Makita 36V LXT Brushless Blower Kit XBU02PT Review

The Makita 36V LXT gives a strong performance across the board, using two separate five amp-hour batteries to move more air and achieve a longer runtime than most 18V battery blowers. The Makita has wonderful ergonomics, which makes yard work more pleasant. While other brands leaf blowers have a more impressive battery system or larger single batteries, the Makita shares batteries across Makita's enormous line of quality battery-powered tools.

Performance Comparison

Power

Accounting for half of the total score for each product, power is our most significant testing metric. We rated and ranked each product based on its measured airflow and air velocity, two crucial industry benchmarks. To do this, we purchased a specialized anemometer and pitot tube and recorded the results at various distances and power levels. Then, we used a standard real-world testing scenario to assess practical performance. We timed each blower's ability to clear a section of the yard from leaves and debris into an 8x8 foot target zone.

The Makita scored above average when we used a pitot tube and anemometer to measure the cubic feet per minute (CFM) and miles per hour (mph). It achieved 865 CFM at five inches and 132 mph airspeeds at the same distance. This was the highest recorded airspeed of any model we tested. We did notice a significant drop in performance readings when we measured at 30 inches.

This battery leaf blower also did well in our real-world testing, clearing our trash can's worth of leaves from our yard in just under one minute. Despite not feeling to have as much power as other models, the ergonomic nozzle helped push leaves and other debris efficiently.

The Makita 36V LXT did exceptionally well removing mixed debris from the pavement, sending all sorts of leaves, pine needles, rocks, and soil flying. It had no issues removing the caked-on dirt layer from the asphalt or moving small stones or pebbles. It is not quite the best we have seen, but it is still a very strong contender.

It makes clearing leaves and pine needles an absolute breeze though it can struggle a small amount if the pine needles clump together into a giant mat. It moves small to medium piles without an issue, but we did manage to stump the Makita when the pine needles stuck together enough to form a massive mat that stretched across multiple parking spaces.

Battery

Following our trio of strength tests, we next rated and compared the battery system of each battery blower, which is responsible for one-fourth of the final score for the Makita. We assessed both run time and charge time. The 36V LXT Brushless performed respectably, earning an above-average score.

This cordless leaf blower uses a pair of five amp-hour, 18-volt batteries in series to get a nominal operating voltage of 36 volts. When set to high power, the Makita ran for 18 minutes and 11 seconds, a highly impressive score. This model can be purchased with a four-pack of batteries, significantly extending usage time. Additionally, if you have other Makita cordless handheld tools, you can interchange the batteries with this model to keep your blower blowing.

Fortunately, these batteries charge quite quickly. The included charger can charge both batteries simultaneously, and we found that it took about an hour to completely recharge a dead battery, plus or minus five minutes or so. Not too shabby, considering some brands took over two hours to charge just one battery.

Ergonomics

Constituting 15 percent of the total score, our ergonomics metric came next in terms of significance. The Makita did above average here. This score is based on how balanced the 36V LXT Brushless is, how its grip feels, where its air intake vent is, and how much it weighs.

It has an acceptable grip, and although it is not quite as balanced as other models, its long nozzle compensates for this fact. When powered on, we had no issues with the nozzle angle and found it made up for its lack of raw power.

The Makita is right on par with many of these products when it comes to how much it weighs, tipping the scales at 9.0 pounds with the pair of batteries installed.

This cordless leaf blower has a variable speed trigger and dial interface to enable cruise control at a given speed setting. We liked that the dial is super easy to reach with your thumb while holding it, compared to many other models that require a second hand. However, we wish the Makita had a turbo mode for extra stubborn debris. The intake vent is on the back of the Makita 36V LXT, so it can be prone to snagging your shirt when switching it from hand to hand. We never found this to be too much of an issue, though, and it didn't really stop the airflow.

Noise

Our last set of tests scored the Makita on the amount of noise produced. Using an SPL meter, we measured the sound level experienced by the operator when the 36V LXT Brushless was in its most powerful mode.

The Makita created noise levels of about 91 decibels for the operator without any particularly irritating high-pitched tones. While the pitch was fine, this was the loudest model we tested, even though it is much quieter than gas-powered leaf blowers.

Should You Buy the Makita 36V LXT Brushless Blower Kit XBU02PT?

While the Makita is an excellent cordless blower and offers more battery compatibility than many other models, it comes at a hefty price and is not the best value. There are far better bargain options out there for the budget-conscious, but if you already have a shed full of Makita cordless tools, we doubt you'll be disappointed with the addition of this blower.

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