Husqvarna Leaf Blaster 350iB Review

During testing, not only did the Husqvarna 350iB produce a 153 mph airspeed, but we also found that it blew a 1105 CFM airflow at just 5 inches from the nozzle in turbo mode. That's category 4 hurricane-force wind speed. With the variable control trigger, easy-to-access cruise control, and turbo buttons, this machine can be used in a variety of settings, allowing for simply fine-tuning the front walkway or producing gale force winds powerful enough to blow away larger debris and even rocks. Through our complete testing, we also discovered that the Husqvarna 350iB boasted a runtime of 37 min and 26 seconds on high, ultimately beating all of our other competition by over 12 minutes. All of these perks, combined with the brand's extensive lineup of other tools that run on the same BLi Battery series, lead to our hands-down excitement of being able to not only use our battery with other tools but change our battery size as well for both smaller or bigger jobs. 

Performance Comparison

Power

Our primary metric within our our comprehensive test plan is power and each leafblower's performance in regards to airspeed and airflow. We used two industry benchmark tools, an anemometer and a pitot tube, to test both data points before setting up a real-world test in which we gathered a large number of leaves and recorded the cleanup time of each blower. Finally, we got to compare the observed times with each blower's tested force in order to gauge power distinctively.

The Husqvarna 350iB truly showed up in our power metric tests scoring near faultless numbers! As we checked its wind force 5 inches from the nozzle on turbo mode, we found that its airspeed was a scorching 153mph and airflow to be 1105 CFM strong. Not only that but at a 30-inch distance from the nozzle, our anemometer and pitot tube read 65mph on high, beating out all of the other blowers we tested. 

When attacking our real-world scenario, again, the Husqvarna 350iB reigned supreme, cleaning up our set amount of leaves in just 43 seconds flat. Its variable trigger control and high-powered turbo mode again nudged all of our other competition to the side and completed the challenge in the least amount of time. That being said, the Husqvarna's weight and immense force created some difficulty handling and had a tendency to nosedive on full blast. This machine could become tiring for some and might not be recommended for everyone. 

Battery

Next in our line of metrics is the batteries for each blower and we tested them in a myriad of ways. First, we took note of how long each battery took to charge, following up with checking each machine's runtime on both high and turbo settings. With this metric's performance counting for 25% of the score it was important that we tested each one with precision, and the Husqvarna didn't take long to begin winning us over. 

By far the most impressive part of the Husqvarna 350iB is the fact that it ran for 37 minutes and 27 seconds which beat our next longest running model by over 12 minutes.

It was just as impressively charged back up in only 70 minutes and ready for our next test of running on turbo for over 14 minutes. This gave the Husqvarna an absolutely astounding runtime-to-power ratio.

Another bonus with the Husqvarna BLi Battery series is that they have an incredible selection of other household power tools that are compatible with the provided 350iB battery and vice versa. Therefore if you would like a leafblower that has compatibility across the Husqvarna line, and incredible runtime then the Husqvarna 350iB may be a solid unit for you.

Ergonomics

When it comes to working for extensive periods of time, we know exactly how important it can be to have comfort while still finishing longer, more strenuous jobs. Fortunately, the Husqvarna 350iB also excelled in this field and scored highly in most of our tests. Seeing how this had easily tackled every other metric so far, we were making sure not to let it slide by in our ergonomics test; at 15% of the total score, we took the leafblower in hand for days of use and found it to succeed once again.

Not only is the Husqvarna easy to use with its variable control speed trigger, but it also has a cruise control button to give your fingers a break and a turbo button that makes accessing the Husqi's power effortless. 

The machine ran beautifully on its highest setting and had no noticeable vibrations or downfalls, except for one. It is a heavy blower weighing 10 lbs. 

With the extra weight and force of turbo mode on, it became more unruly and difficult to control with the amount of power coming from the blower. Therefore, we wouldn't recommend this leafblower to someone who may tire easily and doesn't want quite such a commanding machine.

Noise

Even though only 10% of our overall score is determined by the noise metric, it is a vital point for some who may live near young children, animals, or sensitive neighbors. To make sure we gathered encompassing data on this metric, we first ran each leafblower on its highest setting and used a digital sound meter to record the highest sound each blower made. Paired with hours of testing and analyzing whether the Husqvarna 350iB had any particularly squeaky, irritating, or louder-than-normal sounds, the blower ended up scoring lower than average.

When we tested the Husqvarna with our digital sound meter at ear height, the conclusion was a loud 88 dBa. Now the leafblower did not particularly have any frustrating sounds or noises but it was noticeably louder than some of the other models. With that being said, if you do live next to someone who prefers the quieter things in life, then this may not be the right blower for you.

Should You Buy the Husqvarna Leaf Blaster 350iB?

If having the power of a hurricane in the grip of your hand sounds like your cup of tea, then the Husqvarna Leaf Blaster 350iB is just the right tool for you. Being as it's our longest-running and most powerfully tested blower, this is a standout recommendation for anyone who wants big muscle during harder-to-accomplish jobs around either the house or the job site. All of this, combined with Husqvarna's legendary reliability and compatibility across the entire brand, led us to choose the 350iB as our top pick.

What Other Cordless Leaf Blowers Should You Consider?

If you're in the market for something lighter and significantly cheaper, take a look at the 5lb EWork EK-01GYG. At just half the price and with two included batteries for a combined runtime of nearly 25 minutes, it's a fair option on the cheaper side. Now, if you are in the mood for a leafblower whose tested CFM was even more powerful than any other model we reviewed, glance at the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Whisper Series 730 CFM, which we recorded at a remarkable 1168 CFM on turbo mode.