- Heavy duty, robust design throughout
- Impressive air speed on full power
- Clever ergonomics keep things comfortable
- Lacks a variable speed trigger
- Less than 20 minutes run time on full speed
- Could be heavy for some users
Key Features
Review Price:
£289- Battery poweredUses Husqvarna’s 36V batteries for maximum power.
- Three speedsSelect between three speeds using the dedicated button.
Introduction
The Husqvarna 122iB cordless leaf blower is the bigger, more capable version of the B8X-P4A leaf blower from the Aspire range of garden tools.
Running on the chunky but capable B140 battery platform, this is a powerful leaf blower ideal for medium-sized gardens. Well built and cleverly balanced, it’s easy to handle, even weighing as much as it does.
Design and features
- Three air speeds
- Comfortable handle
- No variable speed trigger
Husqvarna has a brilliant reputation in the outdoor power tool world, and for good reason. Robust, powerful, and extremely comfortable, the 122iB is one of the best leaf blowers I’ve tested out so far.
Starting with the handle, it’s big enough for large hands wearing thick gardening gloves and has a robust orange trigger. It’s designed to fit comfortably in the hand while pointing towards the ground at an optimum leaf-blowing angle.
The blower comes with just one nozzle. It’s a standard round tip that pops on to the blower body easily. Although I like the wide sweeper nozzles available on some other blowers like the Ryobi RY18BLCXA-125, most leaf blowing jobs can be done with a round tip.
Weighing 3.25 kg with the battery in place and 90 cm in length, it’s not the lightest or smallest cordless leaf blower by a long way, but the solid ergonomics make it feel lighter than it is. Some of this weight comes from Husqvarna’s chunky 36 Volt battery system, the BLi-X. This version, the B140, is a 4.0 Ah battery that slots in through a pleasing cutout section at the back of the blower.
Before using the 122iB, you need to turn it onouch buttons are for power and to select one of three power levels. This display also shows you the current battery charge level as well, which is always handy
Although you can choose from three air speeds, it’s a shame that the 122iB doesn’t have a variable speed trigger. I prefer being able to change the air speed on the fly and would love to be able to lock the trigger on for longer leaf blowing jobs.
Performance
- Impressive air speed
- Excellent balance
- Slow charging
I took the Husqvarna 122iB cordless leaf blower out into the test garden to deal with drifts of massive magnolia leaves. These hefty units of foliage are a pain to clear up, so I was glad to have a big and powerful leaf blower for the task.
As I expected from a premium leaf blower like this, the handling and ergonomics of the 122iB are spot on. I could leave my arm dangling by my side and rely on the blower’s well-thought-out nozzle angle to deal with debris on the lawn.
Yes, it’s heavier than the Stihl BGA 30, but if you want loads of power then it comes at a cost in weight. Manoeuvring the nozzle around to chase drifts of leaves is easy enough. However, the force of the air, especially at top speed, makes things a bit more difficult. It’s best to keep it on level two, to save battery and arm strength.
The 4.0 Ah B140 battery managed just under 20 minutes of work on full speed. That’s to be expected when running a power hungry tool like this one. However, if you need longer working times, larger capacity batteries are available. One thing to note is the slow charging speed of more than two hours with the included charger.
Now for the technical specs: There are three air speeds to choose from on the control panel. I tested the real-world air speeds using an anemometer in my home testing lab. From a metre away, I measured the air speed at 8.5 metres per second on low, 11 metres per second on medium, and an impressive 14 metres per second on high.
The blower tip has an 80 mm diameter, which means it puts out 253m³ per hour, from a metre away. I also measured the noise on full power at 90 dB, which is loud but not uncomfortable over short periods.
The 122iB might not have the ludicrous power offered by the EGO LB6700Ecordless leaf blower but it’s over a kilogram lighter. And it still produces enough air flow for the most stubborn piles of leaves.
Should you buy it?
You need a lot of power
If you’ve got a lot of leaves to clear in a medium-sized garden, this it he blower for you.
You want a lightweight leaf blower or more precision
If you prefer something lighter and easier to hold, look elsewhere. Those who want fine control should look for a blower with a variable speed trigger.
Final Thoughts
Although pricey for a leaf blower, the Husqvarna 122iB comes with a battery that can be used in a range of other tools. From mowers to chainsaws, buying into this battery ecosystem unlocks an impressive amount of other products. It’s a solidly built leaf blower with plenty of power that feels like it’s built to last. If you need something lighter or with a variable-speed trigger, read our guide to the best leaf blowers.
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How We Test
We test every leaf blower we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
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- Tested with a variety of garden debris
- We measure wind speed and air flow
How many speeds does the Husqvarna 122iB Cordless Leaf Blower have?
There are three selectable speeds.
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