First, I swear this *will not* turn into another lawn mower thread (for those of you who were around for that several years ago)...

It's leafblower time as my cheapy has finally laid down. At $80 from Sam's Club, it was well worth it but, I'm ready to buy a nicer machine. I've done a lot of research online and have asked questions here there and everywhere but, thought I'd poll this group to get some experiences/thoughts/comments as well.

With that in mind, which one? Stihl or Echo? $200 or so is my upper spending limit -- I just don't use it that often but want something nice that could be repaired rather than being a disposable.

Additionally, Craftsman has one that is a 4-cycle (which is attractive from the standpoint of not having to mix oil/gas).

Thoughts?

 

Echo PB 650

It owns all other blowers.

Period.

 

From what I hear Echo is supposed to make some of the best yard care products. We have an Echo weed eater that has been trouble free.

 

Stihl makes some of the best weed eaters and chainsaws around. I wouldn't think a Stihl leaf blower would be any different quality-wise.

 

As well it should. LOL! That's way out of my $200ish priceline. LOL! Also, I want a handheld... I simply don't have the land to justify a backpack. It is used about 6-8 minutes after each mow and then about 6 times / year for about an hour solid to sweep the yard. I don't have much land and have just as few trees.

If I went Echo -- I was going PB200 or PB230...

If I go Stihl -- I was going BG 65D

Crafstman -- 4-Cycle Blower

 

+1 - Stihl makes good stuff.

 

Another vote for Stihl.

 

x2

 

I told you before Echo or Stihl make great products, you can't go wrong with either of them.

 

My dad and I have Echo and Husquavarna chain saws, leaf blowers and weed eaters and have had very few problems with any. So for your choices I vote Echo.

 

The most important question should be, How long would it take to use a rake?

Benefits: No pollution (noise or environmental), good exercise, real cheap (no fuel, oil, repairs), a good way to get away from the stress of the kids/wife/husband or whoever.
Then, after you have finished, those brews will taste extra good.

 

Last year i went to a local dealer with my mind set on a stihl backpack but the store owner along with a few landscape owners talked me into a shindiawa (handheld)...I never heard of them until that day and i was skeptical but i ended up buying it anyway. I never looked back. My property is 1/2 acre with 2 huge pinetrees in front. Simple 1 pull and it starts everytime...
http://www.shindaiwa.com/

 

Didn't Echo invent the leaf blower? Thought I saw something on TV about how landscapers modifyed an Echo mosquito fogging machine to blow leaves, and then the company picked up on it & released the first production leaf blower.

Stihl makes wonderful chain saws, (didn't they invent the chain saw?), but I have no idea of the quality of their leaf blowers.

For what it's worth, I bought a Ryobi hand-held leaf blower about 7 or 8 years ago, and couldn't be happier. It starts on the second pull every time, even with old gas in it. I have hundreds of trees on my property and that blower really gets the job done. If it died tomorrow I'd buy another one...can't say the same for their cordless drills, however.

MR

 

My trimmer, leaf blower and chain saw are all Stihl. I don't think you could go wrong with either one, honestly. My machines all start easily and haven't given my any trouble.

 

RockPick,

I've owned a PB200 for three years. It get's used at least once a week, some times twice a week during mowing season. Then it gets used heavily in the fall....... It fires up everytime and has never missed a beat.

Good Luck......