

The runtime of a battery-powered leaf vacuum can limit the amount of work that can be done. A unit with a cfm under 200 may be all that’s needed to clean up an apartment balcony or a small yard, but for larger areas, it may be desirable to invest in a higher-cfm unit. The cfm rankings for leaf vacuums range from between 150 to 600. While mph provides an idea of how quickly leaves can go through the tube, cfm tells how much can go through all at once. This describes how much air moves through the vacuum in the span of 60 seconds, indicating how powerful the unit is. Somewhat more important than airspeed, however, is cfm, or cubic feet per minute. Most units run between 110 and 180 mph, although some may reach extremes of 250 mph or so. The mph stands for miles per hour-in this case, referring to how quickly air is suctioned into the unit and through the tube. To figure out the power of a leaf vacuum, check the product description for two numbers: mph and cfm. Gas leaf vacuums also run loud, emit fumes, and require maintaining the proper gas-to-oil ratio. As a result, these models are often more expensive. Gas-powered leaf vacuums offer greater power and the ability to cover lots of ground in one go.However, they don’t match the power of other leaf vacuums and can only be used for relatively brief periods of time between charges. A cordless leaf vacuum blower with rechargeable batteries allows room to roam and is compact enough to be easily stored. Corded leaf vacuums are best suited to modestly sized outdoor spaces, since they require access to an electrical outlet. Electric leaf vacuums are quieter, easier to maintain, and typically less expensive.Like lawn mowers, leaf vacuums are available in electric- and gas-powered versions. However, they’re more expensive and cannot be used as a leaf blower.

These models hold the most leaves and may include a mulch function as well. Walk-behind leaf vacuums resemble lawn mowers, but instead of cutting grass, they suck leaves up into a large collection sack.

Backpack models tend to have larger collection sacks that need emptying less often.

While handhelds typically have the smallest collection bags, some models may cross into backpack territory (see below) and have somewhat larger vacuum bags. These models can be vacuum-only or a hybrid that works as a blower and/or sweeper too.
