Zero emissions. Lightweight and quiet. Inexpensive to operate and maintain. Those are some of the best reasons to use a battery-powered cordless leaf blower. Forget the gas-powered monsters if you have a small yard or deck to maintain. Let’s take a look at these three kits from Makita to see which one will be the best for you.
Makita XBU01Z 18V X2 LXT Lithium-Ion (36V) Cordless Blower (Bare Tool Only)
You need to move leaves around the yard? Put down the rake and pick up the Makita XBU01Z blower. It puts out a top power of 208mph wind so cleaning up after mowing or a storm is easy to do. The tapered nozzle helps you pinpoint the air flow just where you need it most.
It comes as a bare tool only, no batteries, no charger. But if you operate it on low with two 5.0Ah capacity 18V LXT batteries, it can run for up to 28 minutes. It has two power settings so you don’t need to blast the flower beds as hard as you do the driveway and sidewalks. At full power, you can expect the battery to drain in about ten minutes.
But even at its maximum power setting, the XBU01 creates just 60.6dBA of sound pressure. You won’t need hearing protection to use this blower, and you won’t wake the neighbors.
It measures 36-1/4-inches long, or just a hair over three feet. It weighs only 8 pounds, and that’s after you slide on the battery packs. It’s so light that the kids can use it, and so can persons with less mobility and strength.
If you already have at least two Makita 18V LXT battery packs, buying this bare tool kit may save you some money. Since it’s a high-drain machine, it’s best if you use the highest capacity batteries you can, preferably 3.0Ah capacity and above.
More features of the Makita XBU01Z blower:
- Bare tool only
- Covered by Makita’s 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee and 3-year warranty
Makita XBU01PM 18V X2 LXT Lithium-Ion (36V) Cordless Blower Kit
If you don’t have higher capacity Makita 18V LXT batteries, or if the ones you have are busy running other tools, the XBU01PM kit can solve the problem. It contains the XBU01Z blower plus two battery packs and a dual port charger. The charger can refill both batteries at once in about 40 minutes.
These 4.0Ah capacity lithium-ion batteries are a great choice for running the blower. They are lighter in weight than nickel metal hydride batteries. They don’t suffer from memory effect so you can refill them whenever you take a break. You don’t have to run them dry first.
They work well in the cold, but need to be protected from too much heat. The Star Computer Protection Controls in the battery, the tool, and the charger help condition the battery packs to avoid over-discharging and overheating while they run the tool and while they recharge. The average lifetime of a lithium-ion battery is three to five years before it needs to be replaced. If you need to store your batteries, like during winter months, leave them with about a 40 to 50% charge instead of filling them up all the way first.
One note about capacity. The 4.0Ah rating doesn’t equal 4 hours of runtime. Each amp-hour is about a 30% increase in how long a battery runs on a single charge. A tool that operates for ten minutes on a 2.0Ah battery should last about 13 minutes on a 3.0Ah battery. The 4.0Ah battery packs in this kit will probably run the blower about 15 to 20 minutes on the low power setting.
More features of the Makita XBU01PM blower:
- Comes with two BL1840B battery packs and the DC18RD charger
- Battery packs have LED indicators showing the approximate amount of charge
- Covered by Makita’s 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee and 3-year warrantyplus 1-year warranty on the batteries
Makita UB360DWB 36V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Blower Kit
Does this blower look familiar to you? Yes, it’s the same one as the other two we described above. There are only two differences. One, it operates off a 36-volt battery pack instead of two 18V packs. And two, the battery makes it a little lighter to handle. With the single pack, the UB360DWB blower weighs only 6.8 pounds. The rubberized soft grip handle makes it easier to hold and control.
The battery pack has an LED status indicator to show you at a glance how much charge is left. If you happen to have a 36V hedge trimmer, chainsaw, or rotary hammer made by Makita, you probably have the same battery pack already.
The blower, the 36V battery, and its charger have the same Makita Star Protection Computer Controls to protect against over-discharging, overheating, and overloading. Keep in mind that Makita considers your warranty void if you’ve used an imitation or non-brand battery or charger with one of their tools.
Since this blower has the same features and power as the other leaf blowers we’ve described above, the lighter weight may be its best selling point. While it’s not ideal for clearing large yards, it’s perfect for touching up the patio or the deck or clearing the walkway and driveway after mowing.
More features of the Makita UB360DWB blower kit:
- Comes with 36V battery pack and charger
- Covered by Makita’s 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee and 3-year warranty plus 3-year warranty on the battery, too
- Rated for a maximum sound pressure level of 86dBA, 30% less than a typical gas blower
Recommendation
If having the lightest weight leaf blower possible is important to you, consider getting the Makita UB360DWB. It comes with a 36V battery pack that shaves almost two pounds off the total weight of the tool. The same 36V batteries are used in other Makita cordless power tools like a chainsaw, hedge trimmer, and rotary hammer.
If you prefer to stay within Makita’s 18V LXT battery pack ecosystem, take a look at the XBU01Z and the XBU01PM blower kits.
The XBU01Z is bare tool only. That fact may save you money if you already have 18V LXT batteries on hand.
The XBU01PM comes with two batteries and a two port charger for quick refills. Consider getting this one to expand your selection of batteries and rotate between them for longer life.
Click here to purchase Makita XBU01Z on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase Makita XBU01PM on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase Makita UB360DWB on Amazon.com!