Is This The Best Leaf Blower Vac?

Whether it’s fall and the leaves are changing color and falling from the trees, or it’s spring and you need to clean up the remnants from winter, leaf collection can be chore. Some people love to rake up the leaves, while others find it a pain. If you’re one of those people who prefers to spend their time doing other things, here is a tool that can help you get the job done quickly. The 3-in-1 Leaf Blower Vac combo tool from Toro. I’m sure you’re wondering if it’s the best leaf blower vac on the market. I’ve had mine for eighteen years now, so here is my homeowner’s review.

Why Clean Up Your Leaves?

First, let’s talk about the importance of cleaning and disposing of the leaves. It not only makes your lawn look better, it keeps it healthier. When leaves are left to pile up, they can suffocate your lawn. They block the sunlight that your grass needs, even in the winter. Patches of leaves left on the grass also encourages mold and fungi growth, which can damage your lawn.

If you’re planning to aerate and seed your lawn before winter, getting the leaves cleaned up first will make this job much easier for you.

Be sure to clean up your leaves every fall as part of your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist.

Toro Leaf Blower Vacuum Mulcher - The Daily DIY

How Do They Work?

A leaf vacuum works pretty similar to the indoor vacuum you use on your floors. There is a high speed fan that connects to intake and exhaust hoses. When it’s turned on, the fan spins, that causes air to push out and into the exhaust fan. Suction is then created after the air comes in through the intake hose, which creates a jet flow of air that the leaves get to ride in.

The leaves are then sucked up through a metal impeller that slices and dices them up. From there they are pushed out into a bag that is attached to the unit. Once the bag is full, there is a quick release to empty it.

Toro Ultra Blower/Vacuum/Mulcher Specifications

This device is like having three machines in one. It is a powerful blower, high speed vacuum, and leaf shredder. There are no tools needed and you can quickly change it from blower to vacuum in seconds.

An electric (corded), 12 amp device featuring an electric start. It has a max air speed of 235 MPH and a max air volume of 340 CFM. It also offers a variable speed control.

My Review

The Toro Leaf Mulcher Blower Vac is a handy tool for raking up leaves. Whether you have a big, or small yard, you can save yourself hours of work with this machine. Because it’s much faster than raking by hand, and the mulched leaves are ready to be added to your compost pile. Or, if you are bagging your leaves, you can get much more in to each bag.

I bought my unit almost two decades ago, and it’s the same one I’m still using today. A vacuum bag replacement a few years back is all that I’ve had to do to maintain it. Other than that, this machine has given me zero issues.

How to quickly clean the leaves from your landscaping

Use it to suck up leaves, pine needles, dead flowers and annuals, small twigs and sticks, and even dog poop (oops!) although I wouldn’t recommend the latter. If you use it to pick up leaves from your mulch beds you can set the variable speed control to a lower setting to avoid sucking up the mulch with it. Doing this works very well. You may still lose a few small pieces of mulch, but nothing drastic.

As for wet leaves, it can suck those up too. But I advise against it. The impeller gets gunked up fast and the bag gets pretty messy.

The blower part is very powerful too. Use it to quickly blow the leaves in to a small pile. Then, snap off the blower attachment, snap on the vacuum tube and bag, and you’re ready to finish up.

I’ve used this unit a few times every year for over eighteen years. I’m very happy with this machine and would recommend it to anyone looking for something that’s easy to use, and durable.