Ryobi’s 18V One+ battery system is incredibly popular with more than 300 products that work on the same battery and tens of millions of people on that platform. For those of you on it who have been watching the 40V line get the lion’s share of lawn care attention, it’s time to get excited for the launch of the Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless 510 CFM leaf blower.
Pros
- Higher performance than residential gas handheld blowers
- Lighter than residential gas handheld blowers
- Low noise levels
- Comfortable handle
Cons
- No significant drawbacks
Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless 510 CFM Leaf Blower Performance
Two Priorities, Two Modes
For control, Ryobi does something a bit unusual for a cordless blower. In addition to the variable speed trigger and cruise control dial, there are also two modes. One prioritized blowing force and the other prioritizes runtime.
I like having the two modes a lot. When I’m cleaning on mowing day or blowing out my garage, I’m much more likely to feather the trigger than engage the cruise control. By having the separate mode buttons, I can simply pull the trigger and work at the performance level I need.
Blowing Force
With 510 CFM and 130 MPH on the top end of its capabilities, Ryobi’s most powerful 18V One+ blower has the performance to exceed what you get from a 24cc gas engine model. To put that in a greater perspective, we hooked up our force meter to measure how much blowing for that is.
- Max Blowing Force in Low: 9.1 Newtons
- Max Blowing Force in High: 14.0 Newtons
There’s a second nozzle that comes in the box. This concentrates the air into a narrower section and increases the airspeed (MPH) while reducing the airflow (CFM). Keeping in mind that higher airspeed gets heavier debris moving better, it’s what you should install when you’re blowing mulch, small pebbles, or wet grass away. Keep it off and use the higher CFMs to clear light, dry debris more quickly.
Incidentally, we measured higher blower force without the concentrator nozzle.
- Max Blowing Force in Low with Concentrator Nozzle: 8.1 Newtons
- Max Blowing Force in High with Concentrator Nozzle: 12.2 Newtons
Hitting this performance level is a significant milestone for Ryobi. Previously, the top performance blower on the line was 450 CFM and 130 MPH. Picking up an additional 60 CFM is handy. However, it’s the blowing force that offers the most helpful context.
Residential handheld gas blowers produce around 12 Newtons at best. Even the top professional handheld models are only hitting 15 Newtons. The fact that we measured 14 Newtons means that there’s no residential gas counterpart I’m aware of that’s going to outperform this battery-powered Ryobi unit. In fact, the performance is much closer to high-end professional models.
Runtime
When it comes to runtime, the mode you work in makes a big difference. The kit comes with a 6.0Ah High Performance battery, so that’s what I tested with.
- WOT in Low: 21:46
- WOT in High: 13:28
Pro Tip: WOT stands for wide open throttle in outdoor power equipment
In either mode, you have plenty of runtime for post-mowing cleanup. At my house, I have a 4-car driveway, front porch, sidewalk, and paver section around a pergola in the backyard. My active trigger time after mowing is less than 4 minutes. Even if you have a longer driveway or a larger home, you should have the capacity you need to clear hard surfaces.
For fall leaf wrangling, it depends on how many trees you have and how much lawn you’re clearing. Of course, additional batteries mean more runtime, so you don’t need to feel tied up by the runtime numbers we got.
Noise Level
The other element is sound. As part of the Whisper Series, Ryobi designed this blower to operate at incredibly quiet levels. Based on ANSI standardized testing, it’s rated at 57 decibels. That’s the same rating as Ryobi’s 40V 730 CFM Whisper Series blower and the 18V One+ 450 CFM model. More importantly, it’s well below the 65-decibel threshold that some communities are regulating for leaf blower noise limits.
The ANSI standard measures from 50 feet away for bystander protection. We like to measure noise at our operator’s ear, so you know what to expect when you’re using it.
- Top Speed in Low: 67 d(B)A
- Top Speed in High: 75 d(B)A
In low, you could carry on a conversation with the person standing next to you. It’s not quite as easy in high. The bigger takeaway is that at its loudest, this blower is producing a full 10 decibels less than the minimum OSHA requires for hearing protection.
Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless 510 CFM Leaf Blower Design Notes
Ryobi’s physical design is straightforward. The inline design pulls air in through the back and pushes it out the front, eliminating the loss of blowing force that side-intake and some backpack designs suffer from.
The handle has a comfortable diameter for nearly any hand size aided by rubber overmold that takes that comfort up a notch. While you’re holding it, all three controls are within reach, allowing you to adjust easily on the fly. Folks with smaller hands may have trouble manipulating the cruise control one-handed, though.
This is one of the heavier blowers on Ryobi’s 18V One+ system, but it’s certainly not what I would consider heavy. Without the battery it weighs 5.1 pounds. With the 6.0Ah High Performance battery it’s 7.2 pounds.
Being on the 18V platform certainly helps keep the working weight down. The higher voltage systems with their higher capacity batteries put on weight quickly. For example, Ryobi’s 40V 730 CFM blower is 9.7 pounds with its 4.0Ah battery. Additionally, that’s lighter than many gas handheld blowers, especially when you add the weight of oil of fuel.
Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless 510 CFM Leaf Blower Price
Ready to add this blower to your garage in time for the spring mowing season? The bare tool is $149 and the kit is $249 with a 6.0Ah High Performance battery and charger. There’s a 3-year warranty on the blower, and it’s conveniently available from Home Depot.
The Bottom Line
The big takeaway from my experience with the Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless 510 CFM leaf blower is that this popular battery platform has a legit all-season blower. It’s a true gas replacement that eliminates blowing force as an excuse not to make the switch. It’s comfortable to use, lighter than its gas counterparts, doesn’t have the headaches of a gas engine, and makes efficient use of its battery capacity. What’s not to love?
