Best Reviewed
Leaf Blowers
- Best corded leaf blower Toro Ultra Blower Vac 51599 *Est. $70
- Best cordless leaf blower Black & Decker NS118 *Est. $70
- Electric blower-broom Toro Power Sweep 51585 *Est. $35
- Handheld gas leaf blower Husqvarna 125B *Est. $150
- Backpack blower Echo PB-500H *Est. $300
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- Relatively lightweight
- Rotation-control technology
- Variable speed throttle, cruise control
- See-through gas tank
- Five-year warranty
- Two-cycle gas engine pollutes
- Heavier than electric blowers
- Doesn't vacuum
- Might be too loud for some communities
The Echo PB-250 is a powerful handheld gas blower with airflow rated at 135 mph and air volume at an average of 390 cubic feet per minute (CFM). Several of its features make the PB-250 easy on the user, including two handles (the top one has three positions) and rotation control technology that keeps the force of the air coming out from rotating the blower. It also has a variable-speed throttle, cruise control and electronic ignition. One negative is that at 68 decibels, it might be too loud for communities with the strictest noise restrictions. If you want a quieter handheld blower that weighs (and costs) less, and you don't mind dealing with a cord, the Toro Ultra Blower Vac 51599 (*Est. $70) has a similar airflow rating.
We found no expert reviews of the Echo PB-250, but owners at HomeDepot.com provide ratings and comments. A thread at LawnSite.com asks about the leaf blower but most discussion involves other models. Some comments at GardenWeb.com about the Echo PB-251, the PB-250's immediate and very similar predecessor, might also be helpful.
Our Sources
At HomeDepot.com, more than 60 owners rate the Echo PB-250; the average rating is 3.8 out of 5 stars. Many owners praise its power and lower noise level. However, many recent reviews give the PB-250 low ratings, with owners complaining that it won't start or starts and then dies, repeatedly. One owner says it has "known carburetor problems."
Review: Echo Gas Inc 135 mph 390 CFM GAS Blower, Contributors to HomeDepot.com
2. National Home Gardening Club
National Home Gardening Club members volunteer to try out a specific product; they then receive one free of charge, use it and rate it. Products with high ratings become recommended models. The Echo PB-250 is one of three leaf blowers that win recommendations, and the only gas -powered one to do so. It's not clear how many members tested it or what rating system they used.
Review: Outdoor Power Tools, Members of National Home Gardening Club
There are several discussion threads here in which owners give their opinions about the Echo PB-251, the very similar predecessor to the Echo PB-250. In one thread, owners directly compare the Echo PB-251 and its closest competitor, the Stihl BG 55, in terms of performance and value. Most prefer the Echo and give it good ratings for performance and ease of use.
Review: Tool Shed Forum -- Echo PB-251, Contributors to GardenWeb.com
4. LawnSite.com
Most who enter this discussion are lawn-care professionals. The original poster asks about the Echo PB-250, but the discussion that follows revolves mainly around other leaf blowers.
Review: Echo Handheld Blower PB-250 vs. 255...., Contributors to LawnSite.com
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