Which Backpack Blower??

[srk5252]

I have had it with my hand-held blower and decided to buy a backpack blower. i know you guys all have your favorite brands but i just wanted to hear your recomendations. I have a budget of about $300-350. What would be the best blower for my budget?? My blower now is a echo but it just doesn't have the power i'm looking for. Any input will be greatly appreciated

[KirbysLawn]

Save or wait a little longer & get a Shindawia or Red Max, will be well worth the difference!

[mdb landscaping]

for $400 id recommend a stihl br400. my first backpack blower was a stihl and i love the br400. lots of power. the new echo back pack is supposed to be real good as well

[jrebeiro]

I have a redmax eb7000. Paid about $450-500 for it. Did a cleanup today with it and this thing rocks. Cut my cleanup time in half. Only used a rake to pick up the piles of leaves I rounded up with the blower!

I highly reccomend this one.

[bob]

It's a little over your budget, but go with the big Shindaiwa or the big Redmax.

[GLM]

I have a Echo PB-600 and got it for about $399. Lighter than the Stihl and very powerful. The smaller Echo is the PB-4600 and is less money, but get the bigger one. You will never be sorry that you bought a more powerful machine.Good Luck.

[65hoss]

Stihl BR 400 gets my vote. :cool:

[UrbanEarth]

I can't say enough about my Redmax. Really good, solid machine.

Alan

[dmk395]

Echo Pb603 with a 58.2 cc engine has worked well for me. I also have a Husky 155bt, 44cc which isnt too bad either, although the Echo has a bit more power.

[dhicks]

RedMax EB 7000 is the way to go. Oh yeah, for some of you, this may be of interest. Does not sound like a big deal to me, but checkout the following URL re Stihl recall.

http://industryclick.com/magnewsarticle.asp?newsarticleid=181830&magazineid=35&SiteID=17

[Edited by dhicks on 04-10-2001 at 08:41 PM]

[Scape Sculptor]

I have a Echo 601, 58.X cc, It is quite the blower. I can't wait til the new Echo comes out this summer.

[MikeLT1Z28]

Originally posted by 65hoss
Stihl BR 400 gets my vote. :cool:

Mine too! Getting pretty good with it too! :D

[BigEd]

Shindaiwa EB-630 here.Its the best I have a BR-400 also but it cant keep up with the EB-630.Its a little out of your price range though,I paid 499.99.

One more thing do you guys with BR-400 find it hard to start once in while,this is a problem with mine.EB-630 is a lot easier to start.

[Edited by BigEd on 04-10-2001 at 11:33 PM]

[Guardian]

Started with Stihl BR400. Then bought another BR400! I compared Shindaiwa EB600 which cost $600. At best it was equal to Stihl and Stihl was $379. ...and no problem starting these for me.

[Keith]

Originally posted by Guardian
Started with Stihl BR400. Then bought another BR400! I compared Shindaiwa EB600 which cost $600. At best it was equal to Stihl and Stihl was $379. ...and no problem starting these for me.

I don't know what an EB600 is, but a EB630 will blow a BR400 away (pun intended) :) I have had 5 or 6 BR400's and there is no doubt the EB630 is more powerful.

Back to the original question. The BR400 is no slouch, not by a long shot. If I had a $400 budget and just would not spend a dime more, the Stihl would be my choice (unless it was last summer, when you could still get the Shindaiwa for $400 :D )

The Stihl BR320 ain't bad either, but spend the extra $60 or so on the BR400, or even better, fork over the $$ for Shindaiwa or Redmax.

[eslawns]

I have a Redmax EB4300, and it was about $375 with tax. It's awesome.

[Guardian]

the EB600 was introduced here in August. It was also recalled because it was unloading some kind of current into the users BODY! They had to install a new ground strap. It retailed for $599. I must admit, our Shindaiwa dealer is expensive and quite a jerk, while the Stihl folks are incredible. This could affect my judgment:)

[oneEXMARKfan]

Been thinking about getting a blower, and did look at some while I was at my Shindaiwa dealer today. He did have the
EB-500 (379.00)...I wanted to look at the EB-630 but didn't have 1 in stock. Was checking out the specs. at the Shind. web site. Is the new EB-630 worth the extra money? *There might be better brands out there, but I've always had good luck with Shindaiwa, and wouldn't consider another brand. I'm sure the other brands mentioned above are nice.....[Just my preference]

[Esby]

With all this great advice, my mind is made up. I'm buying a Stihl BR400 tomorrow. I need to get one(handheld just doens't cut it any more) and there is no time like the present. Thanks guys!

[Richard Martin]

In the "under $400.00" range the Stihl BR400 is the blower of choice in my part of the country. I have one and it has been rock solid for 3 years now.

[KirbysLawn]

You fellows who reccomend the BR400, have you tried the Shindiawa or RedMax??

I have used the BR400 until last year and still have the old one, I hardly ever use it because the EB630 is soooo much more powerful! If you have not tried one please do, then you may want to edit your post.

I do agree, if $400 is the MAX then the BR400 is the best.

[Jet boater]

srk5252,

I'm gonna go out tonight and buy a Poulan Pro backpack unit. It's $299 from Lowes. Has a 40-something cc engine. Kawasaki engine I think.

I know it's not as fancy and powerful as the ones mentioned here, but it may be a middle-of-the-road pick for you.

I'll let you know next week what I think of it.

[bam]

I have used Echos and redmax 6200 and 7000s.

After using the EB7000, I think it is nicer made than the EB6200, I like the carb set up and air filter better.

The two redmax models far surpass the echos I have used and if you want a strong blower, that'll last, spend an extra $100 and go with a redmax. I'm not sure what we pay, but we buy alot of them and have very little problems after running them for very long hours.

[cleancut]

I just bought a Shindaiwa Eb630 yesterday...It's like strapping on a jetpack...You think you're going to be launched into space at any moment...I love it..I also have Robin blowers but they do not compare to the Shindaiwa....I paid $449.00 for my Shindaiwa...Derrick

[Grateful11]

The BR 400 has been replaced with the BR 420. According to the books theres no change in the specs. Not sure why the change in numbers.

[turfguy]

I urge you to spend the bucks and buy the BR400. A great machine. try i for a week and if you dont like bring it to me and i will buy it!

[Jet boater]

Welp,

Picked up the Poulan Pro unit tonight and tried it out.

Found out backpack blowers aren't made for left-handers...but we're not talking about any precision work here.

There's a heckofalotta air that comes out of these things!! Beat's the crap out of my old 18cc Homelite (although it served me well for 10 years.)

Hope no neighbors saw me blowing of my driveway in the dark with the security lights on!

Again, I'm sure this isn't the beasts that the Redmax, Echos, and Shin-somethings are, but it still packs a bunch of air. I think the package said 250 MPH and 490 CFM.

Oh, and that Kawi engine started REAL easy.

[oneEXMARKfan]

Whooooo doggies!!!!! not bag if that's true.... The Shin-something EB-630 is rated @ 201 mph / 613cfm. Happy Blowing ;-)

[Mark]

This summer the most powerful backpack blower will be Echos BP 650. The houseing will have 1100 cfms and the tube end will be close to 640cfms. Talk about lift=off. Marks Mowing Service

[yorkpaddy]

the stihl BR400 uses the same engine as the 029 farmboss chainsaw, Stihl has such a wide variety of engines available to them from their chainsaw line, i don't see why they don't stick an 039 in the BR400 chasis, the 039 is the same engine as the 29, just bored out. better yet throw an 044 or 046 in there

[Grapevine]

We use 2 Stihl BR 400s. Start on the first pull and have been very reliable.

[Richard Martin]

Can you share with the rest of us what your secret is to starting a BR400 on the first pull is? Mine is always 3 pulls to the first sputter. Turn the choke off and pull 3 more times.