Makita LXT 18V Blower XBU03 Review: Still Going Strong 5 Years Later
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I've owned the Makita XBU03 18V LXT blower for about five years now, and this thing is an absolute beast. It's one of those Makita tools that I've just kept using year after year without really thinking about replacing it. It's powerful, surprisingly light, easy to use, and gets the job done. Five years later, mine is still going.
Plenty of Power
For a compact 18V blower, the XBU03 has a ton of power. I use it for the normal stuff like blowing leaves, grass clippings and debris, but it's also useful for cleaning up around the shop, driveway and equipment. For the size, I've always been impressed with how much air this thing moves.
Lightweight and Easy to Use
The other big advantage is weight. A blower is something you're potentially carrying around for quite a while, so keeping it light makes a huge difference. The XBU03 strikes a really good balance. It's powerful enough to actually get work done without becoming some huge, heavy tool that I don't feel like grabbing. Being on Makita's 18V LXT platform also makes it incredibly convenient if you already have Makita batteries sitting around.
Five Years Later, It Still Works
This is probably the biggest compliment I can give it. I've owned mine for around five years, and I still use it. There's no better long-term test than that. A lot of cordless tools come and go, especially when newer and more powerful models are constantly being released. The XBU03 has never really given me a reason to replace it.
Would I Buy the Makita XBU03 Again?
Absolutely. It's powerful, lightweight, simple and has proven itself over years of ownership. If mine died tomorrow, I'd have zero complaints about the life I got out of it. Five years later, the Makita XBU03 is still one of those tools that I can grab, throw a battery on and get to work. Sometimes that's all a tool needs to do.
