Is a backpack blower necessary?

[MrC]

I've been going back and forth between getting a great handheld or a entry level commercial backpack($300). I don't know if my situation is a want or need. I have a pretty small yard (2500 sq ft) but LOTS of leaves and acorns. I know the blowers won't do much with the acorns in the lawn but if it could help with the driveway and sidewalk I would be happy. I can avg 5-8 32 gallon trashbags of acorns a year. Once I blow the yard of acorns or leaves the next day it looks like I didn't even touch it.

My craftsman died and thought about getting the Echo 403from HD for $299. After a lot of reading I'm finding that many handhelds are almost as powerful but a lot cheaper. Also many have said that backpacks can't really get into tight spots. Since I'm buying a commerical product I want to buy something that will suit my needs now and the future. I thought I was going to get the Redmax HBZ2600 until I saw a lawn crew blow my neighbors lawn effortlessly and in under 10 minutes (all I saw was a red backpack). Will a handheld be close to a entry level backpack? Thanks!!!

[crzymow]

I purchased a handheld this year for tight spots, I already have two backpacks, overall i'm not overly inpressed with the hand held, besides if you have a lot to blow your arm will get tired hanging on to the handheld. Just my thought.

[noseha]

A backpack is more comfortable. but why not get the best a stihl. you are at 300 look at the BR500.

[metro36]

Backpack is necessary for any commercial guy. I had a hand held blower when I started but now I have a backpack. Backpacks are more comfortable in longer periods of use and have much more power.

[Tadams]

A back pack blower will let you do any job faster and easier. Period. Anybody that says a handheld is just as good or better than a BP has never used one or is too cheap to cough up the dough to buy one. A BP is too big to use in tight places????? What type of thinking is this?? With a BP there are not any tight places. It blows the debris out of tight places. An Echo 403 from Home Depot will be better than a handheld but it is on the bottom of the totem pole. It is strictly a home owner version. Go to a professional store and ask them what they would recommend that you buy from their brands. You will not regret it.

[sildoc]

A back pack blower will let you do any job faster and easier. Period. Anybody that says a handheld is just as good or better than a BP has never used one or is too cheap to cough up the dough to buy one. A BP is too big to use in tight places????? What type of thinking is this?? With a BP there are not any tight places. It blows the debris out of tight places. An Echo 403 from Home Depot will be better than a handheld but it is on the bottom of the totem pole. It is strictly a home owner version. Go to a professional store and ask them what they would recommend that you buy from their brands. You will not regret it.
I would agree. Before I got into the biz I was a cheap skate. I didn't realize how much time I wasted buy not getting a decent machine. Spend the money and it will last you the rest of your life if you aren't using it commercially. It will save you money down the road. Not only that if you look at ebay at used blowers you are actually only paying for 2/3-3/4 of the machine any ways.

[MrC]

Ok, so what's a decent BP for about $350. Anyone order online? I've read that some dealers don't care to take care of you as much if you don't buy from them. However, because this is for home use I'm hoping that I'm not going to be needing to deal with a dealer anytime soon.

[sildoc]

Stihl Br series. Redmax, Shindawia, Husqvarna makes one but I think you can get a stihl that is more powerful for the price. Echo is ok. Find what your dealer has and test it out. I would try to stay away from the box stores like Home Depot and Lowes because if you need it fixed it will take weeks if not months. Most likely it wont need fixed but you never know.

[LarryF]

I've been going back and forth between getting a great handheld or a entry level commercial backpack($300). I don't know if my situation is a want or need. I have a pretty small yard (2500 sq ft) but LOTS of leaves and acorns. I know the blowers won't do much with the acorns in the lawn but if it could help with the driveway and sidewalk I would be happy. I can avg 5-8 32 gallon trashbags of acorns a year. Once I blow the yard of acorns or leaves the next day it looks like I didn't even touch it.

My craftsman died and thought about getting the Echo 403from HD for $299. After a lot of reading I'm finding that many handhelds are almost as powerful but a lot cheaper. Also many have said that backpacks can't really get into tight spots. Since I'm buying a commerical product I want to buy something that will suit my needs now and the future. I thought I was going to get the Redmax HBZ2600 until I saw a lawn crew blow my neighbors lawn effortlessly and in under 10 minutes (all I saw was a red backpack). Will a handheld be close to a entry level backpack? Thanks!!!


I had mentioned the RedMax 7001 when you were thinking only of hand-held blowers, and I said it was about $400. I was off a little. This site

http://www.wisesales.com/RedmaxBlowers.html

has it for $420, but that includes shipping charges. But if you want something less expensive, the RedMax EB4401 is $296, and that seems to fit into your budget. When comparing the various blowers, don't look only at the MPH figures, because air volume (CFM) is also an important parameter. Some of the hand-held blowers can provide high MPH values but not high CFM.

[lawnmaniac883]

Obviously a backpack blower will be more comfortable and more powerful but also much more expensive, for a homeowner I recommend getting a stihl bg85 that is stihls top of the line handheld blower and can be had for a very reasonable price ~~150$$

[LarryF]

Obviously a backpack blower will be more comfortable and more powerful but also much more expensive, for a homeowner I recommend getting a stihl bg85 that is stihls top of the line handheld blower and can be had for a very reasonable price ~~150$$

Where can one go to get it for $150? $220 is more a more likely price.

http://www.amickssuperstore.com/Stihl_BG85_p/stihl%20bg85.htm

[MrC]

I talked to my neighbor and he said he wouldn't go back to a handheld after getting his backpack. It turns out my brother might be selling his 4 year old Redmax. He couldn't remember the model number but I'm guessing it's a 4401. He's asking $150 and said that it has been really good to him. As far as I know it was only used for homeowner use and not commerical use. Is 4 years old to old? Can I take it to a shop for a tune up?

In the event he decides to keep it I've been looking at the Stihl BR 340, Redmax 4401, and Echo 403/413. Any thoughts and does anyone have the cfm from the tube for the Redmax 4401?
I really appreciate all your help with my indecisive ass.

[Uranus]

The red max eb4401 has a 41.5cc engine, weighs 19 1/2 lbs, and a cfm of 671. It comes with a 2 year warranty and air speed of 183 mph.
The br 340 has a 44.9cc engine and has a cfm of 430 with tubes and 689 without tubes and a wind speed of 170.
Echo 403 has a 44 cc engine and a cfm of 380 at tube and 800 at housing. Max air speed is 175 and weighs 20 1/2 lbs
Good luck with your choice. If you need more info search each manufacturer's web site.

[MrC]

Thanks William!!! I just can't find the cfm from the tube for the Redmax 4401.

[LarryF]

Thanks William!!! I just can't find the cfm from the tube for the Redmax 4401.
Does it really matter that much? It's probably close to the other two Williams mentioned; that is around 400 CFM.

If you want a freebie backpack blower until you can get something better and can drive to Lincroft, NJ, 'll give you my old Homelite. I'll certainly never use it again now that I have the RedMax and I doubt if I'd get much for it if I tried to sell it. Let me know.

[fishinpa]

I have a lot of leaves and bought a Redmax 4401 two years ago, because the handheld don't get it for my leaf season, and love it. Lot of power for my 1/2 acre, although if it crapped out, I'd buy a bigger one. Redmax that is.

My Crapsman handheld died this year and I love my 4401 so much (lot of power and it starts first or second pull, EVERY time) that I went and bought a Redmax Hand-held, HB250. I can start it, from dead cold, first pull. GREAT engines on these units.

[Mic_bug]

neccessary ...no

fun...yes!

[AndyTblc]

Go with a BR600 Stihl, It is a little expensive, but you will never regret the day you get it. You have my word on it. For a kid 17 years old, that is my second brand new blower, My first one was BR420 Magnum Stihl. But the next year I traded it in. There is a huge difference in quality.

[MrC]

Larry thank you so much for the offer. If it doesn't work out with my brothers blower I just might take you up on your offer. THANKS AGAIN!!!

Hopefully my brother will sell me his blower but if not I will try it to see if it's right for me. If it meets my needs then I'll buy a new one. If it doesn't I will look into getting a bigger one next year. Remember I started out looking at Craftman handhelds and jumped to about $200 to a entry level backpack. Going another $150-$200 is really pushing my budget.
Thanks again for everyones input!!!

[LawnBrother]

I've been going back and forth between getting a great handheld or a entry level commercial backpack($300). I don't know if my situation is a want or need. I have a pretty small yard (2500 sq ft) but LOTS of leaves and acorns. I know the blowers won't do much with the acorns in the lawn but if it could help with the driveway and sidewalk I would be happy. I can avg 5-8 32 gallon trashbags of acorns a year. Once I blow the yard of acorns or leaves the next day it looks like I didn't even touch it.

My craftsman died and thought about getting the Echo 403from HD for $299. After a lot of reading I'm finding that many handhelds are almost as powerful but a lot cheaper. Also many have said that backpacks can't really get into tight spots. Since I'm buying a commerical product I want to buy something that will suit my needs now and the future. I thought I was going to get the Redmax HBZ2600 until I saw a lawn crew blow my neighbors lawn effortlessly and in under 10 minutes (all I saw was a red backpack). Will a handheld be close to a entry level backpack? Thanks!!!
I just want to say Mr.C, that while it's not necessary, it IS desireable to have a great BP blower. It just depends on how much your time is worth to you. As long as I have a yard with leaves every fall, I will have one. I would have spent 10+ hours on leaves this year in my own yard, and I only spent about 4 hours cleanup time because of my blower(and I have a lot of leaves). Knowing what I know now about what a commercial blower will do, I'll never be able to do it the slow way again. Most of the commercial units out there that people will recommend are good. You can't go wrong with Stihl, Redmax, Echo. Buy a commercial unit and with the light use it will see from you it will last as long as you.

[MrC]

Lawnbrother, thanks for the advice. Your absolutely right and I plan on going with a backpack ASAP. I just have to see if a entry level commercial one will serve my purpose.

[nobagger]

Anything to make your job easier and move things along quicker is worth its weight in gold. Yes a back pack blower is needed IMO, and don't skimp get the highest powered one you can afford.

[JLB611]

I have 3/4 of an acre that is covered by leaves throughout the fall. I bought the Stihl BR 340 this fall. The blower is comfortable to wear for a long period of time, unlike my old hand held blower was. It costs around $300 and in my opinion it is a great blower for the price.

[NickySantoro]

I have an Echo BP that I bought a few years ago at HD more or less on a whim. Worked out great. Get whatever BP floats your boat, but get one.

[Grass-Masters]

I would not have anything but a backpack. An almost new backpack can be picked up for the price of a handheld. So why not have the extra power.

[irishgoldcleanups]

I Always Use The Br600 For Everything. The Only Time I Pickup The Rake Is To Fill The Tarp With Leaves And All Debris. It Even Works Great On Frozen Leaves And Acorns Frozen To The Ground.

[Uranus]

If he's just looking to do sidewalks and driveways why not save the money and buy a broom. :laugh:

[timturf]

I've been going back and forth between getting a great handheld or a entry level commercial backpack($300). I don't know if my situation is a want or need. I have a pretty small yard (2500 sq ft) but LOTS of leaves and acorns. I know the blowers won't do much with the acorns in the lawn but if it could help with the driveway and sidewalk I would be happy. I can avg 5-8 32 gallon trashbags of acorns a year. Once I blow the yard of acorns or leaves the next day it looks like I didn't even touch it.

My craftsman died and thought about getting the Echo 403from HD for $299. After a lot of reading I'm finding that many handhelds are almost as powerful but a lot cheaper. Also many have said that backpacks can't really get into tight spots. Since I'm buying a commerical product I want to buy something that will suit my needs now and the future. I thought I was going to get the Redmax HBZ2600 until I saw a lawn crew blow my neighbors lawn effortlessly and in under 10 minutes (all I saw was a red backpack). Will a handheld be close to a entry level backpack? Thanks!!!


What is wrong with a rake?

If using a blower, do you still need to bag and remove?

Why not bag when mowing?..Just mow often?