Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Toro 51621 UltraPlus Leaf Blower Vacuum, Variable-Speed (up to 250 mph) with Metal Impeller, 12 amp,Red

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2024

I have several live oak trees in/near my FL yard. These leaves are the bane of my existence. I spent hours raking and scooping until I was too sore to continue, and the yard still looked like I hadn't done anything. With this tool, it still takes me a fair amount of physical effort but a lot less total time, and in the end my yard is actually clean. I'm 5'2 and petite. The effort for me is managing the weight of the vac and leaf bag, but watching those leaves disappear makes it completely worth it. I filled 5 and a half tall leaf bags today in about 5 hours (mulched so each bag holds 2 or 3 times as much) . I think for someone 4-6 inches taller it would be significantly easier to use. I'd still recommend it for anyone regardless of height, just want you to know what to expect. It picks up the leaves and small twigs, not the landscape rocks, even at full power. Definitely use the hook to secure the plug or it will drive you crazy unplugging itself.

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Melissa

Lots of power

Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024

Style: Blower VacuumVerified Purchase

The blower/vacuum has a lot of power. I use to clean my artificial turf weekly. The blower
seems to be the the same as the cheaper kit, the real difference is the attachments between this one and lower cost one and to be honest the attachments make it less powerful so I don’t use them, I could have gone with the cheaper kit, but I still love the blower itself. The attachments make work better on a different surface than what I’m using it on.

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Studio Orange

Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2015

Style: Blower VacuumVerified Purchase

Only some will understand the title of this review.

So let me spell it out: A combination leaf blower / mulcher is like a cheat code for life.

Raking my back yard typically goes something like this...

I go out and buy leaf bags. I'll generally buy three packs, for a total of 15 bags. I assume that I'm over-estimating because my back yard isn't really that big. How could I possibly need more?

Spend an entire afternoon raking leaves. Arms feel like rubber, but I'm really only half way done. Now to start bagging. I tell the neighbor he is welcome to use any of my left over bags.

By bag 12 I realize the error of my ways.

Cursing the universe for the invention of Fall, I go back to the store for more bags. Of course they are sold out. So now I'm faced with the real moral dilemma of either going store-to-store to try to find more bags, or giving up, leaving the remaining piles of leaves to the whims of fate, and going inside for a glass of whiskey.

Either way, I'm thinking I could just solve all of my problems if I get a chainsaw and go on a tree assassination mission throughout the neighborhood so I don't have to deal with this next year.

After a friend brought over his gas-powered blower so I could clear off my driveway and patio, I realized where my life had gone wrong and how I could remedy it.

I decided to opt for this corded blower. It claims to reduce the amount of bags you'll need dramatically. "Ok, little guy, you keep telling yourself that," I'm thinking condescendingly as I go ahead and buy three packs of lawn bags. I figure as long as it saves me the task of raking, I'll consider myself ahead of the game.

I make 4 large piles of leaves in the yard. It takes all of about 15 minutes. Already this thing is my hero. And now it's the moment of truth. I switch over to the vacuum / mulcher.

Now, you might think that what I'm about to tell you is an exaggeration. I must be lying. But I am not. I consider this year's leaf bombardment to be at least typical, and had I gone the traditional route of cursing and tears, I fully expect that it would have again taken three or more packs of bags.

This thing mulched my entire yard down into THREE BAGS. Not packs. BAGS.

Even as I was closing up the final (third) bag of leaves, I couldn't believe what had just happened. My neighbor was already 6 bags into his yard and had barely put a dent into his piles. That used to be me, pal. That used to be me.

I had just Konami coded my yard.

Ok, so if you've read this far, things to know:

1. I'm happy with this unit overall so far, but I've deducted a star because it *is* a tad bit clunky to use. Switching out between the blower tools and the mulching tools is slightly awkward. Also, the cord management isn't the best. There is a "hook" you can wrap the cord around, but because of the smooth plastic and the way it's angled, the cord still likes to slip out and if you're not careful you can unplug yourself -- not the end of the world, but annoying.

2. One thing I *DO* like about this is how much quieter it is that the gas powered units I've been around. Don't get me wrong, this thing is still like holding a mini-jet engine in terms of noise...If you've spent your life attending concerts, this may not be that big of a deal to you. Otherwise, I wouldn't consider you some sort of weirdo if you wanted to use ear protection with this thing.

3. Sort of like my German Shepherd, this thing can eat too fast if you don't keep an eye on it. You'll know when the mulcher takes too large of a bite. The suction will stop and it'll start whining like you just took away its favorite toy. Just detach and unclog the tube and don't be so impatient. You'll be fine.

One final thought: I've really only tackled my yard once. It's doubtful I'll have need to use it again this year (but I'll likely let some friends use it on their yards). So I can't really speak yet as to the longevity /reliability of this unit.

Update: It's been two years. You know, when that honeymoon phase is supposed to have faded and now you're actually willing to express your annoyance when the dishwasher isn't loaded the way you like (e.g., the efficient way)? Well, forget the fear that the luster will have faded. This unit is still going strong. Even scored some bonus points helping out the neighbor across the street. He had a similar unit, different brand, and marveled at how much better this one functioned. And let's face it, who doesn't like scoring some one-up points in the neighborhood? It's the little victories that count.

1,996 people found this helpful

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dom

Has the power of a gas blower without the noise,fumes,gas,oil,plugs, and weight.

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024

Style: Blower VacuumVerified Purchase

I have an acre of property with a lot of oaks. This is my 3rd one in the last 20 years. Considering the amount of usage Toro is very durable. I have a cordless Makita but the blower power is nowhere near the Toro. My shipment came without the vacuum tube but my old one fit so all is fine.

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Jed A

Awesome

Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2024

Style: Blower VacuumVerified Purchase

Shreds leaves and small sticks very well. I’m impressed with its power even though it’s corded.

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Scotty

I love this blower/leaf vac

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2024

Style: Blower VacuumVerified Purchase

This equipment has a metal impeller so it lasts a lot longer than the ones with a plastic impeller. They last about 3 years with heavy use. It is a powerful blower and variable speed lets you get in corners without shooting the debris in your face. Bags are a good size and easy to empty. When full, the bags are manageable - I wouldn't want them any larger. After three years of heavy use (1/2 acre property full of oak trees) the impeller is worn down but the vac still processes the leaves, just doesn't chew them up as much. Will use that one to blow leaves and purchased this new one for vac. I am 5' 6" and vac tube is just the right length for me to use all day without issue. My husband is 6'2" and he finds the tube to be a little short for him, making him bend over some to vac. The vac does not do well on very wet leaves or leaves full of larger sticks - I did not deduct for this as the commercial leaf sucker from the landscape company gets jammed on wet leaves and it's huge. Nothing on the market handles wet rotting leaves. I blow them out on the lawn to dry for a day then they are a breeze to pick up.
Took off one star because vac tube attachment is hard to get on and off to switch from blower to vac - I have arthritis, so I keep two of these set up for the two jobs.

2 people found this helpful

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K Hoffman

Great price on Great product

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024

Style: Blower VacuumVerified Purchase

Couldn't find one locally. Glad to find just what I wanted at Amazon.

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Gatti

-Functionability

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024

Style: Blower VacuumVerified Purchase

The leaf blower/vac works as advertised. It chops the leaves to a fine size and the residue can be used as a mulch. This is where the pros end. The item, used as a vac is extremely heavy and bulky and your shoulder carrying the leaf bad will attest to that afterwards. But it does work very well and is worth the cost and effort if you are strong enough. To use it

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K

It works as expected...with a few design flaws...

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2022

Style: Blower VacuumVerified Purchase

Definitely happy I got this.

Sorry no blower review here. Just vacuum.

It works as you would expect. I have only used it on small leaves from the type of trees that I have. I use a different blower to put them in the best pile that I can, so my review is only speaking to the vacuum of this tool.

First...before you plug it in make sure the dial for power is turned all the way down. There is NO on/off switch. So the thing will power right up and scare ya if you don't turn this knob down first.

Second, all the reviews about the cord being on the wrong side are sorta correct. It definitely is not in the "best" spot. But it is a tough call. For me, I just found the best way to let it hang and drag that I could. That meant tucking through the handle and it coming out the other way. Easy. Don't like the cord? Buy gas.

The overall size is MUCH smaller than you would have expected. Works great and has no trouble in the power department, but I sorta "thought you'd be bigger." I would not advise for a frequent user or a heavy leaf-laden area, or for a commercial application. Great for having around the house though and regular home use of a small property.

While I only picked up small leaves in my test, it mulched them to powder! You can see from my photo where I blew enough leaves into an area then went over them with the Toro to pick up. The bits that remain are actually rocks. I have a lot of pea gravel mixed in there. So the vacuum did a terrific job of pulling up the leaves and mulching them down.

I had trouble with leaves that were a few inches from the end of the tube. The ones that were in the cracks of my railroad ties did not pull up. The vacuum really does need a bit of a "seal" to create the proper suction. So you want to be able to put it right down on the leaves. This is important when reviewing because this is a key in what people don't expect. A lot of people think it should suck from across the yard.

One thing I definitely did not like about it was the bag. Love the bottom zipper! But the bag is not "lined." Literally the dust from the mulching just blows right through that fabric. You can expect a full shower and immediate dump of your clothes in the wash after a serious shakeout. Really...this is dramatic. UPDATE-I found the bag HAS to be breathable ot there would not be any actual vacuum. If it were plastic lined, it would be a balloon! So...nature of the beast.

A lot of folks complain that the thing is too short and you have to bend over. This is true IF you are tall! I am 6' and I had to hunch for the blower to reach the ground/leaves. This hurt my back after a while. But as a tall person, you know this is a thing. It would be nice if I could find a 8" extension somehow for the tube. But I expected this and it works as I would think for most people it should be fine.

My biggest complaint is the end nozzle for the vacuum. The shape of the opening has an angle on one side. Presumably so you can drag it across the leaves and it pulls them up. This works just fine. Sorta. The angle is to one side. So for the tube to not get caught on the ground or snag, you have only ONE CHOICE of direction to drag to pick up leaves. I had to drag right to left to get the leaves up. I honestly want to stand in front of the pile and be able to maneuver the vac how I need to...so the angle should be forward-facing, not to a side. This takes away a really key movement, for me at least. I literally am going to use a grinder to change the angle so it can pick up forward-facing and not dragging across.

The dragging motion is also likely why some are experiencing back pain with the hunching. This is just a simple ergonomic problem with their design.

Ups and downs in the review, but the end result is I love the vacuum and it works great for the small jobs that I have and the price point is fantastic. In the end, I wish I was not anxious about getting out shopping or I would have gone and found a good gas version. I really would rather have had that. But I am an introvert and have a thing about going places...so the Amazon route was great and this was the safest bet for the buck. I'm happy.

With the vacuum.

49 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Great power

Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024

Style: Blower VacuumVerified Purchase

Have had a few of the yard vacuum blowers in the past years.
Very pleased with the power.
Unhappy with the quality of the bag. Probably use once every three weeks, purchased 4 months ago and have just used some gorilla glue to plug up 4 small holes.

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