Backpack blower vs handheld?

[tradosaurus]

I have a Ryobi handheld blower that works great but after about 20 minutes of using it it really wears on my shoulder.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-160-MPH-520-CFM-25cc-Gas-Jet-Fan-Blower-RY25AXB/206481707

Not trying to spend a lot of money but I did notice the local hardware/appliance store carries the Echo PB-580T for about the same price as Home Depot.

Anyone have experiences with other brands of backpack blowers?

 

[super55]

there is a night and day difference between backpack and handheld. I wouldn't use a handheld even if it was given to me.

Echo makes really good backpack blowers. The one I have is over 20 years old and still runs great. There are a lot of good brands out there and I wouldn't be surprised if some are even these high power battery pack blowers so you don't have that noise right by your head.

Only downside is the noise by your head in my opinion

 

[strantor]

Backpack blower is the only way to go, IMO. You will not regret the purchase. I have a Husqvarna, no issues to report aft 5 years of ownership.

Yes, it's loud and it's closer to your cranium. This task calls for hearing protection and I can recommended the 3M WorkTunes bluetooth earmuffs. I listen to audiobooks while I work and the noise is only a small thing.

 

[KennyG]

I have a handheld and it hasn't been started since I got the backpack about 3 years ago.

 

[newbury]

How much do you need to use it?
I've about 200 yards of driveway at one place, 150 yards at another, several decks and a couple of parking places. The driveways need blowing about once a week in the fall, the decks daily for light touch up so we don't track the outside in. I've a Stihl BR380 (2 stroke) for the driveways and a DeWalt battery operated handheld for the decks.

The DeWalt DCBL720B lives next to the door, easy to grab, no fumes, no starting problems. Not enough power to lift a 10 month old, 2" thick mat of oak leaves wetted down and grown together. Which the Stihl will do.

I would not want to rely on either for both jobs.

 

[tradosaurus]

How much do you need to use it?
I've about 200 yards of driveway at one place, 150 yards at another, several decks and a couple of parking places. The driveways need blowing about once a week in the fall, the decks daily for light touch up so we don't track the outside in. I've a Stihl BR380 (2 stroke) for the driveways and a DeWalt battery operated handheld for the decks.

The DeWalt DCBL720B lives next to the door, easy to grab, no fumes, no starting problems. Not enough power to lift a 10 month old, 2" thick mat of oak leaves wetted down and grown together. Which the Stihl will do.

I would not want to rely on either for both jobs.

During the Fall is when I use it the most. I have 45 acres, mostly trees, but the trees closest to the house shed a lot. I probably use the leaf blower a good 45 minutes each week getting around the house and driveway, blowing leaves so I can mulch it with the zero turn. I have to keep ahead of the leaves or otherwise I will have 3-5" of leaves that become difficult to mulch. No more raking and burning for me.

Other than that the blower is used to blow off the tractor or zero turn after each use

 

[ericm979]

Both handhelds and backpack blowers have their places. Handhelds for small area, backpack for large ones.

We recently got a DeWalt DCBL772 handheld 60v. It's really useful but I'm not blowing off 800ft of driveway with it.

I've used a Husqvarna backpack blower for years but it never ran right even when new and runs worse now. The carb is not adjustable and has a funky second bore that leads to a tiny reed valve and then to the crankcase. It's a special California emissions deal from 1998 when I bought the blower. I was going to adapt a good adjustable carb but discovered that the intake manifold is much different. It might become a project but in the mean time I had driveways to clear so I bought a Stihl BR450. It works far better than the Husky ever did. This is the second Husky unit I've had that's had emissions equipment that makes it run poorly. Stihl has no problem meeting emissions and running great. I like messing with engines but sometimes it's worth paying an extra $50 or 100 and just getting the work done.

 

[hslogger]

Sell that blower. Bite the bullet and get a big Stihl backpack blower, two stroke or four stroke. Get the best why screw with the rest? I've run a Stihl back pack for commercial work and have one for home use. Da bestest. go git one

 

[shooterdon]

I have both and use the backpack unit the most.

 

[dfkrug]

I had a couple of backpack blowers, the best of which was a Husky BF145. I went back to handhelds, previously a Stihl, and now a Craftsman. The reason was that I can switch hands with the handheld. The backpack blower is right hand only, and the vibrations cause wrist and arm discomfort for me.

The handheld is a quick grab-and-go effort, while the backback unit has to be slung onto your back. I will next get a 40v electric handheld, and see how good that works.

 

[Liquidsilver]

I've had both and I LIKE having the choice for different jobs. I have the massive Echo 80cc one that moves a lot of leaves and even gravel, but I HATE using it for just blowing grass off the sidewalk after mowing. My Stihl handheld died and I miss it enough that I'm going to buy a new one. (probably from Echo)

The backpack is much, much more powerful, but also a big pain for a quick job like the handheld.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Never owned a leaf blower and was thrilled when the Lady Friend bought me a Makita four stroke handheld blower. Found how much better and faster it worked blowing off mowing equipment than compressed air.

Then a friend gave me an Oregon Battery operated blower that uses my Oregon Batteries (40V?) and now the Makita 4 stroke barely gets used. The battery unit is just so handy.

 

[slckeys]

I have a Ryobi handheld blower that works great but after about 20 minutes of using it it really wears on my shoulder.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-160-MPH-520-CFM-25cc-Gas-Jet-Fan-Blower-RY25AXB/206481707

Not trying to spend a lot of money but I did notice the local hardware/appliance store carries the Echo PB-580T for about the same price as Home Depot.

Anyone have experiences with other brands of backpack blowers?

I literally just bought that Echo model last week to replace a Stihl handheld that wasn't cutting it at the larger yard. It is, as said, night and day difference. It's going to be my go to from now on except when I'm blowing the leaves off my roof. I accomplished so much more in so much less time... What a time saver. Highly recommend!

 

[4570Man]

Buy a 8500 class backpack and cut your 45 minute job to 10.

 

[Will_C]

I would like a handheld for clean up after mowing, but haven't bought one. I bought a Stihl backpack blower 20 years ago, and haven't regretted it a bit.

 

[dlctcg]

As just about everyone has stated... Backpack blower will outperform your handheld 10 fold. I have had an Echo backpack blower for 6+ yrs & it has been a great piece of equipment to own...

So I don't think you could go wrong with a backpack blower...

That said; I have 4 different types of blowers & they all have there purpose... and all get used for there convenience & performance for the task at hand.
- Handheld Battery Powered is used basically for very light clean-up but is used most often for blowing of the equipment & saws on a job site
- Handheld Gas Powered (Echo) used mostly during the summer months to blower off the decks & walks ways after mowing, also used for removing light powdery snow (when we get that) from the decks, walkways & vehicles
- Backpack blower (Echo) used mostly for leaf season we have way to many leaves for the smaller blowers. Actually even this is to small for our needs but is used to move the leaves to where either the Leaf Vac or the debris blower can get to them
- PTO Debris Blower (RAD) used to blow back the piles made with the backpack blower, blowout the driveway culverts & blow about 2100 ft of the 2600 ft of driveway. (the rest is done with the Leaf Vac)

 

[spitter]

Doing 45 acers with a hand held ?:confused2: I have 5 and a 12 hp little wonder. Hand held are toys for condos in the desert.:drink:

 

[John Skull]

Why not have both? I have a gas-powered Husqvarna backpack which is great for the big jobs; battery-powered HF Lynxx hand-held for the small. The HF is 5+ yrs old but still works fine; if buying a new one I'd look hard at their Atlas brand blower.

 

[tradosaurus]

Doing 45 acers with a hand held ?:confused2: I have 5 and a 12 hp little wonder. Hand held are toys for condos in the desert.:drink:

I'm actually only blowing leaved from the edge of the house out into the yard and from around the backyard fence so I can I can mulch it.

I also get on top of the house and blow the leaves off of the roof.

I would only use the backpack leaf blower during the fall so I'm trying to justify spending $350-$500.

 

[spitter]

I for got to take in account proximity of trees, number of trees , and type of trees. I have a little wonder , backpack and hand held . all are used in spring cleanups, fall clean ups and in summer. Constantly in use unless their is snow on the ground . Your lucky My property is a plateau in the side of a mountian . Baisically a leaf trap.:drink: