Backpack Blowers

Backpack leaf blowers for big jobs

Getting more blowing power means adding weight, so the most powerful gas leaf blowers are designed to be worn on the back. This takes some strain off the arms, but still requires good shoulder strength. Backpack blowers don't have the ability to vacuum.

Most experts recommend the most powerful (and expensive) backpack blowers only for commercial use or for consumers who have very large properties. If you do want a backpack blower, we found positive reviews for homeowner blowers in the $200 to $300 price range. One Echo model in this category, the Echo PB-265L (*Est. $270) backpack blower, gets very good reviews. It weighs 13 pounds and is quiet enough, at 65 decibels, to meet noise restriction standards. Its 25.4 cc engine provides a maximum air speed of 135 mph and an average air volume of 355 CFM. All Echo leaf blowers carry a five-year warranty for residential use, with a lifetime warranty on the ignition.

Since last year, Echo has introduced two new moderately priced backpack blowers – the PB-500H (*Est. $330) and 500T -- but neither of them have been reviewed yet. The only difference between these blowers is whether the throttle is at the hip or on the blowing tube. They have a powerful 50.8cc engine that produces an average air volume of 450 CFM. Their noise level is high, however, at 70 decibels, and they weigh 22 pounds each.

In the same price range, the Stihl BR 380 D (*Est. $330) weighs 20.5 pounds and has a sound level of 73 decibels -- also very noisy. It provides more power, though, with 465 CFM even at the end of the tube.

When it comes to the most powerful -- and expensive -- gas backpack blowers, reviewers point to two models as the best overall: the Stihl BR 500 (*Est. $470) and the Husqvarna 356BT (*Est. $480) or BF. The Husqvarna 356BF, which was tested by ConsumerReports.org, is exactly the same as the 356BT except that the throttle is mounted on the frame rather than on the tube. Both the Stihl and the Husqvarna leaf blowers weigh 23 pounds and provide a maximum air speed of around 180 mph. Both come with a two-year warranty for homeowner use, and are quiet enough to meet noise restriction standards (about 65 decibels).

A review in CNNMoney.com compares the Husqvarna 356BTx (an older version of the 356BT) and Stihl BR 500 backpack blowers. The reviewer found the Husqvarna more comfortable to wear, but thought it sounded louder, although Husqvarna actually rates the 356BTx one decibel quieter than the Stihl BR 500's 65 decibels. The Stihl, however, uses a hybrid engine that combines two- and four-cycle technology for lower emissions and a less annoying sound; the engine also improves fuel economy and lowers vibration. This model bears Stihl's "caring for nature" label, which means it's one of the brand's most eco-friendly models.