MakitaXBU03SM1 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Blower Kit (4.0Ah)

Used for blowing driveway and leaves. Excellent power

I was looking for a blower that I could use to remove the leaves that always accumulate behind and under 2 rows of large evergreen trees in my yard that are very close to my fence. I have very little room to navigate once I get between the trees and the fence and it's also very difficult to maneuver the electric corded blower I have been using, the cord is always getting hung up on the tree branches, so I decided to invest in a battery powered blower to eliminate the issues with dragging the extension cord around. I also wanted a blower that was short in length so it would be easier to wield in the tight spaces. I did a lot of research on different makes and models and finally decided to go with this Makita unit as it seemed to have all the features that I required. I received the blower yesterday, charged up the battery and put it to use this afternoon and I'm extremely satisfied with this blower. The power (force of air) is very impressive and easily blows out the dead leaves and debris that are packed fairly tight under the evergreen trees. It's very light, easy to hold, very comfortable and use and it's smaller length is perfect for my needs. The battery only takes about 45 minutes to fully charge, which is nice, but it only lasts about 30 minutes (I was using it on full force the entire time) and when it does "die" it goes from running strong to no power instantly. I gave the unit only 3 stars for "Battery Life" because with todays technology I really think that the battery should last much longer, but at the same time I must state that prior to making this purchase I read many user reviews that clearly stated that the battery would only last around 30 minutes or less so I can't say that it caught me by surprise. I decided to go with this unit for it's power knowing that I would need more than 1 battery if I expected to use the blower for an extended period so I just went ahead and ordered 2 extra batteries when I ordered the unit. At the quick rate that they recharge the spare batteries will insure that I have a constant power supply. That being said, I really like this blower and I'm very satisfied with my purchase. Using it today it worked great. More than enough power for my needs, easy to maneuver and aim and most importantly no long electric extension cord to have to deal with. For clearing the leaves from my large yard in the fall I'll continue to use my gas powered backpack blower along with my electric blower with the cord but I bought this blower for a very specific purpose and it does that job very well.

It took me quite a bit of research to settle on this blower. The previous blower I had been using was electric and dragging the 100 foot cord around, untangling it most of the time, really added to the physical effort of blowing which usually happens after I have already mowed, weed wacked , edged or trimmed bushes. I have some low back and hip issues and I am trying to find ways to make things easier for myself. So getting the cord out of the way was a goal a well as finding a blower that was light weight yet had some power. After reading reviews and looking at specs, this seemed to be the one to go with. It was more expensive then a lot of other battery powered blowers but a lighter blower was essential for me that also had some power. Well, it is light enough. I think its supposed to be in the 6.5 to 7 pound range thereabouts with the battery. I am impressed with the power. It definitely fits my needs for an average suburban front and back yard. I have even used it to blow leaves to the back of the yard across the grass, with no problem. I usually use this on max most of the time. The battery life is ok. I am out blowing for about 15 minutes or so and usually half the charge is gone by then, so I might be able to go a half hour. The recharge time on the battery does take a while, maybe a few hours, nothing like an Ego battery. I'd say the recharge time is similar to my Black and Decker string trimmer battery. From time to time if I hold the blower right in front of me it will suck my pants in toward the intake. I just hold it more to my side a bit. I did purchase an extender to bring the air pressure closer to the ground.It was not necessary but I did not want to be bending forward at times. I bought that from Home depot, it was much less expensive then Amazon. The best price for the blower was on Amazon. It shipped from Amazon but it looked like it originally came from Makita USA. The Makita box was heavily taped on the bottom and top like it had been opened before, other reviewers mentioned this also. Everything was there in box, but I think it could have all been packaged a bit better. The battery was installed in the blower. I think the charger could have been packaged better. There was some kind of white residue on each side of the blower, a small amount, which I wiped off. And then of course Amazon has the Makita box upside down in an Amazon box . The this side up on the amazon box really had the Makita box upside down. Typical Amazon. So I was juggling in my mind should I return it or keep it, it took awhile but figured I'd give a try.Anyway long story short I have been using for a good 2 months or so and its pretty good.

Great power, easy to use, light weight. Battery not as long lasting as I would like

I bought this Makita cordless leaf blower a few months ago and have been very happy with it. Unfortunately, it stopped working suddenly which was not a battery problem. I checked the Amazon website which contained links to the manufacturer website. I contacted the manufacturer online and they immediately sent me fed ex mailing labels to one of their direct repair sites. I had the fixed blower returned to me in four days and everything works great. I am even more impressed with the product, the manufacturer, and Amazon.