The most powerful handheld blower I know of is the Stihl BG 86 CE. It's a 27.2 cc gasoline-powered model that pushes 459 cfm of air at speeds up to 154 mph. Husqvarna also has their 125BVx, which pushes 425 cfm at speeds up to 170 mph. Looking at the specs, you'd think that the measure of blower power might be the speed or mph (miles per hour) produced by the tip of the tool, but you'd be wrong. The real factor is how much air it can move — measured in cfm (cubic feet per minute).
When we reviewed the original EGO 56V Cordless System a while back, we were particularly impressed with the 56V Cordless Hair Dryer. It has the capacity to move 480 cfm. For cordless blowers, this represents a new level of performance for battery-operated products. This week, we tested and reviewed its successor, the brushless EGO LB5300 56V blower.
This new EGO blower can reach 530 cfm.
That pushes more air than any handheld air blower currently on the market (at least one we could think of, and we did some research). In fact, most entry-level and even mid-range backpack blowers push 510 CFM or less of air, although some are rated for higher speeds. In the end, what you get is a product that pushes the capabilities of cordless power to the limits of its practical output.
Air Velocity and Volume
You can always increase the airspeed by adding a nozzle at the end of the tube, but EGO plans to offer this way for this new blower in Q4. However, you cannot increase the amount of air the blower can push by adding accessories or changing the shape of the tube. It all depends on the powertrain, including motors, fans, and how much air it can move through the ducts.
To hit 530 cfm – and to do it in any reasonable amount of time – means the EGO LB5300 56V Brushless Blower is designed to be efficient enough to push a lot of air through it, but has the limitations of a handheld form factor. Airspeed is fine for those "stuck" items that occasionally need to be removed from the ground, but air volume is what really moves a lot of leaves and debris. EGO seems to have a lock on the volume, and upcoming accessories may push the air volume components further…we'll see.
Compare EGO Blowers
If you break down the various operating speeds of the brushless EGO LB5300 56V blower, here's what you get:
- Low-High Runtime, 50 mph, 260 CFM
- High-Medium Runtime, 85 mph, 430 CFM
- Turbo – minimum run time, 110 mph, 530 CFM
In terms of force, the EGO LB5300 56V blower has an output of over 16 Newtons. A Newton is defined as the amount of force required to accelerate a kilogram of mass at a rate of one meter per square second. This is another way of objectively showing the tool's ability to perform a job, such as blow force. For comparison, the highest output Stihl handheld two-stroke blower I mentioned earlier is rated at 15 Newtons. If you like numbers, this should impress you.
Test noise level
For those interested in noise levels (which are increasingly an issue in cities), the EGO LB5300 Cordless Blower does everything well. Measured at the ear using a standard Radio Shack SPL meter (C-weighted), you can expect the following results:
- Low speed: 72dB SPL
- Moderate speed: 80 dB SPL
- High Speed: 85 dB SPL
- Boost: 91 dB SPL
The output level of this blower is so low during use that you could theoretically run it for 6-8 hours in boost mode without hearing protection. Nothing below needs any ear protection (although you're probably more comfortable using it anyway, especially if you're switching back and forth between different outdoor power tools). If you're dealing with NIOSH standards, you're limited to 2 hours on the Boost level (which is impractical anyway) and around 8 hours on the High level. Given that no blower is running continuously on the job, my initial assessment is valid for both OSHA and NIOSH – for a typical 8 hour shift, you can basically use this tool without any hearing protection.
EGO LB5300 56V Blower Features
The first generation EGO 56V blower has two speeds and a turbo button. The new brushless EGO LB5300 56V blower has a smooth sliding dial that adjusts the speed in variable increments (and, yes, you still have a Turbo button). Gone is the second switch that allows you to activate the tool. Now you just put in the battery and pull the trigger. We prefer that. I mean, come on, what are you going to do…accidentally blow on someone? The trigger activates the blower to whatever speed is set by the slide switch—similar to how a variable speed barrel jigsaw works. The Turbo button is slightly off, so it's a deliberate (but still comfortable) movement to engage it. More on that later.
The handle has a very comfortable rubber overmolding for a comfortable hand feel. If you're using the optional shoulder strap or harness, there's a metal mounting point on the left side of the tool, which is a distinct possibility if you plan to use it for extended periods of time (along with the brushless motor and purchased EGO 7.5Ah 56V battery) . The use of cordless power tools is growing in popularity as we see more and more municipalities and regions pushing for noise cancellation and cleaner landscaping options.
new battery pack
I also want to mention the new battery that debuted with this tool, as it represents more than just a small boost in runtime or potential power. The new EGO Power+ 56V battery uses a new higher density lithium-ion battery, offering more potential in the same size battery. That's why this new 2.5Ah battery is the same size as their current compact 2.0Ah battery – but it offers 140Wh of power versus 112Wh. That's a 25% increase no matter how you slice it. Put this battery in other EGO tools, such as the EGO Powerload String Trimmer, and you'll see an increase in run time there too. Here are the current battery options offered by EGO (charging times are given for both standard and fast chargers):
- 2.0 Ah battery (BA1120): 112Wh, 2.8 lbs, 25/40 minute charge time
- 2.5 Ah battery (BA1400): 140Wh, 2.8 lbs, 30/50 minute charge time
- 4.0 Ah battery (BA2240): 224Wh, 4.9 lbs, 30/80 minute charge time
- 5.0 Ah battery (BA2800): 280Wh, 4.9 lbs, 40/100 minute charge time
- 7.5 Ah battery (BA4200): 420Wh, 6.3 lbs, 60/120+ minute charge time
Using EGO LB5300 56V Blower
I let the EGO 56V blower run for a few cycles until I noticed something – my hands didn't have the numbness that I get when using a dual cycle blower. As it turns out, EGO employs some pretty fancy vibration dampening in the actual motor and fan assembly. There are two mounting points on each side, with gaskets and rubber standoffs separating the fan assembly from the plastic case. It's sort of like a motor mount system that separates the high-speed rotating motor from the handle. The result is that you can use the blower for extended periods of time with virtually no vibration.
As you can probably tell from the specs, there's plenty of power, but using the EGO LB5300 56V blower is what really translates these numbers into a real world experience. When you press the Turbo button to call up a particularly stuck wet leaf area (for example), the force on your arm is actually enough that you have to work hard to stop the blower from moving backwards. It's not something I want to do to myself for long (there's a reason powerful backpack blowers have vertical handles!). Landscaping professionals know that you don't need full power 100% of the time to get the job done—low or medium speeds are sufficient for blowers and trimmers most of the time.
Using Turbo mode and runtime
In fact, when you're drying leaves or something, running this tool in Turbo will be harmful—you'll be spitting crumbs everywhere. However, I know a lot of people who want to tune these tools to the highest possible level and leave them there. Why? You don't manipulate everything this way. Imagine if you were driving to the shop by getting in the car, turning it on, and putting the pedal on the floor until you got there… sure, it's going to make a lot of noise and can be fun, but you'd have to pay with traffic tickets and insurance Claim all damages along the way to add to your weekly food budget. As with most tools – use them correctly and they perform much better.
Looking at run time, the EGO LB5300 56V blower ran non-stop at high speed (no turbo) for 19-1/2 minutes. I used it in the Turbo for about 10 minutes, but in the process I found that I had to rest the back of the tool on my thigh because it worked out my arms. EGO claims up to 75 minutes of run time from the included 2.5 Ah battery when low. Given these numbers and what I've observed at higher speeds, I have no reason to doubt this.
EGO LB5300 56V Blower Specifications
- Brushless Motor
- turbo function
- Battery: 56V 2.5Ah Li-ion battery
- Speed (low speed/high speed/acceleration): 10,000/18,000/23,000 RPM
- Air Volume (Low/High/Boost): 260/400/530 CFM
- Wind Speed (Low/High/Boost): 50/85/110 MPH
- Run time (with 2.5 Ah battery): 10/22/75 minutes.
- Weight (without batteries): 4.81 lbs. (2.18 kg)
- Charging time: 50 minutes (2.5 Ah battery)
- Warranty: 5-year limited
- Price: $139
in conclusion
Basically, EGO takes an already great product and makes it even better. The new brushless EGO LB5300 56V blower looks cooler, blows harder, and runs longer than its predecessor…and we love its predecessor. At just $199 for a kit that includes the charger and new 2.5Ah battery, you'll want to take a closer look at the wireless stuff. You're finally getting the runtime you need to be practical, and despite the current downward spiral in gas prices, charging the battery is far less expensive than a tank of fuel any day of the week. Add to that the convenience of not having to worry about overwintering, and you have a strong reason to ditch the dual-cycle lithium-ion battery this leaf-blowing season.