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Share to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to LinkedinIf you’re hoping to keep your yard in good condition, odds are you’ve thought about investing in one of the best leaf blowers on the market—especially if your home is at the whim of the changing seasons. Much like our favorite snow blowers, these genius devices can aid in removing nature’s cast-offs, and with no real elbow grease required to boot. Plus, leaf blowers don’t just tackle leaves; they can also help in getting rid of grass clippings and other unsightly organic debris. Our top pick, the Worx Turbine, churns out an impressive 135 miles per hour of wind power to tackle just about anything Mother Nature can dish out.

The RYOBI 40V HP Brushless Cordless Jet Fan Blower is the best battery-powered model you can buy … [+] right now.

Illustration: Forbes / Image: Retailer Sure, you could use a rake to gather up leaves, but there’s really no need to go that route. “Leaf blowers are a great investment if you’re limited on time—instead of manually raking and removing debris from your yard, you can bust out your leaf blower and get the job done in just a few minutes,” says Rupa Mehta, home expert at Angi. Choosing the right leaf blower for you ultimately depends on your personal needs, including what you plan to use your blower for, how large of a space you need to tackle and how much you want to spend. Ahead, find the best leaf blowers out there to help you keep your outdoor space neat and tidy.

Best Leaf Blower Overall: Worx Turbine Best Electric Handheld Leaf Blower: Toro Powerjet F700 Best Battery Handheld Leaf Blower: RYOBI 40V HP Brushless Cordless Jet Fan Blower Best Gasoline Handheld Leaf Blower: Troy-Bilt Full-Crank Engine Gas Leaf Blower Best Backpack Leaf Blower: Husqvarna 765-CFM Gas Backpack Leaf Blower Best Wheeled Leaf Blower: Champion Power Equipment Walk-Behind Gas Leaf Blower Best Variable Speed Leaf Blower: EGO Power+ Variable-Speed Leaf Blower

Best Leaf Blower OverallA Lightweight Blower That Packs Serious PowerLowe’s

Worx TurbineBuy From Lowe’sFuel Type: Gas | Weight: 22.5 pounds | MPH: 270 | Noise Rating: 78 dB | Run Time: Unspecified

Truth be told, carrying a leaf blower around by hand isn’t for everyone—which is why a backpack version is definitely worth considering. This is Husqvarna’s best-selling backpack blower, which features a jaw-dropping 270 miles per hour of blowing power. Whether you’re dealing with litter, grass clippings, small branches or leaves, the odds are high you’ll be able to blow whatever is in your path into oblivion. The blower’s variable speed control has cruise control, so you can simply set it, forget it and go. It also features a harness and hip belt to help distribute weight and keep you comfortable while you work.

Best Wheeled Leaf BlowerA Three-Wheeled Wonder For Serious Landscaping EnthusiastsThe Home Depot

Champion Power Equipment Walk-Behind Gas Leaf Blower Buy From The Home DepotFuel Type: Gas | Weight: 104 pounds | MPH: 160 | Noise Rating: 85 dB | Run Time: Unspecified

Whether you’re hoping to protect your back muscles or just don’t feel like waving a nozzle around, a wheeled leaf blower can be a handy way to chase after lawn gunk without over-exerting yourself. This popular gas version from Champion Power Equipment features three never-flat wheels, including a lockable front wheel so you don’t have to worry about it rolling away. The handle has an ergonomic grip and adjustable height to keep you as comfortable as possible while you work. Control the speed with a dial that’s easy to reach—and just wait for the backyard compliments to roll in.

Best Variable Speed Leaf BlowerChoose From a Wide Range of Blowing PowerAmazon

EGO Power+ Variable-Speed Cordless Leaf Blower Buy From AmazonFuel Type: Battery | Weight: 13 pounds | MPH: 180 | Noise Rating: Unspecified | Run Time: 90 minutes

The Ego Power+ is one of the most powerful battery-powered options you’ll find. This blower can fire air speeds up to 650 cubic feet per minute (CFM) or 180 miles per hour. Of course, you don’t always need to blast leaves into oblivion: Toggle between speeds of 225 to 500 CFM with the use of a handy dial. Then, push the “turbo” button for hurricane-force speeds of 650 CFM. You’ll enjoy 90 minutes of continuous run time, along with flat and tapered nozzles to help you clear debris the way you want. Just a heads up, though: The “turbo” button will drain your battery faster than lower speeds.

MORE FROMFORBES VETTEDSave Up To $800 On The Samsung Frame TV This WeekByJordan ThomasForbes StaffThe Best Cordless Leaf Blowers That Effortlessly Clean Up Your YardByKorin MillerContributor How We Chose The Best Leaf Blowers To choose the best leaf blowers, we consulted three lawn care professionals for their take on important elements to consider when choosing one of these machines. We also looked at the most popular blowers on the market and narrowed the field by elements like power, weight, noise output and run time. Reviews from real owners were considered as well to see how these machines perform over time and in a variety of households.

What Should I Look For When Buying A Leaf Blower? Not all leaf blowers are the same, and there are a few different elements to consider when shopping for a leaf blower. Keep these in mind when deciding on the right device for you.

Type Leaf blowers can generally be divided into three camps: Gas, battery and electric. From there, they can be farther broken down by style—backpack and handheld. Gas leaf blowers are typically what professional landscapers use. These blowers can create impressive gusts to relocate just about any yard debris with ease. However, they tend to be noisier than other blowers and can create exhaust. Battery-powered options are typically quieter than other leaf blowers and run clean. While they can’t move as much as their gas counterparts, they tend to work well for most home owner needs. Electric leaf blowers have the benefit of no limitation on run time, but you do need to stay within the vicinity of an outlet. As for the style, handheld is the most popular type. But if have have dexterity issues or a lot of yard to cover, a backpack may be more comfortable for longer sessions.

Speed Most leaf blowers can deliver impressive speeds to move around items in your yard, but some debris can require more blowing power than others. Leaf blowers typically have speeds that can range from 100 to nearly 300 miles per hour, and some offer a turbo boost feature to deliver a targeted blast of air when you need it. Keep in mind that blowers that deliver higher speeds tend to cost more, and not everyone needs the speeds that they’re capable of churning out. If you don’t need to move massive piles of wet leaves on a regular basis, it’s worth considering a blower with lower speeds to save money.

Capacity Everyone’s leaf blowing needs are different. If you’re planning to use the machine to move small quantities of leaves or grass clippings, you don’t necessarily need something super powerful. If you need a leaf blower to tackle heavy piles of leaves and other yard gunk, you want a model with high blowing power (MPH). While shopping, also pay attention to a model’s CFM, which stands for cubic feet per minute and tells you how well the device clears larger volumes. The higher the CFM, the more the leaf blower can handle.

Is Higher CFM Better For A Leaf Blower? Not necessarily. “Achieving more airflow is essential for a leaf blower, but higher cubic feet per minute (CFM) alone isn’t the only factor that determines effectiveness,” says Noah James, owner of Liberty Lawn Maintenance. “In addition to CFM, factors such as airspeed and leaf size should be considered when selecting a leaf blower.”

Airspeed has an impact on how far debris will be thrown, James explains. “While small leaves may need less airspeed to move them away, larger leaves may require more air speed services from higher CFM performance,” he says. Having variable speed can also help, since it allows you to adjust the airflow for different tasks.

While CFM is a crucial element, there are others to think of as you shop. “It’s important to consider other features such as weight, noise level, ease of use and cost when choosing a leaf blower,” says Lindsey Hyland, founder of UrbanOrganic Yield.

Can You Use A Leaf Blower On Wet Leaves? Technically, you could use a leaf blower on wet leaves, but it’s not recommended. “A leaf blower should always be used on dry leaves to ensure the most effective results,” James says. “Wet leaves are far heavier and require a different approach.” Using a leaf blower on wet leaves can actually make them stick to surfaces, making clean-up more of a challenge, James explains. Consider this, too, from Hyland: “The air from the blower could inadvertently break up wet leaves and cause them to accumulate in gutters or around landscaping.”

James recommends using a rake instead. “The combination of teeth and tines makes it far better suited to collecting large amounts of wet material effectively in awkward areas,” he says. “Once you’ve raked up the brunt of the leaves, a leaf blower can then be used to finish the job.”

What Are The Most Popular Brands Of Leaf Blowers? There are a lot of different popular leaf blower brands that make a quality product. Our favorite leaf blower is from Worx , which is a trusted brand in the lawn equipment and power tools space. Other leading makers include Ego, Husqvarna, Ryobi and Toro. That said, we stand behind all brands featured on this list.

What Does “CC” Mean In Leaf Blowers? The most important measurements you’ll see on leaf blowers are CFM and MPH. In addition to those two figures, some brands also include CC, which tells you how many cubic centimeters of debris your blower can displace. That said, you probably don’t need to pay close of attention to the measurement; CFM and MPH are better indicators of effectiveness.