Husqvarna 356BT

The Husqvarna 356B comes in two versions: the BT has a tube-mounted throttle, while the BF's throttle is on the frame. This is one of the most powerful backpack gas blowers available, rated at over 470 cubic feet per minute (CFM), yet also one of the quietest. The question is whether you really need this much leaf blower. Backpack blowers in general aren't recommended for most pedestrian jobs; they're expensive, heavy and their gas engines are more polluting than electric leaf blowers. However, if you have a huge lawn or need to clear leaves out of parking lots or long driveways, experts praise the Echo backpack blower's low noise level and ease of use, as well as its performance. It is heavy, at almost 23 pounds, but its ergonomic features minimize the strain on the user. If you don't need quite this much power and want to spend less for a backpack gas leaf blower, the Echo PB-256L (*Est. $260) may be a better fit, rated at a still-powerful airflow of 355 CFM.

We found the most credible review of the Husqvarna BF (then the BFx) at ConsumerReports.org, where it's rated and ranked among other gas backpack leaf blowers; electric and gas handheld blowers are also tested and rated. Articles in The Wall Street Journal and CNNMoney.com highlight the Husqvarna 356 BT/BF for its low noise level, while at Engadget.com, editors praise it for operating at 65 decibels or less.