The 5 Best Backpack Leaf Blowers of 2018 [Reviewed]

When there are changes in seasons and leaves start cluttering in your yard, it is the perfect time to find the best backpack leaf blower available on the market.

Everyone has a single goal when it comes to yard work. Making the yard clean yet in an easy, efficient and enjoyable way possible. This calls for finding the right tool.

That said, you will need a backpack leaf blower that is light to transport, easy to control, with great features and above all, affordable.

With a variety of options available in the market, our backpack leaf blower review outlined below will help you find the best tool for your yard needs.

Best Backpack Leaf Blowers 2018

1. Husqvarna 965877502 350BT – Best Overall

The Husqvarna 965877502 350BT Leaf Blower is a powerful yet light backpack leaf blower built to last. Certainly, exceptional yards require exceptional products. This tool is perfect for those with large yards.

This leaf blower features a 350BT, perhaps all you need to eliminate the wet and dry leaves as well as snow, cobwebs, gravel and light debris on your yard. It also removes slightly embedded debris from the yard turf.

It features a 2.1 horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 7500 RPM. This generates speeds of up to 180 MPH, perhaps all you need to remove even the most stubborn leaves in your yard.

Husqvarna 965877502 350BT Leaf Blower runs on a 50.2cc engine. This makes it economical as well as reduces emissions. Note that this doesn’t compromise on its effectiveness.

Weighing only around 22.5 pounds, the Husqvarna 350BT is lightweight, well balanced and comfortable. Its weight is distributed evenly with padded shoulder straps, a hip belt, and adjustable handles to enhance its comfortability.

The Husqvarna 350BT leaf blower is well built to provide great services for seasons. It should run well for long periods if standard leaf blower maintenance is observed. Maintenance typically involves checking on the starter, fuel tank, air filter and perhaps the cooling system.

2. Poulan Pro 967087101 – Best Economical Leaf Blower

For long, Poulan Pro has developed high performance, reliable and quality outdoor machines, yet at affordable prices. The Poulan Pro 967087101 Leaf Blower is yet another great sequel to their leaf blowers.

The Poulan Pro 967087101 Leaf Blower is an excellent choice for those looking for a powerful blower on a budget. Blowing at approximately 200 MPH, you’ll be sure of eliminating minor debris and all leaves in your yard.

The machine’s variable throttle feature makes it easy to control. It features a 48 cc engine with a 2-stroke motor, perhaps ascertaining its effectiveness on leaves, debris and other light stuff you need to remove from the yard.

Concerning the ergonomics, the Poulan Pro 967087101 Leaf Blower features a cruise control system. Besides, it is light enough to be used for lengthy periods without discomfort.

The Poulan Pro 967087101 Leaf Blower’s great design is perhaps the highlight of its features. Like other leaf blowers, its assembly can be daunting for first-time owners. However, once you get well versed with the procedure, it will take minutes to assemble.

This leaf blower offers great versatility. Besides clearing leaves and debris from the yard, you can use it to dry your car as well as clearing snow from walkways. This is enabled by its commercial grade power.

3. Makita EB7650TH MM4 – Best High-End/Professional Leaf Blower

The Makita EB7650TH MM4 Leaf Blower combines the burning 4-stroke engine with its quieter operation. It is engineered for garden work and commercial lawn activities, perhaps the best choice for any professional yard care expert.

It is an excellent machine with ascertained durability, high-power and fuel-efficient. This not only makes it easy to care for your lawn but also speeds up cleaning time. With the MakitaMM4, be sure of a quick and effective lawn care.

As mentioned, it features a 4-stroke engine, an upgrade from the standard 2-stroke engine. This ensures that this leaf blower eliminates any potential problems within the yard.

One of the common problems experienced with leaf blowers is getting the oil and gas ratio right. However, this machine’s engine eliminates risks of such issues. Simply fill up with gas and it is ready to operate. It is also fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.

The wide padded straps and comfortable design provide comfort when using the Makita EB7650TH MM4 Leaf Blower. Other intriguing features that add to its comfort are the padded back panel as well as the anti-vibration mounts.

Makita MM4 Leaf Blower comes with great features that enable users to accomplish various lawn cleaning tasks. Besides reaching speeds of 200 MPH, it produces an air volume of 670 cubic feet every minute. This is why professionals prefer this machine.

4. Husqvarna 570BTS – Best Commercial Backpack Leaf Blower

The Husqvarna 570BTS Leaf Blower, like other Husqvarna leaf blowers, is designed for demanding lawn tasks. It is a favorite leaf blower for homeowners with large yards as well as professionals.

It is powerful and potentially clears all the mess in the yard thrown it comes across. The machine’s impressive system gets the work done quickly and efficiently. Some of the key features of the Husqvarna 570BTS Leaf Blower include:

An X-Torg engine – X-Torg engines are known to reduce harmful emissions by up to 60 percent as well as increase the machine’s efficiency by 20 percent.

Commercial grade air filter – Husqvarna 570BTS Leaf Blower’s 2-stage air filtration system allows it to work under dusty conditions for long periods.

An air purge that removes air in the fuel system for easy starting.

Ergonomic and comfortable handle – features an easily adjustable handle with a soft-grip and rubber inserts for optimum comfort.

Powerful blowing capacity – 236 MPH airspeed with a powerful engine makes it easy to clean the yard.

5. Echo PB-580T Leaf Blower – Best in Class for Comfort

The Echo PB-580T Leaf Blower, the latest leaf blower in the ECHO line of products, combines all the features you need for a comfortable yard care. It features 58.2 cc engine with a professional grade 2-stroke engine that delivers 510 CFM and an airspeed of 215 MPH.

This backpack leaf blower was designed with user’s comfort in mind. To begin, it weighs only 22.9lbs making it easy for users to carry along all through their lawn cleaning processes.

Adding to the comfort is the fully padded backrest with an upper and lower back support. As if not enough, the adjustable shoulder straps accommodate all users for all-day comfort.

Echo PB-580T Leaf Blower comes with a vented backpack that increases air circulation. This comes in handy, especially during hot weather seasons. Moreover, the four-point vibration reduction system reduces common fatigue resulting from long vibrating periods as well as increase the operator’s comfort.

Like other ECHO products, durability shouldn’t be a doubt. Besides the ECHO exclusive design, the Echo PB-580T Leaf Blower features a patented metal ring that extends the durability of the lower blower tube.

Other safety features of this machine include the posi-loc pipe connectors that secure pipe connections and a leaf guard that prevents debris intake from the fan. To ascertain on durability and quality, the company provides a 5-year consumer warranty and a 2-year commercial warranty.

What to Consider Before Buying a Backpack Leaf Blower

Leaf blowers are the best option for removing leaves, grass, debris, and hedge clippings off your lawn.

However, not all leaf blowers in the market can guarantee this. Only the best backpack leaf blowers should be considered.

That said, what features should the best leaf blower have? What features should you consider when purchasing a new blower?

Outlined below are a few things buyers should keep in mind before settling for one.

What Does a Leaf Blower Do?

A leaf blower moves debris such as leaves and grass cuttings from a yard or property. It does so by propelling air out of a nozzle. Note that blowers are powered by motors which can either be electric or gasoline.

A leaf blower can be handheld, it can rest on wheels, or it can be backpack mounted. Backpack leaf blowers—the focus of this discussion—tend to be more popular thanks to the ergonomic design which facilitates extended use.

Backpack Leaf Blower Type

Backpack leaf blowers are available in various types. Some of the common types include:

Light duty electric blowers – they are best for removing leaves and dirt from driveways or decks. They could be corded or cordless. They lack big motors and fans making them the quietest leaf blowers in the market.

Heavy-duty electric blowers – lawn care requires blowers with more power. They blower should also have extension cords for convenience. This perfectly describes the heavy-duty electric blowers. They are a good combination of quietness, power, and utmost convenience. A number of these blowers can also vacuum and mulch, perhaps adding to their versatility.

Handheld gas blowers – making up a huge proportion of popular leaf blowers are the gas blowers. They are more expensive and can work anywhere. Besides being expensive, their noise level is quite high compared to electric blowers. They also lack a leaf vacuum option.

Backpack gas leaf blowers – being the subject of our review, backpack leaf blowers are the most powerful and convenient. They are heavier than other models, perhaps an explanation on why they are worn on the back. Consider this model for heavy-duty lawn care activities.

Leaf Blower’s Power

Regardless of the type, the power of any leaf blower is measured as in two numbers: MPH rating and CFM rating. The Cubic Feet per Minute rating measures the amount of air moved per minute by the air blower.

On the other hand, Miles Per Hour rating measures the speed at which air is coming out of the blower. Both measurements are interrelated such that a leaf blower with a high CFM rating and a low MPH rating isn’t a good choice, and vice versa.

What Is a Good CFM for a Leaf Blower?

The answer to this question is dependent on three key considerations. One, how big is your property? Two, what kind of debris is prevalent in your property? Finally, what are the noise limitations in your area?

Regarding property size, if you are dealing with patios, decks, and driveways, then a blower with a CFM of between 200 and 400 is perfect. On the other hand, if your property is an acre or more in size, then a blower with a CFM of between 400 and 700 is ideal.

For large properties that are beyond 1.5 acres, any blower with a CFM of more than 700 will suffice. Note that when it comes to CFM, you can go as high as 3000 as long as you have the budget for that kind of power.

When it comes to noise limitations, there is a general rule of thumb you ought to adhere to: the higher the CFM, the noisier the leaf blower.

As a result, you should always balance your CFM needs with your area’s noise requirements. Otherwise, you will end up buying a blower you are not allowed to use.

Two More Important Air Flow Measurements for Leaf Blowers

In addition to the MPH and CFM already discussed, the CC and dB are also vital measurements. CC stands for Cubic Centimeters, and it denotes the size and weight of the leaf blower. Knowing the CC will help you determine if you can hold or carry the blower around with ease.

The dB measures how noisy the leaf blower is. The higher the dB, the louder the machine and vice versa. This is essential because, for any local area, there are laws that limit the level of noise pollution.

Leaf Blower Engine

There are primarily two engine types for leaf blowers. They include the two-cycle and four-cycle engines.

Two-cycle engines, otherwise known as two-stroke engines, requires that users mix gas and oil in the fuel tank. They are lighter and easier to maintain. They also provide a great power to weight ratio.

On the other hand, the four-cycle engines work just like the car engines. They are far much fuel efficient and powerful compared to the two-cycle engines. However, they are larger and quite heavy.

Do Leaf Blowers Take Regular Gas?

Yes, they do. However, as noted above, the gas has to be mixed with oil if the blower uses a two-stroke engine. Never use straight gas in a two-cycle engine. It will damage the engine in a matter of minutes.

The ratio of fuel to oil is usually 40:1. After mixing, you ought to shake the mixture thoroughly before refueling to ensure a proper mix.

The Intended Use—What Is the Best Commercial Leaf Blower?

If you own a large yard, then finding a commercial backpack leaf blower is of utmost importance. As noted above, the Husqvarna 570BTS is one of the best commercial leaf blowers.

Three key features help make the Husqvarna 570BTS an ideal commercial backpack leaf blower. For one, it has an ergonomic design which ensures it can be used for long hours. Second, it has a powerful capacity at 236MPH.

Finally, it features a type of engine that has minimal harmful emissions. That means it does not matter how long it is used, the effect on the environment is negligible. The thing to remember when shopping for a commercial backpack leaf blower is that it must at least, have these three features.

Other integral features to consider include:

• Speed control feature – leaf blowers with adjustable speeds make it possible to have more power on hard and stubborn surfaces and gentle power when handling delicate turf.
• Nozzle – leaf blower nozzles can be rounded or flat. Flat nozzles are best for sweeping and blowing motions. Rounded nozzles are good for blowing large clumps. Prioritize models that feature interchangeable nozzles that allows users to switch depending on the nature of tasks at hand.
• Handgrip – leaf blowers ought to be comfortable. It is due to this that you should find one with a natural feel handgrip and a good hand to body distance for ease of operations.
• Cost – leaf blowers are available in varying price tags. This is hugely reliant on its features and brand. Always find an affordable backpack leaf blower with great features.

Our Final Verdict

If you are looking for the best leaf blower in the market, there are numerous choices available. The backpack leaf blower review and the guide above should provide crucial insights on how to go about this.

However, the best backpack leaf blowers feature great power, comfort, fuel-efficient, and quiet. Before buying any of these units, ensure that the backpack leaf blower meets your lawn care needs.

Which machine is your favorite backpack leaf blower? Share with us below!