Getting started

Handheld blowers, especially the electric models, are relatively lightweight. The best electric handheld blowers continue to outperform their gas-engine counterparts for less money. That also makes them a logical choice if your arms are weak or tire easily. But handheld models are not up to sweeping a large area or sucking up a large pile of leaves. For sheer power, you're likely to prefer a gas-powered backpack or wheeled blower. Nearly all the gas-powered blowers we tested meet the tougher new California emissions standards. Use this leaf blower guide to choose the right one for you.

Gas blowers are noisy enough to require hearing protection, and even electric blowers can annoy the neighbors. So avoid using these machines early or late in the day. Some localities restrict their use to certain hours and seasons of the year, so check your town's ordinances. Along with ear protectors, wear goggles and a dust mask when blowing or vacuuming. And keep people and pets away from the work area.

Types

The best electric handheld blowers continue to outperform their gas-engine counterparts for less money. But both types of leaf blowers take at least some of the grunt work out of sweeping and cleaning fallen leaves and other yard and driveway debris.

These corded models typically weigh seven pounds or less and are designed for one-handed use. No-hassle pushbutton starting and zero exhaust emissions are pluses, as is power that meets or beats gas handheld versions. But the power cord limits your mobility and can create a hassle around trees and other obstacles. Consider an electric blower where a power outlet is within 100 feet of the work area.

These are also designed for one-handed use, and there's no power cord to tangle or limit your mobility. The best approach the best electrics in performance. But you need to yank a pull-cord to start the engine. Gas engines require periodic tune-ups, and they're loud enough to warrant hearing protection. Gas-powered handheld blowers tend to be heavier than electrics; most weigh 7 to 12 pounds. Most models have two-stroke engines that require mixing fuel and oil, and the four-stroke models, while cleaner, have also been relatively heavy.

These blowers typically add power over handheld blowers. They weigh 15 to 25 pounds-up to twice as much as gas-powered handheld blowers. But your back and shoulders, rather than your arms, support the weight. Like handheld gas models, they're noisy. They can't vacuum or shred. And they cost more than handheld blowers.

These offer enough oomph to quickly sweep a sizable area. Their large four-stroke engines require no mixing of fuel and oil. But wheeled blowers can't vacuum or shred. They're bulky and weigh 100 pounds or more, so they're relatively hard to maneuver and push, especially uphill. They require about eight square feet of storage space. And they're noisy and expensive.

Features

In our latest leaf blower tests, we found quietness claims that didn't hold up and sub-par starting systems. Some leaf blower features add to convenience, and some enhance safety. Here's what to consider.

On wheeled models, an adjustable air deflector lets you adjust the airflow forward or to either side. That's handy for collecting leaves in one big pile or when you work alongside a wall, hedge, or other obstruction.

On handheld models, a bottom-mounted air intake is less likely to pull annoyingly at your clothing than one mounted at the side.

This lets you shut off the electric motor or gas engine quickly and easily and is a good safety feature.

Some handheld models have more comfortable handles with a second hand grip for better control.

Some blowers have flattened nozzles, while others have rounded ones. Choose a flatter tip for sweeping loose leaves, a rounder tip for loosening leaves that are imbedded in the lawn. Some blowers come with both.

On gas models, it lets you give the engine a squirt of fuel for easier cold starting.

Multiple speeds on an electric blower or a variable throttle on a gas-powered blower let you increase power for sweeping on hard surfaces or open ground and decrease it around fragile garden beds.

A clear tank allows you to tell at a glance when fuel is running low. And a wide opening reduces the chances of a fuel spill.