Most leaf blowers are big, heavy and live at the back of the shed because dragging them out isn't worth it for a five-minute job. This one weighs 1 kg. Clip on an 18V slide-in lithium battery you already own, and you can blow the leaves off the patio, clear the grass clippings off the driveway and tidy the paths before visitors arrive, all before the kettle boils.

It's a blower and a vacuum in one. Fit the blower tube and it pushes a strong stream of air to move leaves, clippings and dust. Swap to the hose and dust bag and it sucks up leaves, dust, cobwebs and pet hair from the verandah, the car or the shed floor. Six speeds mean you can wind it right back to 113 km/h for delicate jobs, or run it flat out on the driveway.

Why It Stands Out

• Light enough to actually use — at 1 kg with no battery fitted, it's a tool you pick up one-handed for a quick tidy-up, instead of a machine you have to plan a job around. That's the difference between a clean patio every week and one clean-up a season.
• Blower and vacuum in one — blow the leaves into a pile with the tube, then fit the hose and dust bag and suck them up. You don't need a second tool, and there's only one thing to store in the shed.
• Six speeds, 113 to 290 km/h — wind it down for garden beds, mulch and cobwebs so you don't blast the mulch everywhere, and wind it up for wet leaves stuck on concrete.
• Brushless motor — a brushless motor runs cooler, lasts longer and gets more work out of each battery charge than the brushed motors in cheap blowers, because there are no brushes wearing down inside.
• Uses the batteries you already own — it fits standard 18V slide-in lithium batteries, so if you already have batteries in that size there's nothing extra to buy and nothing new to charge.
• Battery protection built in — it cuts power automatically when the battery voltage drops too low, which stops you flattening an expensive battery to the point where it won't take a charge again.
• Nozzles for every job — a round tube for open areas, a narrow nozzle for corners and gutters, a wide nozzle for floors, an 80 cm flexible hose for awkward spots, and an inflator nozzle for air beds and pool toys.
• No cord and no petrol — nothing to unroll, nothing to mix, no pull start. Clip in a battery and go, anywhere on the block.

Where to Use

• Patios, decks and alfresco areas — clear gum leaves, jacaranda flowers, bark and dust off the pavers and decking in a couple of minutes before you set up the table.
• Driveways and paths — blow off the grass clippings after mowing instead of sweeping, and clear the leaves from the front steps and the letterbox area.
• Garden beds and lawn edges — on a low speed, blow leaves out of the mulch and off the lawn edges without blowing the mulch itself around.
• Gutters and verandahs — use the extension tube and narrow nozzle to reach into low gutters and up into verandah corners for cobwebs and leaf litter.
• Outdoor furniture and the barbecue — blow dust, pollen and dry leaves off the setting and the BBQ before you use them, and dry them off after a wash.
• Sheds, garages and workbenches — clear sawdust, dirt and cobwebs off the bench, the floor and the mower deck.
• The car, the ute and the caravan — blow the dust out of the footwells, off the seats and out of the air vents, or dry the panels after washing.
• Camping — the inflator nozzle blows up air beds, pool toys and inflatable boats without a foot pump.

How It Works

1. The battery powers a brushless motor — a standard 18V lithium battery slides into the base and drives the fan at up to 18,000 rpm.
2. Blower mode pushes air out — with the tube on the front, the fan pushes a concentrated stream of air out to move leaves and debris.
3. Vacuum mode pulls air in — connect the hose to the inlet on the side and fit the dust bag on the front, and the same fan draws debris in and blows it into the bag.
4. The dial sets the speed — six settings let you match the airflow to the job, from delicate dusting to clearing a driveway.

How to Use

1. Set it up for the job — for blowing, push the blower tube on (add the extension tube for extra reach). For vacuuming, fit the hose and the dust bag.
2. Start on the lowest speed — set the dial to 1 before you pull the trigger, then work up. Starting flat out on a garden bed sends mulch everywhere.
3. Clip in a charged battery — slide the 18V battery into the base until it clicks.
4. Work with the wind and in one direction — start at the far end and push the leaves towards one corner rather than chasing them back and forth.
5. Empty the bag as you go — a full dust bag cuts the suction right down, so tip it out when it's about three-quarters full.
6. Wear safety glasses — dust, grit and small stones get thrown around, especially on concrete.
Tip: on wet leaves stuck to pavers, blow at a low angle from one side rather than straight down, so the air gets underneath and lifts them. And be considerate with the timing: it's much quieter than a petrol blower, but it's still a blower on a Sunday morning.

Care and Maintenance

• Empty and shake out the dust bag — after each job, tip the bag out and give it a shake so the fabric isn't clogged with fine dust. A blocked bag chokes the airflow and makes the motor work harder for less suction.
• Keep the air inlet clear — check the intake and the cooling vents for leaves, grass and cobwebs. Blocked vents are the main cause of overheating in any blower, because the motor cools itself with the same air it moves.
• Don't vacuum wet or sharp material — it's made for dry leaves, dust and hair. Wet grass clogs the hose, and stones and glass will chip the fan blades.
• Wipe it down, don't hose it — clean the body with a dry cloth or a soft brush. It isn't waterproof, so no hosing and no washing the inside.
• Take the battery out for storage — remove the 18V battery when you've finished and store it separately in a cool, dry spot, not in a hot shed or the car in summer, which shortens battery life.
• Check the tubes and the hose — make sure the tube is pushed on properly before each use, and check the hose for splits. A tube that falls off at full speed is a nuisance and a hazard.
• Store it indoors — keep the blower and all the nozzles together in a box or on a shelf in the shed, out of the sun so the plastic doesn't go brittle.

Specifications

What's Included

• 1 × Cordless blower and vacuum (tool only)
• 1 × Blower tube
• 1 × Extension tube
• 1 × Flexible vacuum hose (80 cm)
• 1 × Dust bag
• 1 × Narrow nozzle
• 1 × Wide nozzle
• 1 × Inflator nozzle
• 1 × User manual
• Battery and charger not included