Walk behind push blower vs backpack blower

[joed]

Just wanted to see how many of you prefer a walk behind blower such as a Billy Goat or Little Wonder over a backpack blower. This would be for everyday work and spring and fall clean ups. Also which walk behind unit is prefered; Little Wonder or Billy Goat? Any comments are appreciated.

[Tvov]

Backpack blowers are getting so powerfull now that they are almost as strong as push blowers, but are lighter and easier to use (I think). The last few years we have been using our push blowers less and less, to the point that sometimes we don't even take them with us on leaf cleanups. We use them only on the largest lawns.

[edward hedrick]

My 44cc Echo = 5hp push. Sold push. Bought a Stihl 420 lighter

+ almost the power as my 8 hp Fradan. Hate pushing blower!

[Cooper Landscaping]

ive got a 5 hp little wonder and a stihl br420- i much prefer the Stihl- its a lot lighter, more versatile and almost, if not more powerful than the little wonder
-Coop

[TLS]

Everyday use for blowing grass off of sidewalks and driveways......Backpack!

Fall leaf cleanups when your making 5' high piles of leaves the size of your livingroom......Push Blower....Little wonder 8hp and up! Used in conjunction with the backpack blower for beds and small areas.

[Jason_S]

I wish my boss would buy a Stihl backpack blower..... today alone the blower would have paid for itself!!!!!!!

Let's just say

1. homelite's are not commercial grade

2. when a 3 man crew is waiting for the blower to get fixed when the boss takes your truck so he can fix the blower at home (where the tools for the fix are)......it adds up! Time is money, literally!

I am the crew leader and it just torques me off to no end!

[Grass_Slayer]

i just bought a homelite bp blower. i know i know, its not commercial grade, but i needed one and dont have the money for a kawasaki kbl400a. besides i dont have too many yards that i use a blower on, and even when i do its not for extended periods of time. little on the drive and maybe a sidewalk here and there.

i had to have one. i got tired of using the mower on drives and the push broom on the walks.

[Jason_S]

Wow! I thought I had it bad!

A PUSH BROOM? That must have taken some time! Not to mention too much energy!!!!!!!

I have been working with the same LCo, and I've seen 3 homelites fall in the line of battle! (approximately the same cost as a quality unit)

I think your BP homelite will serve you fine Grass_Slayer... much better than a broom for sure!!!!!!!! Best of luck with that... hope you get years out of the blower!

[Grass_Slayer]

the last one i had was a ryobi handheld. bought it five years ago at lowes for $70. it has been in commercial service for three years, and it finally bit the dust this year. i think my homelite is a little better quality then that thing though.

[Cooper Landscaping]

I own both a stihl br420 and some form of homelite backpack (dont even know if there smoe than 1) but as much as i love my stihl, the homelite has worked lik a gem and i still use it to clean off sidewalks and driveways, even tho i have the stihl. I normally only use the stihl in the fall for leaf cleanup
-Coop

[MOW ED]

Shindiawa EB630.

Will blow a brick down the driveway. Probably will blow those homelites down the driveway also. You can't afford to not have a large backpack blower on your trailer. Not a small one, a large one. The manufacturers are names like Shindy, Echo, Kawi, large CFM, large MPH. The difference is something that you have to see for yourself. I know, I tried.

Two things that I do not need on my trailer, a broom and a rake. That SHindy paid for itself in 1 month of leaf cleans with time saved. You can walk with me or follow behind. Good Luck.

Jason, where are you at again. You should be the boss instead of the crew leader

[rkbrown]

I recently bought an Echo PB 602. Quite powerful and comfortable.

[cowman66]

i have an echo pb602 also. its just as powerful as thhe pushers i think and its lighter

[awm]

it wont apply in all situations. but my z w doubles has unbelievable air volume and
force.,when turned full throttle.

[TLS]

cowman,

"its just as powerful as thhe pushers i think and its lighter"

Well, they are definately LIGHTER, but "just as powerful"????

The biggest backpacks in the 60+cc range are coming in at around the 600 cfm at the pipe range. They're the big ones, the "normal" ones are about 300 cfm.

The push blowers in the 5-13hp range are coming in with cfm's in the 3-5000cfm's!!!! Thats THOUSAND!

BIG DIFFERENCE :dizzy:

[atnulook]

hey what do you think about the ferris is1500z 44"*trucewhiteflag*

[BeautifulBlooms]

Different equipment for different things but in fall cleanups you need both. The backpack to clear the beds and under shrubs, the push blower to move across the entire lawn in minutes into a pile to either suck up or just load onto tarps and into trailers.

I like my billy goat push blower and my husqvarna backpacks but I did blow an engine somehow in 1 year on the billy goat, not sure why, they told me overheating and I have no way to figure out if they were telling the truth or lyingt o avoid a warrantee issue