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Backpack leaf blowers have been a part of the outdoor landscaping industry for as long as we remember. They’re convenient, powerful, and sometimes comfortable. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of appliances for you to choose, and not all of them are great. This article will narrow down the selection to the absolute best leaf blowers on the market. Read more to find out.
Contents
| Product name | Power Type | Weight (lb) | Max Airspeed (MPH) | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Husqvarna 350BT Backpack Leaf Blower GreatLivings Editor Choice of 2020 |
Gasoline | 22.5 extra | 180 |  |
|
| 2. Husqvarna 150BT Backpack Leaf Blower Budget Friendly |
Gasoline | 22.5 | 250 |  |
|
| 3. Echo PB-580T Backpack Leaf Blower Most Comfortable |
Gasoline | 27.9 | 215 |  |
|
| 4. GreenWorks BPB80L2510 Backpack Leaf Blower Best Battery Powered |
Electric battery | 14.62 | 145 | |
|
| 5. Troy-Bilt TB4BP EC Backpack Leaf Blower Best Alternative |
Gasoline | 21.8 | 150 |  |
|
There are factors to think about when choosing the best backpack leaf blower. Some of those factors include: sturdiness, size, weight, air rate, speed, and guarantee. Fortunately, the Husqvarna 350BT fulfills, or surpasses, all those expectations. This makes the 350BT an incredibly great value. Reviews for this unit are mostly positive. Most rate the 350BT as the top product in its class.
Anyway, onto the details. This blower has an X-Torq engine that gives you 50cc of power and blows an impressive 180 MPH. It does all that while using less gas and weighing less than most appliances. The high-volume gas tank (42.27 fl. oz.) combined with the more efficient engine means you won’t have to worry about filling up gas every five minutes.
Nice! The real charm of the 350BT is in the extra features. These features include cruise control, ergonomic controls, and a quickstart switch. Cruise control might sound unusual on a leaf blower, but you will definitely want it for any extended use. Of course, the absolute best part of the 350BT is that all these features won’t cost you a small fortune.
The 350BT doesn’t have any features that will really leave you in awe. However, it has a bunch of minor features that blend together to create the perfect device. We highly recommend this model. Even better, you can easily purchase this for a great price.
Another Husqvarna product on our list. This company has been around for 150 years, so they know a thing or two about equipment. The 150BT is yet another example of Husqvarna’s experience creating excellent equipment. Now, onto the leaf blower.
This 150BT is fairly similar to the 350BT, but there are some slight differences between the two. We’ll cover those differences in this review. First, the weight, engine, power output, warranty, and gas tank size are the same. The biggest difference is that the 150BT can blow at 250 MPH, which is insane.
However, the 150BT lacks many of the fancy features that make the 350BT stand out such as an easily adjustable throttle. This is to be expected since the 150BT costs significantly less than the 350BT. As they always say, you get what you pay for.
The Husqvarna 150BT is very similar to the 350BT. It does lack many of the features of the 350BT, though. However, the 150BT makes up for the lack of features with an airspeed of 250MPH. Most importantly, the price makes it one of the best options for those looking to purchase a leaf blower on a tighter budget.
Echo has been making products since there 1950 release of the Knapsack Backpack Duster. They’ve adapted to the everchanging tool market over the past 70 years. The Echo PB-580T exemplifies the ethos of the Echo brand.
Now, Echo is not a budget company. They don’t make cheap products that break within two years. No, they make products built to last. They make the type of tools that you can hand down to your grandchildren. In fact, they believe in themselves so much that they offer a 5-year consumer warranty AND offer a 2-year commercial warranty. For the record, most brands do not offer any commercial warranty for obvious warranties. This just goes to show how much Echo trusts their manufacturing.
The blower itself is good too. It has a massive 58.2cc engine that blows an impressive 215 MPH. It has an equally large gas tank that has a capacity of 62 fluid ounces, so you won’t be refilling the tank that frequently. It’s also oddly quiet for being a gas engine at only 70dB. That’s so quiet that you may not even need ear protection, but we still highly recommend wearing ear protection. Finally, Echo added a lot of extra padding to this leafblower, so it’s really comfortable to wear.
We won’t sugarcoat it. This unit is expensive. However, it is still an excellent choice for those that want quality, comfort, and reliability. It also works well for commercial use. We recommend this model for those looking for quality rather than the best price. It’s also great if you frequently use a leaf blower just because it’s so comfortable. All that extra padding really helps!
GreenWorks is a relatively new company with a simple mission remove emissions from outdoor tool products. In other words, every product they produce is battery operated. Basically, the Tesla of the outdoor tool market. One other interesting thing with GreenWorks is that all the batteries of the same voltage are interchangeable, so you can put your leafblower battery in your lawnmower. This makes it easy if you own multiple GreenWorks products.
If you think electric leaf blowers don’t have much power, then you’re wrong. This blower blows an impressive 145 MPH, which is more than enough for yard work. The battery life is decently long at 8 hours, so you can get through the day without recharging. Granted most people only use the blower for 20 minutes at most.
This unit is also light at only 14.6 pounds. You definitely won’t tire yourself out carrying this around. The best part about this blower, in our opinion, is the incredible warranty. You get a 4-year warranty on the appliance, which is impressive. GreenWorks also gives you a 2-year warranty on the battery.
GreenWorks has proven that electric tools can compete with gas-powered tools. Now, we will admit that this leafblower is more expensive than a gas-powered blower. However, you don’t have to worry about fuel, emissions, or any negative impacts on the environment. It’s also quieter. We recommend this blower if you have a bigger budget, care about the environment, and want a quiet leafblower.
Troy Bilt has produced outdoor tools for the past 80 years. Now, they might not be the most well-known brand, but they have produced quality tools for nearly a century. The Troy-Bilt TB4BP EC is an excellent product, with lots of positive reviews, from a brand that you can trust. Some features we like include cruise control, adjustable throttle, comfortable airflow, and proper weight distribution.
The airflow and weight distribution are two features that we really like. It just doesn’t get very hot while wearing. Proper weight distribution is also nice you won’t have sore shoulders at the end of the day! Perhaps the most important aspect of your next device is the price of the blower. Don’t worry, the TB4BP is one of the more affordable blowers on our list. Honestly, the low price is surprising with all the excellent features.
The Troy-Bilt TB4BP EC does not have the power or warranty of other devices on our list. However, we still consider it an option for consumers searching for a budget-friendly leaf blower that has features usually found in higher priced blowers. It’s also great for consumers that want to support an American company.
The above products should be the only five products that you should consider purchasing. However, we understand that you may not wish to purchase our choices, so we have included a mini-buying guide about the devices. Here are some things to look for in your next leaf blower purchase:
The first feature you should consider while looking for a decent option is the power source. Most leaf blowers have a gas-powered engine. Gas gives you the most power and lifespan. They also cost much less than a battery-powered one. However, they’re loud and produce a decent amount of pollution. Battery-powered devices don’t produce any pollution nor are they very noisy. The downsides, of course, are the relatively short battery life, lack of power, and higher cost. We don’t recommend a battery-powered leaf blower for most consumers due to the cost and extra hassle. If you really need a quiet blower or you want to save the environment, then it’s the best option.
You should consider the warranty before purchasing a leaf blower. Generally, a manufacturer that doesn’t offer a warranty will have an unreliable product. Fortunately, most products come with a two year warranty at a minimum. Some manufacturers, such as Echo and GreenWorks, have better warranties. A better warranty generally comes at a more expensive cost.
Cruise control is one of those features you don’t think you’ll need, but you’ll definitely want it. You will certainly want it if you plan on using your leaf blower for an extended amount of time. The reason? Your finger will get sore from keeping it on the throttle.
Leaf blowers are loud, which everyone already knows. However, some of them are louder than others. Fortunately, manufacturers have started including the decibels on the spec sheets. You may want to pick a quieter appliance if you live in a subdivision with a noise ordinance.
Finally, max airspeed is something you want to keep in mind before purchasing. A higher airspeed is better, but you can still get the job done with lower airspeed. The best part with higher airspeed is that you don’t have to do as much walking. One downside though is that a higher airspeed generally means more fuel consumption, so keep that in mind before your purchase.
