Ryobi 18v Blower Review - A Lightweight and Simple-to-Use Battery Yard Tool

In this Ryobi 18v blower review, you're going to find out all the information you need about this Ryobi battery powered blower.

We will tell you how easy it to use how powerful it has and what type of batteries it uses to get the longest runtimes and best battery life.

There are many cordless leaf blowers on the market, but one that best suits your gardening needs is the best. Read on to find out if this is the best leaf blower for you and your yard.

Ryobi Cordless Blower Pros & Cons

Pros Cons

Variable-speed trigger Battery and charger not included

Low weight Low power for big jobs

Debris scraper on the nozzle tip

Battery interchangeable with other Ryobi 18 volt ONE + tools

Ryobi Cordless Leaf Blower Product Highlights

This compact Ryobi battery-powered blower is light and ultra-easy to operate, making it a valuable tool for tidying up around the yard, patio, garage floor, and garden beds.

Top airspeed 100 mph

Maximum air volume 280 CFM

Weighs 6.5 pounds

Scraper on the nozzle tip

The ONE+ battery can be used with more than 60 Ryobi 18-volt tools

- Ryobi 18v Leaf Blower Review

This blower is described best by. The manufacturer claims that the impellers of the jet fan produce an air stream that is twice as powerful than the Ryobi 18-volt models.

One of the most compelling features of this blower is the sleek appearance and simple-to-use controls that let you focus a blast of air exactly where you want it while controlling the volume of airflow with one finger. You can hold the blower with just one hand and it will stay balanced. This means you won't have to struggle to get it exactly where you want. The low weight of only 6.3 pounds lets you keep working comfortably for as long as the battery stays charged.

This Ryobi cordless Leaf Blower's outer housing has a transparent section at its top end. The tool's black and yellow body give it a striking aesthetic.

The throttle operates with a trigger mounted on the underside of the large and comfortable padded handle. The variable-speed trigger powers up the fan the more you pull on it, giving you complete control over the airflow out of the nozzle.

Another big plus for this blower is the weight. This product is one of the lightest blowers available. It still packs a significant punch in air power for its low weight and compact size, making it perfect for light leaf blowing, clearing acorns off a deck, or blowing water off a newly washed car for a spotless glow.

The nozzle does not come with any accessories. The tip comes without any accessories. However, it has a hardened raised rib at the bottom that you can use to scrape stuff stuck to the pavement.

This blower has a significant advantage over other gas models in that it doesn't require any maintenance except for keeping it clean and storing it dry. The blower also has a hook built into the back that allows you to hang it on a hook or nail in your garage, storage shed or closet.

Sometimes, the blower does not include the charger and battery. It requires the Ryobi ONE+ 18 volt, four amp-hour battery that powers dozens of other Ryobi tools, including drills, circular saws, string trimmers, and pole saws. Also, some vendors sell this tool with the battery and charger included, so be sure to check this detail when you buy.

If you already have other tools from the same battery line , or are planning to invest in them soon, buying a battery-powered tool without a charger or battery makes sense. Having multiple batteries for your power tools lets you keep working for as long as you want, even if the runtime on the battery is not too impressive.

The most significant benefits of this Ryobi leaf blower are its low cost, simplicity of use, and battery compatibility with so many other 18-volt ONE+ Ryobi power and outdoor tools. It's an excellent tool for anyone who has a small yard or needs to clean up.

Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 730 CFM Leaf Blower Specifications

Model: Ryobi RY404100

Power Source: Ryobi 40V battery

Max Airflow: 190 MPH

Max Air Volume: 730 CFM

Weight: 6.4 lbs bare weight, 9.7 lbs with the 4.0Ah battery

Length: 40 3/4 inches with flexible nozzle

Price: $179 bare or $299 with 2 4.0Ah batteries, rapid charger and two 4.0Ah fast-charging batteries

Warranty: 5 year on the blower, 3 years on batteries

Ryobi 18 Volt Blower Main Product Features

These are the main features of the Ryobi 18-volt blower.

- Airspeed and Air Volume

The top airspeed of 100 mph is not high for a leaf blower. This airspeed is sufficient for moving small piles of dry leaves, light layers of lawn clippings, and other light debris. However, if you have mounds of wet leaves, piles of damp pine needles, or areas with gravel or other heavy materials to move, this airspeed is probably not adequate for getting the job done in a timely way.

The nozzle can blow debris up to two to four feet over a hard surface such as a lawn, and twice as far if it is blowing material onto a concrete surface such a driveway. This airflow is great for removing leaves from a flowerbed, while also leaving compost and mulch intact. It can also be used to clean up walkways, decks and patios.

The air volume on this model is reasonable for a residential-duty blower, and together with the top airspeeds, you can blow away significant amounts of debris. However, it might take longer than when using a blower with a higher airspeed and air volume. This blower is best matched with light-duty, easier yard cleanup.

- Charger and Battery

Some sellers do not include the charger and battery with this blower. However, all Ryobi 18-volt lithium-ion batteries are compatible with this tool. If you already have other Ryobi 18-volt battery-powered tools, then you can save money by buying this blower without the battery and charger.

You can save money on chargers and batteries if you intend to invest in Ryobi tools by purchasing devices from the same battery series and then swapping between them.

This tool can be powered by an 18-volt battery for approximately 15 to 20 minutes with high air power. You can expect 30 minute runtime if the speed is reduced to half its maximum. For blowing light material off a lawn or solid surface, half speed is sufficient. You can monitor the power indicator light on your battery to ensure you are always charged up.

This tool has a runtime of about 18 volts. It is important to purchase Ryobi brand batteries to get the longest battery life and best price, and not a cheaper substitute. Off-brand batteries have a significantly lower quality than Ryobi brand products. For the best battery life and performance, use the Ryobi brand 18V ONE+ batteries for this tool.

The battery needed to power this Ryobi cordless blower is the same one used in Ryobi 18-volt ONE+ circular saws, reciprocating saws, drills, impact wrenches, scrubbers, string trimmers, flashlights, and many other tools. A significant advantage of this blower is the vast number of different tools you can power with the same batteries and charger.

The time it takes to recharge a battery varies depending on the type of charger. Fast chargers cost more, but they significantly reduce the time needed to recharge a battery.

Throttle and Controls

This blower is ultra-simple to use. You can start it by inserting a fully charged battery in the slot at the machine’s rear. Next, turn on the on/off switch and pull the trigger under the handle. That is all there is to starting up and operating this machine.

The faster the wind speed goes, the more you press the trigger. There is no need to fiddle around with switches, buttons, or levers to get the air power you want. Point the nozzle where you want it, pull the trigger to get the correct airflow, and watch the leaves and yard waste fly away. As soon as you release the trigger, the airflow shuts off. The trigger has a safe no-pinch design that is easy to hold in place, but there is no trigger lock or cruise control.

- Weight, size, and noise level

The box containing the blower measures approximately 22x11.5x6 inches and weighs 5.84 pounds. The blower is compact, and assembly takes only a few minutes and does not require tools. The only assembly is snapping together the nozzle tube.

This machine has a noise level rating of 65 dB. It is quiet enough to be used on Saturday mornings with your neighbors. Low-decibel blowers are a major advantage in densely populated areas, and some homeowner associations require them.

This blower is covered by a limited 3-year warranty from Ryobi. To activate your warranty, it is important to register your product online within 30 day of purchase. Also, be aware that vendors reselling this product might not offer it with a warranty, so it's a good idea to check the details directly with the seller before you buy.

RYOBI 40VHP BRUSHLESS 730 CFM BLOWER REVIEW

The Ryobi 40VHP Brushless 730 CFM Leaf Blower is currently in a heated battle to be the top cordless blower. This blower will allow Ryobi to unleash its full potential in the 40VHP Brushless range, making it a compelling choice for all your battery-powered lawn care needs.

OVERALL SCORE9.6 (OUT OF 10)

Ryobi 730 CFM Blower delivers top-tier power with unbelievably low sound

Cordless blowers are known for their low noise levels, but they have been increasing in performance. Ryobi's 40V HP Brushless 730 CFM Leaf Blower claims to have legitimate power but very low noise. Ryobi refers to this Whisper Series technology for its low noise. We set out to see how those claims stack up against the top battery-powered blowers available.

Pros

High-end blowing force

Incredibly quiet operation for its performance level

Kit comes with 2 4.0Ah batteries.

Flexible nozzle resists damages and can be cut to maximize performance

Cons

No significant drawbacks

RYOBI 40V HP BRUSHLESS 730 CFM LEAF BLOWER PERFORMANCE

Blowing Force

700 CFM was a major barrier. Ryobi's HP Brushless blower has now reached 730 CFM. To go along with it, you can max out with up to 190 MPH, depending on which nozzle you use.

To see what that translates to as one number to compare against other blowers, we use Newton force. We reached 11.3 N with ryobi blower a fully charged battery. Hitting into Turbo, the power jumped all the way to 20.0 N.

It actually gets better, though. You can use the flexible nozzle to exchange airspeed for CFM. By cutting off the first section of the flexible nozzle, the total force jumped up to 21.7 N!

Only five cordless blowers we've tested have hit the 20 N mark, and Ryobi is responsible for two of them. The other is Ryobi's 40V backpack blower. This is the strongest blower we have ever seen out of a box. Only one blower has ever tested higher. We couldn't recommend using a heavier battery.

Runtime

In terms of runtime, we got 15 minutes, 5 seconds at full throttle in high and 10 minutes, 32 seconds with Turbo engaged. This is a bit shorter than some other blowers. However, the kit comes with two 4.0Ah batteries, and doubling those numbers gives Ryobi significantly more runtime than the other high-performance options that only come with one battery.

Noise Level

When you see noise level ratings on blowers, it's based on an ANSI standard for bystanders. To test the operation of the blower, we like to look at it in our operator's ears. The majority of battery-powered blowers can run at more than 80 decibels, while the highest-performing models are in the 85- to 88-decibel range.

If you're used to blowers at that level, you won't believe how quiet the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless blower sounds at 72 decibels in high and just 76 decibels in Turbo! It is quieter than any cordless blower, and it's high-performance model.

Based on ANSI tests, the blower is rated at 57 decibels.

It takes a lot of engineering to make the design so quiet. While it's only part of the picture, the most obvious sound-dampening comes from the foam you can see from the rear of the blower.

RYOBI 40V HP BRUSHLESS 730 CFM LEAF BLOWER DESIGN NOTES

The blower is 6.4 lbs without the battery. It weighs 9.7 lbs with the 4.0Ah lithium battery. If you want to go with the higher-capacity 6.0Ah pack, you're looking at 10.7 pounds.

The blower is longer than most, measuring 40 3/4 inches front to back with the flexible nozzle. Despite that, the blower is very well-balanced and maintains a proper downward angle under load. The weight balance does shift back some with the heavier 6.0Ah battery, though.

Additional Features

Variable speed trigger

Cruise control

Jet fan design

Compatible with all Ryobi 40V batteries

RYOBI 40V HP BRUSHLESS 730 CFM LEAF BLOWER PRICE

The Ryobi 730 CFM blower will be available at The Home Depot starting at $179 for a bare tool and $299 for a complete kit that includes two 4.0Ah batteries as well as a charger. Considering the other high-performance options out there, our value rating is higher in this kit than others.

Ryobi warranties the tool for 5 years and the batteries for 3 years.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Ryobi 18v Blower Review Conclusion

This Ryobi battery-powered blower has adequate airspeed and power for modest yard and around-the-house clean-up chores. Additionally, it's sold at an affordable price, especially when you get it without a battery and charger.

This tool is a solid choice for people who already have or plan to buy other Ryobi 18 volt ONE+ tools and want to add a light-duty leaf blower to their garden tool collection.

In a heated competition to top all other cordless blowers, the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 730 CFM leaf blower has the best blend of performance, noise level, and value currently available. With the unleashing of Ryobi's full potential in the 40V HP Brushless lineup, this Whisper Series blower is one more reason to seriously consider Ryobi for your battery-powered lawn care needs.