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Backpack blowers Q&A

Backpack & leaf blowers

 

When the blowing gets tough, you need a blower that offers raw power beyond expectations.


Our backpack power blowers utilise our most powerful professional grade 2 stroke engines and create extreme blowing forces of up to 44.4 newtons! Combine this extreme power with light weight, ergonomic build quality across the range and you have power blowers that will make quick work of the largest jobs. These blowers offer serious power and can drastically improve the productivity of professionals - saving time and effort.

 

Backpack blower: why you need more power

 

Some manufacturers only use the air speed (M/sec) to define their blowers, at ECHO, we also use the quantity of air moved as a measurement (M³/h). Both values are important to show you the real power of a leaf blower. These are critical factors to check when choosing a new backpack blower to be sure you will be able to move the biggest debris during the toughest jobs. You can also check the different accessories for our blowers to make your life easier.

 

If a backpack blower is not exactly what you need, you can also check our different types of blowers, our electric blowers or even our shred’n’vac solutions.

 

Choosing a backpack blower


A backpack machine has some key advantages over handheld models. As the machine is strapped to your back, using your hands to clear your way etc is a lot easier. During Autumn the number of leaves can also be overwhelming and a backpack leaf blower is the best to do the hard work without being exhausted quickly. Thanks to our ergonomic harness and our hip belt, you can also be sure that your back will be protected. The strongest models can also be wonderful to remove sand, dust, gravel, and other debris.

 

Backpack blower FAQ :


How do I choose a backpack blower?

When choosing a backpack blower you need to carefully consider the kind of work you will be doing, how often you will be doing it and how long it will generally take. ECHO backpack blowers range from the lightest PB-580 (10.3kg) with an Air Volume of 882 m³/h to the most powerful PB-8010 (11.9kg) with a massive Air volume of 1819 m³/h. The PB-8010 offers ultimate power and will clear large volumes of leaves and debris very quickly. Despite being slightly heavier than the PB-580 it is packed with features to improve operator comfort, like a ventilated backpad, easy access panels that make things like changing the air filter a breeze and heavy duty backpack straps. So the PB-8010 is very much aimed at the professional who deals with big jobs frequently. On the other hand the PB-580 still offers great power with a smaller frame and is lighter over all. It will also cost you less. So if you know you won’t need the extreme power offered by the PB-8010 the PB-580 could be the best choice for you. Sitting in the middle is the ECHO PB-770 which weighs 11kg with an air volume of 1290 m³/h.

 

Do I really need a backpack blower?

Backpack blowers are designed for heavy duty work. Not only do they offer superior power over handheld models, but they are also better suited to extended periods of use due to the majority of weight being supported on the user’s back. Consider how much power you need and how often you will be using the blower. Even if the answer is “regularly” a backpack blower may still be overkill if you’re not tackling large volumes of leaves or large areas. A backpack blower is very much a professional’s tool and designed for the regular clearing of large volumes of leaves. So unless you’re undertaking big jobs regularly, a handheld blower might be the way to go. There are of course exceptions to this rule, some users like the extra power of backpack blowers for smaller jobs as they can save time by blasting through the job. You should also consider storage and set up time. If the job is relatively small then whipping out your handheld blower may be much more time efficient than strapping into your backpack blower.

 

What can I do with a backpack blower?

Backpack blowers are designed specifically for the clearance of large volumes of leaves. They offer enough power to shift even wet leaves and other small debris. The best method of operation is to blow in controlled bursts, sweeping the nozzle in a circular motion away from your body in order to gather the leaves in one condensed pile.


What is the best ECHO backpack blower?

The PB-8010 is recognized as ECHO’s best backpack blower because it offers the most blowing force and the most powerful engine of any ECHO blower. With 44.4N of blowing force, it’s the most powerful blower on the market.

 

How do I store a backpack leaf blower?

First, ensure all fuel has been removed from the blower. The easiest way to do this is by draining fuel from the tank, securely replacing the cap and then running the engine until the machine comes to a stop. Check that the carburetor and fuel lines are also fuel-free! Keep your tool well lubricated during storage by adding some 2 cycle engine oil below the spark plug, at this point check the spark plug and replace if needed. Then distribute the oil by pulling the starter cord around 10 times. It’s a good idea to perform some general maintenance at his stage too: so check your air filter and clean / replace if needed and give your machine a general cleaning, removing dirt and any trapped debris. Once done, store the blower somewhere cool and dry. A lot of professionals hang their tools on racks for extra peace of mind. 

 

How do I hang a backpack blower?

Most professionals hang their backpack blowers when not in use. You can easily buy a backpack blower rack online or install some hooks yourself. The hooks simply support the blower’s weight from the carry handle. Units available to buy online often feature a fold down steel arm that locks the blower securely in place.

 

How do I turn on an ECHO backpack leaf blower?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmpEuqs1RZ4

To cold start a backpack leaf blower: 1. ensure there is fuel in the fuel tank. 2. Activate the on switch. 3. Activate the choke. 4. Push the primer bulb 2 – 5 times. 5. Pull the starter cord. 6. Switch off the choke. 7. Pull the starter cord again. To warm start a backpack brushcutter: 1. Activate the on switch. 2. Push the primer bulb 2 – 5 times. 3. Pull the starter handle.

 

How strong should a leaf blower be?

There are a large amount of blowers on the market, from battery tools aimed at domestic users to heavy duty, petrol backpack blowers designed solely for professionals. The strength that you require is totally dependent on what kind of work you’ll be undertaking.

 

What is the most powerful backpack leaf blower?

The most powerful leaf blower is presently the ECHO PB-8010 which produces an airflow of up to 1819 m3 /h at a force of 44.4N. It is capable of clearing very large volumes of leaves and debris and is even used for snow clearance and forest fire prevention by the military.

 

How much does a backpack blower weigh?

Backpack blowers usually weigh in the region of 8 – 12kg. They are heavier than handheld blowers as they feature far more powerful engines with larger frames and tubes. Having the weight supported by the operator’s back is ideal for professionals who need to use the blower regularly for long periods of time.

 

How many CFM is a good leaf blower?

CFM stands for cubic feet per minute and is a good way of gauging how powerful a blower actually is. The metric will basically tell you how much air is passing through the nozzle per minute, and the higher the value the more powerful the blower.

 

Is a higher CFM better?

Yes, a higher CFM means more air is passing through the blower’s nozzle per minute. This basically translates as more power and the ability to shift more leaves.

 

How much CFM do I need?

How much CFM (cubic feet per minute) should a good quality leaf blower have and is CFM a more important attribute then MPH (miles per hour) for knowing how good a blower is? Unfortunately, this can be a bit tricky to understand. Both these attributes tell you a lot about the blower’s strength (ability to shift leaves). Therefore, for both, the higher the value, the stronger the blower. The fact that CFM and MPH are not mutually exclusive, means you need to understand the way one affects the other and weigh things up in terms of what you want your blower to do. CFM relates to the volume and quantity of air, however as this value increases, it is more difficult to project at high speeds (MPH). So a low CFM and high MPH blower would create a very narrow and high powered beam of air, good for blasting small areas a long distance, similar to a pressurized air cleaner. Whereas a high CFM with a low MPH would create a big volume of air that could move a large amount at once but not very far. As you can see, engineers need to get the balance between CFM and MPH just right in order to make their product as effective as possible for their intended use. Let’s look at the ECHO PB-8010 for example, this backpack blower has a value of 1071 CFM at 211MPH in contrast the ECHO PB-2620, a handheld blower has 456 CFM at 172 MPH. The PB-8010 is throwing out a huge volume of air at a very high speed, meaning it can shift large volumes of leaves a good distance. The Pb-2620 has less than half the CFM (air volume) at around 22% less speed (MPH), this means its blowing is more focused and it’s better suited to clearing out smaller spaces. Wouldn’t it be great if there was one value that would give you a general understand of a blower’s overall power! Well, you’re in luck! The value you’re looking for is newtons (N) and this value is creating by taking into account the CFM, MPH, tube size and myriad other factors to give a good overview of performance. For the two aforementioned blowers, the PB-2620 produces around 15.8 Newtons (N) and the PB-8010 a colossal 44.4 Newtons (N).


Can you go deaf from a backpack leaf blower?

There are no instances of anyone going deaf from using a backpack blower. However, as with all power tools it is highly recommended to use the appropriate safety gear. In the case of backpack blowers this includes protective ear muffs. Any elongated and frequent exposure to sounds over


Who carries leaf blower backpacks?

Backpack blowers are primarily used by outdoor professionals for the clearance of large areas from leaves and other debris. Their high power and ability to deliver high volumes of air at high speeds make them ideal for large-scale professional jobs in places like parks, sports facilities, forests other public facilities.