Sun Joe SBJ605E 3-in-1 Review

My Honest Take on the Sun Joe SBJ605E 3-in-1 Leaf Mulcher

If you have a yard that is more postage stamp than sprawling estate, you know the struggle. Every fall, I would drag out my gas powered leaf blower, fire up the earplugs, and spend an hour just corralling leaves into a pile. Then came the real chore: bagging them. The paper bags would rip, the leaves would blow away, and my back would ache from bending over. I wanted something simpler. I wanted something that did not require a mechanics degree to maintain. That is when I started looking at electric leaf mulchers, specifically the Sun Joe SBJ605E. The promise was huge: a machine that blows, vacuums, and mulches leaves all in one, and it weighs next to nothing. I had to see if this $60 dollar tool could actually replace my gas guzzler for the small yard I maintain.

How I Put the Sun Joe SBJ605E Through Its Pace

I did not just run this thing over a few dry maple leaves for five minutes. I used it for three full weekends during peak leaf drop in my yard. My property is about a quarter acre, mostly shaded by two large oaks and a silver maple. That means a lot of leaves. I tested the SBJ605E in three distinct phases. First, I used it strictly as a blower to move leaves off my patio and out of garden beds. Second, I used the vacuum and mulch function on a mix of dry oak leaves, slightly damp maple leaves, and even some pine needles. Third, I pushed it hard by trying to mulch a pile of wet leaves that had been sitting under a bush for a week. I timed how long it took to fill the collection bag, I weighed the bag to see how much volume it actually reduced, and I noted every time I had to stop and clear a jam. I used only the included collection bag and did not modify the machine in any way. This is a review based on real world use, not a lab test.

Performance: The Good, The Bad, and The Leafy

Blowing Power: Enough for Light Duty

Let me start with the blower function. The SBJ605E pushes air at about 160 MPH. That sounds fast, and it is for light debris. I used it to blow dry leaves off my concrete patio and out of my driveway. It worked well for that. It also moved leaves off my lawn, but only if they were dry and loose. If leaves were matted down from rain or stuck in tall grass, the blower struggled. It is not a replacement for a high end gas blower. You will not be moving wet, heavy piles of leaves with this. But for clearing a small deck, a walkway, or a modest lawn, it gets the job done. The air volume is modest, so you have to work closer to the leaves. That said, I appreciated how quiet it was. I could use it early on a Saturday without waking up the neighbors. That is a big plus for me.

Vacuum and Mulch: Where It Shines (and Where It Falls Short)

This is the main reason to buy this machine. Switching from blower to vacuum is simple: you flip a lever on the side. The vacuum function is surprisingly strong for a 12 amp motor. It sucked up dry oak leaves with authority. The real test was the mulching ratio. Sun Joe claims a 10:1 reduction. I tested this by filling a standard 13 gallon trash bag with loose leaves, then running them through the mulcher. The result? I filled about one third of the bag. That is roughly a 3:1 reduction. Let me be clear: do not expect a 10:1 ratio. That is marketing hype. But a 3:1 reduction is still very useful. Instead of ten bags of leaves, I had three. That saved me time and money on yard waste bags.

The mulcher uses a metal blade to shred leaves, but the impeller that pulls the leaves into the blade is plastic. This is a critical detail. For dry, crispy leaves, the plastic impeller works fine. It spins fast and creates good suction. But if you try to vacuum wet, clumpy leaves, the impeller will clog. I made this mistake intentionally. I tried to vacuum a pile of wet maple leaves that had been sitting in a damp corner. The machine started to make a struggling sound, and within ten seconds, the impeller was packed solid. I had to unplug the machine, open the housing, and manually clear the jam with a stick. It took five minutes. The manual explicitly warns against wet leaves, and I now understand why. This machine is for dry leaves only. Period.

The Bag: Small and Annoying

The collection bag holds exactly 1 bushel. That is about 8 gallons. For context, a standard yard waste bag holds about 30 gallons. You will be emptying this bag constantly. I filled it in about three minutes when vacuuming heavy dry leaf piles. That meant I was stopping, unzipping the bag, dumping it into a larger trash can, and starting again. Over and over. If you have a big yard, this will drive you crazy. The bag itself is made of a woven fabric that feels durable, but the zipper is cheap plastic. I can see it breaking after a season or two. Also, the bag attaches to the blower tube with a simple strap. It works, but it is not secure. If you twist the machine too much, the bag can pop off. I had this happen twice during testing. It is a minor annoyance, but an annoyance nonetheless.

Build Quality and Value: Does It Feel Cheap?

Let me be honest: this is not a commercial grade tool. The housing is all plastic. The switches feel a little flimsy. The plastic impeller is a weak point. But you have to remember the price. At around $60, this is one of the cheapest leaf mulchers on the market. For that price, I was not expecting carbon fiber or magnesium parts. What I got was a tool that feels solid enough for light, occasional use. The motor is surprisingly strong for a 12 amp unit. It never bogged down on dry leaves. The metal cutting blade is sharp and chewed through leaves effectively. The handle is comfortable and well placed. The whole unit weighs only 6.5 pounds. That is the standout feature. I could hold it in one hand and vacuum leaves off my garden path without straining my arm. My old gas blower weighed nearly 15 pounds. This Sun Joe feels like a toy in comparison, but in a good way.

Value is where this machine really earns its keep. For the price of a single tank of gas for my old blower, I got a machine that does three jobs. It is not perfect, but it is cheap enough that I do not feel bad about using it for a few seasons and then replacing it. If you are looking for a long term investment, look elsewhere. But if you want a budget friendly tool that handles the basics, this is it.

Who Should Actually Buy the Sun Joe SBJ605E?

This tool is not for everyone. If you have a large property with many mature trees, you will hate the small bag and the limited power. You will be better served by a gas powered blower or a higher end electric model with a larger bag. But if you fit any of these descriptions, the SBJ605E could be perfect for you.

• Apartment or townhouse dwellers with a small patio or balcony. This machine is lightweight, easy to store, and does not need gas or oil. You can blow leaves off your small space quickly.
• Homeowners with a quarter acre or less. If you have a few trees and a manageable yard, the small bag is annoying but not a deal breaker. You will empty it often, but the job will still be faster than raking.
• People who want to reduce their yard waste volume. If your city charges per bag for leaf collection, the mulching function will save you money. Even a 3:1 reduction means fewer bags to buy.
• Budget conscious shoppers. If you cannot justify spending $150 or more on a leaf vacuum, this $60 option gets you most of the functionality. It is a great entry level tool.
• Those who prioritize weight and noise. At 6.5 pounds, it is incredibly easy to maneuver. And it is quiet enough to use without earplugs. If you hate loud gas engines, this is a relief.

Who should skip it? Anyone with wet leaves, large properties, or a need for heavy duty blowing. Also, if you are the type of person who gets frustrated by frequent bag emptying, look for a model with a larger collection capacity. The SBJ605E will test your patience if you have a lot of leaves.

My Verdict: A Flawed but Fantastic Bargain

After three weekends of hard use, I have a clear opinion. The Sun Joe SBJ605E is not a perfect tool. The bag is too small. The plastic impeller is a liability with wet leaves. The mulching ratio is not as advertised. But you know what? For $60, I did not expect perfection. I expected a tool that would make my leaf cleanup easier and cheaper than raking or using a gas blower. That is exactly what I got.

I used this machine to clear my entire yard of dry leaves in about 45 minutes. With a rake, that would have taken two hours. With my old gas blower, it would have taken an hour, but I would have had to deal with mixing oil, pulling a starter cord, and wearing hearing protection. The Sun Joe was plug and play. I plugged it in, flipped the switch, and started vacuuming. The lightweight design meant I could hold it with one hand and pick up leaves from under bushes and around flower pots. The mulched leaves filled only three trash bags instead of the ten I expected. That is a real savings.

I will be honest about the annoyances. The bag falling off twice was frustrating. The constant emptying broke the rhythm of my work. And I made sure to only use it on dry days. But I also realized that for the price, I could buy two of these and still spend less than a single premium electric model. If the impeller breaks after a year, I will not be angry. I will just buy another one.

My final recommendation is this: if you have a small to medium yard, dry leaves, and a tight budget, buy the Sun Joe SBJ605E. It is not a powerhouse, but it is a hardworking little machine that delivers on its core promise. It mulches, it vacuums, it blows, and it does all of that without breaking your back or your bank account. Just keep it away from wet leaves and be prepared to empty the bag often. If you can live with those two caveats, you will be very happy with this purchase. I am.