Ego Power+ 615 CFM Blower LB6151 Review

The EGO Power+ 615 CFM Blower was our favorite model out of all the industries top cordless, battery powered leaf blowers we tested. It had the perfect blend of power, battery life, and friendly ergonomics, earning it the top spot in our lineup. While the included battery is smaller than most, the Ego Power+ line of batteries makes it possible to switch out or upgrade your battery so that chores take less time. On top of the fact that the Ego 615 is such a high-performing model, it is also very budget-friendly. We recommend this model to those who want to factor price and performance into their decision.

Performance Comparison

Power

The most important metric in our comprehensive test plan is power, and a blower's ability to produce a large amount of force. We measured airflow and air velocity using a specialized pitot tube and anemometer, two standard benchmarks in the industry. We also devised a real-world test to see how these numbers corresponded to performance blowing leaves and debris across a grassy yard.

The Ego 615 scored highly in its airflow measurements. At a five-inch distance from our pitot tube, we recorded 1,008 CFM on turbo mode. Its airspeed hit 136 mph on turbo mode and 115 mph on high, both equally impressive stats.

This model also cleared our grassy yard with ease. The Ego 615 blew a large pile of leaves across our yard and into a target area in only 51 seconds, thanks to the extra turbo mode power boost and variable speed squeeze trigger for light touches. On turbo mode, the blower tends to nose dive a bit, and for longer jobs, this could get tiring.

Battery

After power, the power supply is the most important factor when looking at battery-powered leaf blowers. Our battery testing was worth 25 percent of the overall score, and we examined both overall runtimes and total charging time for each product. The Ego Power+ brand generally has excellent battery systems, and the Ego Power+ 615 was no exception. It scored highly across our battery test metric.

The Ego 615 comes with a relatively small 2.5 amp-hour battery, but do not let its size fool you. This battery, at almost half the amp-hours of others we tested, still lasted for almost 16 full minutes. Fortunately, there are plenty of other batteries from Ego that are all compatible, all the way up to a monster 12 amp-hour option. The nice thing about the 2.5 amp-hour battery is that it keeps the overall weight down on a hand-held blower.

There are several models of Ego power chargers available as well. The included charger brought the 2.5 amp-hour battery up to full charge in 45 minutes, an impressive feat. If you want even faster charging, Ego has several higher tiers of chargers that can get the job done even quicker. The battery has a ring of lights around the battery power button that can be used to check the charge level while the battery is in the blower and while it's charging.

Ergonomics

Because yard work is already hard enough, the ease of use for a leaf blower should be something to consider. We weighted our ergonomics testing at 15 percent of the total score and considered factors like total weight, balance and vibration, and various features. The Ego 615 is packed full of the necessary features to make your tasks less tedious and handles well despite its heavier weight and power output.

This model has a comfortable grip and performs well under power. On turbo mode, we did experience a slight nose dip. We struggled to keep the blower angled at a suitable height for leaf blowing, although it was not as bad as some other high-powered options. While some of the dials are clearly designed for right-handed usage, it is possible to use the leaf blower with both hands and still control the turbo with either thumb.

The Ego 615 weighs in at 7.8 pounds with the 2.5 amp-hour battery installed. While this is not the heaviest model in our lineup, neither is it the lightest. One thing to consider with swapping out batteries for a higher capacity is that the weight will also increase, and the overall fatigue from usage will increase as well. Sometimes there is an advantage to a smaller battery for quick jobs.

The Ego 615 is fully loaded with all the features you would expect from a top-tier leaf blower. It has a variable squeeze trigger that lets you instantly adjust the power output and a cruise-control dial to lock in the precise power output for extended usage. A turbo button is centrally located on the top for your thumb.

Noise

Our final test involved using an SPL meter to assess the decibels each blower produced while at the operator's ear height on full power. While even the loudest battery-powered leaf blower is still much quieter than a gas-powered option, there can occasionally be harsh pitches or whines associated with the battery-powered options that are unpleasant. The Ego 615 was one of the louder models we tested.

Unsurprisingly, given the high power output of the Ego 615, there is a correspondingly loud noise when operating the unit. This Ego produces 85 decibels of noise on turbo mode, one of the louder models we tested, although there were no annoying whines or harsh pitches associated with it.

Should You Buy the Ego Power+ 615 CFM?

The Ego Power 615 is a powerful battery leaf blower that scored high points on multiple fronts. Not only is it one of the most powerful and ergonomic options on the market, but it is also backed by the Ego Power+ series of battery technologies for use across a variety of battery-powered lawn tools. Lastly, there's no need to be concerned that all these good things will be too expensive, as the Ego 615 is one of the most affordable options that we tested; truly a great option and blend of performance and affordability.

What Other Cordless Leaf Blowers Should You Consider?

If you're more interested in multi-tool compatibility, the Makita 36V LXT Brushless Blower Kit is powered by two 18V Makita batteries that are compatible across the entire Makita lineup of 18V power tools and isn't shy on the power output either. For top-of-the-line performance, the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Whisper Series 730 CFM scored just as well as the Ego and beat it out for the most powerful leaf blower, although it runs at a premium price point.