The Best Backpack Leaf Blowers of 2023

Best Overall

Echo PB-580T Backpack Blower

4.9

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The Echo 2-Stroke Cycle Backpack Leaf Blower is a well-priced gas model that can handle virtually any task around your yard. It’s powered by a 58.2cc two-stroke engine, and it offers air speeds up to 216 mph and airflow up to 517 cubic feet of air per minute (cfm). Leaf blowers with a higher cfm rating can move larger amounts of debris, but they might not push the leaves as far as a unit with a high air speed.

While this backpack leaf blower weighs more than 20 pounds, it’s well-designed to keep you comfortable during operation. It features a deluxe padded backrest and harness, with a vented backrest to dispel heat on summer days, and it also has a four-point vibration reduction system. The throttle is mounted right on the blower tube for easy operation, and it has a cruise control setting for consistent operation. 

The Echo Backpack Leaf Blower has a translucent fuel tank that lets you see when you’re running low on gas, and a leaf guard prevents overheating by stopping leaves and other debris from blocking the blower intake. The tool has a manual startup, but it’s easy enough to get going once you get the hang of it.

Price at time of publish: $390

_{Power Source: Gas | Weight: 22.7 pounds | MPH: 216 | CFM: 517 cubic feet per minute | Noise Rating: 70 decibels | Runtime: Unlimited}

Best with Vacuum

BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 VACPACK Electric Leaf Blower

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Not only is the BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 VACPACK Electric Leaf Blower a budget-friendly choice, it’s also extremely versatile, and it can be used as a leaf blower, leaf vacuum, or mulcher. It weighs just 11 pounds, making it easy for anyone to operate, and it delivers air speed up to 250 mph and airflow up to 400 CFM. In fact, when we tested it in our Des Moines Lab, we found all that power too much, blowing our focused cache of leaves well past the target seconds after turning on the machine.

The tool's backpack design allows you to carry its collection bag on your back as you move around your yard. But our lab tester found it a little ungainly. "The blower was heavy and hard to use for an extended period of time," he said, adding that the extension cord kept getting in the way and even fell out of the onboard socket. That is not unique to this model; we have found this to be true with many such corded products. The upside, however, is that you have unlimited runtime, and the power never fades.

Our tester did appreciate the product's vacuum ability, however. In fact, he said, "The vacuum worked better than the blower!" That is omething we don't often see in combination products. The reusable debris collection back's roll-and-clip closure has a wide opening, making it quick and easy to empty. And when the product is used as a mulcher, it cuts debris down to 1/16 of its original size.

Its flexible tube gave our tester more room to maneuver while vacuuming, and a boost button on the handle was handy when needing an extra bit of power to suck in clumped-up or wet leaves. However, as with similar products, the tube can clog fairly easily, so it's always good advice to avoid trying to suck up sticks and other larger debris with these machines.

The only specific-product downside our tester reported was the instructions in converting the machine from blower to vacuum, which involves some swapping of parts. We have seen that other similar products instruct users better, but that's a small hurdle which shouldn't overcome this machine's versatility, power, and affordability.

Price at time of publish: $90

_{Power Source: Electric | Weight: 16.05 pounds | MPH: 250 | CFM: 400 cubic feet per minute | Noise Rating: 75 decibels | Runtime: Unlimited}

Best Battery

EGO Power+ 600 CFM 56V Lithium-Ion Cordless Electric Backpack Blower

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A backpack leaf blower that our testers found to be "fun to use," the EGO Power is effective, easy to operate, and powerful. And it lasts and lasts on a single charge of its 7.5 Ah lithium-ion battery: up to 180 minutes, depending on the power level.

"I like how long the battery lasts," our at-home tester confirmed, saying that it far out-performs a similar model she has used for a while. "I can go through clearing off sections of my yard without needing to re-charge mid-process." On the highest "turbo" speed, she reported: "The leaf blower lasts for a solid 20-25 mins. If I didn’t have it on the highest setting, it would last longer."

Unlike some backpack models we tested, the EGO Power was more comfortable despite its 12.5-pound weight. "The security straps make it easy to handle the heavier weight of this blower with ease," our at-home tester reported. "The backpack also helps with arm fatigue that we usually feel from our other handheld blower." The adjustable harness has a waist belt to keep the tool secure.

This leaf blower has a variable-speed throttle, with a maximum air speed of 145 mph and airflow of 600 CFM. It’s extremely quick and easy to start, using the pushbutton. And although you can push a button while operating, our at-home tester especially appreciated the option to set a dial to let it blow at a specific speed or strength. That helped cut down on fatigue, she noted; a necessity, since her expansive yard has over 20 leaf-dropping trees.

In addition to being relatively quiet and free of emissions, the battery-powered design also requires very little maintenance—all you have to do is recharge the battery as needed, and you're good to go. We would prefer a longer chute to target hard-to-reach areas, but for a large yard, we can easily recommend this product.

Price at time of publish: $260

_{Power Source: Rechargeable battery | Weight: 12.5 pounds | MPH: 145 | CFM: 600 cubic feet per minute | Noise Rating: 64 decibels | Runtime: 180 minutes}

Best Lightweight

Greenworks Pro 80V Cordless Backpack Leaf Blower

4.6

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"This was the easiest year of picking up leaves I've ever had!" our at-home tester exclaimed after three months of trying this product to get grass and leaves out of her walkways, lawn, and everything else nature deposits in her Des Moines, Iowa, yard.

"I thought having a backpack leaf blower would be annoying and would be big and hard to use," she reported, "but this leaf blower isn't that big, once you get it on your back. It's not that heavy [under 15 pounds], and having the backpack holding the battery pack helps alleviate the weight on my arm, so this is very easy to use."

The Greenworks also was quieter than some other backpack leaf blowers we tested. It has a trigger-activated variable speed throttle, and a cruise control option that provides constant airflow, as needed. Our Lab tester appreciated the variety. "There were multiple ways to control the power—one was like a trigger," she reported. "I used that the most so I could turn it off easily to improve my accuracy." You can get an extra boost of power with the tool’s turbo button.

The manufacturer estimates that the fully charged 2.5Ah battery lasts only around 18 minutes if run continuously on its highest speed, but our at-home tester noted it ran far longer. "The battery last a long time," she emphasized. "I was able to leaf-blow my backyard multiple days on a single charge." The included rapid charger replenishes the battery in just 45 minutes.

The Greenworks isn’t the most powerful leaf blower—its maximum air speed is 145 mph, and maximum airflow is 580, below many models we tested—but it works well in smaller yards. Our tester was enthusiastic: "The control I had over the power would make doing yard work more fun and certainly quick!"

Price at time of publish: $300

_{Power Source: Battery | Weight: 14.6 pounds | MPH: 145 | CFM: 580 cubic feet per minute | Noise Rating: Not listed | Runtime: 18 minutes}

Best Splurge

Makita EB7660TH 75.6 cc MM4 Backpack Blower

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If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line leaf blower that can easily move just about any debris, this model from Makita has a powerful four-stroke 75.6cc engine. "Four-cycle engines run cleaner with more torque, and there's no need to mix oil in the gas," notes Schanen, whom The Spruce contacted for expert advice. Its maximum air speed is 206 mph, and its top airflow is a whopping 706 CFM, allowing it to push around wet leaves, sticks, and other heavy debris that other leaf blowers can’t handle. Plus, despite its size and power, the backpack leaf blower is surprisingly quiet during operation, maxing out at around 76 decibels, thanks to its large-capacity muffler. For comparison, some similar-sized models operate at 100 dB or higher.

_{Power Source: Gas | Weight: 31.1 pounds | MPH: 206 | CFM: 706 cubic feet per minute | Noise Rating: 76 decibels | Runtime: Unlimited}

Best Gas

Poulan Pro PR48BT Gas Backpack Leaf Blower

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Many people prefer gas-powered leaf blowers for their unlimited runtime and higher power, and the Poulan Pro PR48BT is a moderately priced option that’s ideal for mid-sized yards, up to half an acre. It has a 48cc two-stroke gas engine, a maximum air speed of 200 mph, and maximum airflow of 475. The blower features a variable-speed throttle control on the tube, as well as cruise control for extended operation. "It can be nice to have a throttle with cruise control, so you don't need to have a finger on the trigger at all times," says expert Ern Schanen.

To keep you comfortable as you clean up your yard, this leaf blower has adjustable shoulder straps and padded load-reducing harness. The contoured handle has a soft-grip finish, and it pushes through wet leaves and other heavy debris on its maximum settings. Be aware that it’s quite loud during operation, with a noise level around 97 decibels, which means you need to use hearing protection.

Price at time of publish: $290

_{Power Source: Gas | Weight: 22 pounds | MPH: 200 | CFM: 475 cubic feet per minute | Noise Rating: 96.7 decibels | Runtime: Unlimited}

Best for Large Yards

Husqvarna 150BT 50-cc 2-Cycle Gas Backpack Leaf Blower

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The Husqvarna Gas Backpack Leaf Blower makes quick work of even the largest yards, thanks to its powerful 51cc two-stroke engine. This backpack leaf blower delivers air speeds up to 270 mph, and airflow up to an impressive 765 cfm, allowing you to move more debris in less time. It’s suitable for cleaning up leaves, yard debris, grass and hedge clippings, and even sticks, and its variable-speed throttle has a cruise control feature for easier handling.

To keep you comfortable while you work, this leaf blower is equipped with a padded harness, hip belt, and weight-leveling load management system. However, it is extremely loud, and you definitely want to wear hearing protection while using it.

Price at time of publish: $349

_{Power Source: Gas | Weight: 22.5 pounds | MPH: 270 | CFM: 765 cubic feet per minute | Noise Rating: 110 decibels | Runtime: Unlimited}