Most powerful backpack blower for under $600; Most powerful for under $500

[Ridin' Green]

Originally Posted by Bighead38

If I am cleaning anything on the ground I am going to grab the bp. It clears away anything I need it to. Sure there might only be a little bit of debris but why own 2 machines when the bp can clean anything I need it to? Cleaning gutters is a completely different ballgame. I was referring to people who use the handhelds for stuff on the ground. If you want to include gutters though that's fine. Around here your gonna have to be on the roof as the gutter attachment wouldn't reach 80-90% of the roofs. There is also a ton of companies that specialize in gutters from installation to cleaning. You also have all the roofing companies, and all the small guys that have signs for $100 gutter cleaning all over the place. I can count on one hand the times I have had people ask to clean the gutters. I did the job but honestly I would rather do my job on the ground and let the roofers/ gutter guys do their job. Here is an example of one of the many companies around here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD7wiFuPf6E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi0m3...feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLnr_...hannel&list=UL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnnW8...hannel&list=UL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCVfm...hannel&list=UL

Yes the commercials are annoying especially because they are on all the time. So maybe for a select few a handheld might be worth it but for most guys a bp is all they need.

There are as many, or even more here who see the use in having both as there are who don't going by the comments made in the past here in all these blower threads.

Many customers prefer to have one guy do all their property maintenance, including the gutters. However, gutters aren't the only place they are good for. Many guys here do postage stamp sized lawns, and the drives and walks that go with them that need to be cleaned simply don't require a BP. On some of the smaller driveways having the handheld is just quicker into, and out of, action than a BP is. Also like I said before, an LCO should have both in their inventory of handheld equipment. In this business being open minded makes you more profitable, not less.

[Jimslawncareservice]

Handhelds also can be placed on a mower when blowing grass from patios at town homes assn. Just drive the mower from unit to unit. Sometimes I just stay on the mower and give it quick blow if there isn't much debris.
Posted via Mobile Device

[leon2245]

The BR600'll git-r-dun.

'nuff said.

[unit28]

My third season 770T
better straps {4 times the padding of Husqvarna},
keeps user cooler during summer heat
no break in needed, it's a 2 stroke that's ready to go on start up, even winter for snow. starts up no more than two pulls and no warm up time needed.

If it ain't running rich...it's running right. Not only do I clean gutters, I do alot of deck cleaning too.
After I'm done with decks and roof top gutters I use it while up there to blow down along the house
{2 story's up} and it will blow leaves away from the house.

Most of my properties are 15K, lots of trees and they come down to fast to mulch. This blower is more than adequate in most situations. I used to bag with the mower more than blow using my old echo pb 442Ln. ...not anymore.

Is the echo cfm rating inside the pipe like Husqvarna?

[Ridin' Green]

Originally Posted by unit28

My third season 770T
better straps {4 times the padding of Husqvarna},
keeps user cooler during summer heat
no break in needed, it's a 2 stroke that's ready to go on start up, even winter for snow. starts up no more than two pulls and no warm up time needed.

If it ain't running rich...it's running right. Not only do I clean gutters, I do alot of deck cleaning too.
After I'm done with decks and roof top gutters I use it while up there to blow down along the house
{2 story's up} and it will blow leaves away from the house.

Most of my properties are 15K, lots of trees and they come down to fast to mulch. This blower is more than adequate in most situations. I used to bag with the mower more than blow using my old echo pb 442Ln. ...not anymore.

Is the echo cfm rating inside the pipe like Husqvarna?

The 770 is a fine blower for sure. I really liked the one I demo'd, but I just looked at them again the other day, and no way it has 4 times the strap padding of the Husky. Maybe 1 1/2 times as much, but that's not the whole story. The Husky's straps are ergonomically shaped and stay in place far better than any other strap system out, and I've tried them all now. Once it's adjusted to your body, it stays in place like no other blower out right now. That way it fits you makes it feel like it is padded far more than it is, and it can be worn for all day leaf clean up with total comfort. Heck, even Stihl is trying to copy the Husky shoulder strap shape now.

As for your question about where Husky measures their blowers- they do it just like everyone else does including Stihl, RM, Husky, Echo, Shindy, etc. They show the CFM at the blower housing, and then at the end of the tube. The MPH is also taken at the end of the tube.

While the Echo is a strong blower, the 570 Husky/7500 RM is stronger yet. Like I said, I've run them SXS on real world debris.

[weaver]

Originally Posted by lawnsaspire

What bp blower fits into both categories? I never even considered a bp blower until I saw a friend using his stihl this year. And with all the leaves I clean I'm thinking of making it an extra write off this year. Last year I was using two hand helds in both hands at once, tired arms.

I'm stuck on that Echo 770t....

[Wright Lawn]

Originally Posted by lawnsaspire

thanks 4 all the great replies everyone. how does the husky 580 do on fuel compared to the stihl 600 which iheard was good onfuel. stihl, husky and echo are my only options as we have no redmax dealers. ill never use echos again.
Posted via Mobile Device

I bought a Br 600, couldn't get rid of it fast enough. I have Echo blowers that are 7 yrs. old, still going strong and start on the first pull every time. Just bought a Red Max 8500, it's the most powerful blower I've used to date. Stihl does make the best edger imo. just my 2 cents.

[SRT8]

We only run Echo 770's. We have tried many different brands, we are very open minded and are always willing to try something new. The Echo's have always been the best overall. I don't know why so many people like the Redmax, they let us barrow one and we hated it. The tube is too long, needs to be like 4-6 inches shorter and the back padding is uncomfortable. my 2 cents.

[jrs.landscaping]

We run 770's good power and comfort. Great overall blower, I ran one for 8 hours the other day with no major fatigue issues. Other than carrying a blower for 8 hours!!!

[Brules]

Originally Posted by Ridin' Green

Right now the RM/Husky BP's are the ones to beat performance wise. The Husky 580 and RM 8500 are the same blower, but the Husky is much more ergonomically designed for long term comfort. The RM 7500 and Husky 570 are also the same, and I prefer them over the larger ones because they cost less, weigh less, and perform just as well on real world debris side by side.


The RM 8500/Husky 580 run $549, and the RM 7500/Husky 570 run $499. I can get a Stihl BR600M for $469 right now at my dealer.

I picked up a new Husqy 570 BTS Saturday. I chose it over the Echo 770t and the Stihl 600 Magnum. I was the most comfortable of the 3, the cross chest strap and the hip padding are great. I went with the 570 over the 580 due to the higher MPH for better scouring power. I hate nothing more than wet clumpy half decayed leaves that won't get up and go.......the 570 makes short work of anything and everything.

Being a Redmax - it is a great machine. I stayed away form the Stihl due to the eventual and possibly multiple valve adjustments over the lifetime and the 570 was way more comfortable than the 770 for me as I have very broad shoulders and the 770 kept feeling like it was falling off.