Husqvarna 350BT

The Husqvarna 350BT is one of the most powerful consumer-level backpack blowers you can buy; it generates a top airspeed of 180 mph, with an air flow of nearly 500 cubic feet per minute (CFM). Reviewers say it is also one of the most comfortable backpack blowers to wear and use, and its power means you can clear an area very quickly. Like most gas blowers, it is noisy, and it weighs close to 23 pounds. The 350BF is the same model with the throttle mounted on the frame instead of the tube. If you want a backpack blower with almost as much power and a longer warranty, the Echo PB-500H (*Est. $300) carries a five-year warranty and also gets good reviews from experts.

We found the most credible review of the Husqvarna 350BT in Popular Mechanics, where it is compared to six other backpack blowers based on hands-on testing. A product expert at MowersDirect.com recommends it as one of the top two consumer-grade backpack blowers and provides a review of it. The Husqvarna website hosts more than 100 owner reviews of the 350BT and the 350BF; they provide a good picture of how it performs in actual use over time.