What's the best backpack blower on the market?

[ANewSawyer]

What type of battery? What weight? I saw a vid of a 580 blowing a gallon jug of water around on an asphalt driveway. Let me try to find that.

 

[gmcman]

We are sold out of the BR700 and that speaks volumes. The landscapers that buy it are not second guessing the purchase. For the vast majority of our customers there is no comparison.. it is all about service and getting the blower back in action. For us No company can boast parts next day other than Stihl. I have run both blowers quite a bit, I have no blown many leaves but have demoed it by blowing zero turn batteries across the shop floor. That pretty much gets the wallets to open up.

There's no doubt the 700 is a fine blower, it just doesn't look like a substantial upgrade over the 600. If you don't have a blower, then I can see the attraction, but if you're looking to upgrade, I would rather spend $30 more for the Husky 580.

 

[mikefunaro]

I have two redmax ebz 7500 and couldn't be more happy with them. IMO the new BR 700 is a total cop out. Push the CFM over the redmax 8500 by 4 cfm while dropping the MPH down by 40 and call it a win? yeah right. The weights are basically the same too...2 pounds out of 24...either way they are not light but also not all that hard to wear. The 7500 blows so well and the ground scour is phenomenal. At this point I'm convinced that the 4 mix is an inferior product, you can see that they're movign away from it as we speak. Time to make way for the ARASHI.

 

[166]

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[opinion]

You're all acting like Sawtroll... specs, specs, specs. Why not take the Echo approach and just try it? The BR 700 is a big imrpovement over the 600. The weight isn't noticeable on the frame but is on the tube.

 

[Rockjock]

There's no doubt the 700 is a fine blower, it just doesn't look like a substantial upgrade over the 600. If you don't have a blower, then I can see the attraction, but if you're looking to upgrade, I would rather spend $30 more for the Husky 580.

Actually you are partly right but once both have been run or a landscaper comes in for a replacement all that is left is to write up the bill for the 700 and call it a day. Upgrade it is, I can only speak about how it is selling in my part of the world. Also no landscaper would touch a husky around here. Not because the quality is lacking, it is the dismal dealer network. There is none. We service all brands where I am at, but when you need your equipment back right quick and I am waiting 2 weeks for a part from Husqvarna, Echo, and alike you get a bad taste in your mouth.

 

[Tired Squirrel]

In my part of the world....with the landscapers, tree guys and lawn services Redmax and Husqvarna are by far the most widely used. Stihl and echo on occasion but nothing close to the numbers you see with the other two. Sorry I don't have any model numbers for ya.

 

[GrassGuerilla]

Actually you are partly right but once both have been run or a landscaper comes in for a replacement all that is left is to write up the bill for the 700 and call it a day. Upgrade it is, I can only speak about how it is selling in my part of the world. Also no landscaper would touch a husky around here. Not because the quality is lacking, it is the dismal dealer network. There is none. We service all brands where I am at, but when you need your equipment back right quick and I am waiting 2 weeks for a part from Husqvarna, Echo, and alike you get a bad taste in your mouth.

I'd like to add a little to this. When you depend on your tools to earn your living, it pays to go mainstream. If the pros in your area use one brand overwhelmingly, pay attention. Chances are, someone locally is supporting them well. It does little good to have the "best there is" if when you need a simple part it isn't available for days/weeks. I've had a Hustler mower for several years now. Amazingly well built. Solid design. Trouble is precious few local dealers . And of those, nobody stocks much for parts (they're built well enough you won't need many). So when you do, you're screwed... Ferris or Exmark are a different story. Very well supported. Need a part? Get it same day or next most of the time.

So as much as I hate to admit it, on some level I regret buying one of the best mowers I've ever owned. Make sense?

Now, back to backpack blowers. The above explanation is why in my area at least, Redmax or Stihl are the choice of most pros. For handheld blowers, it's Stihl all day, everyday. Redmax gets my money for backpacks.

 

[gmcman]

Actually you are partly right but once both have been run or a landscaper comes in for a replacement all that is left is to write up the bill for the 700 and call it a day. Upgrade it is, I can only speak about how it is selling in my part of the world. Also no landscaper would touch a husky around here. Not because the quality is lacking, it is the dismal dealer network. There is none. We service all brands where I am at, but when you need your equipment back right quick and I am waiting 2 weeks for a part from Husqvarna, Echo, and alike you get a bad taste in your mouth.

I understand what you're saying, ...however I'm not a landscaper and I haven't had any major issues with any 2-cycle equipment I've owned regardless of manufacturer. Regular maintenance, fresh fuel (alot of non-ethanol) high quality oil, etc....I take care of my stuff. If I was a landscaper or ran a company, I would look at the local dealer support and equipment that was economical to operate. As a homeowner with a good acre of leaves plus the forest that surrounds me which dumps 3 times the leaves that my own trees treat me with,as well as many hard to reach areas, I don't want to spend a lot of time cleaning up or at least minimize the time or make it easier. I want the most powerful blower I can get so my personal dilemma comes down to $30 more for the Husky over the Stihl, but with a step backwards in ergonomics with the Husky.

Now with that being said, I know you have to factor in not just the specs, but the design of the unit. My BR600 blows more air with the open tube, but with the smaller tip the air stream is much more controlled and forceful.

As I said before, the 700 is a fine blower and I'm sure it suits the customer base more than adequately. I would liked to have seen a blower that had similar performance to the Redmax/Husky with the ergonomics of the Stihl. The throttle grip of the Stihl is superior...the Husky is too close to the tube but that's a minor complaint. I'm fairly confident the 700 would suit my needs, but I really want the added airspeed for my personal needs.

I'd like to add a little to this. When you depend on your tools to earn your living, it pays to go mainstream. If the pros in your area use one brand overwhelmingly, pay attention. Chances are, someone locally is supporting them well. It does little good to have the "best there is" if when you need a simple part it isn't available for days/weeks. I've had a Hustler mower for several years now. Amazingly well built. Solid design. Trouble is precious few local dealers . And of those, nobody stocks much for parts (they're built well enough you won't need many). So when you do, you're screwed... Ferris or Exmark are a different story. Very well supported. Need a part? Get it same day or next most of the time.

So as much as I hate to admit it, on some level I regret buying one of the best mowers I've ever owned. Make sense?

Now, back to backpack blowers. The above explanation is why in my area at least, Redmax or Stihl are the choice of most pros. For handheld blowers, it's Stihl all day, everyday. Redmax gets my money for backpacks.

I agree, but for me it's not an issue of making a living with the equipment so yes, it's best to choose within your local networks and use what will profit the most if you are running a business.

I have a strong Husqvarna and Stihl dealer network in my area. My local Husky dealer carries a large selection of equipment from top handle saws, homeowner and XP saws, blowers, lawn and garden tractors and zero turns. They also have a good deal of Stihl equipment so I'm fortunate in that regard.

The BR700 feels better on my back but the Husky isn't that bad. I don't have a Redmax dealer near me but the Husky 580 is basically the same as the 8500.

So all in all, what you both are saying makes sense from a business/financial standpoint. I think the 700 would suit my needs rather well, but it's a tough choice if you already have the 600...for me anyway.

 

[166]

There is a new player to the big backpack blower club coming very soon.

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[gmcman]

There is a new player to the big backpack blower club coming very soon.

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Would this be the rumored Echo??

I will surely be keeping an eye on whatever makes the news.

 

[TreeswingerPerth]

I have a Stihl 550 , never had any bother with it . My brother has the echo and it's a bit of a beast , when it's time to change I'm going for the echo .

 

[ANewSawyer]

I guess the br700 is an upgrade over the BR600 in a bizaar way but I don't know how it stacks against the Husqvarna 580. Almost exclusively, I see Redmax blowers on the local landscaper trucks. Which is funny because the nearest dealer, was an hour drive until a new dealer ship opened 2 years ago. But I was seeing Redmax blowers before that.

 

[gmcman]

There is a new player to the big backpack blower club coming very soon.

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Suspense is killin me btw.

 

[166]

Suspense is killin me btw.

Waiting for some more guesses.

Brand starts with M and ends with A.

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[bryanr2]

Waiting for some more guesses.

Brand starts with M and ends with A.

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is it a 4 stroke or 2?

 

[7sleeper]

You mean the Dolmar PB-7650.4?

Looks really impressive!

7

 

[Stowe Boy]

Waiting for some more guesses.

Brand starts with M and ends with A.

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So a perennial non-player is suddenly going to be a major player in the backpack blower market? I find that hard to believe.

Back in the 80s, I was told Yugos were going to great economy cars.


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[7sleeper]

So a perennial non-player is suddenly going to be a major player in the backpack blower market? I find that hard to believe.

Obviously you suffer from a reading/understanding disorder. I never read anything about someone becoming a major player over night. I was so free as to quote it below so that you can reread it again and hopefully all questionable fragments will become clear again.

There is a new player to the big backpack blower club coming very soon.

7

 

[166]

Still no guesses on the brand. It's not Makita like some of you thought.

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