The Toro Ultra Blower Vacuum and Mulcher is a great mid-range blower if you want a step up from more basic blowers. Most folks think you can’t get a good electric blower these days and that you need to grab an expensive battery-powered blower to get any real power.
I’m here to tell you that these electric blowers have been around forever – and for good reason. This has been my main blower for about a year now and I’ve come to love it.
Bottom Line: The Toro Ultra Blower / Vacuum combo is a budget friendly option that makes leaf clean up in small yards extremely efficient. You can grab yours at Amazon for a super low price.
Jump ahead:
- Performance
- Versatility of the Toro 3-in-1
- Cost and value
- Tips from my experience
- Would I buy it again?
My experience using the Toro Ultra 260 MPH 340 CFM blower and vacuum combo
I first bought this unit a little over a year ago and after several uses I noticed a burning smell and saw smoke coming from the connection between the extension cord and the unit because I did not have the proper gage extension cord, stressed below.
I got a replacement and the right cord and I’ve been using it without any issues ever since. This blower works fantastically for me during the fall or whenever I need to get debris off of my lawn, and the vacuum/mulcher works fine with a little set up.
Toro’s Blower Combo: Features
Let me break down a few things I was looking at on this Toro blower before I finally pulled the trigger and bought it.
Power and Performance Capabilities of the Toro Ultra blower
This blower boasts around 340 CFMs of air at around 260 miles per hour. If you don’t quite understand the difference between CFMS and MPH, then read this.
This blower should be adequate for most lawns, but if you have a lot of trees that dumb a TON of leaves, I would recommend you buy a stronger blower.
For example, if you live on over half an acre or have a ton of really big trees in your yard, then I would look for something with at least 500 CFMs and a wider opening. This blower has a flat nozzle that is great for blasting away small piles of leaves or scraping away wet leaves or grass clippings, but will be inefficient for HUGE piles.
If you want something with some more CFMs, there are some great corded electric blowers that have more OR you can opt for a really nice high CFM battery-powered blower like the EGO 765.
Versatility of the Toro Blower and Vacuum combo
This blower is corded, so you can really only go as far as your cord can. Do not underestimate the importance of having a long cord, it’s better to have a little extra than to not be able to use your blower on the edges of your yard.
But with a longer cord, it is imperative to get the proper gage. Below is a chart of the best gages for each cord length:
| Extension Cord Length | Minimum Wire Gage (A.W.G) |
| 25 ft (7.6 m) | 16 |
| 50 ft (15 m) | 16 |
| 100 ft (30.5 m) | 14 |
| 150 ft (45.7 m) | 10 |
This product’s main selling point is that it is 3 in 1, a blower, a vacuum, and a mulcher, full marks on versatility! It performs best as a blower and works decently as a vacuum/mulcher. Although if you plan on buying this purely for the vacuum/mulching side of things, I recommend you give this one a pass for a more specialized product.
Noise Level on the Toro Ultra Blower Vac
This blower comes in at about 70 decibels, which is equivalent to a kitchen blender or a washing machine. This level of noise will not be harmful to your hearing, but it may wake up light sleepers.
Vacuuming and Mulching Capability on Toro’s Ultra Blower
The Toro Ultra Electric Blower Vac boasts being 3 in 1, but is it really? The vacuum and mulcher are basically the same, the only difference being what you do with the bagged leaves. On the leaf blower side of things, it’s great and works as it should. But on the other hand, the vacuum/mulcher could use a little work due to its problem with rocks.
After a few uses, I came to realize that the vacuum/mulcher is very good at picking up everything you don’t want in there. The tiniest of pebbles can get caught in the blade and either jam it or damage it. I advise you to refrain from using this as a vacuum/mulcher unless you pick up any debris that it may not like before vacuuming.
One other alternative is to blow all the leaves into a large pile and THEN use the vacuum function to get them up instead of trying to vacuum as you go. This avoids the potential for any damage from rocks jamming up the mulching function.
Finding the best cost for the Toro Ultra Blower and Vac combo
The Toro Blower and Vacuum Combo comes in at a really good price on Amazon – under $120. I believe this is just about the right price for this blower, considering the value you’re getting from it with the 3 in 1 tools.
In fact, compared to most battery powered leaf blowers, this Toro blower is absurdly cheap. While you may still get looks from your neighbors for using an old-school corded blower, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better deal.
A few quick tips I learned the hard way
I wanted to share a few quick tips for those that are about to go grab this blower from Home Depot. I learned these the hard way after using this blower for the first time.
Usage
Before using, be sure to secure the plug firmly into the blower and the wall in order to prevent any mishaps. Also be sure there are no obstructions in your yard that the cord may get tangled on. Make sure there is no sitting water near for the cord to land in.
When using the vacuum/mulcher, be sure not to pick up anything that the blades won’t be able to handle, such as wood, rocks, and large sticks.
After Use
After using the blower, you can just turn it off and unplug the cord and you’re done. With the vacuum/mulcher, you’ll need to empty the bag and possibly clean off the blades after unplugging. One advantage to the unit is it is easily disassembled to be stowed away if you need extra garage/shed space.
My Recommendation: Toro 260 MPH 340 CFM Ultra Blower Vac
My experience with the Toro ultra blower vac has been nothing but great. It gets the job done, has a good price point, and has all the features you’ll need. I recommend this one for anybody that is a first time homeowner, has a smaller yard, or is looking for a great swiss army knife solution on the cheap.
If I was doing it all over again, I don’t think I could find a better leaf clean up tool that fits the needs of my yard for a better price.
Grab yours at Home Depot for a great price or on Amazon for a really good price as well.
What I look for in a corded blower
Corded blowers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes but there are two basic things you need to understand:
CFMs on blowers
Cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of air output on the blower. Higher CFM = more power, but not necessarily more miles per hour. High CFM with a wide nozzle = lower MPH. High CFM with a narrow nozzle = high miles per hour. Ideally, you want both a high CFM with a narrow to medium nozzle for most residential jobs.
Usability
What is the point of having a blower if it is hard to use? You have to get one that is lightweight, easy to start, and has some functions that make your life easier. One thing I look for here is how the weight is distributed. I also look for things like variable speed control, sound, and how easy it is to reach or change controls like cruise control.
Reliability
It’s important to have reliable equipment – hands down. For homeowners, having a blower that can easily start and requires minimal maintenance is key. The engine doesn’t get as much use as a professional landscaper, so hopefully doesn’t require the same maintenance schedule. For professional landscapers, you need to have a blower that starts quickly and isn’t a headache requiring frequent tinkering and minor replacements.
These are three things you need to pay attention to when looking through the specifications.
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