gardening & outdoors

Best Garden Vacuum

Kim
16th December, 2021 | 23 minute read

Are you currently searching for the best garden vacuum on the market?

To help make your search a little bit easier, we have created this handy guide to provide you with all of the information that you need to know.

In this guide, we will go over what a garden vacuum is, how it works, the different types of garden vacuums, and some things that you should look out for when choosing which garden vacuum you should buy.

Garden Vac

We will also provide you with a detailed list of the best garden vacuums on the market, along with a pros and cons list for each of the different models to help you find the right one to suit your needs.

What Is a Garden Vacuum?

First, let’s explore what a garden vaccum actually is...

A garden vacuum, also known as a leaf blower, is a gardening machine that propels forceful air out of a nozzle. This force of air allows you to quickly and easily move debris and leaves from your garden or lawn. Some models have double features that allow them to propel air or suck in air similar to a vacuum.

Garden Vac 2
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How Does a Garden Vacuum Work?

Garden vacuums use centrifugal force. This is an outward force in a rotating frame of reference. The inside of the vacuum will contain a motor and a fan that has many small blades.

The vacuum takes air from outside and uses the centrifugal forces to send it through a nozzle. As a result, the pressure inside is quite forceful and this causes the air to shoot out of the nozzle at a very high speed, therefore, allowing you to blow debris and leaves away from your property with ease.

Types of Garden Vacuum

There are several different types of garden vacuums, including:

Corded Garden Vacuum

A corded garden vacuum is one that is powered by electricity and has to be plugged in. They are powerful models that allow you to clear your garden easily.

Garden Vac 3

One of the downsides to these models is that they do have a trail of cord and will only reach a certain point, so they are best suited for smaller gardens. However, these models do tend to come in at a lower price than their cordless counterparts.

Cordless Garden Vacuum

The cordless versions of garden vacuums are much more portable than the corded models and work well in all sizes of gardens. They tend to be quite powerful and effective at removing leaves and other debris from your garden or driveaway.

Cordless garden vacuum

These models are usually powered by a battery and need to be recharged before use. They also tend to cost a little bit more than corded models due to their portability.

Petrol Powered Garden Vacuum

Petrol-powered garden vacuums are another version of cordless vacuum, however, these are powered by petrol fuel rather than a battery. This type of garden vacuum tends to cost more than other types, however, they come with a very powerful motor.

Petrol garden vacuum

These types of garden vacuums are best suited for larger gardens.

Backpack Garden Vacuum

A backpack garden vacuum is one where the motor and bag are attached to handles so you can wear the device on your back. This makes it easier for you to move around and keeps all of the waste on your back and out of the way.

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Since the bulk of the machine is on your back, the blower itself is lighter and, therefore, easier to use. Backpack leaf blowers can come in electric, battery, or petrol power types.

Wheeled Garden Vacuum

A wheeled garden vacuum is basically exactly as it’s described – it is a garden vacuum on wheels. This can make it easier to move around as you don’t have to carry the machine.

Garden Vac 4

However, it can get tricky on surfaces that aren’t completely flat. Wheeled garden vacuums tend to be best suited to artificial grass lawns.

Best Garden Vacuum

When searching for a garden vacuum, it can be difficult to find the best one to suit your needs. To make things a little easier for you, we have created the list below of all of the best garden vacuums in each category along with a list of pros and cons for each type:

Best Corded Garden Vacuum

VonHaus 3 in 1 Leaf Blower and Garden Vacuum

This ultimate garden tidying tool is ideal for clearing and tidying your lawn, patio, driveway, or other areas. The powerful 3000W motor blows, vacuums, and mulches leaves into a material suitable for composting.

The mulching feature means that leaves and debris are cut up into smaller pieces to fit into the 35-litre bag, meaning you don’t need to empty the bag as often.

The impressive flow rate and powerful performance delivers optimum efficiency and ensures that your garden is left looking neat and tidy in no time.

The device is compact and lightweight with a shoulder strap and wheels, allowing you to work in comfort for long periods of time as needed.

It features a 10-metre power cable and a thermal cut-out safety feature for your peace of mind. This model also has the benefit of coming with a two-year warranty.

Things we liked
  • Powerful motor
  • Mulching feature
  • Blower and vacuum features
  • Large capacity
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to use
  • Efficient
  • Thermal cut-out feature
  • 2-year warranty
Things we didn't like
  • Cable length restricted to 10 metres
  • Requires electricity supply
View Prices for this Product

Bosch 06008B1071 Electric Leaf Blower and Vacuum

This flexible garden tool is a 3-in-1 device that offers leaf blowing, garden vacuuming and shredding leaves all in one device.

This particular model boasts balanced acoustics that emits a reduced sound level when compared to many other garden vacuums.

The handy quick-release collection bag features moisture-repellent dirt deflectors and allows you to quickly dispose of all of your collected garden debris.

With a 50-litre capacity, you won’t have to worry about continuously emptying the bag over and over again like some of the smaller models.

The included support strap ensures that you can use this machine comfortably for long periods of time as needed.

Things we liked
  • Leaf blowing and shredding features
  • Large capacity bag
  • Reduced sound levels
  • Support strap for ergonomics
  • Easy to use
Things we didn't like
  • Requires electricity supply
  • Corded model restricts area use
View Prices for this Product

Terratek Leaf Blower Garden Vacuum and Shredder

This super powerful machine is the perfect tool for clearing all of the debris in your garden. It has three features in one including a leaf blower, garden vacuum, and a mulching feature.

This garden vacuum compacts the leaves in a good-sized 35-litre bag at a shredding ratio of 10:1. This means that you don’t have to spend as much time worrying about emptying the bag.

It features a 10-metre power cable and is powered by electricity. With its lightweight and portable design, this garden vacuum is easy to carry and easy to use for long periods of time as needed.

It also has a thermal cut-out feature for safety. This particular model also has the benefit of coming with a two-year warranty.

Things we liked
  • Powerful machine
  • Leaf blower and mulching features
  • Lightweight design
  • Easy to use
  • Support strap for ergonomics
  • 2-year warranty
Things we didn't like
  • Cable length restricted to 10 metres
  • Requires electricity supply
View Prices for this Product

Best Cordless Garden Vacuum

Swift 3-in-1 Cordless Leaf Blower Vacuum and Mulcher

This swift cordless garden vacuum is a powerful machine with leaf blowing and mulching features. The air speed for vacuuming goes up to 112mph so you can easily and quickly remove all of the debris from your lawn or driveway with minimal effort.

The powerful 35:1 shredding ratio means that your debris is cut up into extremely small pieces, meaning you won’t have to worry about making multiple trips to empty out the bag.

The device is compact and portable with a shoulder strap included for comfort. The added auxiliary handle adds a comfortable grip and helps you to complete all of your garden vacuuming with ease.

This particular model comes with a 24-month warranty for the machine and a 12-month warranty on the battery for your peace of mind.

Things we liked
  • Powerful machine
  • Effective mulching features
  • Blowing and vacuuming features
  • Large capacity
  • Good ergonomics
  • Lightweight machine
  • 24-month warranty on the machine
  • 12-month warranty on the battery
Things we didn't like
  • Battery requires charging before each use
  • Battery doesn’t last for very long
  • Expensive
View Prices for this Product

Yard Force 40V Cordless 2-in-1 Blower Vacuum & Mulcher

This powerful Yard Force cordless garden vacuum is three machines in one – a garden vacuum, a leaf blower, and a mulcher. The variable air speeds allow you to pick up leaves and small debris quickly and easily.

It features a front auxiliary soft-grip handle for comfortable handling and a handy shoulder strap to ensure you can use this product for long periods without it becoming a problem or too much work.

The large quick-release collection bag allows you to easily collect all of the debris and dispose of it quickly. The machine is easy to use and has an efficient charging time of just 60-minutes.

Things we liked
  • Efficient charging
  • Leaf blower and mulching features
  • Easy to use
  • Strap and handle included for comfort
  • Large capacity bag
Things we didn't like
  • Expensive
  • Battery requires charging before each use
  • Battery doesn’t last for very long
View Prices for this Product

Greenworks Cordless Vacuum Cleaner and Leaf Blower

Here we have the Greenworks cordless garden vacuum – a powerful 2-in1 machine that acts as both a garden vacuum and a leaf blower for all of your garden clearing needs.

This machine is low in noise and vibration compared to many other models so you won’t need to worry too much about bothering your neighbours with this machine.

The 45-litre collection bag allows you to easily collect all of the leaves and light debris from your lawn and driveway without needing to continuously empty the bag out.

This machine also mulches the leaves so you can collect even more. The cordless design allows you to clear even more of your garden area without the worry of tripping over the cable.

Things we liked
  • Leaf blower feature
  • Mulching feature
  • Low noise and vibration
  • Large collection bag
  • Easy to use
Things we didn't like
  • Very expensive
  • Battery requires charging before each use
  • Battery doesn’t last for very long
View Prices for this Product

Best Petrol Powered Garden Vacuum

McCulloch GBV 322 VX Petrol Leaf Blower & Garden Vacuum

This powerful petrol-powered garden vacuum machine is an amazing 3-in-1 device with garden vacuuming, leaf blowing, and mulching features. It has variable speed controls for optimum leaf and debris removal.

The included 45-litre vacuum bag allows you to pick up large amounts of leaves and debris without worrying about having to constantly empty the bag out.

It is lightweight and features soft-grip handles and cruise control for optimum comfort.

The petrol power means that you don’t need to worry about recharging the battery and you also don’t need to worry about tripping over any cables.

Things we liked
  • Powerful machine
  • Leaf blowing and mulching features
  • Variable speed controls
  • Large capacity bag
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to use
Things we didn't like
  • Bulky
  • Device has to be reassembled for different modes
View Prices for this Product

Mitox 280BVX Premium Petrol Leaf Blower & Garden Vacuum

This Which? Best Buy award-winning petrol leaf blower is the perfect addition to your garden tool set.

It features cruise control and a commercial-grade anti-vibration system, offering ultimate comfort when in use.

The reliable petrol engine is powerful enough to remove all of the leaves and small debris from your garden and driveway with ease.

The metal tri-blades shred the leaves as they’re collected to reduce their volume and to allow you to collect even more debris without having to worry about emptying the collection bag.

This machine is not only great for collecting leaves but it can also be used for blowing grass trimming, wood shavings, and light hedge trimmings.

Things we liked
  • Award-winning machine
  • Cruise control
  • Reliable petrol engine
  • Mulching feature
  • Blowing and vacuuming features
  • Easy to use
Things we didn't like
  • Heavier than many other models
  • Bulky
  • Device has to be reassembled for different modes
View Prices for this Product

Best Backpack Garden Vacuum

Black and Decker BEBLV300 Garden Vacuum and Leaf Blower with Back Pack Collection

This garden vacuum backpack model is the perfect option for those who would struggle to carry all of the weight of a regular machine in their arms.

The powerful 3000W motor allows you to easily and quickly remove all of the leaves and small debris from your garden and driveway.

The backpack collection pack has a huge 72-litre capacity so you won’t have to worry about emptying the bag constantly while you work.

When in vacuum mode, the machine slices up all of the leaves at a 16:1 ratio so you can collect even more.

It comes with an adjustable handle for comfort and control and the machine is lightweight so you can use it for long periods comfortably.

Things we liked
  • Ergonomic design
  • Powerful motor
  • Very large collection bag
  • Leaf blowing and mulching features
  • Adjustable handle for comfort and control
  • Lightweight
Things we didn't like
  • Device has to be reassembled for different modes
  • Requires electricity for power
View Prices for this Product

Best Wheeled Garden Vacuum

Feider FAST175P Push Wheels Garden Vacuum Leaf Collector

This high-quality wheeled garden vacuum cleaner allows you to easily collect all of the leaves and small debris from your lawn or driveway easily and quickly.

It has a similar design to a regular garden lawnmower and can be pushed easily for use.

It features a range of blades that shred the leaves as they enter the machine so the collected debris is small and can be easily composted.

The collection bag is 150-litres in capacity so you won’t need to worry about constantly emptying the bag as you work. It benefits from extra-wide suction so you can very quickly clear large areas of land.

This machine also has the benefit of coming with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty for your peace of mind.

Things we liked
  • High-quality machine
  • Large capacity
  • Easy to use
  • Mulching features
  • 5-year warranty
Things we didn't like
  • Bulky
  • Very expensive
View Prices for this Product

Vacmaster Artificial Grass Vacuum Cleaner

This particular garden vacuum is designed specifically for use on artificial grass, however, it can also be used on paving and decking.

It features specialist tools including an innovative moulded floor head specially designed for gentle cleaning of artificial grass.

It also features a brass bristle brush head for removing stubborn moss and weeds from patio areas. This machine also has a leaf blower option for effective leaf removal.

All of the attachments can be stored on the vacuum cleaner so it won’t take up too much room in your shed or garage.

Things we liked
  • Great for use on artificial grass
  • Easily remove moss and weeds from patio areas
  • Leaf blower feature
  • All attachments can be stored on the machine
Things we didn't like
  • Requires electricity for power
  • Not great for use on regular grass
  • Bulky machine
View Prices for this Product

Best Lightweight Garden Vacuum

VonHaus 3 in 1 Leaf Blower and Garden Vacuum

This ultimate garden tidying tool is ideal for clearing and tidying your lawn, patio, driveway, or other areas. The powerful 3000W motor blows, vacuums, and mulches leaves into a material suitable for composting.

The mulching feature means that leaves and debris are cut up into smaller pieces to fit into the 35-litre bag, meaning you don’t need to empty the bag as often.

The impressive flow rate and powerful performance delivers optimum efficiency and ensures that your garden is left looking neat and tidy in no time.

The device is compact and lightweight with a shoulder strap and wheels, allowing you to work in comfort for long periods of time as needed.

It features a 10-metre power cable and a thermal cut-out safety feature for your peace of mind. This model also has the benefit of coming with a 2-year warranty.

Things we liked
  • Powerful motor
  • Mulching feature
  • Blower and vacuum features
  • Large capacity
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to use
  • Efficient
  • Thermal cut-out feature
  • 2-year warranty
Things we didn't like
  • Cable length restricted to 10 metres
  • Requires electricity supply
View Prices for this Product

Terratek Leaf Blower Garden Vacuum and Shredder

This super powerful machine is the perfect tool for clearing all of the debris in your garden. It has three features in one including a leaf blower, garden vacuum, and a mulching feature.

This garden vacuum compacts the leaves in a good-sized 35-litre bag at a shredding ratio of 10:1.

This means that you don’t have to spend as much time worrying about emptying the bag. It features a 10-metre power cable and is powered by electricity.

With its lightweight and portable design, this garden vacuum is easy to carry and easy to use for long periods of time as needed. It also has a thermal cut-out feature for safety.

This particular model also has the benefit of coming with a two-year warranty.

Things we liked
  • Powerful machine
  • Leaf blower and mulching features
  • Lightweight design
  • Easy to use
  • Support strap for ergonomics
  • 2-year warranty
Things we didn't like
  • Cable length restricted to 10 metres
  • Requires electricity supply
View Prices for this Product

Swift 3-in-1 Cordless Leaf Blower Vacuum and Mulcher

This swift cordless garden vacuum is a powerful machine with leaf blowing and mulching features.

The air speed for vacuuming goes up to 112mph so you can easily and quickly remove all of the debris from your lawn or driveway with minimal effort.

The powerful 35:1 shredding ratio means that your debris is cut up into extremely small pieces, meaning you won’t have to worry about making multiple trips to empty out the bag.

The device is compact and portable with a shoulder strap included for comfort. The added auxiliary handle adds a comfortable grip and helps you to complete all of your garden vacuuming with ease.

This particular model has the benefit of coming with a 24-month warranty on the machine and a 12-month warranty on the battery for your peace of mind.

Things we liked
  • Powerful machine
  • Effective mulching features
  • Blowing and vacuuming features
  • Large capacity
  • Good ergonomics
  • Lightweight machine
  • 24-month warranty on the machine
  • 12-month warranty on the battery
Things we didn't like
  • Battery requires charging before each use
  • Battery doesn’t last for very long
  • Expensive
View Prices for this Product

Best Portable Garden Vacuum

VonHaus 3 in 1 Leaf Blower and Garden Vacuum

This ultimate garden tidying tool is ideal for clearing and tidying your lawn, patio, driveway, or other areas. The powerful 3000W motor blows, vacuums, and mulches leaves into a material suitable for composting.

The mulching feature means that leaves and debris are cut up into smaller pieces to fit into the 35-litre bag, meaning you don’t need to empty the bag as often.

The impressive flow rate and powerful performance delivers optimum efficiency and ensures that your garden is left looking neat and tidy in no time.

The device is compact and lightweight with a shoulder strap and wheels, allowing you to work in comfort for long periods of time as needed.

It features a 10-metre power cable and a thermal cut-out safety feature for your peace of mind. This model also has the benefit of coming with a 2-year warranty.

Things we liked
  • Powerful motor
  • Mulching feature
  • Blower and vacuum features
  • Large capacity
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to use
  • Efficient
  • Thermal cut-out feature
  • 2-year warranty
Things we didn't like
  • Cable length restricted to 10 metres
  • Requires electricity supply
View Prices for this Product

Terratek Leaf Blower Garden Vacuum and Shredder

This super powerful machine is the perfect tool for clearing all of the debris in your garden. It has three features in one including a leaf blower, garden vacuum, and a mulching feature.

This garden vacuum compacts the leaves in a good-sized 35-litre bag at a shredding ratio of 10:1.

This means that you don’t have to spend as much time worrying about emptying the bag. It features a 10-metre power cable and is powered by electricity.

With its lightweight and portable design, this garden vacuum is easy to carry and easy to use for long periods of time as needed. It also has a thermal cut-out feature for safety.

This particular model also has the benefit of coming with a two-year warranty.

Things we liked
  • Powerful machine
  • Leaf blower and mulching features
  • Lightweight design
  • Easy to use
  • Support strap for ergonomics
  • 2-year warranty
Things we didn't like
  • Cable length restricted to 10 metres
  • Requires electricity supply
View Prices for this Product

Swift 3-in-1 Cordless Leaf Blower Vacuum and Mulcher

This swift cordless garden vacuum is a powerful machine with leaf blowing and mulching features. The air speed for vacuuming goes up to 112mph so you can easily and quickly remove all of the debris from your lawn or driveway with minimal effort.

The powerful 35:1 shredding ratio means that your debris is cut up into extremely small pieces, meaning you won’t have to worry about making multiple trips to empty out the bag.

The device is compact and portable with a shoulder strap included for comfort. The added auxiliary handle adds a comfortable grip and helps you to complete all of your garden vacuuming with ease.

This particular model has the benefit of coming with a 24-month warranty on the machine and a 12-month warranty on the battery for your peace of mind.

Things we liked
  • Powerful machine
  • Effective mulching features
  • Blowing and vacuuming features
  • Large capacity
  • Good ergonomics
  • Lightweight machine
  • 24-month warranty on the machine
  • 12-month warranty on the battery
Things we didn't like
  • Battery requires charging before each use
  • Battery doesn’t last for very long
  • Expensive
View Prices for this Product

Best 2-in-1 Garden Vacuum with Blower

VonHaus 3 in 1 Leaf Blower and Garden Vacuum

This ultimate garden tidying tool is ideal for clearing and tidying your lawn, patio, driveway, or other areas. The powerful 3000W motor blows, vacuums, and mulches leaves into a material suitable for composting.

The mulching feature means that leaves and debris are cut up into smaller pieces to fit into the 35-litre bag, meaning you don’t need to empty the bag as often.

The impressive flow rate and powerful performance delivers optimum efficiency and ensures that your garden is left looking neat and tidy in no time.

The device is compact and lightweight with a shoulder strap and wheels, allowing you to work in comfort for long periods of time as needed. It features a 10-metre power cable and a thermal cut-out safety feature for your peace of mind.

This model also has the benefit of coming with a 2-year warranty.

Things we liked
  • Powerful motor
  • Mulching feature
  • Blower and vacuum features
  • Large capacity
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to use
  • Efficient
  • Thermal cut-out feature
  • 2-year warranty
Things we didn't like
  • Cable length restricted to 10 metres
  • Requires electricity supply
View Prices for this Product

Yard Force 40V Cordless 2-in-1 Blower Vacuum & Mulcher

This powerful Yard Force cordless garden vacuum is three machines in one – a garden vacuum, a leaf blower, and a mulcher. The variable air speeds allow you to pick up leaves and small debris quickly and easily.

It features a front auxiliary soft-grip handle for comfortable handling and a handy shoulder strap to ensure you can use this product for long periods without it becoming a problem or too much work.

The large quick-release collection bag allows you to easily collect all of the debris and dispose of it quickly. The machine is easy to use and has an efficient charging time of just 60-minutes.

Things we liked
  • Efficient charging
  • Leaf blower and mulching features
  • Easy to use
  • Strap and handle included for comfort
  • Large capacity bag
Things we didn't like
  • Expensive
  • Battery requires charging before each use
  • Battery doesn’t last for very long
View Prices for this Product

Bosch 06008B1071 Electric Leaf Blower and Vacuum

This flexible garden tool is a 3-in-1 device which offers leaf blowing, garden vacuuming and shredding leaves all in one device. This particular model boasts balanced acoustics that emits a reduced sound level when compared to many other garden vacuums.

The handy quick-release collection bag features moisture-repellent dirt deflectors and allows you to quickly dispose of all of your collected garden debris.

With a 50-litre capacity, you won’t have to worry about continuously emptying the bag over and over again like some of the smaller models.

The included support strap ensures that you can use this machine comfortably for long periods of time as needed.

Things we liked
  • Leaf blowing and shredding features
  • Large capacity bag
  • Reduced sound levels
  • Support strap for ergonomics
  • Easy to use
Things we didn't like
  • Requires electricity supply
  • Corded model restricts area use
View Prices for this Product

What to Consider Before Buying a Garden Vacuum

There are several things that you may need to consider when buying a garden vacuum. Below is a list of the things that you may want to think about when choosing the best garden vacuum:

Cost

As you can see from our list above, there are many different types of garden vacuums. The different types of vacuums come with various prices. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to have a budget in mind before you start your search for a new garden vacuum. That way, you can filter your search and avoid overspending and being disappointed by the prices.

Running Time

Cordless garden vacuums are limited in their running time. Battery-operated models particularly have a set running time and will need to be charged up between uses. With this in mind, you should be aware of the running times and how long you expect to be using the machine.

This will usually depend on the size of the area that you’re working on. If you have a very large area to vacuum, it might be a better idea to opt for a petrol operated device as this can be quickly topped up for continued use.

Noise Level

Some garden vacuum cleaners are louder than others. If you’re worried about disturbing your neighbours with the noise from your vacuum, it’s a good idea to search for ones that emit less noise.

Petrol-operated garden vacuums tend to be the loudest models as these work on a petrol engine and have a very powerful motor.

Ergonomics

Some garden vacuums can be quite heavy and will only get heavier as the bag fills up. The most ergonomic options are backpack vacuums and vacuums that come on wheels as these only require you to carry the nozzle part of the machine in your arms rather than the motor so you can move around more freely.

FAQs

What’s the difference between a leaf blower and a garden vacuum?

A garden vacuum sucks in all of the debris and collects it in a bag whereas a leaf blower blows the air outwards so you can move the debris into a pile at the side of your garden. Garden vacuums work well in smaller gardens.

However, if you have a very large garden or an area where the debris can be collected easily, then a leaf blower may be a better option.

In general, garden vacuums are thought to be better than leaf blowers and they collect all of the debris so that it is much easier to completely remove it from your garden.

What items can a garden vacuum pick up?

Garden vacuums are designed to pick up leaves and light debris. They are not designed for picking up stones, twigs, or other large debris.

Which garden vacuums are quietest?

Electric and battery-operated leaf blowers are the quietest models while petrol models tend to be the loudest.

Which garden vacuums are best for small gardens?

If your garden area is small, a lightweight handheld garden vacuum will be your best option.

What safety equipment do I need when using a garden vacuum?

It’s recommended that you wear sturdy outdoor shoes and gardening gloves when handling a garden vacuum. You may also want to consider ear protection as many garden vacuums can emit a lot of noise.

Sources

  1. https://www.flymo.com/uk/content/hints-tips/buying-guides/how-do-leaf-blowers-work-a-users-guide
  2. https://www.gardenlines.co.uk/articles/leaf-blowers-vacs/leaf-blowers-vacs-faqs