Ryobi 730 CFM Blower Delivers Top-Tier Power with Unbelievably Low Sound
Even though cordless blowers promise low noise, those levels have been rising as the performance bar moves up. The Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 730 CFM leaf blower claims to have both legitimate power and incredibly low noise. With respect to the low noise, Ryobi calls this Whisper Series technology. We set out to see how those claims stack up against the top battery-powered blowers available.
Pros
- Top-tier blowing force
- Incredibly quiet operation for its performance level
- Excellent value with two 4.0Ah batteries in the kit
- Flexible nozzle resists damage and is designed to cut to optimize the performance you want
Cons
- No significant drawbacks
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 730 CFM Leaf Blower Performance
Blowing Force
700 CFM has been a significant barrier and the fact that Ryobi has reached 730 CFM with their HP Brushless blower is a really big deal. 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. With a fully charged battery, we hit 11.3 N on high. Hitting into Turbo, the power jumped all the way to 20.0 N.
It actually gets better, though. Our blower included a flexible nozzle that you can cut to trade off some airspeed to gain 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. To date, that’s the most force we’ve seen from any blower out of the box. We have had one blower test higher. However, we had to use a battery so heavy that we don’t recommend that configuration.
Runtime
In terms of runtime, we got 15 minutes, 5 seconds at full throttle in high and 10 minutes, 32 seconds with Turbo engaged. Compared to some of the blowers we tested, that seems a little on the shorter side. 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. We like to test at our operator’s ear to see what it’s like for the person actually using it. Most battery-powered blowers run more than 80 decibels and the high-performance models top out in the 85 – 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’s not just quiet for a high-performance model, it’s quiet compared to nearly every cordless blower we’ve tested.
Based on ANSI tests, the blower is rated at 57 decibels.
There’s a lot of engineering that goes into making the design that 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
Weight and Balance
Without the battery, the blower weighs 6.4 pounds and the 4.0Ah battery brings it up to 9.7 pounds. 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 is coming to The Home Depot for $179 as a bare tool or $299 for a kit with two 4.0Ah batteries and a rapid 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
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.
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 pounds bare, 9.7 pounds with 4.0Ah battery
- Length: 40 3/4 inches with flexible nozzle
- Price: $179 bare, $299 kit with two 4.0Ah batteries and rapid charger
- Warranty: 5 years on the blower and 3 years on the batteries
Learn more here.
