Back pack blower or hand held?

[AllSeasonsAllReasons]

So what brand of blower do you prefer and which type backpack or hand held? What are the pros and cons of each? I was going to buy a back pack blower from my dealer but he is trying to talk me out of it and just go with a hand held which is cheaper but the back pack style just seem's more versatile to me? So i will ask the pros thats what i told him!! I love this site! Thanks Guys for all your help!!

[GrassRoots Lawn Care]

Backpack blowers are 2-3 times more productive than handheld in my opinion. The $150-200 difference in price is quickly made up with increased productivity. That being said, Handheld blowers do have their place in the lawn care business. They are good for tight areas like behind hedges and other places where are too tight for a larger backpack blower. Also I prefer them when blowing off roof tops.

As far as who makes the best. Good luck. There are many great machines out there. RedMax, Shin, Stihl, Kawasaki, Echo.... for the money I would pick Echo, I've had good luck with them, but to each, his own.

[Eric ELM]

We have 2 back packs Shin and Redmax and a handheld Echo, the handheld just sits around doing nothing 99% of the time.

[Keith]

Buy both and the hand held will stay on the truck. The Stihl is a pretty good machine (had 5 of them), but I will recommend the Redmax EB7000. I would recommend the Shindaiwa EB6200 since that is what we currently use, but after their decision to "outlaw" certain sales :mad: , I will tell you to look to the Redmax.

[Mark]

I use the echo BP-601 535cfm at tube-end. Also have handheld echo for tight spots and use it on spring and fall cleanups. Echo just now came out with the BP650-625cfms at the tube 1100 at housing. And alot lighter. Marks Mowing Service

[LJ lawn]

backpack-way- to -go.i have a Vandermolen/Windmill and a RedMax eb6200 and will never go back to a handheld blower.only in tight shrubs.i haven't even used my new 8hp Billygoat ground blower since i bought the backpacks!

[Barkleymut]

Don't even bother with the hand held. I have a BP and a handheld and can't even tell you the last time I used the handheld. Save the $150 and buy a backpack since that's what you'll need come leaf season anyways.

[awm]

My use of a blower is limited to the few places
I cant get to with mower and blowing out gutters.
The Craftsman 24cc handles those jobs well enough
Funny thing if poulan name is on it its 200 mph.
If weedeater name is on it.Its 180 mph.
Its amazing what a name can do LOL.

[Randy Scott]

Did my in-laws leaves the first weekend with the handheld blower they had, took forever. Two weeks later I did the clean-up again with the new Redmax EB6200 I bought. I was walking around the yard smiling like a little kid on Christmas. Unbelievable difference between the two, I mean not even comparable. The wifes parents just about s*#t when they saw what it could do. No kidding, cut time in half or more. Get the biggest and best you can afford. I'd rather have too much power than not enough, you can always throttle it down in doorways and flower beds. My 2 cents! Good luck with your purchase.

[bob]

I use a Redmax eb6200 and a Shindaiwa eb630. Both are backpack blowers. Hand helds are good for getting leaves out from underneath bushes that are right up against the house. Like Eric said, the hand held just sits there 99% of the time. I bring it along every day so that it doen't get lonely in the garage.

[Keith]

Hehe, I called the Shindaiwa EB630 and EB6200 earlier. I got Redmax in my head :D after the events that have unfolded with Shindaiwa.

[LoneStarLawn]

We have two EB630's plus a handheld blower we use like everyone else...for those tight spaces. There is no question about the difference in power between the handheld and the backpack blowers.

[BillW]

I use a HOMELITE BP most of the time, even for snow when it comes down light. The handheld I use for Vac and gutter/roof cleaning.

[EarthTech Landscapes]

I use two Tanaka TLE 460, i also have Stihls and a few Echos all are backpack blowers, don't even waste your time with a handheld. I perfer the Tanaka and the Stihls

[Sammy]

I used a hand held for awhile. Than I got a Stihl back pack.
Man, what a differance it made. More then cut time in half.

[Skookum]

Well, it looks like I am the ODDBALL again! I am use to that though. I like my handheld much better than a backpack. I do not even take the BP with me anymore except in the Fall for leaf cleanups.

I think it mainly depends upon how long you are going to use a blower at each location as well as the locations themselves. But, for the few minutes that I need one, I personally think it is faster with a handheld 90% of the time. I feel I have quicker responce and a greater ability of movement with less effort when using a hand held. Seems to me that with a BP, I am using too much full body movements to change directions of blowing.

I am still using a Homelite handheld after, I think it is, about 9 years now this Summer. It just will not die. I have a Homelite BP that sits in the barn and I have used Makita and Echo with the same toughts in mind.

The Backpacks DO offer more power! That is another reason I use one in the Fall for leafs. But, I usually do not need that kind of power just to blow away clippings throughout the year. Unless they might be wet ones stuck to the sidewalk or something, but I usually try to stay out of the rain and I think I do a very concious job of keeping clippings in the lawn not on the hardscapes.

Just .02 from the ODDBALL!

[lakegastonla]

Both! The backpacks get more use, but there ARE smaller jobs that a good handheld blower is perfect for. Lots of good backpacks out there. Try them out and get what you like best. The best handheld I have seen is by far the shindaiwa model. It is a bit pricy, but worth it.

[lawman]

I use Shindaiwa EB 650's and love them. The cost is about the same as the Stihl. They are very powerfull. What else can I saw but for I love Shindaiwa equipment.

[dmk395]

Go with the backpack blower, regardless of what the dealer says. I have a Husquavarna 155bt and its a great machine.

[lawrence stone]

There is already a monkey on my back so I have four Echo hand blowers all with a wooden "scrub" brush mounted to the bottom of the discharge chute. The brush acts like a broom to help remove any clipings stuck to the sidewalk.

[Jason Pallas]

We end up blowing a lot of sidewalks and drives and streets. We've got about 15 Redmax EB 431s. They switched the model over last year or the year before (a few minor design changes - mainly carb and throttle linkage) to a EB 4300 or something like that. These blowers really work well. With 20 years in the biz, I reccomend a backpack, you'll be glad you got it. Handhelds are convienient and do have their place, but if you're gonna end up doing a lot of blowing, get a backpack. They're stronger and more comfortable to work with once you strap them on.