Why Ryobi's Leaf Vacuum Isn't All It's Cracked Up To Be (And What To Get Instead)

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Ryobi is one of the best-ranked power tool brands, offering high-quality indoor and outdoor products that fit the needs of DIYers and professionals needing budget-friendly designs. Ryobi offers more than 300 tools that use their signature 18-volt ONE+ batteries and another 85-plus models that use 40-volt batteries. It is considered a decent brand for the price for people who don't put their tools through heavy workloads every day.

The batteries that operate Ryobi power tools use proprietary connectors and operational designs, meaning they aren't compatible with other brands. This is important to note because once a consumer selects a favorite brand, it's common to continue buying tools from that brand. It's cheaper to share batteries you already have with any new tools. Even with that in mind and even if you're a big fan of the Ryobi brand, there are still some Ryobi tools that are a waste of your time and money, meaning you may want to explore others.

One model that seems like it would be an essential Ryobi tool for cleaning up your yard in no time is the Ryobi 40V Vac Attack Cordless Leaf Vacuum and Mulcher ($149 for the tool only). The vacuum uses an impeller that the manufacturer claims can reduce leaves to mulch that's 1/16th of their original volume. However, several customer reviewers for this model say it doesn't work as intended, calling it a waste of money. A higher-rated product you may want to consider instead is the STIHL SHA 56 Battery-Powered Shredder/Vacuum/Blower ($280 for the tool only). Learn why reviewers want to "leave" the Ryobi model behind.

With a price that's almost half that of the STIHL leaf vacuum/mulcher, you might be tempted to purchase the Ryobi model and just live with its warts. However, customer reviewers give the Ryobi leaf vacuum/mulcher such poor marks that the frustration with operation probably isn't worth the savings. Amazon reviewers give the Ryobi product 3.6 stars out of 5, while Home Depot customer reviewers only give it 3.4 stars. Only 59% of reviewers at Home Depot's website would recommend it to friends and family.

One Reddit user says it isn't powerful enough, meaning you'll probably need a separate leaf blower to pile up the leaves before trying to vacuum and mulch them, which negates some of the cost-saving benefits of the machine. The unit can only vacuum leaves over a small space at a time, which makes the job take a long time, according to one Amazon reviewer. "If your leaf-covered sidewalk is 3 feet wide, you will have to make six passes. In retrospect, my rake and garbage can work very well."

Another Reddit user says operating the unit is a hassle. "The bag is horrible to get the leaves out of, and it is a bit cumbersome to move around once the bag starts filling up." Several other users say the weight distribution and balance of the Ryobi machine with the battery attached make it almost impossible to use efficiently. "I spent too much time fighting with it to enjoy using it," one Amazon reviewer says.

With the high cost of the Stihl shredder/vacuum/blower combination (for the tool alone), and considering you might spend another $150 for the Stihl AK 20 36-volt battery and $70 for the Stihl AL 101 charger, this model needs to deliver a significant performance improvement over the Ryobi model to justify the expense. Customer reviewers on the Ace Hardware website are impressed with this leaf vacuum and shredder tool, giving it 4.8 stars out of 5, while 97% of them would recommend the model to their friends and family.

One Ace Hardware reviewer uses this Stihl model for a handyman business and says it delivers excellent performance, both in shredding the leaves and battery life. Another reviewer says Stihl's designers did a great job with this outdoor power tool. "It's well-balanced and has plenty of power for most needs." A reviewer at Stihl's website received the exact level of performance expected right out of the box. "My first leaf session with this shredder/vacuum, and it rocks." 

YouTube reviewer Hilly Ridge Sales & Service appreciated the ability to switch modes on the fly. "The number one thing that I liked about it was how simple it is to use." Other customer reviewers agreed with its ease-of-use benefits, especially considering it doesn't require as much maintenance as a gas-powered model needs. Quiet operation is another feature that many customer reviewers mentioned as a plus.