Time to upgrade leaf blower

[slumlord]

Unfortunately,I was broken in to and the burglars took my old Ryobi leaf blower. It was a fairly decent blower that also had a vac bag and capability. The insurance replaces old with new and the adjuster will let me buy fewer tools of better quality to replace more tools of lesser quality. Since I have duplicates of some of my tools that got ripped off, that is why I want to upgrade my leaf blower.
I am thinking minimum quality of Stihl or Echo, and would consider a backpack blower as well. If I do use a backpack,I want one that I can just pick up and use without strapping it on for little jobs like blowing sawdust off decking, and light enough to carry up a ladder to the roof.
So your advice on a$ 200.00 to$ 400.00+ leaf blower is appreciated

 

[Kodie's Lawn Service]

Unfortunately,I was broken in to and the burglars took my old Ryobi leaf blower. It was a fairly decent blower that also had a vac bag and capability. The insurance replaces old with new and the adjuster will let me buy fewer tools of better quality to replace more tools of lesser quality. Since I have duplicates of some of my tools that got ripped off, that is why I want to upgrade my leaf blower.
I am thinking minimum quality of Stihl or Echo, and would consider a backpack blower as well. If I do use a backpack,I want one that I can just pick up and use without strapping it on for little jobs like blowing sawdust off decking, and light enough to carry up a ladder to the roof.
So your advice on a$ 200.00 to$ 400.00+ leaf blower is appreciated

if your looking for a hand one i would look at shindawa or if backpack look at a husqavarna there is one that is a bl150 by hus it is great and i am looking at shindawas to buy soon and sorry that you got broken into

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

I would suggest Echo or Stihl. I would personally go with Echo for a handheld blower, but I woud also consider Stihl for a backpack blower. Here is a review I posted of my Echo PB-255LN handheld blower (I love it!!): http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/echo-forum/13035-detailed-review-my-pb-255ln-blower.html.
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[Ric]

Unfortunately,I was broken in to and the burglars took my old Ryobi leaf blower. It was a fairly decent blower that also had a vac bag and capability. The insurance replaces old with new and the adjuster will let me buy fewer tools of better quality to replace more tools of lesser quality. Since I have duplicates of some of my tools that got ripped off, that is why I want to upgrade my leaf blower.
I am thinking minimum quality of Stihl or Echo, and would consider a backpack blower as well. If I do use a backpack,I want one that I can just pick up and use without strapping it on for little jobs like blowing sawdust off decking, and light enough to carry up a ladder to the roof.
So your advice on a$ 200.00 to$ 400.00+ leaf blower is appreciated

What you buy for a blower would or should be based on what you're going to do with a blower. The $200 to $400 puts you into the Air velocity range of 132 to 200 mph back pack blower. If all your going to do is blow saw dust off decking or to move leafs of the roof or out of gutters then the BR-200 stihl would do fine. It's Light, Easy to Use, Easy to Maintain and Reliable.

STIHL BR 200 Backpack Blower - Occasional Use Backpack Blower | STIHL USA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-59htHNTxBA&feature=player_embedded

The BR-200 weighs 12lbs and cost $279.00 and is 406CFM with an air velocity of 132 mph. It would probably do what you want and is light enough to use going up or working from a ladder.

When and if you check the link above you may want to read the reviews on the BR-200 it has a five star rating.

 

[possum]

You want a backpack blower? Get a big one that will blow a yard full of leaves into one big pile in about an hour. Or three inches of snow off a driveway in twenty minutes. Or melt several inches of ice off your porch and steps in an hour. You want to blow sawdust or your mower off use a blow or vac shopvac, or a corded electric, or a battery powered electric blower. The last thing in the word I want climbing a ladder or pulling up by rope onto a roof or yanking and pulling on while I am on the roof is a gas engined anything. I clean off several roofs and quite a few feet of gutter several times a year. I use a cheap electric for roofs and odds and ends. No gas to mix, no ethanol to clean from carbs, no jerking to get it started, no care at all. Just use it and hang it on a nail or throw in behind the seat of the truck.

 

[Ric]

You want a backpack blower? Get a big one that will blow a yard full of leaves into one big pile in about an hour. Or three inches of snow off a driveway in twenty minutes. Or melt several inches of ice off your porch and steps in an hour. You want to blow sawdust or your mower off use a blow or vac shopvac, or a corded electric, or a battery powered electric blower. The last thing in the word I want climbing a ladder or pulling up by rope onto a roof or yanking and pulling on while I am on the roof is a gas engined anything. I clean off several roofs and quite a few feet of gutter several times a year. I use a cheap electric for roofs and odds and ends. No gas to mix, no ethanol to clean from carbs, no jerking to get it started, no care at all. Just use it and hang it on a nail or throw in behind the seat of the truck.

Oh I agree a big back pack blower is nice for the right circumstance or job, but the greatest majority of time it's overkill. Buying the right piece of equipment for the job you're wanting to do will allow you to not only to the job, but probably do the job more efficiently and cheaper.

 

[Ric]

I posted this in the commercial section and just thought I'd add this post here as well, just let you know I wasn't just blowing smoke about the BR 200.

I went down to the shop and guess what, I came home with a BR- 200. The thing seem to work great. The BR 200 has the same engine as the BG86 hand held unit, but I think it will is a lot easier on the arm & wrists for the wife. Cost was $259.95 with my discount.

It seems to have plenty of power and not much vibration at all, you can't hardly feel it running but I guess that maybe due to the fact I'm used to running one of the others. Will get to use it before the weekends out on the job and will see how it does and I'll let ya'll know.