In my opinion, the best leaf blower for removing snow around your property is the Hitachi RB24EAP.
Hitachi may not be the most well-known brand in the realm of leaf blowers, but you just can’t question their expertise.
From high-quality consumer products to a vast array of commercial solutions, Hitachi’s technology can be found almost everywhere you look.
So, how good is the Hitachi RB24EAP Gas Powered Leaf Blower? Is the extra cost justified for cleaning your yard? Can it do more than just blowing fallen leaves and twigs?
Hitachi RB24EAP Gas Powered Leaf Blower Review
Hey everyone. I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the RB24EAP. And so, I thought this was the perfect time to review this leaf blower.
But, before we proceed, let me get one thing out of the way. If you’re just looking to buy a leaf blower for clearing out dry leaves from small yards, then this product is surely overkill. You can do the same task with a much cheaper electric leaf blower.
This incredible machine can do so much more. In fact, I believe this is the best leaf blower for snow removal in its price range.
That being said, I would only recommend this model for small to medium amounts of snow on your patio, driveway, or sidewalk. If you are dealing with heavy snow, or planning to clear up the entire street in a reasonable time frame, well… That calls for more power.
You can check out my recommendations for a more powerful leaf blower in this article.
Now, let’s find out whether this product can fulfill all your needs.
Pros
- Excellent air volume and speed.
- Efficient engine, which is low on emissions and CARB Tier III compliant.
- Lightweight and easy to use.
Cons
- Some users have complained about the customer service.
Standout Features
- The Hitachi RB24EAP Gas Powered Leaf Blower comes with a 23.9 cc 1.13 horsepower commercial grade engine, which features PureFire low-emission two-stroke technology. This ensures not only high power but also low emissions. In fact, this product is CARB Tier III compliant for use in California.
- This leaf blower has not only high air velocity of 170 miles per hour but also excellent air volume of 441 cubic feet per minute (CFM).
- It comes with a large two-finger throttle lever for added convenience.
- This product comes with a seven-year consumer warranty. On the other hand, if you’re planning to use it for commercial purposes, you will get a two year warranty. You can also get up to one year of rental use.
If you want to see it in action, check out the video below!
As you can see, it does fairly well even with huge piles of snow. That being said, if your area regularly gets covered by thick snow, I would recommend you get something stronger.
Excellent Air Volume and Speed
Despite what companies advertise, a leaf blower is only capable when it has a balance between air volume and air velocity. So, don’t be fooled by cheaper products which have a significantly higher air speed, but low air volume.
Also, one thing to keep in mind is that many companies measure air volume and speed in the areas where these are maximum. And not at the nozzle where it matters.
Thankfully, Hitachi doesn’t try to fool its customers and only measures these fields at the nozzle. Now, I didn’t try to verify the exact speed and volume. But, in my experience, this product worked better than the Husqvarna 952711925 28cc Gas Powered Handheld Blower, which has similar velocity and slightly higher air volume.
I had a chance to test this product out when I went over to my cousin’s place in Denver, Colorado. You see, he owns this nifty machine as it snows a lot where he lives.
After a night of heavy snowfall, I set out to clear the front steps, driveway and my cousin’s cars. Honestly, after seeing the amount of snow, I didn’t think the RB24EAP would be up to the task.
However, this leaf blower performed like a champion, and I was done with the task well within an hour! Honestly, I was absolutely blown away by the performance. In fact, I believe that Hitachi’s advertised air speed and volume is possibly lower than the actual values.
Lightweight and Convenient
One of the best things I like about the Hitachi RB24EAP is how lightweight it is, despite being so powerful. In fact, its closest competitor, the Husqvarna 952711925, is almost 1 lb heavier than it.
Now, that might not seem like much at first glance, but if you’re a professional operating it for long hours, it makes a significant difference.
And its convenience only gets better when you factor in the large two-finger throttle lever, which makes the hand-held operation a breeze. Also, I had no problem with starting the leaf blower. Throughout my review period, it took me at most two pulls to get the engine going. Bear in mind, I was operating it in subzero climate.
Powerful and Efficient Engine
Now, we all know that a gas powered leaf blower isn’t really environmentally friendly. However, the Hitachi RB24EAP does a better job than its direct competitors.
In my testing period, I found it to be quite efficient, more so than similarly powerful leaf blowers. Moreover, this product is CARB Tier III compliant, which makes it legal for use in California.
Excellent Warranty
Who doesn’t like a good warranty on their product? And in this area, the Hitachi RB24EAP has its competitors soundly beat by a country mile.
This leaf blower comes with a seven years consumer warranty. However, if you want to use it for commercial applications, you will get a two years warranty.
What are users saying about the product?
Even the best of products come with flaws. And Hitachi RB24EAP isn’t immune to that.
The most common complaint about this product is regarding the customer service. Since you can’t ship anything with fuel in it, it’s hard to get this leaf blower repaired, unless you have an authorized service center near your location.
In my opinion, you should talk to your nearest Hitachi service center before setting out to buy this product.
Apart from that, most users have raved about the model and some have even proclaimed this leaf blower to be the best they’ve ever used.
Verdict
I’ve used many gas powered leaf blowers. However, only a handful have impressed me as much as the Hitachi RB24EAP. From its sheer power and ease of use to its affordable price, this product leaves little to be desired.
So, if you’re in the market for an all-purpose product which can handle not only demanding leaf blowing tasks but also clear snow, you can’t go wrong with the Hitachi RB24EAP.