Let’s face it. When the leaves start rolling down all around your outdoor spaces, the romantic side of it only lasts for some time. Talk about hues of fall turning into backbreaking drudgery as you rake, sweep, pile, and collect.
But are you willing to trade all those hours of yard work for something simple that delivers powerful results, how about investing in a nifty backpack leaf blower?
A good backpack leaf blower will not only clean up that mess in your garden or outdoor space, but also leave you much precious time to enjoy other finer pursuits in life.
Whether for home or business, these useful items can provide you with years of benefits. Ready?
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The Best Backpack Leaf Blower
Not everyone wants the in depth analysis of each model, some people just want the best blower so they can buy it and get to work!
Sound like you? Well, check out our top picks just below. Otherwise, keep scrolling for our in depth reviews of each model in the list.
Best Backpack Leaf Blower
Husqvarna 570BTS Backpack Blower
A seriously powerful, commercial grade blower that is worth every cent. Seriously… you can’t beat this model!
Best Value Backpack Leaf Blower
Poulan Pro PR48BT Leaf Blower
Cost effective, powerful, and easy on the ears.
Great for anyone on a budget.
Backpack Leaf Blower Comparison
So you can easily compare models, we have put together a handy table, click below to expand the comparison table.
Backpack Leaf Blower Reviews
Husqvarna 570BTS Backpack Blower
Key Specifications
- Engine Size: 65.6 cc
- Weight: 22.7 lbs
- Air Speed: 236.2 mph/768 cfm
- Noise Level: 99 dB(A)
If you have a larger area to blow down and a budget to match, then the Husqvarna 570BTS is the premium choice.
Moving a huge 768 CFM, you will have a huge amount of blowing power available to you and it will dislodge even the toughest of dried leaves and mud stuck to those paths. This machine is no slouch, and a job which used to take you hours can likely be completed in minutes with this beast.
I wouldn’t recommend this blower for anyone with a small yard as it is simply too powerful – you will end up blowing your mulch and plants away accidentally!
Although this blower is super powerful, it weighs in at just 22.7 lbs which is about the same as the less powerful models.
This is a serious piece of equipment made from well-engineered, high quality parts and reports of breakdowns in customer reviews are few and far between. Your repair bills will be low and the routine maintenance will be a breeze (pardon the pun) to carry out.
There is a reason this has been a bestseller for many years, it is simply one of the best.
More Info On This Leaf Blower
Tired of Servicing Your Lawn Equipment? Try a battery powered lawn mower.
Makita EB7660TH 4-Stroke Backpack Blower
Key Specifications
- Engine Size: 75.6 cc
- Weight: 24.1 lbs
- Air Speed: 206 mph/706 cfm
- Noise Level: 76 dB(A)
The next model on our best backpack leaf blower list is the Makita EB7660TH.
Makita’s fuel efficient 75.6 cc backpack leaf blower meets EPA and CARB regulations with a mechanical automatic engine decompression feature for quick and easy starts. Weighing 24.1 lbs, this machine is more on the petite side featuring a maximum air speed of 206 mph.
The 7,200 rpm engine has a power of 3.8 hp while the oiling port, drain plug, and even the spark plug are easily accessible for fuss-free maintenance.
While it doesn’t have the same power as the Husqvarna, it still has more than enough air movement to blow away fresh snow.
We also liked the padded straps and cruise control feature that helps with fatigue, alongside all the other snazzy features above and others such as large capacity air filter, a large fuel tank volume, and low noise.
More Info On This Leaf Blower
Poulan Pro PR48BT Backpack Blower
Key Specifications
- Engine Size: 48 cc
- Weight: 22 lbs
- Air Speed: 200 mph/475 cfm
- Noise Level: 60 dB(A)
The Poulan Pro backpack leaf blower has been on the best backpack leaf blower list for a while now, with its 2-stroke 48 cc engine. But don’t let the seemingly low stats surprise you considering it delivers a windspeed of up to 200 mph that will clear wet debris in a jiffy.
Weighing 22 pounds and featuring various speed controls, a soft-grip handle, and a load-reducing harness, this one topped our list for a no-frills part-time use backpack leaf blower.
And while it has quite a bit of power, it is also surprisingly quiet, in fact it is the quietest of all the units reviewed in this article!
The Poulan Pro is great for home use with the motor starting easily and it comes with two different extensions for your use.
More Info On This Machine
Greenworks Pro 80V Backpack Blower
Key Specifications
- Engine Size: 80 volt electric
- Weight: 14.64 lbs
- Air Speed: 145 mph/580 cfm
- Noise Level: 60 dB(A)
A new contender for the best backpack leaf blower, the Greenworks Pro 80V backpack blower is battery powered, and thus nice and quiet. And we really mean as quiet as a leaf blower can possibly be.
Working with a 2.5 Ah lithium-ion battery, this machine features a decent 145 mph windspeed and of course eliminates the whole problem of fume pollution. Ideal for homes or even noise conscious commercial operations, the Ego Bare Tool provides a runtime of up to 2 hours on low power mode, weighs a mere 18.8 pounds, is compatible with all other Ego battery capacities, and allowed us to utilize the advantages of a backpack leaf blower even in a sound restricted/ regulated area.
This blower lasts about 21 minutes on standard mode, and 11 minutes on turbo mode – which you would use to blow away damp debris. While this doesn’t sound like a lot of time, it generally is more than enough for a small – medium sized backyard.
Weighing in at just 14.64 lbs, the PBPB80L2510 is suitable for those who find the gas-powered models too heavy to lug around. I would especially recommend this model for the elderly, or those with back problems.
Another benefit of a battery powered leaf blower is that there is almost zero servicing to carry out!
Battery specifications got you confused? Learn about power tool batteries.
Schröder SR-6400L Industrial Backpack Leaf Blower
Key Specifications
- Engine Size: 63.3cc
- Weight: 19.5 lbs
- Air Speed: 230mph/920 cfm
- Noise Level: 98 dB(A)
For those that want to move a lot of leaves quickly, there are few leaf blowers on the market that pack as much punch as the Germany-produced Schröder SR-6400L.
Its 2-stroke, 3.7 HP gasoline engine puts out a maximum airspeed of 230 mph, which is impressive but not the top of this list.
Where the Schröder SR-6400L gets insanely powerful is in its CFM (cubic feet per minute) of air displaced. 920 CFM is huge: only the largest quantity of wet or dry leaves requires so much power. This is backed up by a backpack design so efficient that the whole unit only weighs 19.5 lbs., making it a couple pounds lighter than some of the industry leaders.
In terms of noise output, the Schröder wins again with just under 100 dB of noise, which for a 2-stroke engine is very competitive.
All of this performance is backed up by a generous 5-year warranty, so you can be sure that if you buy the Schröder SR-6400L, you’re buying an industry-grade leaf blower that’s built to last.
The Benefits of a Backpack Leaf Blower
Ergonomic
No more lugging around a conventional leaf blower as you trek slowly through your yard. These modern backpack style leaf blower machines come with straps that can adjust to a variety of degrees to help you work in comfort as you blast those wretched leaves (we wish into oblivion!).
Your choice of Tech
Backpack leaf blowers come with options of cords, charged electricity, gas, and battery. Besides giving you many varieties to choose the most energy efficient one, you can pick the style that best suits your budget.
We like the cordless ones best. No more tangled-up cords to unfurl as you silently pretend you are one of them boys from Ghostbusters.
Read more: The Best Cordless Leaf Blowers
Lots of Power
The top makes of backpack leaf blowers in the market deliver a big punch of power. And flexible at that.
From gentle cleaning to full power blasting, your work becomes much less strenuous than what it would usually be.
Save time
Think of a backpack leaf blower as an investment. Easy carry and stow, full on work efficiency, and no more frustration as you pile the leaves neatly to discard. And these aren’t just beneficial for leaves.
The backpack blower will bust away dirt and sand, light snow, and any other dry clutter that seem to find their way into our yard all the time. It has complete all-year use.
Some of the more powerful ones even remove wet junk from your yard.
What to Look for in a Backpack Leaf Blower
Noise Levels
Some backyard petrol powered machinery is very noisy and so much so, that many communities ban their use during certain times of the day. You want to choose a model that meets your local community’s decibel standards and ensure you wear hearing protection while using the backpack leaf blower at any time.
Air Flow and Engine Size
But obviously. I mean, after all, the whole point of a backpack leaf blower is for you to lighten workload. Variable throttle is important because a full 250 mph blast at all times isn’t your ideal scenario, say, when clearing a hedge-lined narrow walkway. Choose a backpack leaf blower model that can carry out small jobs, or the biggest jobs that require a lot of power. Of course, if you are looking for a commercial function within super large spaces, go all out and buy the top cc.
Weight
Although backpack leaf blowers do to tend to get heavier than handheld ones, going anything from between 20 lbs to 40 (or more), it is important to be practical. While most will allow you to stand at a spot and blast from all directions and make a pile, movement will be required to cover larger areas. You may also want invest in one that features comfortable and durable straps.
Note: Do remember that having the engine on your back can actually be easier than carrying around a heavy hand held blower.
Pollution
If you are going for a gas-filled backpack leaf blower, keep in mind that emissions can be dangerous. You would want to opt for an eco-friendly model that controls fumes, and wear a mask if necessary. Most modern backpack leaf blower models come with pollution control features, and are compliant with basic regional standards.
Air Filters
Whether the self-purging variety or one with a vacuum suction feature, you don’t want your backpack leaf blower choking up in dusty conditions.
We generally do not recommend vacuum models because they limit your functionality. The containment space just isn’t enough for leaves and other muck that they pick up, and you spend all day emptying the catcher.
Gas Leaf Blowers
You also need to consider the engine/fuel type for your backpack leaf blower.
Gas leaf blowers are usually more powerful, but are also heavier and come with additional maintenance requirements.
To learn more about gas models, check out our article on The Best Gas Leaf Blowers.
