Backpack Blowers

[TomSeller]

I bought a Stihl BR600 today as a Christmas present to myself and have already run 3 tanks of fuel through it. What a nice blower and I can understand why the pros favor it. In the Stihl line up, it seems they all weigh around 20 lbs and the 600 is at the top of the line but not that much more money. Among small gas commercial equipment, Stihl has 3 local dealers and no one else does. So that made my decision easy (again). That said, I sure appreciate the ease of the backpack blower over an attachment on my weed trimmer or the plug in hand held model. I now share a 1000' tree lined driveway at the new place with 3 other houses and decided I needed to take my turn. Any back pack blower fans out there? Lots of good brands besides Stihl these days. Not sure why I waited so long, it will be nice to clear the needles from the roof as well. Starts very easy as all my Stihls do.

 

[4570Man]

I'm a backpack fan. After I got my backpack blower I took my other regular blower and poured the gas out and stuck it in the attic.

 

[newbury]

I love mine, a Stihl 380 I picked up off surplus for about $150. Starts with little difficulty, blows very strongly, great for my "extended drive, parking area".

It takes me about half an hour to clear an area about 200 yards by 10 yards and I've got areas I couldn't stretch a cord to. I recently bought a DeWalt 20V max DCBL720P1 blower for the 91 yr old MIL. She likes it but probably will stop using it, after all she's 91!

If all I had to do was blow DRY leaves that would be a close runner up.

But I bet that BR600 can almost flip small cars over, so be careful!

 

[om21braz]

Probably my most used piece of equipment, hate to do without one. Bought a Stihl BR400 in 1997 and it's still running great for my son today. I expect y'all have sons/daughters that come borrow stuff that never returns too!

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have a BR600 that mostly gets used in the fall to blow leaves off of my pastures so they don't mold. I might run through 20 gallons of gas sometimes more if the wind has worked against me. This beast will even blow wet leaves if need be. If you are not already doing so, run synthetic oil and a higher grade of octane. Per some net searches I did, running regular oil and gas will shorten the life span if not kill it. My other Stihl tools "like" the higher octane as well.

Mine is maybe six years old and still starts on the first or second pull. I think the only negative about it that I could say is that there is no strap to snap across your chest between the shoulder harness's like on some backpacks. One or the other straps will slip off but I cured that with some old hiking gear.

 

[DT86]

We've got a Echo pb500, not sure why but it's the only Echo on the place. Always starts easily and seems to work as well as any other.

One of my favorite things to use it for is to stoke a burn pile that might be a little green or damp. I've often fantasized about a way to inject a small stream of diesel in front of the blower tube for a super fire starter.

Edit--

They're also great to blow trash back through the tractor radiator (as in from the back towards the front), off the bush hog, hay equipment, ect.

 

[nickc]

The BR600 may be one of my most used pieces of equipment, very powerful. Only problem with mine is that every time the wife uses it I've got myself an extra hour of clean-up.

 

[Will_C]

I have a had a Stihl backpack blower for 15 years. I bought it to blow leaves, but now use for so many other things I will replace it immediately if anything happens to it-can't imagine being without it.

Will

 

[Code54]

We also have the BR600 and love it. Works great for blowing the water off the car when you wash it also!

 

[TomSeller]

. If you are not already doing so, run synthetic oil and a higher grade of octane. Per some net searches I did, running regular oil and gas will shorten the life span if not kill it. My other Stihl tools "like" the higher octane as well.

Mine is maybe six years old and still starts on the first or second pull. I think the only negative about it that I could say is that there is no strap to snap across your chest between the shoulder harness's like on some backpacks. One or the other straps will slip off but I cured that with some old hiking gear.

I've been using mid grade ethanol free but one of the local stations just started carrying 92 ethanol free at the request of the landscaping companies. So I will switch to that shortly. I will let my chores sit before I put ethanol in a seasonal small engine. And I always use the synthetic oil, very little difference in cost considering the benefits.

I noticed the left strap wants to slide off my shoulder, so I will be doing something similar.

But I bet that BR600 can almost flip small cars over, so be careful!

Well, I can say I've used pressure washers that can't clear pavement as well.

 

[4570Man]

Flipping cars might be an exaggeration, but mine will send a 8 foot 2x4 flying across the driveway or blow 4 inch diameter rocks around.

 

[JRobyn]

Wife absolutely LOVES her BR600. Besides the easy starting and incredible power, I like that the 4-stroke engine is substantially quieter than most.

- Jay

 

[QRTRHRS]

I've been using mid grade ethanol free but one of the local stations just started carrying 92 ethanol free at the request of the landscaping companies. So I will switch to that shortly. I will let my chores sit before I put ethanol in a seasonal small engine. And I always use the synthetic oil, very little difference in cost considering the benefits.

I noticed the left strap wants to slide off my shoulder, so I will be doing something similar.



Well, I can say I've used pressure washers that can't clear pavement as well.

Cool! I do not have the no ethanol option around me so every now and then I figure on new rubber fuel lines at the least. If you have some kind of sporting goods store close by they often have an assortment of nylon webbing with quick disconnect plastic clips for the harness.

 

[TomSeller]

Wife absolutely LOVES her BR600. Besides the easy starting and incredible power, I like that the 4-stroke engine is substantially quieter than most.

- Jay

I'll like the balance the backpack style has for when I get up on my roof, that is for sure.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I bought a Stihl BR600 today as a Christmas present to myself and have already run 3 tanks of fuel through it. What a nice blower and I can understand why the pros favor it. In the Stihl line up, it seems they all weigh around 20 lbs and the 600 is at the top of the line but not that much more money. Among small gas commercial equipment, Stihl has 3 local dealers and no one else does. So that made my decision easy (again). That said, I sure appreciate the ease of the backpack blower over an attachment on my weed trimmer or the plug in hand held model. I now share a 1000' tree lined driveway at the new place with 3 other houses and decided I needed to take my turn. Any back pack blower fans out there? Lots of good brands besides Stihl these days. Not sure why I waited so long, it will be nice to clear the needles from the roof as well. Starts very easy as all my Stihls do.

I've had my BR600 since 2010 and it is awesome. Makes "sweeping" out garages easy too.

 

[JerryK]

I bought a Husqvarna 580BTS last summer on sale on Amazon. It's a little heavier, but will blow huge piles of oak leaves at over 900cfm... Easily outclasses my old Craftsman handheld at about 300cfm... Get a free workout toting it around the property to blow the smithereenies out of stuff too ......

 

[Thomas]

"Any back pack blower fans out there?"
I'm fan :thumbsup: save lot time does much better job than rake.
My EHCO 7 years old use it for many thing...spring and fall clean up,drying off motorcycle,help to burn brush piles etc etc.

 

[farmer2009]

I have a PB-751T ECHO backpack blower. Don't see how I made it as long as I did without it. I bought it to blow the dust off the ceiling of the chicken coops. Then found how well it cleans the lawn mower deck. So now I take it with me as a portable radiator cleaner. Also works well for helping start brush pile fires. Get a 2 gallon pump sprayer filled with diesel fuel and pressurize it. Then spray and blow the diesel into the small fire you have started. If pump has a shoulder strap it's much easier to move around pile.

When it dies it'll be replaced instantly.

 

[kenmac]

yep, Redmax ebz 8000

 

[Deere Dude]

I have a handheld blower that does a good job, but even though I am a fairly big guy, hanging on to them with one hand doesn't work long as I need to switch hands very often. I need to consider one of those backpack blowers but never used one. The question is, are they fatiguing?????/