The Black & Decker Leaf Hog BV4000 blower-vacuum is a powerful blower that also vacuums and mulches efficiently. The electric blower-vacuum is lightweight and easy to use. These qualities earn it a Consumer Guide Best Buy.

The Black & Decker Leaf Hog BV4000's 230-mph blowing speed provides more than enough power for moving wet leaves and large piles of leaves. And the Leaf Hog converts from a blower to a vacuum with just a push of a button. It also features an anti-clog Vortex vacuum system that resists clogs when mulching.

This model easily moves leaves, grass clippings, needles and other small debris. We found that it quickly stirs driveway and lawn debris into manageable piles. The snap fit design of the Hog makes it a breeze to switch from blowing to vacuuming, and its construction feels solid. The vacuum-mulch feature for this unit works better than several other comparable models; the vacuum works best when held close to leaves. In our tests we found that the mulch ratio did not exactly match the manufacturer's claim, but it did reduce the debris considerably, so there's no worry that the Leaf Hog will get its job done. The only drawback we noticed was that the bag attachment system does not seem secure and can let debris escape into the air.

The Leaf Hog weighs just 8.1 pounds, and its sound rating is 65 decibels. The 3-in-1 unit comes with a 1.5-bushel leaf collection bag and an adjustable shoulder strap. An option that many people find to be one of the best features of the Black & Decker Leaf Hog BV4000 is the attachment that lets you dispose of leaves directly into a container rather than into the bag. Once in the container, the debris is then ready to be easily transported to your local recycler or landfill.

The Black & Decker Leaf Hog BV4000 has been around for a few years now and has proven to be a popular and powerful lawn care tool. The Leaf Hog blows hard, vacuums forcefully and shreds acceptably. This model deserves its Consumer Guide Best Buy rating and is a good addition to any tool shed.


Pros: Powerful blower, good vacuum suction, light weight, quiet, includes vacuum attachment and leaf bag
Cons: Bag attachment system does not seem secure

Warranty
2 years