Echo brands

[dago man]

I've been looking at Echo brand string trimmers, edgers, blowers, chain saws etc. to start my business with, are they really worth the extra money? I know alot of you guys in here use Echo equipment so I'd appreciate any reviews or thoughts you might have on any of their equipment from your own experience.

[Ron's Lawncare]

I've been looking at Echo brand string trimmers, edgers, blowers, chain saws etc. to start my business with, are they really worth the extra money? I know alot of you guys in here use Echo equipment so I'd appreciate any reviews or thoughts you might have on any of their equipment from your own experience.


extra money? as compared to what? Echo is a competitively priced commercial brand.

[Raven386]

well, it all depends on what you want to compare it to. i have 2 echo trimmers and a Stihl trimmer. i like the echo because they are lighter, but the stihl is a lot more powerful when it comes to thick stuff. just regular every-day trimming, id take the echo before the stihl. the only bad thing about my echo is that it takes a while to warm up and start, but the stihl is first pull everytime.

[martinfan06]

Echo is about the best deal, good stuff at a good price.

[Lynden-Jeff]

If anything echo is far cheaper compared to redmax around here and competitve with stihl.

[Grass Kickin]

I have an Echo trimmer and I prefer my Stihl to it hands down, simply more efficient and powerful.

[J&R Landscaping]

I have severall peices of echo machinery. I dont have any of there chain saws as I've heard a few bad things. For chain saws, I'm sold on Husqvarna!

[deyoe1118]

I have an echo trimmer and backpack blower. Love them both...I had a toro trimmer but it was far heavier and it kept crapping out on me. My backpack works better than any other I have tried or seen being used. Just my 2 cents

[dago man]

Thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it!

[WALKER LANDSCAPE]

I recomend Echo have four 230 trimmers and three 603 BP, and one of the
14" chain saws. I backed over one of those 603 last week and still started afterwards. Could be a sales pitch one day for someone LOL.

[Coolrthnu1]

Echo to me is not commercial. I look at them as good for large estate. better than home use but less than commercial. I love Shindaiwa. I never compare prices. I had echo once and gave it away.

[Rizzo]

There are only two brands of commercial in our area. Stihl and Echo. Until I came to this site I had never heard of redmax or shindaiwa. I like my Echo equipment but like what the new stihl 4mix offers in power. If I had to buy again I would try the stihl equipment. It runs about the same price as echo around here anyway. I use the echo PAS. The stick edger lacks power if you are cutting for the first time through thick stuff. The hedge trimmer really kicks butt though!

[metro36]

I only use echo. I have used other brands and like echo the best. All of the handhelds I buy are echo. My echos are tough and have never let me down.

[Shawns Lawns]

I have 8 Echo's and love them, but i have nothing to compare them to.:waving:

[Potchkins]

If i understand your question you are comparing the lower priced homeowner
stuff to echo being more money?


Here are a few quotes and a link to another thread. Just some food for thought. my point is spend the extra money and get the better equipment.

Hi guys! I have enjoyed reading several of the posts about the Stihl BR600. Does anyone have any experience with the BR550? I visited my Stihl dealer and he did not have a BR600 in stock but did have the BR550. I look forward to seeing some good comments.

I bought a new Stihl blower this Spring and was going to go all out and get the 600, but the 550 was about $50 less and only blew about 5mph less than the 600. Needless to say, I went with the 550.

i've said it before and i'll say it again.
now listen closely!

when you buy a piece of equipment regardless of how big or small
and you get a good one

You Pay for it ONCE when you buy it.


if you get one too small, under powered, too light, too heavy, under built, too cumbersome, or just a plain piece of junk it don't matter what it is...

You Pay for it ONCE when you buy it, and
You Pay for it EVERY TIME YOU USE IT!

The morel of this story spend the extra $50 bucks and get the better blower.

Stihl BR 550 21.4 lbs, 530 cfm. w/ tubes @ 199 mph
vs. Stihl BR 600 20.9 lbs, 712 cfm. w/ tubes @ 201 mph

p.s. and yes i have used a BR 550

BR550
21.4 lbs
Air volume with tubes 530cfm
Air volume without tubes 877cfm
199mph air velocity

BR600
20.9lbs
Air volume with tubes 712cfm
Air volume without tubes 1012cfm
201 mph air velocity

You cannot look at air velocity (mph ) when considering a backpack. The power is a combination of cfm and mph to get the desired power.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=167946

[RICHIE K]

Echo all the way

[dago man]

Thanks alot for the advice! I appreciate it.

[Cracker Station]

I started with echo. I thought I was big time. Came a day it let me down, so I ran to supplier and bought a Tanaka. Now I was really BIG time. I thought. It got to where it would not throttle up (Spark arrestor screen, but did not know at time). Middle of day ran to bigger supplier where I get my exmarks and opted for a Red Max. OH MY GOSH!!! That is The Machine. Yes it is heavier, but goodness, if they get better than this, I couldn't handle it. I am sure it cut my trimming time in half. Dunno, maybe just me, but i wish I had started with red max.

[TNT LawnCare Inc.]

Nothing wrong with echo, Been a stihl junkie for years

[nograss]

Interesting.......Shindiawa string trimmer for me. Might be a little heavier but here in Tn the grass is thick and tough. I have a 260 Shin. and a Stihl pro 85. Love the Stihl but can't take the Stihl Clanging. The 230 Shin is a lb lighter and great.