What backpack blower should I get

My budget is around $500.

I have approximately 2 acres to clear of leaves, and each year I blow all my leaves down into the creek behind my house and mother nature takes care of it all the next time it rains. Great system, but my Milwaukee blower is simply not up to the task and I spend too much time waiting for batteries to charge and pushing wet leaves around.

I want something with some serious power, but nothing ridiculous. I'm keen to look @ Stihl because I have a dealer right up the road. I'm thinking the BR600.

Is that not enough, overkill, or just right? Any other models I should be looking at?

 

I don’t know anything about Stihl blowers but having a close by dealer is a plus if they are a competent dealership. I would think as popular as Stihl is, if they made a bad product the word would spread pretty fast so some online research for reviews on that particular model might get you the info you need.

I run Shindaiwa blowers and they have been reliable and powerful enough to get the job done.
I purchased mine on the used market for a fraction of what a new blower would cost. I find with blowers often times the previous owners purchase them, use them once or twice and then put them in storage until they are sold.
If you make a person to person transaction you can usually see how well it runs before making the purchase. I have purchased top of the line Shindaiwa blowers for around $150.
Shindaiwa has merged with Echo and I’ve heard Echo makes good equipment as well.

 

I recently got a backpack blower but it is still in the box at the moment. Not a powerhouse but suitable for my needs I hope at 53cc. It is a Makita 4-stroke unit. 516mph with 516CFM, tube throttle.

A friend has Stihl's monster blower...that thing must weigh 25lbs? Does chuck out some serious air. He uses to clean a parking lot regularly.

Seems like Echo has always been a leader in the segment, have you looked at any of their stuff compared to the Stihls?

 

Stihl BR600 often imitated never duplicated. It will cost more than 500, so you may have to settle for a cheaper quality Husqvarna.

 

I'd suggest getting the largest you can afford. More power= less time spent blowing leaves. More power= the ability to blow wet leaves easier. More power= braging rights with your buddies. It's a win win win.

 

Should I go all the way to the top dog?

Or am I wasting my money?

I can push my budget up to that level if its going to be worth it. Just having a hard time gauging where all these models sit on the spectrum for a home owner vs someone who does lawns for a living. Most of my other groundskeeping equipment is pro / semi pro and I've not regretted anything so far...

 

That would be the Echo PB9010 which is cheaper than the Stihl BR800.

 

Definitely cheaper. Lot of reviews saying its mega heavy though. As someone without back problems perhaps that would be alright though.

 

Maybe by the numbers but once you run them you can definitely tell a difference depending on the type of work to be done with them. Haven't run the 9010 but have the 8010. It's powerfull but not good at doing detailed work. The outlet on the tube is just too big and blows stuff everywhere instead of where you're trying to get it. Works great for pushing leaves back into a tree line tho.

 

Because of all the spine surgeries I have had this is how I get away with a backpack blower. I can't stand to have even the smallest one on.

 

Not interested in detail work at all. I can get my Milwaukee out for that if needed. My purposes are basically:
- Pushing leaves back to creek and treelines each fall
- Clearing the typical junk that collects on my long gravel driveway periodically (every 2-3 weeks)

Still undecided on what to get. Do Stihl dealers let you test drive these things?

 

Actually, after looking up the numbers on my Milaukee (450 CFM), it's clear that I need to go with the Magnum or equivalent. I need a minimum of 2x what I have now to be happy, that much I'm sure.

Does Stihl ever do sales in the fall? Looking to make a purchase by the end of next month.

 

You could splash out for the neighborhood bully

 

That’s a good amount of land to clear. We are on about an acre in CT and I bought a Billy Goat 7hp walk behind years ago. I also have an Echo PB500H. The backpack does well for the smaller stuff. The walk behind moves some air and will really save you some time.

 

I ended up getting the 800x

Gents, the advice to go as big as you can afford is the right one. Not overkill at all. I would not have been happy with a smaller unit.

 

Stop being afraid…


Cyclone PTO - Buffalo Turbine

 

Good lord. No pricing. Must be expensive.

Wouldn't work for me, my tractor is mega huge (3230) and it wouldn't get all the nooks and crannies in my backyard. Great product idea though.

 

Umm pics?? You know the rules