XBU03SM1 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Blower Kit (4.0Ah)

I was looking for a blower that I could use to remove the leaves that always accumulate behind and under 2 rows of large evergreen trees in my yard that are very close to my fence. I have very little room to navigate once I get between the trees and the fence and it's also very difficult to maneuver the electric corded blower I have been using, the cord is always getting hung up on the tree branches, so I decided to invest in a battery powered blower to eliminate the issues with dragging the extension cord around. I also wanted a blower that was short in length so it would be easier to wield in the tight spaces. I did a lot of research on different makes and models and finally decided to go with this Makita unit as it seemed to have all the features that I required. I received the blower yesterday, charged up the battery and put it to use this afternoon and I'm extremely satisfied with this blower. The power (force of air) is very impressive and easily blows out the dead leaves and debris that are packed fairly tight under the evergreen trees. It's very light, easy to hold, very comfortable and use and it's smaller length is perfect for my needs. The battery only takes about 45 minutes to fully charge, which is nice, but it only lasts about 30 minutes (I was using it on full force the entire time) and when it does "die" it goes from running strong to no power instantly. I gave the unit only 3 stars for "Battery Life" because with todays technology I really think that the battery should last much longer, but at the same time I must state that prior to making this purchase I read many user reviews that clearly stated that the battery would only last around 30 minutes or less so I can't say that it caught me by surprise. I decided to go with this unit for it's power knowing that I would need more than 1 battery if I expected to use the blower for an extended period so I just went ahead and ordered 2 extra batteries when I ordered the unit. At the quick rate that they recharge the spare batteries will insure that I have a constant power supply. That being said, I really like this blower and I'm very satisfied with my purchase. Using it today it worked great. More than enough power for my needs, easy to maneuver and aim and most importantly no long electric extension cord to have to deal with. For clearing the leaves from my large yard in the fall I'll continue to use my gas powered backpack blower along with my electric blower with the cord but I bought this blower for a very specific purpose and it does that job very well.

It took me quite a bit of research to settle on this blower. The previous blower I had been using was electric and dragging the 100 foot cord around, untangling it most of the time, really added to the physical effort of blowing which usually happens after I have already mowed, weed wacked , edged or trimmed bushes. I have some low back and hip issues and I am trying to find ways to make things easier for myself. So getting the cord out of the way was a goal a well as finding a blower that was light weight yet had some power. After reading reviews and looking at specs, this seemed to be the one to go with. It was more expensive then a lot of other battery powered blowers but a lighter blower was essential for me that also had some power. Well, it is light enough. I think its supposed to be in the 6.5 to 7 pound range thereabouts with the battery. I am impressed with the power. It definitely fits my needs for an average suburban front and back yard. I have even used it to blow leaves to the back of the yard across the grass, with no problem. I usually use this on max most of the time. The battery life is ok. I am out blowing for about 15 minutes or so and usually half the charge is gone by then, so I might be able to go a half hour. The recharge time on the battery does take a while, maybe a few hours, nothing like an Ego battery. I'd say the recharge time is similar to my Black and Decker string trimmer battery. From time to time if I hold the blower right in front of me it will suck my pants in toward the intake. I just hold it more to my side a bit. I did purchase an extender to bring the air pressure closer to the ground. It was not necessary but I did not want to be bending forward at times. I bought that from Home depot, it was much less expensive then Amazon. The best price for the blower was on Amazon. It shipped from Amazon but it looked like it originally came from Makita USA. The Makita box was heavily taped on the bottom and top like it had been opened before, other reviewers mentioned this also. Everything was there in box, but I think it could have all been packaged a bit better. The battery was installed in the blower. I think the charger could have been packaged better. There was some kind of white residue on each side of the blower, a small amount, which I wiped off. And then of course Amazon has the Makita box upside down in an Amazon box . The this side up on the amazon box really had the Makita box upside down. Typical Amazon. So I was juggling in my mind should I return it or keep it, it took awhile but figured I'd give a try. Anyway long story short I have been using for a good 2 months or so and its pretty good.

works well and light weight built well

I have a number of Makita tools, so I thought I’d stay with this line and battery, getting an extra battery and charger in the process. I also ordered the Amazon “paired” flat extension, which didn’t fit and I returned. The blower works well but has a fairly short battery life. I can burn through three batteries in about 30 mins; not ideal. (The 4.0Ah lasts a bit longer than my older 3.0Ah, unsurprisingly.) After further research, I found an extension and the original flat extension together works, however, this does make for a rather long blower tube. Being tall, it is not an issue. When I reordered the flat extension, it was on sale, so I saved some $$.

The best thing about this blower is the throttle lever - you can set it for a (low speed) and leave it there. This lets you run the blower at low speed - plenty of air to move leaves, yet lets you run MUCH longer. At full speed the battery lasts about 15 min - but you just blast leaves into the air. At lower speeds you have much more control AND the batter lasts much longer. ITs the best feature about this unit. Batteries - the Makita batteries are great, but they don't like to operate continuously. So either run it and turn it off frequently or run at low speed - that's the best way to get the most run time. The accessories are odd - you have to buy an extended AND a flared end for about $18 total. Seems it would be one part and cheaper. I passed, but maybe when I am tyring to move wet leaves I'll look into this again. Super well made, sturdy, very sturdy - its already dropped off a table once with no damage at all. Batteries charge quickly and at it is not noisy for a blower. Makita batteries are expensive but very, very good. I am using several from my drill on the blower - these batteries must be ten years old and power the blower just fine and for a good amount of time.

I'm a small woman and wanted something light to clean my yard. This works really well. More powerful than I expected. Does a great job blowing leaves. I have a large backyard and the battery lasts long enough to clean the whole thing plus my driveway. December 2021 update: The blower is now 8 months old. It has gotten light use. I still love it, but it is now failing. Even when the battery is fully charge, the blower sounds like it's not getting any power. I called Makita (the blower has a 3 years manufacture's warranty) and they told me to take it to the nearest authorized service center. I did and the technician showed me several other identical blowers waiting for a defective part to become available. Blame it on Covid and the supply chain issues, but it could be 6 to 8 weeks before I see my blower again.

If you are an older person, and maybe not as strong as you once were, this blower is user friendly! No question, CORDLESS is the way to go! Its light weight makes it easier to use. Its powerful enough to blow off the walk, the patio, or the driveway. Yes, its powerful enough to blow leaves...off grass in smaller areas. Its well balanced. the trigger control has a second means of operation that acts like a cruise control. I'm almost 80, and I think this blower is a good value. But, be ware of a website offering this blower at a price that seemed too good to be true! I got scammed. Avoid trouble, buy it from a known, reputable merchant, at the comparable price of other merchants.

I am a big fan of Makita products and have many of their battery operated tools. I read several reviews about this leaf blower and they all were very positive including the review from Consumer Reports. Although it has a very powerful blower, I was extremely disappointed in how long the batteries lasted, including the one that came with the blower that lasted a whole eight minutes. I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and have a large yard with a lot of leaves and although the blower handles well I would have had to spend hundreds of dollars on batteries to get me through an hour of leaf blowing. Very disappointed and the battery charger did not work correctly-returned it.

Used for blowing driveway and leaves. Excellent power