When you need the best tool for the job, choose the model used by professionals. You want a tool that is built to last, easy to use and provides plenty of power and versatile features. When you’re looking for a professional backpack leaf blower, one of the best choices is the Stihl BR 700 backpack blower. This heavy-duty leaf blower comes with plenty of power and some excellent features. Before purchasing this leaf blower, check out all the reviews, ratings and specifications with this complete guide. If you’re considering another Stihl backpack blower, you can compare several designs side-by-side with the comparisons below. If you aren’t sure what features to look for when purchasing a backpack leaf blower, this guide will give you all the information you need. Clear your yard and driveway with ease, or give your landscaping business the extra boost it needs with this high-end leaf blower.

Backpack Leaf Blowers

There are three variations of leaf blowers on the market, and each one has its own pros and cons. One of the most popular, particularly for professional-grade equipment, is the backpack leaf blower. By mounting the 2-stroke engine on a backpack frame, you’ll be able to easily support all the weight on your shoulders rather than carrying a heavy-duty motor with your arms. This allows you to work for longer, use a larger machine and clear your yard or driveway far more efficiently than with a handheld leaf blower. A handheld model is inexpensive but won’t cover a very large area. The third type of leaf blower is a walk-behind blower which is designed for extremely large areas that are mostly flat. They are far more expensive, so they aren’t a practical choice for most homeowners or small businesses.

What Is The Stihl BR 700 Backpack Blower?

There are plenty of features to consider when choosing the best backpack leaf blower. Take a look at some of the features of the Stihl BR 700 in order to find out how it compares to other great leaf blowers. When it comes to professional-grade equipment, you want a leaf blower that is powerful, comfortable and easy to use. This is the most powerful backpack leaf blower designed by Stihl, so you should only consider it if you need the ultimate in power. There are plenty of less expensive leaf blowers that still offer a large amount of power, comfort and ease of use. If you want the best of the best, the BR700 is the way to go.

Powerful

Whether you look at displacement, air speed or air volume, the BR 700 is one of the highest-rated backpack leaf blowers in terms of sheer power. Air speed, measured in miles per hour, isn’t the most accurate measurement but can be helpful. It describes how fast the air is moving, but doesn’t consider the size of the nozzle. High air speed is important to push heavy, wet leaves but without a wide nozzle doesn’t always mean more effective power.

Instead, take a look at the cubic feet per minute. Cubic feet per minute, or cfm, measures the overall amount of air pushed out each minute. This measurement takes into account the size of the nozzle, so it’s a more convenient number to determine which leaf blower will provide better overall leaf movement. Other measurements like CCs of the engine can also be important to consider. Even the most powerful leaf blower isn’t effective if it isn’t fuel efficient. The BR 700 is designed to be fuel efficient for its power and size. Per ounce, it is more efficient than other brands in the same category. However, the small fuel tank means you’ll need to refill it more often which takes up valuable time.

The Stihl BR 700 uses a 2-stroke engine just like most backpack leaf blowers. However, the Makita EB7650WH leaf blower utilizes a 4-stroke engine. There are many pros and cons to using a 4-stroke, but in terms of functionality they are very similar. A 2-stroke engine requires you to mix fuel and oil together before filling the tank. A 4-stroke engine, on the other hand, has separate areas to fill both fuel and oil. A 4-stroke engine is typically larger, heavier and louder, although the Makita engine is particularly light for a 4-stroke model. 4-stroke engines tend to be more fuel efficient and are easier to refill because of the separate gas and oil tanks. There are more parts in a 4-stroke engine, so it can be more expensive and complicated to repair if there are any issues. Unless you are already knowledgeable about engines, don’t choose a backpack leaf blower based on engine type. Instead, take a look at the other features like air volume, air speed and overall weight before deciding which machine is more effective.

Comfortable

There are several areas of comfort to consider when choosing an easy-to-use backpack blower. First, take a look at the straps and overall weight of the leaf blower. This will determine how much strain the leaf blower will put on your shoulders, particularly when you’re working all day. Other features to consider are additions that offer ease of use like the controls, the starter and nozzle adjustments. Compare each of these with other leaf blowers to determine which one is the easiest to use.

The Stihl BR 700 is one of the lightest backpack leaf blowers in its category. It isn’t as light as a smaller, home model but is as much as three pounds lighter than other professional-grade leaf blowers. Combined with the comfortable straps and anti-vibration, you’ll work comfortably, whether for one hour or all day. Some leaf blowers, particularly large professional ones, can be difficult to start. The Stihl BR 700, however, is very easy to start. The throttle and choke are designed to make sure you always start it safely and easily. However, the leaf blower doesn’t include an air-cooling feature. Many backpack blowers of this size have vents for your lower back which can keep you cool and comfortable. It works by moving air across your lower back and can make a huge difference when working all day in the heat.

Easy To Use

For an efficient backpack leaf blower, you’ll want to be able to adjust the throttle and nozzle. Sometimes you want a long nozzle close to the ground for heavy, wet leaves. Other jobs require a wide-angle blower, so you’ll want the nozzle farther away from the ground. To save on fuel, only use the amount of power that you need for the amount of leaves in that particular area.

The Stihl backpack blower has a control handle on the nozzle that has several functions. You can control the throttle, choke and nozzle length easily, and change the position of the control handle. Maneuvering the nozzle with the same hand means this leaf blower is easy to operate single-handedly.

Specifications

Backpack leaf blowers come in a wide range of prices depending on power and performance levels. Inexpensive backpack leaf blowers can be purchased for $200. The backpack blowers on this list are considerably more expensive, between $499 and $549.99. These are the highest-priced leaf blowers, but also the most powerful backpack leaf blowers on the market. Take a look at each one and see how it compares. The Stihl BR 700 is only $50 more than the other models, so they are all similarly priced.

How It Compares

Stihl BR 700 Backpack Leaf Blower

The Makita EB7650WH is still one of the most powerful backpack blowers on the market. With 670 cfm and an airspeed of 200 mph, it’ll clear any size project with ease. However, when compared head-to-head, the Makita leaf blower falls slightly short of the competition. The cfm in particular is significantly lower than the Stihl BR 700. It’s also slightly heavier with a less convenient handle. The throttle is mounted on the backpack and is controlled by your left hand rather than mounting on the nozzle. It only comes with a one-year warranty, which is very low for this size of leaf blower. However, the Makita is one of the least-expensive Makita leaf blowers in this category. Many of the qualities are only slightly lower, so it’s only noticeably different when matched head-to-head. It’s still far more powerful and effective than smaller leaf blowers.

Echo PB-770T

The Echo PB-770T offers the best warranty for leaf blowers, particularly for home use. It offers a higher cfm rating than the Makita leaf blower at 756 cfm. The consumer warranty is five years, so you’ll have peace of mind even with daily use. The fuel tank is extra-large at 68 ounces, so you’ll be going for longer with fewer refueling stops. It’s just as inexpensive as the Makita leaf blower but offers mid-range performance in this category. However, it just slightly tips the scales as the loudest leaf blower in this category.