Backpack Blowers

TomSeller · Dec 29, 2015

I bought a Stihl BR600 today as a Christmas present to myself and have already run 3 tanks of fuel through it. What a nice blower and I can understand why the pros favor it. In the Stihl line up, it seems they all weigh around 20 lbs and the 600 is at the top of the line but not that much more money. Among small gas commercial equipment, Stihl has 3 local dealers and no one else does. So that made my decision easy (again). That said, I sure appreciate the ease of the backpack blower over an attachment on my weed trimmer or the plug in hand held model. I now share a 1000' tree lined driveway at the new place with 3 other houses and decided I needed to take my turn. Any back pack blower fans out there? Lots of good brands besides Stihl these days. Not sure why I waited so long, it will be nice to clear the needles from the roof as well. Starts very easy as all my Stihls do.

4570Man · Dec 29, 2015

I'm a backpack fan. After I got my backpack blower I took my other regular blower and poured the gas out and stuck it in the attic.

newbury · Dec 29, 2015

I love mine, a Stihl 380 I picked up off surplus for about $150. Starts with little difficulty, blows very strongly, great for my "extended drive, parking area".

It takes me about half an hour to clear an area about 200 yards by 10 yards and I've got areas I couldn't stretch a cord to. I recently bought a DeWalt 20V max DCBL720P1 blower for the 91 yr old MIL. She likes it but probably will stop using it, after all she's 91!

If all I had to do was blow DRY leaves that would be a close runner up.

But I bet that BR600 can almost flip small cars over, so be careful!

om21braz · Dec 29, 2015

Probably my most used piece of equipment, hate to do without one. Bought a Stihl BR400 in 1997 and it's still running great for my son today. I expect y'all have sons/daughters that come borrow stuff that never returns too!

QRTRHRS · Dec 29, 2015

I have a BR600 that mostly gets used in the fall to blow leaves off of my pastures so they don't mold. I might run through 20 gallons of gas sometimes more if the wind has worked against me. This beast will even blow wet leaves if need be. If you are not already doing so, run synthetic oil and a higher grade of octane. Per some net searches I did, running regular oil and gas will shorten the life span if not kill it. My other Stihl tools "like" the higher octane as well.

Mine is maybe six years old and still starts on the first or second pull. I think the only negative about it that I could say is that there is no strap to snap across your chest between the shoulder harness's like on some backpacks. One or the other straps will slip off but I cured that with some old hiking gear.

DT86 · Dec 29, 2015

We've got a Echo pb500, not sure why but it's the only Echo on the place. Always starts easily and seems to work as well as any other.

One of my favorite things to use it for is to stoke a burn pile that might be a little green or damp. I've often fantasized about a way to inject a small stream of diesel in front of the blower tube for a super fire starter.

Edit--

They're also great to blow trash back through the tractor radiator (as in from the back towards the front), off the bush hog, hay equipment, ect.

nickc · Dec 29, 2015

The BR600 may be one of my most used pieces of equipment, very powerful. Only problem with mine is that every time the wife uses it I've got myself an extra hour of clean-up.

Will_C · Dec 29, 2015

I have a had a Stihl backpack blower for 15 years. I bought it to blow leaves, but now use for so many other things I will replace it immediately if anything happens to it-can't imagine being without it.

Will

Code54 · Dec 29, 2015

We also have the BR600 and love it. Works great for blowing the water off the car when you wash it also!

TomSeller · Dec 29, 2015

QRTRHRS said:
. If you are not already doing so, run synthetic oil and a higher grade of octane. Per some net searches I did, running regular oil and gas will shorten the life span if not kill it. My other Stihl tools "like" the higher octane as well.

Mine is maybe six years old and still starts on the first or second pull. I think the only negative about it that I could say is that there is no strap to snap across your chest between the shoulder harness's like on some backpacks. One or the other straps will slip off but I cured that with some old hiking gear.

I've been using mid grade ethanol free but one of the local stations just started carrying 92 ethanol free at the request of the landscaping companies. So I will switch to that shortly. I will let my chores sit before I put ethanol in a seasonal small engine. And I always use the synthetic oil, very little difference in cost considering the benefits.

I noticed the left strap wants to slide off my shoulder, so I will be doing something similar.