So, you wake up and there are wet leaves, debris, and grass clippings everywhere in your yard. Maybe you have an old gas leaf blower or an ultra-heavy leaf blower with a super loud two-stroke engine. It’s time to change. You’re interested in a new backpack leaf blower but you don’t know how to start finding the right one for you.
Do you go for a cordless leaf blower with padded shoulder straps and rechargeable batteries, a gas-powered blower with a low-level noise output, the latest electric leaf blowers, or do you opt for the best backpack leaf blower?
What to Consider When Buying a Backpack Leaf Blower?
Like with any product, there are qualities you like about one leaf blower that draws you to it over a different one. For backpack leaf blowers the most important qualities that make them different from each other is the type of power it uses, its weight, and how much noise it makes.
Gas vs. Battery
The majority of backpack leaf blowers are gasoline powered—it’s only more recently that manufacturers have started to release electric ones. You may or may not have a preference in this area, but keep in mind that with both gas and electric blowers, the tank or battery size will vary, affecting how long you are able to use your leaf blower without stopping to refill or recharge. If you have a large job to do, you will want to get one with a larger tank or battery.
Weight
Since tank or battery size varies, this also means the weight varies—this is important since you will be wearing your leaf blower on your back. Most backpack leaf blowers tend to be around 22 pounds or so, but some are much lighter and some are even heavier. If you know you wouldn’t be able to work long with that much weight on your back, go for one of the lighter ones.
Noise
Are you planning to use your leaf blower in a residential area? If you don’t want to be the neighbor everyone hates, you may consider getting one that isn’t too loud. If you don’t care about noise and you end up getting one that is on the louder side (more than 65 dB), just be careful to protect your ears while you use it.
Best Backpack Leaf Blowers
Since the most major difference between backpack leaf blowers is whether one is gas or electric, the top five best backpack leaf blowers below are categorized by whether they are gas or battery powered.
Comparison Chart
Gas Backpack Leaf Blowers
Husqvarna 350BT 2-Cycle Gas Backpack Blower
This model is very popular and is one of the most reliable backpack leaf blowers you will find. Its tank holds 42.27 fluid ounces, weighs 22.5 pounds, and produces noise up to 104 dB. And with all that, this blower is not outrageously priced—it goes for $309.99 on Amazon and is recommended for those who are in need of a basic, reliable leaf blower that is easy to use.
Pros
- Large tank size ensures you will not have to go through the hassle of filling up often
- It has the cruise control feature to help regulate airspeed
Cons
- Some users have said that when it is cold out they had a hard time starting it
- Some people were surprised by the amount of smoke it made during use
Echo PB-580T Back Pack Blower
Echo is known for producing very high-quality outdoor equipment and their backpack leaf blower is no exception. Its tank holds 62 fluid ounces, weighs 27.9 pounds, and produces noise up to 70 dB. What makes this product special is that it comes with a consumer warranty of five years and a commercial warranty of two years and is recommended for those who want a high-quality blower that they know will work without any issues for years to come.
Pros
- Good for both residential and commercial use
- Large tank size ensures you will not have to go through the hassle of refilling often
Cons
- This is one of the more expensive blowers
- Some people have said they think it is too loud and suggest wearing ear protection
Makita EB7660TH Backpack Leaf Blower
This blower is the best for commercial use. Its tank holds 64 fluid ounces, weighs, 28.66 pounds, and produces noise up to 76 dB. This model is special because it is one of the more powerful blowers you will come across and is recommended for those who will need to use their blower for longer periods of time.
Pros
- Large tank size ensures you will not have to go through the hassle of refilling often
- Best blower you will find for commercial use
Cons
- Because it has a larger tank, it also one of the heaviest blowers you’ll find
- Since it is best suited to commercial use, it is on the more expensive side
Electric Backpack Leaf Blowers
Dewalt DCBL590B Backpack Leaf Blower
This is one of the simpler blowers best for residential use. The battery is 40V, it weighs 22.8 pounds, and it makes noise up to 63 dB. This product is special because it is one of the quietest ones you will find and is recommended for those who are not in need of a particularly powerful blower.
Pros
- One of the quietest blowers you’ll find
- Comes with a 3-year limited warranty
Cons
- If you’re looking for a powerful blower, this is not the one for you
- While this is one of the cheaper blowers, you must buy the battery separately
EGO Power+ 600 CFM Cordless Backpack Blower
EGO’s mission as a company is to create electric-powered equipment as opposed to gas, thus we have this electric leaf blower. The battery is 56V, it weighs 25 pounds, and it makes noise up to 64dB. This blower is special because it has a warranty of five years and is recommended for those who want an electric leaf blower that is reliable and long-lasting.
Related: What Is a Good CFM for a Leaf Blower?
Pros
- Compared to other blowers it is one of the quieter ones
- It has an especially long battery life compared to other electric blowers
Cons
- It is on the heavier side
- Compared to other electric blowers it is more expensive
Summary
Decision should be made a little simpler—we hope this guide has helped you figure out which exact one is the best backpack leaf blower for you. You will soon be saying goodbye to all those wet leaves, debris, and grass clippings for good.