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I recently tried out a series of leaf blowers on a test plot I created in my backyard. The course included a concrete driveway and a dense lawn area, both loaded with sections of dry leaves, wet leaves, and yard debris including acorns, pine cones, and pine needles.
While the group of blowers I tested consisted of gas-powered, plug-in electric, and battery-powered blowers, one that stood out was the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower. The following review includes my experience with the tool and my recommendations for this particular model after an extensive trial.
EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower: At a Glance
Rating: 9.4/10
PROS
- Powerful; moves lots of air
- Extended reach for easier cleanup
- Long battery life
CONS
- Heavy battery pack
- Loud charger fan
- Higher price than the competition
Get the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower at:
What Is the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower?
The EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower is a popular cordless leaf blower that is powered by a 56-volt, 5-Ah rechargeable ARC lithium battery. It is one of the more powerful models in its class, moving up to 650 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM) at speeds up to 180 miles per hour. With the battery attached, the unit weighs 10.2 pounds and is one of the heaviest blowers of its kind. The blower is controlled by a variable speed trigger, a cruise control dial, and a “turbo” button for a quick on-demand power boost. It boasts a maximum runtime of more than 90 minutes.
The kit includes the blower body, blower tube, two interchangeable blower nozzles (narrow and flat), one 56-volt ARC lithium battery, and a charging station. Simply snap the blower tube in place, charge and install the battery, and it’s ready to work. It took about an hour to fully charge the battery from zero charge.
Is the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower Easy to Use?
With strong air handling capability and well-positioned intuitive controls, the EGO Power+ LB6504 is easy to use. This cordless blower had no trouble moving any of the debris obstacles on my backyard course, including heavy wet leaves on thick grass. The addition of the narrow nozzle or round nozzle helped direct added pressure for tougher work, and the open-ended blow tube easily pushed average loads of dry leaves and grass clippings.
The most challenging element about using the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower was its weight. At 10.2 pounds, it approaches the weight of a handheld gas-powered blower. It’s not a huge burden, but the weight takes away one of the traditional advantages that cordless electric tools hold over their gas-powered counterparts, without gaining enough runtime to make up for it. When locked on top speed, this blower runs somewhere between 12 and 15 minutes before the battery has to be charged, which takes about 50 minutes.
Is the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower Well Designed?
Overall, I like the long, narrow dimensions of this blower. The length does sacrifice some degree of maneuverability, but it reaches deeper under dense shrubs and other obstacles. The length also helps balance out the heavy battery at the rear of the machine.
The controls on the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower are fairly intuitive. Most users who are experienced with leaf blowers will be right at home with the variable speed trigger, which lets you adjust from “off” to full power with just one finger. The turbo feature, which is controlled by a button under the thumb on the back of the hand grip, is comfortably placed and easy to use.
The only control that felt somewhat awkward was the cruise control dial. For right-handed users, it is located along the side of the handle that the thumb sweeps over, but it is not really controllable with the thumb. Instead you have to use the opposite hand to select the speed. Not a deal breaker, but it could be easily solved with a thumb lever.
How Powerful Is the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower?
The EGO Power+ LB504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower is very powerful. The 56-volt, 5-Ah ARC lithium battery delivers about an hour and a half of runtime at low speed. At top speed with the turbo boost, it pushes 650 cubic feet of air per minute at about 180 miles per hour. This is more top-end power than the gas-powered blowers that I tested, which maxed out at less than 550 CFM. However, battery life is quickly exhausted at that rate. Top performance lasts about 15 minutes when starting with a full charge.
Is the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower Worth the Money?
Averaging $300 at Amazon, Walmart, and Ace Hardware, the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower is not cheap. But is it worth the money? I compared its price against two competitors that offer similar power and performance. According to my research, the price of the EGO Power+ LB6504 may be slightly higher than comparable cordless leaf blowers, but it is in the same ballpark.
Compared to the WORX 56-volt cordless leaf blower I tested in my blower trials, this EGO model delivers about 20 percent more power with a similar runtime. The price of this EGO leaf blower is about $150 more than that competitor. Greenworks offers a 60-volt, 5-Ah model (which I did not test) that’s capable of moving 700 CFM. It retails for $329 and is currently selling for $249. While the EGO Power+ leaf blower may not be the lowest cost alternative, it is a powerful blower at a fair price.
Should You Buy the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower?
If you have a small- to medium-size yard with trees that drop leaves, pine cones, acorns, and other messy debris, the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower could be a great tool to keep around. It offers plenty of power for cleaning up grass clippings and fallen leaves, and it has enough reserve capability to clear away occasional accumulations of heavy wet leaves from hard-to-reach areas.
Where to Buy the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower
Get the EGO Power+ LB6504 650 CFM Variable-Speed Leaf Blower at:
