The Lowdown
If you’re on the fence about going battery-powered, this Toro will convert you. It’s got the power to handle real work, runs long enough to actually finish jobs, and doesn’t come with all the headaches of gas equipment.
Overall
Pros
- Quiet yet powerful electric motor
- Fairly easy to hold one-handed
- Charging dock included
- Good battery life
Cons
- It gets heavy after a while and would benefit from the inclusion of a shoulder strap
You might balk at the idea of spending $360 on a battery-powered leaf blower, but after spending a couple of months with the Toro 60V MAX 900 CFM Brushless Leaf Blower, I can say it’s more than just a pricey convenience; it’s a serious workhorse. It tackles heavy yard work like a gas blower but without the maintenance, fumes, or noise. I wanted something powerful yet easy to grab from the garage and use on the fly; Toro delivered. This blower is fast, efficient, and, most importantly, ready whenever I am, with no cords, no gas, and no drama.
My biggest reason for wanting an electric leaf blower was to be able to keep it in the garage, accessible, convenient, and ready to use at a moment’s notice to clean off the driveway, front lawn, etc.
Gas blowers can be a real pain in the butt when it comes to maintenance, gas/oil mix, noise pollution, etc., so I was really excited when Toro offered to send their Toro 60V MAX 900 CFM Brushless Leaf Blower for us to test out.
Check out these specs:
- Motor Type: Brushless DC
- Battery: 60V Max L216 (4.0Ah, 216Wh) that can be used with 75+ Toro tools
- Air Speed: Up to 165 mph / 265 kph
- Air Volume: 900 CFM
- Battery Run Time: Up to 120 minutes
- Air Speed Control: Variable speed with cruise control lever and boost mode
- Start Type: Electric
- What’s in the box: Leaf blower, battery, charger
The Real Deal on Performance
Okay, so here’s what actually matters: the Toro 60V MAX 900 CFM Brushless Leaf Blower has serious grunt. I’ve got a third of an acre lot with some large trees, and come fall, I’m basically swimming in leaves. The 900 CFM rating isn’t just marketing fluff; it genuinely moves wet, matted leaves in a way that rivals my gas backpack blower’s power.
The variable speed is clutch too. I can dial it down for clearing my flower beds without destroying my wife’s carefully planted annuals, then crank it up to turbo mode for the heavy stuff. Speaking of turbo mode, yeah, it only lasts 10 minutes, but honestly? That’s plenty for most jobs. The regular high setting gives you 16 minutes, which handles my entire front yard.
But here’s the kicker: on the low setting, this battery just keeps going. I’ve literally forgotten to turn it off and found it still running an hour later. The 428-minute runtime claim might sound too good to be true, but it’s legit if you’re not constantly running it on full blast.
Why I Actually Use This Thing
The charging dock is one of those small touches that make a big difference. No more hunting around for where I left the charger or dealing with loose batteries rolling around the garage. I just pop the battery into the charger when I’m done, and it’s ready for next time.
And can we talk about how nice it is to just press a button and go? There’s no more yanking on pull cords, no mixing gas, no wondering if it’ll start after sitting all winter. I grab it, hit the trigger, and I’m working. It’s as simple as that.
The size is perfect too. It’s got the power of those big gas blowers, but doesn’t feel like I’m lugging around a boat motor. I can actually maneuver this thing around tight spaces without throwing out my back. It can easily hang on a hook in my garage or on a shelf, out of the way.
The Not-So-Great Stuff
Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it, but after about 20 minutes of continuous use, your arms will feel it. The Toro 60V MAX 900 CFM Brushless Leaf Blower isn’t exactly lightweight, and there’s no shoulder strap to help distribute the weight. Including a shoulder strap would have been a nice touch, especially at this price. While it’s not a dealbreaker, if you’re planning to clear a huge property, you might want to take breaks or consider getting an aftermarket strap.
Bottom Line
A couple of months in, and I am really impressed with the Toro 60V MAX 900 CFM Brushless Leaf Blower. Yeah, $360 is steep for a leaf blower, but when you factor in never buying gas again, no more tune-ups, and actually being able to use it without waking the entire neighborhood at 7 AM, it starts making sense.
The convenience factor is too great to ignore, to just blow out the dust in the garage or quickly blow some grass clippings off of the driveway without lugging out the gas backpack blower, checking the gas, pulling the ripcord, etc.
If you’re on the fence about going battery-powered, this Toro will convert you. It’s got the power to handle real work, runs long enough to actually finish jobs, and doesn’t come with all the headaches of gas equipment.
The Toro 60V MAX 900 CFM Brushless Leaf Blower retails for $359.99; it is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Lowe’s.
Source: Manufacturer-supplied review sample
What I Like: Quiet yet powerful electric motor; Fairly easy to hold one-handed; Charging dock included; Good battery life
What Needs Improvement: It gets heavy after a while and would benefit from the inclusion of a shoulder strap
I have never found electric powered yard maintance tools to be able to compete with the power gas ones, but this Toro seems up to the task.
It’s nice looking, and it definitely needs a shoulder strap.
I like that this Toro leaf blower is battery-powered. Several of my outdoor equipment are powered by gas. It is always frustrating when I run out of gas and cannot use them until I purchase more gas. I also like the long runtime of this leaf blower. The long runtime would allow me to blow through my front yard area and backyard area without having to recharge in-between. Additionally, I like that the leaf blower is quiet. This would allow me to use it early in the mornings or later in the evenings.
Once you’ve gone battery, it’s hard to go back. Early ones were a little weak, but something like this can do it all. And ending leaf blower noise, especially on weekends, is something your neighbors will appreaciate as well.