If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best leaf mulcher vacuum for outdoor cleaning is, then we recommend the Black and Decker Electric Leaf Blower as the best one.
Keeping a yard clean and free of leaves is a never ending job. However, attending to your lawn doesn’t have to be a groan-inducing event that sees you shuffling to the garage for a rake.
Although rakes do have their benefits, the days of manual leaf cleanup are over. Leaf mulchers are a must-have item for homeowners throughout the country, most of which can switch between blower and vacuum.
Reviewed below are five of the best leaf mulcher vacuum products around, each with great suction power and durable, long-lasting construction. After you’ve finished the reviews, be sure to see which vacuum gets the highest recommendation in the summary. Let’s get started!
Here are the top leaf mulcher vacuums we’ll be reviewing:
- BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 Electric Leaf Blower & Mulcher
- Toro 51621 UltraPlus Leaf Blower Vacuum
- WORX WG509 TRIVAC
- RYOBI 40-Volt VacAttack Lithium-Ion Cordless Leaf Vacuum Mulcher
- Greenworks 40V 185 MPH Variable Speed Cordless Leaf Blower/Vacuum
Value Section
Want to minimize the hassle of looking for a leaf mulcher vacuum?
Use the info below to speed up your shopping. You’ll know what features to look for, along with personal preferences that’ll benefit your yard work.
Picking the Right Leaf Mulcher Vacuum
Leaf Mulcher Vacuums have made some advancements over the years.
There was a time when wireless models, while decent, were known for having complications that necessitated a backup that was wired.
Of course, wired vacuums are still preferred, with many good models continuing to be made.
You should expect to get more power from vacuums that are corded, slightly less with wireless.
Consider getting as many batteries as you can when going the wireless route. And for wired, invest in a good extension cord if the one provided with the product is shorter than the distance you intend on using it.
Seasonal or Yearly?
Find out what season your mulcher vacuum will see its highest use in. For some people, this could be a yearly thing.
Most leaf mulchers are designed for leaf pickup, whereby interior pieces inside break down the leaves into smaller bits that you can use for soil.
If not soil, the mulch is easy to dispense of since fewer bags are needed than un-mulched bundles of leaves.
Anyhow, the monthly use of a vacuum means that you should invest in one with solid construction and interior parts.
You don’t want anything breaking on your when you’re only three months into using the machine.
Why Average Precipitation is Important
How much rain does your area receive every month? Many leaf mulcher vacuums aren’t designed to such up wet leaves very well.
Some of them will pick up damp leaves but don’t anticipate results with anything that’s sogged down with lots of water.
If it rains a lot where you stay, focus your search on mulchers that are very strong suction.
Many mulchers with varied speed settings will do, which are also good at preventing unwanted debris from being picked up such as caked dirt and pebbles.
Build Quality
No matter what your situation is, never settle for mulcher vacuums that are built poorly. You want the best of the best, which should start with the exterior and key interior pieces.
Most vacuums are made from dense plastic or fiberglass parts. While this is the standard, you want an interior with as few plastic pieces as possible.
Check the quality of the impeller and whether it’s metal. Metal will transfer your leaves into mulch much more effectively than one built with plastic and lasts longer.
While clogging can happen with either metal or plastic impellers, metal also tends to transfer the material into your bags better.
Ease of Handling
Look at the weight of your vacuum of-interest. Is it at a manageable weight? Most mulcher vacuums weigh about ten pounds on average, though some are higher than this amount.
If the weight is higher than ten pounds look at the quality of the handles and straps. Even the heaviest mulcher vacuum can be more comfortable to hold than one that’s significantly lighter, but awkward to hold.
In this case, the bad will generally have the weight distributed unevenly, creating more of a burden on the arms and back.
Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to determine this without holding the vacuum for yourself. When in doubt, check what others have said about the handling and use it to make your decision.
Safety Accessories You’ll Need
Never operate a mulcher vacuum without having the proper safety gear on. You’re going to experience smoke from debris that passes through the impellers, along with the risk of repelling debris.
Wear a safety mask to cover your nose and mouth from the dust, goggles for the eyes.
Get a good pair of gloves as well, just ensure they’re not thick to the point of not being able to control the vacuum.
You may already have most of the safety gear to carry out the mulching but check before the unit arrives at your home.
Top 5 Best Leaf Mulchers
To save you some time, we’ve put together a list of the top 5 leaf mulchers out there. While you can’t go wrong with any of the ones we’ve listed below, read on for our #1 recommendation.
BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 Electric Leaf Blower & Mulcher
The Black and Decker Electric Leaf Blower is the best leaf mulcher vacuum for comfort. When you hold it, you’ll immediately tell that your choice was a good one.
It’s very lightweight but strong, made from solid materials on the outside and inside. You can switch between blower and vacuum quickly as well.
No matter which speed setting you prefer to work with, all will pick up your leaves without the need of getting too close to the pile. It also doesn’t cause too much noise pollution.
You’ll hear it running but the sound is fair when heard from an indoor location. Overall, this Black and Decker Vacuum will keep your yard looking clean and won’t tire you out after you’re done with the work.
Pros
- Each speed setting is strong enough to pick up all leaves, even some those that are slightly damp
- Fast switching between vacuum and blower
- Not a noise pollutant; low volume in comparison to most other mulcher vacuums
- the bag is zippered and prevents unwanted spills before dumping
Cons
- Small debris will turn into dust after traveling through the bag, evaporating into the air
- Instruction manual could be more thorough
Toro 51621 UltraPlus Leaf Blower Vacuum
The Toro 51621 UltraPlus Leaf Blower is recommended for people who hate to use additional tools to assemble things.
Putting it together is easy to do, likely not even requiring you to flip through the manual. The bag it comes with is very strong and built in a way that prevents large amounts of dust from seeping through.
Take a look at the vacuum’s inside. You’ll notice that the impeller is made of steel, great for yards that receive lots of tree shedding.
No longer will you need a large amount of bags to process your mulch; this can chop off leaves and save lots of bag space in the process. It’s the best leaf mulcher vacuum for people with seasonal and year-round use.
Pros
- No special tools are required to switch from blower to vacuum
- Comes with a very large bag for the temporary storage of leaves; fast attaching mechanism
- The impeller isn’t cheaply made (all metal with no plastic pieces)
- Mulching is consistent enough to keep the number of bags needed after the job low
Cons
- Although it comes with a shoulder strap, the vacuum is quite heavy
WORX WG509 TRIVAC
The Worx WG509 Trivac takes in the leaves but leaves out the unnecessary debris. Its suction is strong enough to lift even some damp leaves, so try it if you’re in an area that gets consistent precipitation.
Of course, you should try to plan on work when the weather’s dry but a few damp leaves won’t stick to the ground during your vacuum.
It’s wired and may require an extension cable to get it across your yard.
Fortunately, there’s a retaining latch on the body, making it easy to manage without the cord getting in the way. You might have a hard time turning it on and off unless the gloves you use are thin.
Still, the Worx WG509 has more benefits than controversies and is the best leaf mulcher vacuum for small yards.
Pros
- Strong enough to suck in leaves and small twigs but avoids rocks, which keeps the dust level down
- Only a single button to press for access to the impeller
- Has a retaining latch for extension cords
- The head of the vacuum is built in a way that keeps its nozzle aimed at the surface
Cons
- Difficult to turn it on or off with gloves
- Debris may stick to the nozzle, depending on the moisture (no clogging, however)
RYOBI 40-Volt VacAttack Lithium-Ion Cordless Leaf Vacuum Mulcher
The RYOBI 40-Volt VacAttack Lithium-Ion Cordless Leaf Vacuum Mulcher is a mulcher vacuum for anyone that’s worried about arm exhaustion and pain. It has a padded shoulder strap that distributes the weight evenly across the machine.
Because of this, you’ll find it easy to carry and move around, no matter how long it takes for you to complete the job. Handle grip is swell, staying firm in the hands with thin or slightly thick gloves.
Suction stays consistent, with minimal kickback and dust. If there’s anything that could be improved, it’s the muffler.
While it works great, the area nearby could come too close to the hands, particularly for left-handed people. Regardless, don’t pass it up if your primary concern is comfort and ease of handling.
Pros
- Contains a dense impeller that mulchers and never clogs
- Has a high-quality shoulder strap that makes it easy to carry
- Solid grip and handling
Cons
- Care must be taken to avoid the muffler during operation, which sits in an awkward spot
Greenworks 40V 185 MPH Variable Speed Cordless Leaf Blower/Vacuum
The GreenworksVariable Speed Vacuum is the final product and another for people that emphasize fast assembly.
You’ll be done with it in less than 20 minutes tops. The neighbors won’t be woken up by the sound it makes, either.
It vacuums at a moderately-pitched hum, though ear protection is still recommended.
Concerned about pebbles kicking up too much dust when passing through the feeder? This vacuum blocks most of it from passing out of the vent and bag.
You’ll have to aim the nozzle at least four feet away from whatever you intend on vacuuming, however. If not, it’s likely to not pick it up.
For small yards, this probably won’t be an issue so give it some thought if your home has a tiny lawn.
Pros
- Fast assembly time; detailed instructions
- Sound isn’t piercing to the ears
- Doesn’t create too much dust when mulching dirty leaves
Cons
- Because of the wire’s size near the impeller, clogging is a possibility
- The nozzle must be very close to the ground (at least four feet) to pick up leaves
And The Winner is…
Which mulcher vacuums reviewed above are your favorite? There’s lots of variety in between the products, and each retains great features that’ll assist you in some way.
But there is one product that is guaranteed to meet all the needs of the average consumer, judging from the criteria laid out in the Value Section.
It’s the Black and Decker Electric Leaf Blower, the first product.
It has all of the qualities that one looks for in a mulcher, such as solid construction, good handling and excellent suction power.
However, the best leaf mulcher vacuum for you could be one of the other four reviewed; stick to the product you think matches your need the most.
Then get ready to lessen the hassle of your yard work once and for all!