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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Backpack blower
- Hip-mounted throttle
- Five-year warranty
- Easy to use
- Noisy
- May be overkill for many
The Echo PB-500H performs well in comparison tests and gets great reviews from experts as well as owners. Reviewers particularly like how easy it is to use. Features include a variable-speed engine, cruise control and padded backrest and shoulder straps. Its noise level is high, at 70 decibels, and it weighs 22 pounds. The PB-500T is the same model with the throttle mounted on the tube instead of at the hip. If you don't have a large property, experts say a handheld gas leaf blower will do the job. You can buy the Husqvarna 125B (*Est. $150) for half the price of the Echo PB-500; it has about the same power, and it gets very good reviews also.
We found the best comparative review of the Echo PB-500 at ConsumerReports.org, where it is rated based on objective tests. In Popular Mechanics, the Echo is among the blowers rated and reviewed based on a comparison test of seven backpack blowers. It also has reviews from close to 50 owners at HomeDepot.com.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
The Echo PB-500H is one of eight gas backpack blowers that undergo testing by ConsumerReports.org. Blowers are rated on performance, handling and noise level. A ratings chart at ConsumerReports.org ranks the eight blowers based on their ratings in the tests.
Review: Leaf Blowers, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
2. PopularMechanics.comDetails/Subscribe
Volunteer testers put seven backpack blowers through their paces, two commercial and five residential models. The Echo PB-500 is one of the two top-rated residential blowers. The review notes that the testers like its "simplicity and power. É Anyone can start it, sling it on his back and start blasting leaves in seconds."
Review: Backpack Leaf Blower Comparison Test, Roy Berendsohn
Almost 50 owners post ratings and reviews of the Echo PB-500H here. The average rating is 4.9 out of five, and 98 percent of the owners say they would recommend it to others. One writes, "This product was heavier than I thought, but after using it, I didn't even notice the weight. What I did notice was the ease of operation and the powerful motor makes quick work of any job!" Another says that when his PB-500 broke down after two years, Echo sent him a brand new replacement for it.
Review: Echo Inc 162 MPH 450 CFM Gas Backpack Blower, Contributors to HomeDepot.com
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