Stihl Leaf Blower

The best leaf blowers from Stihl

The traditional German company Stihl enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide. Among other things, the company is the world market leader in the field of chain saws. In addition, the manufacturer’s product range includes leaf blowers. A Stihl leaf blower is characterised by high quality and great performance potential. Both models with rechargeable battery, with mains cable and petrol leaf blowers are offered. In addition, the blowers can also be used in commercial applications.

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

Stihl leaf blowers – These models are recommended

Stihl BGA 45

Garden tools with a battery drive are becoming increasingly popular. This also applies to the leaf blower segment. A compact recommendation in this context is the Stihl BGA 45 .

The advantages of this unit lie above all in its ease of use. It weighs only 2 kg, which makes it easy to work with. It is powered by an 18V lithium-ion battery. In continuous operation, a running time of up to 10 minutes can be expected. This does not sound like much, but with the usual short interruptions you can quickly reach 15-20 minutes and cover a lot of ground. The battery is integrated, which is why the runtime cannot be extended.

The matching charger is of course included in the scope of delivery. Conveniently, the leaf blower has a capacity indicator (4-stage LED) on the side, which is why you always know the remaining runtime. In addition, the leaf blower can only be used if the activation key is present. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about children stealing the device and hurting themselves.

Stihl SH 56

Petrol leaf blowers are a good choice for removing a lot of bulk as well as heavy debris quickly. A proven model here is the Stihl SH 56 .

This Stihl leaf blower acts as a combination tool. It can also suck in leaves. Leaves, sticks and the like can be shredded in the manner of a shredder, so that a lot of mass can be collected in the bag. This also makes the work more efficient because fewer breaks have to be taken. The device is powerful enough to handle hedge cuttings, acorns and chestnuts. Starting is easy thanks to the fuel pump and Elasto-Start.

Although this 2-stroke leaf blower is very powerful, it weighs a moderate 5.4 kg. You have a practical shoulder strap at your disposal, so that only little weight rests on your arms. In any case, it can be operated with one hand. The catch bag included in the scope of delivery can be quickly mounted and removed. It holds 45 litres. In addition, the maximum noise level is 96 dB, which is relatively harmonic for a petrol leaf blower.

Stihl BGA 56

A cordless leaf blower from Stihl can also be used for extensive activities. A good example is the Stihl BGA 56 .

This model works with a removable battery. This means that you can extend the runtime as you wish. The set already includes a 36V battery with 3.9 Ah. The matching charger is also included. The leaf blower weighs a gentle 2.1 kg, which guarantees that it is easy to handle. The length-adjustable suction tube also contributes to pleasant ergonomics. People of all sizes can work in an upright position.

Furthermore, the multifunction handle has been designed so that it can be operated comfortably by both right-handed and left-handed people. Stihl also states that the battery can be used for up to 25 minutes, which means that a reasonable area coverage can be guaranteed. Another praiseworthy feature is the eyelet, which allows the blower to be stored in a hanging position.

Stihl leaf blowers – This is what generally matters

Drive

Stihl currently offers 21 different leaf blowers. These can be further divided into the following categories:

• Leaf blowers with petrol engine
• Electric leaf blowers with cable
• Cordless Leaf blowers with battery
• Combination units that can also vacuum and shred.

Petrol engines have always been Stihl’s hobbyhorse. A leaf blower with a petrol engine offers you the advantage of being particularly powerful. If, for example, you need to remove large quantities of wet leaves or chestnuts/acorns, it is probably the right choice. A disadvantage is that such motors are somewhat susceptible to maintenance and that they are a burden on the environment.

An electric leaf blower with a cable can be used de facto in continuous operation. This type is also considered to be efficient. Motor maintenance and unpleasant odours, on the other hand, can be virtually ruled out. However, the cable restricts freedom of movement. If there is no socket nearby, this type cannot be used.

A leaf blower with rechargeable battery combines the advantages of an electric motor with cordless freedom of movement. Such models are environmentally friendly, lightweight and relatively quiet. In terms of performance, however, you have to make concessions. Massive particles tend not to be set in motion sufficiently strongly.

Performance

Performance is, of course, a decisive factor. It must necessarily fit the requirements on site. The greater the mass of debris and the heavier its own weight, the more powerfully the blower must blow.

The air speed in km/h is used as an indicator for the power. If the air speed is at least 200 km/h, you can reliably remove wet leaves. A Stihl leaf blower can also exceed the 300 km/h mark. Another interesting indicator is the blowing force in Newton. The higher the force, the easier it is to set heavy debris in motion.

In addition to the power output itself, you should also consider the area output. In the case of a cordless leaf blower, this depends largely on the capacity of the battery, which is expressed in ampere-hours (Ah). With Stihl, the runtime can be extended as desired with several batteries. Petrol engines should not only have an adequate tank capacity, but also a reasonable fuel consumption. 4-stroke engines are often more economical in this respect.

Functions

In any case, it is advisable to read the owner’s manual before using the machine for the first time. This will tell you what you should not do – e.g. point the blowpipe at yourself or others. Whereas electric units are particularly easy to start up, petrol units often require the use of different lever positions, corresponding to a cold start or a warm start.

The main purpose of the blower is, of course, to blow away unwanted debris. However, a Stihl leaf blower is capable of more. In the form of a combi unit, it can also serve as a leaf vacuum as well as a shredder. If the debris is shredded during the vacuuming process, more can fit into the bag, which in turn means you have fewer interruptions. In this context, manufacturers often also indicate the shredding ratio. For example, if it is 10:1, a 40 litre bag can hold 400 litres of leaves.

In addition, it may be possible to vary the air speed by adjusting the rotation speed. This allows you to work adequately on sensitive surfaces as well as on durable surfaces.

Sometimes even the most powerful petrol leaf blower cannot remove the debris from the ground. If it has dried, a scraper edge on the underside of the tube will help.

Handling

Handling the leaf blower should of course be as comfortable as possible. First and foremost, an adequate weight contributes to this. A Stihl leaf blower can weigh as little as 2 kg, which means that even women and elderly people can handle it easily.

You should also keep an eye on the dimensions. The taller you are, the longer the tube should tend to be so that you can adopt a working posture that is easy on your back (the tube can sometimes be adjusted in length). Compact dimensions generally allow for space-saving storage.

Normally, the weight rests on the arms. To ensure good comfort, the top handle should be ergonomically shaped. If it is made of rubber, it also absorbs vibrations particularly well.

Some Stihl leaf blowers can also be strapped to the back. If the tool can be carried on the back, you won’t feel too much strain, even with a massive petrol engine. In most cases, there is also appropriate padding.

In addition, some leaf blowers are even equipped with a wheel mechanism on the lower part of the tube. This makes them particularly easy to guide.

Volume

Volume can play a significant role. In general, it has to be said that leaf blowers are quite loud. Neighbours and other household members may be disturbed. If the volume and vibrations are too loud, your health and stress levels can also suffer.

You can tell how loud or quiet your model of choice is by the sound level, which is expressed in decibels (dB). Battery-powered leaf blowers can excel here. They are sometimes limited to values between 90 and 95 dB, which is considered quiet in this segment.

A Stihl leaf blower can be quiet. However, this depends largely on the type of construction and the power level. There are also models – mainly petrol models – that are over 100 dB. In this case, hearing protection is absolutely essential, even for short jobs. Incidentally, Stihl has developed a special anti-vibration system that keeps these to a minimum.

In addition, the legal requirements for operating time should be observed in this context.

Price

Of course, price also has a certain influence on the decision. The Stihl brand is not known for cheap solutions, but for great functionality and proven performance. You can buy a petrol-powered model for around 300 Pounds. Electric devices can also be a little cheaper. In the case of a cordless leaf blower, the high-quality lithium-ion battery also accounts for a significant proportion of the cost, which is why you can save money if you already have the right one.

In general, the cost must be in fair proportion to your own requirements. The more comfort and reliability you expect, the more you should invest. Of course, durability also correlates to a certain extent with the price.

Stihl leaf blower – It offers you many advantages

Stihl leaf blowers offer great advantages. They are manufactured to a very high standard and are therefore a long-lasting purchase. Moreover, there is no lack of power. However, not everything speaks in favour of the devices. So that you can comfortably weigh up their pros and cons, we have provided you with an overview below:

Video: Presentation of the Stihl BGA 45