Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Whisper series cordless leaf blower review

What’s the Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Whisper series cordless leaf blower like?

The Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Whisper series cordless leaf blower weighs 3.2kg, so feels sturdy and robust, although it is one of the heaviest models we tested. The 4Ah lithium-ion 18V battery slots in at the back of the body, which affected the balance and made it feel heftier to use – we preferred the battery position on the Makita DUB186Z, which is underneath the handle. It also has a wide tube, which is easy-to-attach but means the 49m/s air flow isn’t as focused as it would be with a thinner nozzle. There aren’t any speed settings either, simply squeeze the trigger to vary the speed, and we found our fingers began to tire after using it for a while. That said, it easily blows wet and dry leaves off grass, gravel and patio slabs, but isn’t as effective when it comes to shifting compacted leaf matter and debris that gather in corners and awkward spaces. We did, however, think the plastic notch at the base of the nozzle opening was a helpful feature. It has a run time of 15 to 20 minutes, which means it can clear up to 800m2, but takes 160 minutes to charge. We love that it features a battery light indicator as it helps you gauge how much time you have left to finish the job. Despite being part of Ryobi’s Whisper series, with 93.5dB, we didn’t feel it was noticeably quieter than the other leaf blowers we tested.

Who’s the Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Whisper series cordless leaf blower most useful for?

As with the WORX WG457E and the Kärcher LBL2 cordless leaf blowers, this is probably the best option if you have other Ryobi ONE+ tools, so you can save the cost of the battery and charger. Otherwise, it’s a good, basic model that given its run time is ideal for smaller gardens and the detachable nozzle is useful if storage is an issue.

Is the Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Whisper series cordless leaf blower good value for money?

We think this is relatively good value for money. Light on features, it does have that useful battery light indicator, is compatible with over 150 tools in the Ryobi ONE+ System, and comes with a three-year warranty.