Ryobi 730 CFM Blower Delivers Top-Rated Power With Incredibly Low Noise
Despite the promise of low noise cordless blowers, those levels have been rising as performance standards have been raised. The Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 730 CFM Leaf Blower claims to have legit power and incredibly low noise. Regarding low noise, Ryobi calls this technology the Whisper series technology. We set out to see how those claims stacked up against the top battery-operated blowers available.
advantage
- top blowing force
- Its performance level is incredibly quiet
- Great value for money with two 4.0Ah batteries included in the kit
- Flexible nozzle resists damage and is designed to cut to optimize the performance you want
shortcoming
- no obvious disadvantages
Blowing power
700 CFM has been a significant hurdle, and the fact that Ryobi's HP brushless blowers have hit 730 CFM is a very significant one. To go with it, you can get up to 190 MPH, depending on which nozzle you use.
To understand what a number means when compared to other blowers, we use Newton's force. With a fully charged battery, we reached a peak of 11.3 N. Enter Turbo and power jumps all the way to 20.0 N.
It actually got better, though. Our blowers include a flexible nozzle that you can cut off to gain CFM at the expense of some airspeed. By cutting off the first part of the flexible nozzle, the total force jumps to 21.7 N!
Only five cordless hairdryers we've tested hit the 20 N mark, and Ryobi is responsible for two of them. Another is Ryobi's 40V Backpack Blower. This is by far the most powerful blower we've seen out of the box. We have a blower test higher. However, we had to use a very heavy battery, so we don't recommend this configuration.
run
As far as runtimes go, we got 15 minutes and 5 seconds at full throttle and 10 minutes and 32 seconds with Turbo engaged. This seems a bit short compared to some blowers we've tested. However, the kit comes with two 4.0Ah batteries, and doubling those numbers gives the Ryobi significantly longer run times than other high-performance options with just one battery.
noise level
When you see a blower noise rating, it's based on ANSI standards for bystanders. We like to test it on an operator's ear to see how it feels on someone who actually uses it. Most battery powered blowers run at over 80 decibels, with performance models topping out at 85 – 88 decibels.
If you're used to hair dryers of that class, you won't believe how quiet the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Hair Dryer is at 72dB on high and only 76dB on turbo! Not only is it quiet for a high-performance model, but it's also quiet compared to almost every cordless hair dryer we've tested.
The blower is rated at 57 decibels according to ANSI testing.
To make the design so quiet, a lot of engineering went into it. While this is only part of the picture, the most obvious sound insulation comes from the foam that can be seen behind the blower.
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 730 CFM Leaf Blower Design Notes
weight and balance
Without the battery, the blower weighs 6.4 pounds, and the 4.0Ah battery makes it 9.7 pounds. If you want to use the larger 6.0Ah battery pack, it's 10.7 pounds.
The blower is longer than most blowers and measures 40 3/4 inches front to back with a flexible nozzle. Still, the blower is very well balanced and maintains a decent downward angle under load. With the heavier 6.0Ah battery, though, the weight balance does shift back a bit.
Additional features
- variable speed trigger
- cruise control
- Jet fan design
- Compatible with all Ryobi 40V batteries
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 730 CFM Leaf Blower Prices
The Ryobi 730 CFM blower costs $179 bare-bones or $299 in a kit with two 4.0Ah batteries and a fast charger. Considering other high-performance options, we rate this kit higher than other options for value.
Ryobi offers a 5-year warranty on the tool and a 3-year warranty on the battery.
the bottom line
In tough competition with all other cordless blowers, the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 730 CFM Leaf Blower has the best combination of performance, noise level, and value available. With Ryobi's full potential in the 40V HP brushless lineup, this Whisper Series blower is yet another reason to seriously consider Ryobi for your battery powered lawn care needs.
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 730 CFM Leaf Blower Specifications
- Model: Rimei RY404100
- Power source: Ryobi 40V battery
- Maximum airflow: 190 MPH
- Maximum air volume: 730 CFM
- Weight: 6.4 lbs bare, 9.7 lbs with 4.0Ah battery
- Length: 40 3/4 inches with flexible nozzle
- Price: $179 bare, $299 kit with two 4.0Ah batteries and fast charger
- Warranty: 5 years on blower, 3 years on battery
Learn more here.