this list.

Different nozzles

The first type of nozzle is rounded which is designed for a more accurate blow. This could be used when you need to move a small pile of leaves. The second type of nozzle is the flattened nozzle which will provide a higher air velocity of 170 mph compared to 130 for the rounded nozzle. This is used to blow leaves that are dispersed across a larger area.

Auto return stop switch

The stop switch is conveniently placed on the tip of the handle grip, making it easy should any emergency cats run in front of your line of fire. Even better, it will automatically return to the on the position after stopping the leaf blower for quicker starting time. Everyone who has used a gas leaf blower will know that starting up the engine is half the battle of leaf blowing.

Handle in line with the air stream

This feature elevates the ergonomics of the machine to another level, allowing for intuitive control of your gas blowing direction. In the case of a handheld machine without this feature, you would end up having to do a lot of twisting of your wrist and body causing higher levels of fatigue and sore joints.

Cruise control

The cruise control feature means your blower will automatically keep blowing without you having to handle the controls. So, no more accidental slips of the finger off the trigger, resulting in having to turn back and cover the same area again. And let’s be honest, we’ve all been there.

Husqvarna 350BT

If you need this power, and you do not care how much it will cost, then this little beast should suit you. At 692 cubic feet per minute, it really will get those pesky leaves and debris far away from where you want them. However, it will do it using a lot of gas and making a lot of noise. A bit like a teenager; has a lot of gumption but uses up a lot of your resources.

Because it is a backpack leaf blower some people find the design more comfortable and generally can be used for longer. The big engine does make it heavier so may cause some backache. Nonetheless, if gas and high air volume are all you require, it is the best gas blower on our list.

X-Torq engine

You would think with the amount of gas this uses that it wouldn’t be the first pick for the environmentally conscious. However, the innovative X-Torq engine is actually designed to reduce emissions by up to 60% and increases fuel efficiency by 20%. It is known that even the best gas-powered leaf blower can cause a lot of harm but with this machine, your conscience can rest easy knowing that that harm is significantly reduced.

Very loud

The volume of the Husqvarna comes in at 104 decibels without ear protection and 94 with. It’s always a good idea to wear ear protection but it’s somewhat necessary with this one. Even if you have your earbuds in, you likely won’t hear the music at all with this beast on full pelt.

Offset handle for blow force

The positioning of the controls is placed in such a way so that it requires minimal movement and strength. First of all, it sits quite nicely on your back with contoured padding. Alongside this, your trigger is placed on an offset handle which juts up next to your hip like a gearstick. Normally this handle is on the actual blowing tube, causing the force of the blowing gas to pull on your arm. However, Husqvarna designers have made it so you don’t have to deal with this strain.

Cruise control

The presence of the cruise control feature is a make or break sometimes when choosing the best gas leaf blower. The switch for this one is located just opposite the throttle switch, easily accessible on the handle.

Poulan PLB26

The handheld Poulan PLB26 is a cheap gas leaf blower but its specs can still compete with top-rated gas leaf blowers. It is a tough and durable machine, reasonably powerful, reasonably lightweight and reasonably easy to use. If you hadn’t got the gist yet, it is a reasonably good machine. The dip in price accounts for this averageness, while still providing you with one of the best gas leaf blowers for clearing up debris in small yards.

Perhaps one of its biggest draws is the speed that delivers a competitive 190 MPH. So if you’re looking for something less expensive, this will be the best handheld gas leaf blower for you.

Soft grip handle

Any heavy object which has to be handled for an extended period of time will inevitably leave the hand and fingers feeling a little sore. Not with this leaf blower though. The soft handle will make this device more portable and with more finger maneuverability. In the end, this leads to no soreness on your skin.

Trigger-operated variable speed

All the best gas leaf blower reviews tend to have this as a key feature. It is perhaps obvious why. Being able to modify the speed makes for better versatility and user control. So when you urgently need to get all those unwanted items cleared from a road or path, you can blast your blower as hard as you like. Whereas for delicate areas where there are flowers or fragile items, you can then simmer down to a lower throttle power.

2-stroke 26cc engine

It’s a little cumbersome to understand the mechanics of the difference between a 2-stroke and a 4 stroke engine. All you need to know though is that the 2-stroke is more powerful. The 4 stroke is more fuel-efficient. The 2 stroke is lighter but noisier and likely to produce more smoke. It’s really a bit of a toss-up as to which one will get the job done quicker. However, we think the power of a 2 stroke can be good for big jobs done not as often. The efficiency and reliability of a 4 stroke are good for smaller jobs done often.

High velocity

The velocity of the machine is higher than most at 190 MPH. Speed is not everything though, if you don’t have the air volume, you won’t cover a large area and the job will ultimately take longer. The air volume on this machine is 430 CFM which is not bad but a bit below average. But if you’re covering smaller areas, which is usually why people want a handheld device, then it shouldn’t make much of a difference.

Poulan Pro PR48BT

What sets this one apart from other backpack blowers is its high-performing engine which has the highest blowing speed on our list. 200 MPH. Alongside this, it has an above-average 475 CFM air volume; more than enough to clear leaves, twigs, debris, grass, and even small rocks, some users have reported. It is definitely designed for heavy-duty jobs.

Could a leaf blower be anymore beastly? Yes, it gets better. All those fancy control features are also present, ensuring ease of use. For this reason, we have concluded that this is the best backpack leaf blower.

The setbacks are predictable. Being that it delivers a lot of power, its engine makes it quite heavy. So, it is not the best gas leaf blower for anyone who suffers back pain or doesn’t want to experience any fatigue. Having said that, there are adjustable padded straps so you can distribute the weight as per your size. It also does not have low emissions.

No offset handle

Overall, you can use a backpack device for longer than a handheld device. Unlike the Husqvarna 350BT though, the handle is not offset. This means that all that wonderful power we talked about, is being controlled by your arm. This could potentially cause a lot of strain and may mean you cannot keep blowing for as long. It can mean better control though of the direction of your blow. This one really depends on preference.

Adjustable padded straps and harness

Ever tried one of those big hiking bags that have all the straps and padding? This machine has a similar design with a harness that goes around the waist. All the weight is then put on your hips instead of your shoulders. The 22lb heavy frame almost goes unnoticed. The adjustable straps mean it can be suited for all shapes, sizes, and preferences for where you would like the weight to fall. Extra padding makes the device fit snugly and comfortably.

High velocity and quick start

Most people do not want to spend their weekends doing hours of household upkeep. Therefore, time-saving is always going to be top of the list when reviewing your gas blower. This machine both starts fast and will efficiently get the job done. If you’re not fussy on where your hands are and how you control the frame, then that’s all you need.

Not CARB compliant

CARB compliance is a set of rules and regulations regarding environmental protection set by the Californian Air Resources Board. These are strictly only enforced in the state of California but have come to act as a standard for all combustion engines, assessing if your machine is environmentally friendly or not. Many manufacturers have found ways to reduce harmful exhaust emissions so this is not a con you need put up with.  If you are all about the environment there are many other options on this list for you.

Makita BHX2500CA

Some gas leaf blowers have been banned in some cities because of the noise they make or high emissions. So you can see why these are the leading problems manufacturers have been trying to fix. If you or your city are also looking for quiet and cleanliness, then this quiet, low vibration blower may be the best gas leaf blower of 2022 for you.

With the reasonably lightweight handheld Makita, you can blow your leaves without ending up with a headache or irritating the neighbors. Maybe put on some headphones and listen to some peaceful music in the background. And with its engines track record for reducing emissions, you won’t have to listen to complaints from neighbors. At the end of the day, a quieter machine will make hard work seem more enjoyable.

However, as you’ll notice a lot of the best gas leaf blower reviews will mark this one down on its power capabilities. This machine has the lowest velocity (145 MPH) and air volume (358 CFM) on our list, and not by just a bit. It would get the job done but you might be looking at a more time-consuming job.

4 Stroke 24.5CC fuel-efficient engine

The 4 stroke engine is a revolutionary design, aiming to make the engine lighter, quieter, and without as much vibration. It also no longer requires you to have an oil/ gas mixture, as you do for the 2 stroke engine. Added to that is the reduction of fuel emissions amounting to an astounding 90%. That’s 5 big factors improved upon in one new engine design.

Anti-vibration mounts

You really would not be envious of anyone who has an aggressively vibrating gas blower. They really take a toll on your arms and shoulders. The engine of the Makita is reported to run very smoothly due to the anti-vibration mounts. This is a feature therefore which gives this machine a unique edge. There is also a soft handle grip to make it even more comfortable.

Mechanical automatic engine compression

This feature is a clever design that allows for quicker and easier starts for the engine. A lot of complaints in leaf blower reviews are about users having difficulty getting their machines started. With this design, you can be assured that that won’t be an issue. It works by allowing the internal engine to spin up to starting speed without having to work against the pumping actions of the pistons, by use of a pressure-releasing valve.

Vacuum function

The Makita actually isn’t just a blower, it also doubles up like a vacuum. This function has 2 purposes. First of all, the vacuum is able to suck up any stragglers that are caught up in bushes or places where a blower might be damaging. Second of all, it can be useful, once you have finished blowing, to collect your leaves all in one place and have the vacuum mulch them down so they are more manageable. However, leaf blower vacuums cannot deal with huge piles of leaves so you’ll find yourself having to empty the bag a lot.

Things to consider when buying a gas leaf blower

Handheld or Backpack

This choice is going to be key in determining what kind of clean-ups you want to do. Buyers normally opt for the backpack option if they want to use the leaf blower for more than an hour at a time. Handheld devices are for smaller clean-ups in smaller yards. If it’s a heavy machine, it’s going to be easier and more comfortable on your back.

Power

How much power do you really need? If it’s a small job, a machine that has a velocity of 145 MPH or above and a CFM of 375 or above then that will be enough if you don’t want to spend any more money than you have to. However, if you really want to get the job done fast over a larger area, then an above average machine will run at, at least 190 MPH or at least 440 CFM.

Ease of use

The controls really make a difference for enabling you to intuitively understand your machine and be more comfortable. Cruise control is a key feature of all good leaf blowers as well as variable speed control. Thinking about the positioning of all of these will also be an important factor in order to maximize maneuverability and reduce fatigue.

Weight

Inevitably, a heavy engine is going to make the job feel more arduous. Most handheld devices are lighter but then all that weight will be on just one arm. We think that if you do choose to buy a handheld device pick a lighter one. Backpack devices are generally pretty heavy but are easier to carry so it doesn’t make too much of a difference.

Engine type: 2-stroke or 4-stroke

The 4-stroke engine type really is better in more ways. It’s just that the 2-stroke engine type has more power, which is often the most important factor for buyers. The 4-stroke engine is lighter, quieter, makes less vibration, and most importantly is more fuel-efficient. This last point means it’s using less fuel to get more done and it’s much better for the environment. The 2-stroke will still get all the leaves you need out of the way and maybe quicker but only if the velocity and air volume can match up.

Vacuum function

Some people really like having this as an option but the trend is fading out. It can be useful for getting up tiny wet bits of debris that are just very stubborn and mulching them up. Unfortunately, though, most people have stopped using it because it’s just too time-consuming to have to keep emptying the bag. Nonetheless, it’s always nice to have the option there for if you really need it.