Best Leaf Vacuum Mulcher Reviews 2021 and Buyer’s Guide

For many people, doing their yard work is a relaxing and pleasant way of dealing effectively with stress. However, when the fall comes and their lawn is covered by leaves, removing them can be a bit challenging.

Some gardeners still use a rake to gather up the leaves. Finally, they bag all the leaves up and then throw them away. If you do so, you’re wasting all that good vegetation! Why not consider buying one of the best leaf vacuum mulchers to chop all those leaves up and then you can make the most of them and make compost or mulch. This will fertilize your garden beautifully. Although the initial purchase of this machine can be an expensive investment, you will definitely save a lot of money in the long run.

Before diving into the best leaf vacuum mulcher reviews 2021 below, we’ll have a quick look at the three different types of these devices:

  • A gas-powered mulcher is the main type of leaf mulching machine that is ideal for big spaces. However, this machine is rather heavy to carry around. Moreover, it is exceedingly noisy, pollutes the air, and requires regular maintenance.
  • Using an electric mulcher is better for the environment and creates less noise and air pollution than the gas-powered ones. In addition, they’re quite light so that you can easily carry them around. Be sure to prepare an electrical outlet in order to use this kind of machine.
  • The battery-powered mulcher is also lightweight and quiet. Furthermore, it doesn’t need to be tethered to the wall by a power cable. Today, most high-end leaf vacuum mulchers are battery-powered. That’s why this type may very well be your best choice. The main disadvantage is that it is more expensive than the other types.

How to Choose the Best Leaf Vacuum Mulcher in 2021

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When it comes to selecting the best leaf vacuum mulcher, here are a couple of features to bear in mind:

Weight

Most of the mulchers are handheld machines that most people are able to carry around. However, make sure you buy something that’s not too heavy. There are a couple of industrial-type ride-on leaf vacuum mulchers, but they aren’t useful for the average garden. An electric one will be lighter than a gas-powered one, of course. Although your home may have a big yard, avoid looking for a large battery powered handheld device.

Power Source and Reduction Ratio

The amps of the motor are very important to check for when looking for the best leaf vacuum mulcher. Make sure they never fall under 12 amps of power or at the very least 10 amps. If the mulcher is below a certain speed, performing an efficient mulching process is impossible.

The reduction ratio refers to the ratio of which the primary leaf volume can be cut down to once the leaves have been passed through the mulcher. The good ratios are at least 16:1 and can exceed 18:1 for the top machines.

Capacity

Is your backyard large or small? The best idea is to buy a vacuum mulcher that will be able to handle the size of your yard effectively. If your garden has many trees and therefore generates a huge amount of leaves every year, you should consider a machine with a bigger capacity.

Blade Quality

Purchasing the best leaf vacuum mulcher with high-quality blades helps you shred the leaves properly. If they are cut up properly the first time by good quality blades, they will turn into compost much quicker. Don’t buy a machine with low-quality blades since you might end up having to replace them before the season is even over.

Noise and Vibration

Although a corded electric mulcher is somewhat quieter than a gas-powered one, you should go with a battery-powered one if you truly want a quiet yard tool. The vibration ratings are similar as well. Some users affirm that the battery-powered machine has fewer vibrations than the electric one.

Some manufacturers design their vibration-friendly mulchers with dampeners and other features to keep you comfortable while working. If your yard is big, you should consider this kind of design or your hands and arms will quickly get tired.

Speed

According to the best leaf vacuum mulcher reviews, the speed is unnoticeable, but you should take some information into account. If you suck the leaves too fast into the machine, you will need a slower speed to reduce the number of leaves entering at the same time. Having a slower speed ensures that your mulcher doesn’t clog while you’re vacuuming.

Charging Time

If you’re going to buy a battery-powered mulcher, you need to check its charging time since that will have a big influence on how fast you get your job done. Commonly, modern batteries can be fully charged in just one hour. For the larger devices, the charging time will certainly be longer.

Top 5 Best Leaf Vacuum Mulcher Reviews 2021

1. BLACK + DECKER BV5600 High Performance Blower/Vac/Mulcher

BLACK+DECKER BV5600 High Performance Blower/Vac/Mulcher

Pros

  • Good motor power and speed
  • Metal fan diminishes chance of blockages
  • Can process 16 bags of leaves into one bag
  • Comes with a LEAFBLASTER nozzle that releases the leaves and debris quickly
  • Transforms from one function to another with ease
  • 50% quieter for less noise

Cons

  • The length of the power cord is somewhat short.

The BLACK+DECKER BV5600 is able to produce a blowing force of over 250mph. This high-performance model relies on a 12amp electric motor in order to quickly process large volumes of leaves. With its 3-in-1 feature, this machine is not only good at blowing away leaves, but also at sucking them up and transforming them into mulch.

Paired with the good speed is a high-impact metal fan that prevents obstruction and gives a mulch ratio of 16 bags to just one. The metal fan of this best leaf vacuum mulcher is durable and will not get damaged even if small branches enter the mulcher together with the leaves.

The LEAFBLASTER nozzle has a twirling function which helps to remove the leaves and debris that are stuck to the ground or in crevices with ease. This also permits the work to be done in a shorter time.

The manufacturer affirms that this kind is up to 50% quieter than previous models. Just 68 decibels of noise are produced. That is the reason why I put this machine in the list of “best leaf vacuum mulcher reviews”.


2. WORX TRIVAC WG509 12 Amp 3-in-One Blower/Mulcher/Vacuum with Metal Impeller

WORX TRIVAC 12 Amp 3-in-One Blower/Mulcher/Vacuum

Pros

  • 3-in-1 function including blower, mulcher, and vacuum
  • Comes with a strong 12-amp motor so will clean your yard quickly and efficiently
  • Equipped with a metal impeller that produces an 18:1 mulch ratio
  • The work can easily be done with one hand

Cons

  • A relatively small bag

The WORX TRIVAC WG509 boasts not only its flexible speed of 75 to 210mph, but also a powerful 12-amp motor with a 6-speed throttle, and electronic control. This is probably the best leaf vacuum mulcher for collecting and processing the leaves from large areas.

Interestingly, all three modes of vacuum, mulcher, and blower are easily interchangeable just by pressing a button.

Additionally, the design plays an important part. This machine comes with a unique angled tube and a curved tip which help to get to the leaves in unreachable places easier. Its mulching system is made up of a two-stage mechanism. It’s a basic mulching stage followed by an unusual impeller that chops the leaves into small pieces that are18 times less the volume of the original ones.

Last, but not least, the WORX TRIVAC WG509 does not raise the noise level above 71 decibels while working.


3. Black & Decker BV3100 12-Amp Blower/Vacuum/Mulcher

Black & Decker BV3100 12-Amp Blower/Vacuum/Mulcher

Pros

  • Leaf blower, mulcher and vacuum come in one machine which simplifies the job
  • Has a blowing speed of up to 210mph
  • Comes with 2 speeds for different yards and tasks
  • Reduces 10 bags of leaves to just one
  • Can be shifted from a blower to a vacuum in just seconds

Cons

  • After a long time of use, the blower nozzle doesn’t stay attached well

If you want a budget selection for the best leaf vacuum mulcher, the Black & Decker BV3100 is ideal.

With a blowing speed of more than 210mph, this machine can blow and suck well. Furthermore, it is capable of chopping the leaves into small pieces and can even pick up pine cones, making your clean-up process much easier. What’s more, cleaning the lawn is such a breeze as the BV3100 is equipped with 2 speeds.

A zipper is strategically placed at the bottom of the vacuum bag to ensure that you do not have to move your wrist too much. With a weight of just 7 pounds, your forearms also won’t get tired when carrying this machine around the yard.

This product is a workhorse that can help you to complete the backyard jobs easily. Moreover, it can be used on flower beds, decks, and sidewalks efficiently too. Therefore, I think it deserves a place in the “best leaf vacuum mulcher reviews article.

Since the decibel rating is just 69, it’s very quiet when you’re working.


4. WORX WG518 Electric Blower/Mulcher/Vac, 12 Amp

WORX WG518 Electric Blower/Mulcher/Vac, 12 Amp

Pros

  • Lightweight and easy to use
  • Can be used as blower, mulcher, and vacuum
  • Has a strong 12amp motor with 2 speeds
  • The blowing air speed is from 160 to 250 mph
  • Works well even with wet leaves
  • Blows leaves from any surface effectively

Cons

  • Depending on what you’re trying to suck up, the machine sometimes gets jammed

The WORX WG518 is built with a powerful 12amp motor, permitting a smooth operation. Moreover, this 2-speed gardening tool performs well when vacuuming up leaves and small twigs.

With a good air flow and a 16:1 mulching ratio, this best leaf vacuum mulcher can effectively clean a rock garden or even a gravel drive. The leaves will be blown away with ease due to its very strong air speed of 160-250mph.

If you have a small to medium sized lawn, the collection bag of the WG518 will be sufficient. It has a nice vacuum tube length of 30 inches. Of course, its dual speed adjustments are a bonus for those who like greater adaptability.

Weighing just 10.8 pounds, the leaf vacuum is remarkable considering it is a multipurpose device with a 3-in-1 function including vacuum, mulcher, and blower. It can be converted from a blower to a mulcher in just one easy step.


5. WORX WG505 TRIVAC 12 Amp Yard-in-One

WORX WG505 TRIVAC 12 Amp Yard-in-One Blower/Mulcher/Vacuum

Pros

  • Can be used as blower, mulcher, and vacuum
  • Comes with a powerful electric motor and a 10-gallon bag
  • Does not require too much fuel
  • Produces an air speed of over 210mph
  • Delivers a 10:1 mulch ratio

Cons

  • The blower is quite weak

Say goodbye to your rake and let this best leaf vacuum mulcher review introduce the WORX WG505 TRIVAC. Its 3-in-1 design easily blows the leaves and debris from your yard as well as vacuums it all up effectively. Amazingly, 18 bags of leaves can fit in just one 10-gallon bag once they have been chopped.

Thanks to a simple rotation of the toggle switch, changing to vacuuming is quite easy, without having to stop and change tubes. When you suck the leaves up, the mulching system pushes the leaves into its high-velocity shredder blade that chops them all with a heavy-duty metal impeller and then accumulates the mulch into the collection bag for using as mulch or compost.

This best leaf vacuum mulcher has a 12amp motor with an alterable blower that is strong enough to blow a large amount of leaves across your garden, while still being gentle enough not to not damage any flower beds. Since it weighs just 11 pounds, it can be handled with just one hand.

Additionally, it’s not hard to turn the throttle with your thumb in order to increase the wind velocity. It’s also ideal for blowing dust and debris out of heavy patio furniture. It can also be used to clear snow off your driveway when the winter comes.


To sum up

Out of the 5 products in this “best leaf vacuum mulcher reviews 2021” article, I would suggest that the WORX WG518 is the best. Simply put, it’s lighter than the others and has a 30-inch vacuum tube so that you can easily carry it around the yard. It’s powerful enough to work well even with wet leaves and on different surfaces.

Hopefully, this article has helped you make an informed decision about the right leaf vacuum mulcher for your backyard. Thanks for reading!

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