Makita XBU02Z 36V (18V X2) LXT® Brushless Blower, Tool Only

Product overview

Makita XBU02Z 36V (18V X2) LXT Blower (substituted for STIHL BGA 60): What to Know

We're flagging this substitution the same way as the DEWALT swap above: STIHL's own dealer agreements prohibit sale of its products over the internet or by mail order, and coverage of STIHL's online sales policy (including reporting from SlashGear) confirms Amazon has no official affiliation with STIHL and isn't an authorized dealer. STIHL listings do show up on Amazon, but without an authorized-dealer relationship behind them, there's no guarantee of a real manufacturer warranty, and reporting on this exact issue has documented buyers receiving what appear to be used, refurbished, or otherwise non-authorized units. Given that risk, we substituted the Makita XBU02Z, which serves a similar role for a similar type of buyer, homeowners or light-pro users who already own that brand's battery ecosystem, and does have an active, verifiable Amazon listing.

The XBU02Z runs on Makita's 18V LXT platform, but takes two batteries at once (an "18V X2" configuration) to produce a combined 36V of output. Depending on which spec sheet you check, output is listed as either 473 CFM (per Home Depot's listing and several retailer pages) or the LXT platform generally cited around 120 MPH air speed; both figures line up closely across the sources we checked, so unlike the Husqvarna's battery-capacity discrepancy, we didn't find a meaningful disagreement here. Weight comes in at 9 lbs bare, and retailer CPO Outlets lists noise at 61 dBA, among the quietest disclosed figures in this comparison, alongside a rated runtime of roughly 28-29 minutes at a mid speed setting (dial position 3) using two 5.0Ah batteries.

The catch, and it's a real one: this is a tool-only listing (ASIN B00YCKAWAM) that requires two compatible 18V LXT batteries with the "Star" symbol, not one. If you don't already own at least two Makita 18V batteries, the cost of adding this blower to your cart is higher than the sticker price suggests. Makita also sells kit versions (XBU02PT, for example) that bundle batteries and a charger under separate ASINs. The tool includes Makita's XPT (Extreme Protection Technology) sealing for improved dust and water resistance, a feature not called out on the other listings in this guide.

Key Listed Features