Makita Leaf Blower

The best blowers from Makita

Leaf blowers are a useful purchase for quickly removing leaves, acorns, chestnuts, hedge cuttings and the like. This is much easier than using a classic rake, for example. A proven supplier in this segment is Makita. A Makita leaf blower has a robust ABS housing and is easy to handle. The Japanese manufacturer offers battery-powered leaf blowers, petrol leaf blowers and electric leaf blowers with cable.

In the following, we will show you which Makita leaf blower is recommended. You will also find out what you should consider when choosing. We hope to be able to help you with this guide.

Makita leaf blower – 3 models in the presentation

Makita DUB362Z

Battery leaf blowers are a great solution for removing moderate amounts of debris in a power-saving way. An extremely popular model in this segment is the Makita DUB362Z .

The device is powered by 2 18V batteries connected in series, which together ensure a voltage of 36 volts. Because these are not included in the scope of delivery, anyone who already has them can save money. The weight including the batteries is 3.5 kg, which is why nothing stands in the way of easy handling. Because the telescopic tube is adjustable in length, people of all sizes can adopt an ergonomic posture.

Depending on the battery, the runtime is up to 75 minutes (5 Ah). This means that a reasonable area performance can be achieved. Makita recommends the device for private use as well as for use in hospitals, retirement homes and schools. The noise level is limited to a low 79 dB. The air speed peaks at just under 200 km/h, which is why this battery-powered leaf blower also copes well with wet leaves.

Makita BHX2501V

Petrol blowers can unleash the greatest power. With them, you can stringently move large amounts of rubbish and heavy particles to where they need to go. One recommendation in this context is the Makita BHX2501 .

This model is powered by a fuel-efficient 4-stroke engine. This can generate an air speed of more than 200 km/h, so that even wet leaves and acorns do not cause any problems. The weight is a moderate 4.5 kg. The dimensions are also quite compact for a petrol leaf blower. This makes it easy to handle and operate.

As a combi unit, this blower can also be used for additional suction if required. The matching tube and a collecting bag are included in the scope of delivery. In addition, a flat nozzle is included, thanks to which you can also reliably remove debris from narrow passages. Furthermore, you can access the spark plug and the oil tank without complications, which is why maintenance does not cause any stress.

Makita UB0801V

Makita blowers have the quality to be used in commercial applications. If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive model, you might like the Makita UB0801V .

This electric leaf blower draws its power from the mains via a mains cable. The cable is only 30 cm long and must therefore be extended. Although the device is inexpensive, it comes with a wide range of accessories. It can also vacuum and shred. The corresponding catch bag is also included. It holds up to 35 litres. Since the shredding ratio is 8:1, you can virtually collect 280 litres of leaves until the first interruption is absolutely necessary.

Furthermore, the speed can be adjusted 2-fold. The weight of only 3.2 kg and the fact that the pipe can be mounted without tools also ensure a high level of comfort. In general, hardly any maintenance is required during use. However, the air speed is limited to approx. 150 km/h, which is why this leaf blower is not suitable for great adversities.

Makita leaf blower – What you should always look out for

Drive

Makita currently offers 8 different leaf blowers. These include all common models, which differ primarily in their type of drive:

• Petrol leaf blower
• Electric leaf blower with mains cable
• Leaf blower with battery

A leaf blower with a petrol engine can develop a great deal of power. This makes them ideal for removing large quantities of wet leaves, as well as acorns and chestnuts. Their disadvantage is an increased noise level and the fact that a combustion engine will eventually require maintenance. In addition, the devices represent an environmental burden.

Electric leaf blowers with cables can also be quite powerful. They are also relatively inexpensive, require little maintenance and can be used almost continuously. However, the cable restricts freedom of movement. If there is no connection, such a device cannot be used.

A leaf blower with a rechargeable battery offers you the possibility to move around freely. Generally, devices are lightweight and relatively quiet. For this reason, they are also recommended for women and elderly people. In addition, cordless leaf blowers can be classified as environmentally friendly. A disadvantage is the fact that their performance is (still) the weakest of all models.

Power

Of course, power plays a decisive role. It must fit the conditions on site. The heavier the debris (wet leaves, acorns, chestnuts, etc.), the more forcefully the air must act on it to move it away.

Normally you can tell the power by the air speed (in km/h). To reliably set wet leaves in motion, a speed of at least 200 km/h is required. Battery leaf blowers quickly fail at this hurdle, but a Makita battery leaf blower at least scratches this mark.

Makita’s petrol leaf blowers are also the most powerful. They can generate an air speed of over 300 km/h.

With battery and petrol leaf blowers, you should also think about the area performance. After all, their running time is limited. This can quickly become a problem, especially with battery-powered devices. The more ampere hours (Ah) the battery has, the longer continuous operation is possible. If the battery is removable, you can of course extend the runtime with additional batteries.

Handling

Handling should be as comfortable as possible. To a large extent, it is influenced by its own weight. An electric leaf blower from Makita sometimes weighs just 2 kg, which makes it easy to move. The hand-held petrol models also weigh less than 5 kg.

The handle should be ergonomically shaped and preferably rubberised. Rubber dampens vibrations in a natural way.

Furthermore, you should keep an upright posture to prevent back pain. With Makita, the telescopic suction tube can be adjusted to 3 different lengths, so that even tall people can expect great ergonomics.

With most models, the weight is distributed normally over the arms. The professional petrol leaf blowers from Makita, on the other hand, can be carried on the back. The carrying strap is of course padded. This means that you hardly notice any difference in terms of comfort, even though they weigh around 10 kg.

Additional functions

A Makita leaf blower doesn’t just have to be a blower. If necessary, it can do even more. For example, the petrol models can also be used for vacuuming and shredding. Such 3-in-1 combinations can be used with maximum flexibility. If the appliance can shred, it shreds the waste before it is collected in the bag. This means fewer interruptions for emptying over time. If the shredding ratio is e.g. 10:1, a 40 litre bag can now virtually swallow 400 litres of leaves until the first interruption.

In addition, it may be possible to flexibly adjust the output. This allows you to adequately treat different types of debris and different substrates without fear of damage.

Sometimes a so-called flat nozzle is also included in the scope of delivery. This is particularly narrow towards the front, so that you can also reliably reach confined areas.

The Makita electric leaf blowers can sometimes even be used as hoovers, provided you have the appropriate filter bag. However, all devices lack a scraper edge for really stubbornly dried-on debris.

Basically, you should take a look at the instructions before starting up. The pipe should not be pointed at yourself or at other people at any time. Whereas electric machines are very easy to start, petrol machines often require a distinction between a cold start and a warm start.

Volume

Volume can play a significant role in everyday use. If it is excessive, it can have a negative effect on your stress level and health. In addition, it can lead to tensions with roommates and the neighbourhood.

Unfortunately, it has to be said that leaf blowers are generally not very quiet. No device on the market can be described as pleasantly quiet. You can tell how loud or quiet your model of choice is by the sound level, which is expressed in dB (decibels).

A Makita leaf blower can remain below 95 dB, which can be classified as relatively quiet in this segment. However, this is only reserved for the electric models. The petrol models actually always exceed 100 dB at their peak, which means that hearing protection is essential.

The legislator has issued rules on the use of leaf blowers.

Price

The costs certainly also influence the decision. They should generally be in a fair proportion to your own requirements. The more performance and the more comfort you expect, the more you have to invest. Of course, long durability also requires an increasing budget.

A Makita leaf blower can be placed in the middle price segment. The electric leaf blowers as well as the electric models without enclosed battery are available for just over 100 Pounds. High-quality petrol models that can be carried on the back, on the other hand, require an investment of over 300 Pounds.

Makita leaf blower – advantages & disadvantages at a glance

A leaf blower from Makita is characterised by its well thought-out functionality and robust construction. In addition, you can already find reasonably priced offers from this proven manufacturer. However, not every demand can be satisfied. So that you can comfortably weigh up the pros and cons of the devices, we have created a table for you below:

Video: The Makita DUB362Z in practice