What is the Best Backpack Leaf Blower?

Last Updated on December 20, 2023

Overwhelmed with clearing fall leaves in your yard? A backpack leaf blower is the perfect solution.

Our 3 top backpack leaf blowers reviews will help you pick the best machine suited for your needs.

For time-constrained, busy people:

*This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any of the products I have recommended, I may receive a commission at no cost to you. 

Let’s get to it!

How do you clean up fallen leaves? (4 options)

When it comes to clearing leaves in your yard there are four tools that will help you get the job done:

1. Leaf rake – cheap, but not efficient. Also, you cannot use it on the deck, patio, or paved driveway.
2. Handheld leaf blower – good for a small yard, wears out your arm pretty fast. 
3. Backpack leaf blower – clears fallen leaves quickly and efficiently. More costly than a handheld leaf blower, but absolutely worth it if you have a medium to large yard. 
4. Wheeled  walk behind leaf blower – convenient to use, but takes a lot of storage space. It’s a great investment for seniors and large yard owners.

The advantages of a backpack leaf blower vs a handheld leaf blower 

• Saves time

Being more powerful in comparison with a handheld leaf blower, a backpack leaf blower will  save your time by helping you do your yard chores quickly and efficiently.

• Easier on your body 

The biggest complaint with a handheld leaf blower is that  after a short time of using it, the weight and vibration makes the hand sore. With the backpack leaf blower, you are carrying the load on your back which is easier on your body than holding a heavy weight in your arm. Also, vibrations are almost not felt, which makes your work easier and more enjoyable.

Backpack leaf blower disadvantages

• loud
• heavy
• expensive
• takes a bit of storage room.

What should impact your decision when choosing the best backpack leaf blower

• the size of your yard
• how many deciduous trees you have
• how much weight you can lift and carry
• how much time you have for tidying your yard
• how much money you are willing to spend
• leaf blower features that are important for you. 

2 types of backpack leaf blowers: electric and gas

First of all you need to understand that there are 2 backpack leaf blower types: electric cordless, also known as battery powered  backpack leaf blowers, and gas backpack leaf blowers.

Gas backpack leaf blowers come with 2 cycle engines or 4 cycle engines (sometimes called 2-stroke and 4 stroke).

Which is better: a 2-cycle or 4-cycle leaf blower?

2 cycle engines are more powerful, more lightweight and cost less, but at the same time they are loud, produce more pollution, and require a mixture of gas and oil in the fuel tank in order to work, so you can end up with extra preparation owning a leaf blower with 2 cycle engine.

However, you can get convenient TruFuel brand premixed fuel at Amazon in ratios of 50:1 (red can) or 40:1 (green can). Be sure to get the right ratio for your engine.

4 cycle engines are more fuel efficient, they run just on gas, create less noise and pollution, but they are heavier and more expensive in comparison with 2 cycle motors. You still have to deal with oil changes and checking oil levels with these engines.

What to look for when buying a backpack leaf blower?

If you are considering a gas backpack leaf blower decide if you want a 2 cycle or 4 cycle engine. We talked about the advantages and disadvantages of these engines above.

Also, check the engine’s cc – cubic centimeters of displacement. The engines on gas leaf blowers are rated in terms of cc – the higher the number of cc, the more powerful the engine will be.

When looking for an electric backpack leaf blower always check the runtime – how long will the leaf blower work before the battery needs to be recharged. Can you clear your whole yard from leaves on one charge?

Also, when buying a battery powered leaf blower pay attention to how fast the battery will charge. You can buy a spare battery and swap the batteries while clearing your yard from leaves and debris. In this case be sure that the blower runtime is longer than the battery charging time.

You might also care if the motor on your electric leaf blower is brushed or brushless. To make it short, I’ll just say that a brushless motor is better than brushed. If you want to know more about brushed vs brushless motors, then read my article Best battery powered weed eaters.

Other important things to consider while choosing your backpack leaf blower are:

• weight of the unit
• loudness
• durability
• maintenance cost (gas or gas and oil is needed for gas backpack leaf blowers)
• ergonomics and comfort: is the blower comfortable to use? Are shoulder straps padded? Are they adjustable for better weight distribution? Is there a cooler pack on the back? Does the unit have cruise control? (Cruise control feature means that you do not need to constantly hold the trigger.)
  Is the machine easy to control?
• storage options: do you have enough room to store it in a protected environment like the garage or indoors?

Another issue that comes up when choosing a backpack leaf blower is tube mounted throttle vs hip throttle. In the models with a tube mounted throttle your right hand operates the machine and the other hand is free to pick trash or change the music on your phone. 😊 Overall, it comes just to a personal preference.

And if you still wonder, “What is the best backpack leaf blower?” The answer is simple , “It’s the one that suits your needs the most”.

3 best backpack leaf blowers reviews 

3 top backpack leaf blowers for 2021 are:

1. Greenworks BPB80L2510 Cordless Backpack Leaf Blower– best overall. Comfortable, compact, lightweight, yet powerful. Battery operated equates to less noise, less pollution, and less maintenance.
2. Makita EB5300WH 4-Stroke Engine Gas Backpack Blower – best-in-class  gas backpack blower with commercial duty engine. It’s made with the user’s comfort in mind.
3. Poulan Pro PR48BT 2-Cycle Gas Backpack Leaf Blower – if you are shopping for a cheap backpack leaf blower, this is your best option. This leaf blower is rated high by Amazon customers and has a lot of bells and whistles that high end models have.

All 3  backpack leaf blowers are well performing machines that get the job done. Choose the one best suited for you, according to your individual needs.

1. Greenworks BPB80L2510 review

The advantages:

• designed to be operated with one hand
• the battery gets charged in 22-30 minutes. Users reported that the spare battery (if you buy one) gets fully charged while you are clearing leaves with your backpack leaf blower using the other battery. So when your blower is “out of juice” you just swap the batteries and keep going
• equipped with a cruise control function to lock the speed at the desired setting
• has Turbo Button to boost the speed
• padded harness provides comfort
• you can adjust the side straps so the weight is equally distributed across your shoulders
• comparable to 33cc gas blowers, but without harmful fumes and the need to buy oil and gas which equates to cheaper running cost 
• no need for storing fuels, mixing oils, no maintenance, no storing for winter, no filters or plugs
• simple and comfortable design
• less noisy in comparison with other backpack leaf blowers
• you feel virtually no vibration like you would do with the handheld leaf blower

The downside: 

• somewhat expensive
• it’s a right-side blower; if you need to blow under things that are only accessible on your left, it takes some creative effort to do so
• some users don’t like short run time and need to wait for the battery to get charged (this can be solved by buying a spare battery).

Verdict: Greenworks BPB80L2510 backpack leaf blower provides outstanding performance and comfort for the user.

2. Makita EB5300WH review

Makita EB5300WH advantages:

• a cleaner-burning 4-stroke engine ensures quieter operation and the convenience of no fuel mixing
• fuel-efficient (uses approximately 1 pint for 20-30 min)
• starts fast and easy, moves leaves quickly
• engineered for commercial lawn and garden work
• padded shoulder straps engineered with multiple adjustments for improved fit and retain their shape for easier re-shouldering
• large capacity air filter is replaceable and easily accessible
• padded back panel is ventilated for  comfort
• heavy duty anti-vibration mounts between frame and engine also improve operator comfort
• tube easily adjusts to desired length
• a large capacity muffler ensures quieter operation. 

The downside 

• requires maintenance: replacing engine oil after first 20 operating hours, followed by every 50 operating hours; cleaning air cleaner, cleaning fuel filter
• takes a good 10 minutes to warm up and work well in cold weather (40-50F)
• weight of the unit could be a problem for people with back issues
• expensive

Verdict: Makita 5300WH is the best gas backpack leaf blower with 4 stroke engine made for superior performance with user’s comfort in mind.

Watch how Makita EB5300TH backpack blower performs in the YouTube video below.

3. Poulan PRO PR48BT review

Pros:

• a strong blower for a great price
• convenient controls: variable speed trigger and cruise control located on the blower tube
• downward angled nozzle maximizes clearing power
• ergonomic design: countered and adjustable harness
• conveniently premixed 50:1 TruFuel brand fuel is readily available

The downside 

• as with all 2 cycle engine blowers, it’s loud
• high maintenance: need to clean air filter, replace spark plug, clean fuel tank
• need to mix gasoline with oil for the blower to run. It is important to accurately measure the amount of oil to be mixed with gasoline. Even small inaccuracies can affect performance of the machine.
• some users reported that the blower doesn’t want to start after winter storage, the fuel tank might leak after a while, and parts for the blower are hard to get.

Verdict: Poulan Pro PR48BT backpack leaf blower is the best budget friendly option on the market. Functional, easily handles tough blowing tasks, great for the price.

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Are backpack leaf blowers worth it?

They are if you have a lot of deciduous trees shedding leaves on your 1/2 acre or larger property and if you want to spend as little time as possible on doing yard chores.

And making work easier on your body, especially if you are in your golden years –  you can’t put a price on it.

For sure, a backpack leaf blower is a must if you run a small landscaping and lawn care business.

You have read:

Best backpack Leaf Blowers