5 Best Leaf Shredders (Review) In 2020

How We Chose Our Selection of Leaf Shredders

As much as these leaf shredders look like heaps of fun to play around with (in the safest way possible), we didn’t have the time to order them, set them up, and go around picking leaves off the ground to try them out. Even if we could have done that, there aren’t any leaves left, what with the winter rushing us all off our feet and everything.

Instead, we did what we always do: look at the four key factors that help us determine which products are worth discussing. This includes the brand name, reviews from existing customers, the price of the unit, and its quality. You should think about these for any purchase, but with heavy machinery such as leaf shredders, they become even more important to consider.

Brand - With any buying guide we like to find a broad spectrum of brands although sometimes we have no choice but to find multiple products from one particular brand. This isn’t because we have any loyalty to these brands, but often they are the best in their industry, and so should be represented fairly.

You’ll notice that this isn’t the case this time (which is refreshing for you and us alike). Instead, we’ve found 5 different products from 5 different brands, all of which come with the assured reliability you expect. This means you can compare, contrast, and analyze the benefits of each product and decide based on which brand you believe is best for you.

Plus, if you’ve been wronged by any one brand in the past, there are at least another four options for you to choose from.

Reviews - Aren’t reviews just the best? We know that some people like to form their own opinion on things and so will avoid reviews like an encouraging plague. For the rest of us, though, they’re an awesome window in a world we’re not always super clued in on.

Online reviews are written by customers with experience in this field, and they’ve likely tried a few other products before this one. This is great for understanding what the pros look for in the best products, which can be especially useful if you’re stuck making a choice between two equally awesome looking products.

They will also give us insight into parts of the product the manufacturer won’t tell you outright (or will at least merely skirt around the issue with vague industry jargon). This saves you ordering something that turns out to be a dud or a heavy-duty lawn ornament and helps you purchase the right product for you.

Price - With something as durable as a leaf shredder, you can expect to pay a little more than you would, say, a pair of pruning shears. You probably already know this, though, and so are prepared to shell out what you believe is a fair amount.

Normally, we try to find a wide, all-encompassing range of prices, but with many of these products being pretty similar, there isn’t as much of a range as we’d typically like, however, this doesn’t mean there aren’t still different levels for all kinds of leaf shredding fanatics. We’ve found options for casual users and for professionals and a couple of products that sit comfortably in between.

We hope this means that no matter your shredding needs, you’ll find an option that’s reasonably priced and guaranteed to transform your yard maintenance from laborious, manual mulching, to something a little easier.

Quality - Here at Gear hungry we only want to suggest the products of the highest quality. Neglecting this spells disaster for you, for us, and the products we recommend. Our selection is full of guaranteed quality, meaning you get exactly what you pay for, with products packed full of essential, useful functions - and a couple of bonuses with the more expensive options.

With heavy machinery, the like you find in most garden tools, quality is even more necessary. We know they need to be durable, efficient, and easy to use. All of these factors, along with other features we’ll get to below, ensure you purchase the best quality products and get the best results. Lucky you.

Features To Look For In A Top Rated Leaf Shredder

Before you make that order final, ensure you’ve identified a leaf shredder suitable for you. We know it’s tempting to go straight for the option with the best features, or the one that will take the most leaves, or whichever shredder costs the least, but this doesn’t mean it’s the right product for you.

Consider the size of your yard, the amount of work it will have to undertake, the storage options, potential noise complaints, and whether it will have a negative effect on the environment. These are just some things to think about, there is a lot more than you need to remember when identifying your brand new leaf shredder.

Power - Everyone loves a tool packed full of power, and these leaf shredders have heaps of them, ideal for any leaf shredding, crushing, cutting, or mulching job you can throw at them. Ranging from 13 to 15 Amps, there’s enough power in these babies to shred your leaves, your neighbors' leaves, and even leaves of someone you’ve not even met yet.

This power dictates how quickly you can get the job done, and so if you’re working in a commercial environment, you need something that can shred as many leaves as possible in the shortest amount of time. More casual shredders may not need this same power, but the temptation may be too much to resist.

More powerful motors will also avoid blockage, which could be a problem if you try to pack too many leaves in at once. You know your situation better than we do, so make this decision according to what your shredding needs are.

Capacity - The capacity of your machine will depend on the size of the job you need to complete. Smaller yards with fewer trees and leaves won’t require as large of capacity as you’d need if you were tackling an estate or public park.

These shredders come with substantially sized bins to deposit leaves into, and for most of you, you may not need to consider anything above 10 gallons. If you want to go all out and have the option to shred every leaf, you’ve ever found in one go, then, by all means, go for it, it sounds like it’d be a lot of fun, anyway.

Noise - Electric leaf shredders aren’t as loud as their motor-operated counterparts, but that doesn’t mean they still don’t make a noise. In fact, it’ll be a challenge for you to find a shredder you could describe as ‘quiet’, they’re still shredding leaves, cracking twigs, and munching away.

It’s important to keep this in mind when purchasing a leaf shredder, as too much noise could disturb the neighbors and cause them to file complaints against you, especially if you like to do your shredding first thing on a Saturday morning.

While you won’t find a silent shredder, you can still look for the quietest one if potential noise pollution is a problem. At least then you can still hear the sweet, satisfying sound of a clear, manageable yard over the whirring mechanics of your leaf shredder. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.

Functions - If your shredder shreds and does nothing else, that’s great, you’ve got what you’ve paid for, but it’s even better if it has a variety of other cool and useful features, too. This can include mulching, cutting, collecting, and chipping.

While these extra features aren’t essential for all, they can come in handy for more substantial clearing jobs. If you work in this industry, they can make your job much, much more straightforward. Similarly, if you have a lot of yard space, a lot of leaves, and a lot of garden waste to dispose of, they can also ease the stress of garden clutter. To make things even easier, you can also look for a leaf vacuum shredder which does even more of the hard work for you.

Often, these additional functions cost little more than standalone shredders, anyway, and whatever you do spend extra will be recouped with speed, efficiency, and happy yards all year-round.

Portability and Storage - You won’t be able to use your shredder throughout the year, as once it comes to winter, there won’t be much point after the initial leaf clearing. When your shredder is taking a break during the colder months, you must have ample storage space to prevent it from sitting out over Christmas and New Year and potentially getting damaged by adverse weather.

You can take apart most leaf shredders to make this storage easier, which is great news if you’re short on space. You should also consider the portability, which could impact how easy it is to transport your shredder around the yard. We all know leaves aren’t that heavy by themselves, but in a bunched pile, they can be surprisingly dense. You don’t want to be the guy who carries their leaves from one end of the yard to the other several times a day because you lacked the foresight to invest in a suitably lightweight option, do you?

The best thing to do is to look for a product with durable, heavy-duty wheels, as these can withstand years (maybe decades) of use. We know you want to show off how strong you are to your family and any eavesdropping neighbors, but save your energy for something that matters, you know?

Environmental Impact - Electric shredders are more environmentally efficient than gas-powered shredders, so already you’re doing your bit for the planet by investing in electric over gas. This responsibility doesn’t stop there though, and while you are using electricity, this can still impact both the world around you and your own utility bills, especially if you pick a more powerful shredder.

Shredders with built-in mulching technology can help you further contribute to a better environment, and you can use these mulched leaves as fertilizer to encourage plant and grass growth. These machines will also often come with reusable collection bags, further promoting sustainable attitudes and encouraging users to be more responsible with the environment.

Safety - We know safety is boring to talk about, but we have to, and we could never forgive ourselves if something were to happen to you because we didn’t make it clear how to safely operate a leaf shredder.

It’s not just for you or our benefit either, but also for your kids, who - in classic child fashion - are a curious breed, eager to flick and fiddle with buttons and switches, stick their hands in dangerous places, and generally do everything they can to maim themselves all in the name of fun.

So, you want your shredder to be as safe as it can be. Luckily, the best shredders go above and beyond to ensure nothing but safety for you and everyone who may come into contact with it. These safety features include automatic shut off should the unit overload from clogged feeding chutes and reset buttons, which can be lifesavers should something go wrong.

Most shredders come with a filter which prevents dust from escaping and stops you inhaling tiny little leaf particles which while not dangerous may not be the best thing for you.

Replacement Parts - Any product that comes with replacement parts is immediately a win, and depending on the construction of your leaf shredder, you may be gifted free replacement parts with your purchase (yay!). These parts won’t be as exciting as new motors, alternative power cords, or brand new casings, but instead more shredding strings.

Yeah, not super-exciting, but they will come in useful when (not if) your original strings fray or break, hindering their effectiveness and making your shredding job much more of a challenge. However, there are customers who believe the original strings aren’t sufficient and search out alternative options. This is simple enough and can improve your shredding capabilities.

Not all leaf shredders use these strings, though, and if you purchase one that uses blades instead, see if the products offer free replacements or spares upon purchase. If not, this could sway you towards a product that will offer replacements, all for your benefit.

Ease of Use and Assembly - We all want something that’s easy to use and easy to assemble. Some awesome features that make shredding even easier include moveable chutes, which allow you to throw leaves in from any angle, adjustable shredding settings, and automatic leaf disposal.

As for assembly, you can put them together as easily as you can take them apart, which makes storage during off-season even more convenient.

Sources:

1. Put Fall Leaves to Work - Gardener’s Supply
2. Best Leaf Mulchers - Best Of Machinery