Stihl BR 800 C-E MAGNUM, its review!

ArlyA · Jul 23, 2023

Val Padana said:
The BR 800 is like having a personal typhoon ! The older BR 600 is great too but not as powerful. The ones I use don't have the side handle pull cord but I start them on a trailer or the tailgate of a pickup (ute here in Oz) then just back into them and do up the straps while sitting down. Seldom need to restart while doing a job.

Did a repair on an old handheld petrol Stihl ? BG85 - it had plenty of power for such a small, light machine.

Being able to restart the machine without taking it off. Is a BIG plus for us.

ArlyA · Sep 28, 2023

BR 800 C-E MAGNUM at work over the weekend. Good thing is it blows hard, bad thing it takes the gravel off!

two_bit_score · Sep 30, 2023

ArlyA said:
BR 800 C-E MAGNUM at work over the weekend. Good thing is it blows hard, bad thing it takes the gravel off!

I put mine to the test with pine needles last week. It did very well.

Torvy · Sep 30, 2023

Have you ever used it to remove those light, dry snows? I used to use my blower that way (not nearly at this level). It is a plug in kind, so not nearly as useful as yours.

Great for up to an inch or so, especially with drier snow. Also good on some packed tire tracks. Once it gets under, it flings those tracks right off of the driveway. Certainly less hassle than shovels, brooms or starting up something bigger. I used to get annoyed by the inch- or -so snows that were too little for the actual snow blower, but were likely to be a semi-permanent part of the drive/walkway if not removed shortly after the snow ended.

I'll have to keep this in mind if wife decides we need needle-free trails away from the house.

Ballpark, what does this cost?

ArlyA · Sep 30, 2023

Torvy said:
Have you ever used it to remove those light, dry snows? I used to use my blower that way (not nearly at this level). It is a plug in kind, so not nearly as useful as yours.

Great for up to an inch or so, especially with drier snow. Also good on some packed tire tracks. Once it gets under, it flings those tracks right off of the driveway. Certainly less hassle than shovels, brooms or starting up something bigger. I used to get annoyed by the inch- or -so snows that were too little for the actual snow blower, but were likely to be a semi-permanent part of the drive/walkway if not removed shortly after the snow ended.

I'll have to keep this in mind if wife decides we need needle-free trails away from the house.

Ballpark, what does this cost?

No use in lighter snow, we don't worry about light snows. It was around $800.

Torvy · Sep 30, 2023

I don't worry about them here, but when I lived up north, they often formed a base layer on which snow pack built up.

Other than the US highways that passed through my hometown, the roads were typically snow-packed all winter. Sidewalks were a PITA. (Especially when we moved to the Milwaukee suburbs...had to be cleared within 24 hours of a snow event.)

ArlyA · Oct 7, 2023

Will be in the field today to blow our single track trails off since canopy might be 60% down now. Bringing things along like fuel and water will be a challenge since dearest is away to help her elderly folks some. Will post photos later.

ArlyA · Oct 7, 2023

Out blowing our trails today, this machine rocks, would even blow these rain soaked leaves. Top photo shows extra fuel bottle that was brought along and used to get the trail done.

Duds13 · Oct 9, 2023

I've read and heard a lot of great things about this Stihl blower! Did a great job on the trail. I'm always amazed at the power of my Echo 8010 blower too!

ArlyA · Oct 9, 2023

Duds13 said:
I've read and heard a lot of great things about this Stihl blower! Did a great job on the trail. I'm always amazed at the power of my Echo 8010 blower too!

We got it for two reasons. Its the most powerful blower built (as of now, anyway) and you can start it while wearing it.

CADplans · Oct 9, 2023

ArlyA said:
We got it for two reasons. Its the most powerful blower built (as of now, anyway) and you can start it while wearing it.

I have had the BR600 a LONG time,, (must be closing in on ten years),,
When the BR800 came out, I loved the power of the BR600 so much, I was ready to go get the BR800,,

THEN, I compared specs,, there is almost no difference between the actual performance of the 600 and 800.

So, I still have the BR600,, yea, the ability to start while wearing is nice,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
BUT, that is a LOT of $$$ for that feature,,,,,,,

ArlyA · Oct 9, 2023

CADplans said:
I have had the BR600 a LONG time,, (must be closing in on ten years),,
When the BR800 came out, I loved the power of the BR600 so much, I was ready to go get the BR800,,

THEN, I compared specs,, there is almost no difference between the actual performance of the 600 and 800.

So, I still have the BR600,, yea, the ability to start while wearing is nice,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
BUT, that is a LOT of $$$ for that feature,,,,,,,

The ability to start and stop while wearing it is important. I shut mine down maybe 4 times in the 1.25 miles of trail I did that day.

Maybe we could loan you ours for a TEST?

kozal01 · Oct 9, 2023

CADplans said:
I have had the BR600 a LONG time,, (must be closing in on ten years),,
When the BR800 came out, I loved the power of the BR600 so much, I was ready to go get the BR800,,

THEN, I compared specs,, there is almost no difference between the actual performance of the 600 and 800.

So, I still have the BR600,, yea, the ability to start while wearing is nice,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
BUT, that is a LOT of $$$ for that feature,,,,,,,

I believe you're thinking of the 700 vs your 600 because the difference between the 800 and the 600 is huge. I had a 600, great blower but the 800 is far and away more powerful. The 700 wasn't much of an upgrade from the 600 though.

As for power, currently the Echo 9010 is king but its very uncomfortable for me so I went with the BR800, not as powerful as the Echo but not different by much and its a musch more comfortable machine.