Ryobi 40V Whisper Series 550 CFM Leaf Blower Highlights Quiet Operation
While there have been huge strides made in the battery-powered blower market in regard to performance, not everyone needs 20+ Newtons of blowing force or the price tag that comes with it. We’re looking at the Ryobi 550 CFM Leaf Blower to see who this Whisper Series tool is a good fit for.
Pros
- Quiet operation
- Pivoting handle
- Inline jet fan design
- Excellent value
Cons
- No cruise control
- No bare tool option
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Ryobi 40V Whisper Series Leaf Blower Performance
Blowing Force
Ryobi tells us this model achieves airspeeds up to 125 MPH and an air volume of 550 CFM. We hooked it up to our meter force to see how it compares to other blowers.
Using the included 4.0Ah battery, the blower’s brushless motor delivered 9.8 Newtons on High and 13.9 Newtons with turbo mode activated. When we switched over to a 6.0Ah battery, we got the same results, but the numbers did peak a little higher at the very start of the test.
Most residential-level gas blowers start around 12 Newtons, so we used that number as our benchmark. This Ryobi blower exceeds it while in Turbo mode, so if you’re looking for something to replace your old gas model, this one earns a thumbs up from us.
Runtime
We used a 4.0Ah battery for our runtime tests. We were able to run the blower on high for 21 minutes, 26 seconds. When we kicked it up to Turbo mode, it ran for 12 minutes, 43 seconds. That’s plenty of time to cover most residential lawns up to 1/2 an acre on just one battery.
Noise Level
A blower’s job is to move debris using concentrated airflow, and this can produce models that vary pretty significantly in their noise output. Ryobi tells us this blower has a noise level of 59 decibels based on ANSI standards.
We like to measure the noise level from the operator’s ear (or around 36 inches) and our numbers usually come out higher. On high, we measured 72 dB(a) and on Turbo we got 80 dB(a).
While it’s louder than Ryobi touted, these levels are remarkably quiet compared to most cordless blowers, which can run 85+ decibels. We did find Ryobi’s 730 CFM Whisper Series blower to be a little quieter, though.
Ryobi 40V Whisper Series 550 CFM Leaf Blower Design Notes
It’s fairly obvious at first glance that the design for this blower is much different than most. The pivoting handle allows for battery clearance and gives you control over how you want to hold it. To adjust the position, you just loosen the grey knob on the side, pivot the handle into your desired detent, and re-tighten it.
Tilting the handle back gives you a more nose-down angle to keep your wrist at a more natural angle, which leads to more a comfortable experience when you’re using it for long periods of time.
The controls are pretty straightforward, with a variable speed trigger and a Turbo button. One thing we’re missing on this model is cruise control, so you’ll have to feather the trigger if you want a lower speed than you get in High mode.
This blower weighs in at 6.7 pounds by itself. Adding the included 4.0Ah battery brings the total working weight up to 9.8 pounds. Although it’s pushing 10 pounds, we found it to be balanced well and not burdensome to carry around and use.
Additional Features
- Jet fan design
- Compatible with all Ryobi 40V batteries
Ryobi 40V Whisper Series 550 CFM Leaf Blower Price
You have a few price options for this blower. There’s a kit with one 4.0Ah battery and a charger that retails for $199. Adding a second 4.0Ah battery to the mix brings the total to $338. Right now, we’re not seeing any bare tool options for this blower.
Considering a 4.0Ah battery and charger kit runs $198 by itself, the $199 blower kit is an attractive price point.
Like all Ryobi tools and products, you can find this blower at The Home Depot.
The Bottom Line
Ryobi’s 550 CFM Leaf Blower is a great choice for blowing off hard surfaces like driveways and sidewalks. Not only is it remarkably quiet, it does a great job of moving dry leaves and debris around your yard for collection, too. Although it’s not as effective on wet leaves as Ryobi’s 730 CFM model, the payoff is that it’s not nearly as expensive.
Specifications
- Model: Ryobi RY40470VNM
- Power Source: Ryobi 40V battery
- Max Airspeed: 125 MPH
- Max Airflow: 550 CFM
- Weight: 6.7 pounds bare, 9.8 pounds with 4.0Ah battery
- Price: $199 (one battery kit), $338 (two battery kit)
