The Stihl BR600 backpack blower is one of the most popular backpack blowers used by both residential and commercial lawn care teams. It is easy to see why this is such a top seller – between the power, the reliability, and the price, this thing is sweet.
Stihl BR 600 Review: Backpack or Je...
Leaf blowers come in all shapes and sizes. I have had many electric leaf blowers and literally have burned through all of them. The gas powered blowers just mean business. They work harder, they last longer, and they save you serious time.
We also did an awesome comparison of this blower vs ECHO’s PB 770.
Let’s get started:
- Leaf blower overview
- Stihl products
- Features of the Stihl BR600 backpack blower
- Stihl BR600 backpack blower price
- Official review: Stihl BR600
Why we review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
Leaf blowers: Electric vs. gas
Obviously you have two options when selecting a leaf blower: electric or gas. They are worlds apart in just about every aspect. Electric leaf blowers tend to be cheaper, weaker, and only last a few seasons. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I used to have a Ryobi leaf blower attachment that came on their 3-in-1 tool kit. I have now gone through two of the leaf blower heads in which they start making a high pitch scraping noise when I am using it.
There are exceptions in the electric leaf blower world. One of those is the Ryobi 40V Brushless whisper series blower. It is quiet, extremely powerful, and built to last. It is, however, one of the most expensive electric blowers you can buy.
Gas blowers are superior in almost every way. They are super strong, last many seasons, and quickly get the job done. The reason you see every professional lawn care person using a backpack blower is because they work extremely well. Let’s dig into that more below.
Stihl’s reputation
Stihl is an industry leader when it comes to yard products, but is probably most known for chainsaws and backpack blowers. The BR600 backpack blower is one of their best selling products because it is something they have completely mastered.
The Stihl family moved to Virginia in the 1970s and opened up their first factory dedicated to a single chainsaw. They have continued to grow and pioneer the lawn care space, most notably with backpack blowers.
Stihl has a great reputation that many commercial landscapers rely on each day. Many residential owners will be more than pleased with their products.
Stihl also makes some other backpack blowers like the Stihl BR200 and BR350.
Stihl BR600 Backpack blower review: Features
Let’s check out some of the features that you need to look for when picking a blower and how the Stihl BR600 backpack blower matches up.
Power
When it comes to a leaf blower, probably the most important feature is power. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, worse than trying to blow a wet leaf off of your driveway and it just will not budge. I have experienced this so many times with my electric blower that I would get closer and closer to the leaf until I scraped it off the dang driveway with the tip of the blower.
Well, you won’t have to do any scraping with the BR600. This thing blows air at 238 mph. That is insanely fast. For perspective, the fastest hurricane wind speed ever recorded was 215 mph. You are walking around with a mini hurricane with the Stihl BR600 backpack blower.
Many blowers also boast a CFM, which is cubic feet per minute. Most electric blowers have a CFM in the 200-300 range. Some get as high as 700, but basically achieve this by attaching a tiny nozzle to the end to maximize the pressure.
At its normal function, the Stihl BR600 backpack blower has a CFM of 677. This is some serious power from a large nozzle blower. Needless to say, this blower is going to get the job done.
The BR600’s little brother, the BR350, is a slightly less expensive and less powerful version.
Usability of the Stihl BR600 backpack blower
The Stihl BR600 backpack blower was designed by someone who uses a blower several hours per week. For starters, the backpack is light – only 25 pounds. It sits consolidated into an ergonomic backpack that doesn’t have straps or extra parts flapping around. The BR600 is compact and solid, which I appreciate.
It has a handle that extends down from the right side where the air blows from. It is a flexible handle that can be easily navigated and maneuvered. This is a stark contrast to many electric blowers that have a long, hard, plastic tube that will not move. The beauty of this handle is that it also has all of the controls on it as well, like speed and cruise control and all of that.
The anti-vibration system on the Stihl BR600 backpack blower also helps you be comfortable. It is so hard to carry around one of these when it is loud, shaky, and hot. The BR600 has anti vibration technology that reduces the “jetpack” feeling like you are about to take off.
Durability and maintenance
This is by far one of the most important things I look for in a blower, now that I have burned through two of the electric ones. The Stihl has a serious engine and is not going to burn up like the cheap plastic electric ones.
The purge pump primer helps keep the carburetor primed with fuel, making the starting process much simpler without flooding the engine. This blower also has lower cost, easier to maintain “in-tank” fuel filters.
Reading through the manual, it is easy to tell the spark plug and filter change are simple maintenance activities that do not have to occur regularly. As this does require a 50:1 oil mixture, oil changes are not required.
Starting the BR600 requires the blower to be placed on the ground, which is kind of an awkward starting position. There are choke positions for cold starts and warm starts as well to help make this a 1-2 pull blower starting process.
Cost and value: Stihl BR600 price
The Stihl BR600 costs about $500. While this may sound expensive, it is a good value. If you consider the price of a decent electric blower at about $150, you will quickly realize how valuable the BR600 is. Considering that I have blown through two $150 blowers in the past few years, I can save considerable amounts of money with the BR600 due to its longevity.
If you use a blower for commercial purposes, this is a no-brainer. This blower will last you for years and has the comfort, ease of use, and power to get you through many, many seasons on the job.
Curious how this price stacks up? Check out our lawn equipment cost guide for 2023.
The official review: Stihl BR600 backpack blower review
| Feature | Stihl BR600 backpack blower | Other blowers |
| Difficulty to use | Easier to use cruise control function | Average usability |
| Durability | Very durable and backed by warranty | Average durability |
| Maintenance | Easiest to maintain | Easiest to maintain |
| Value | Highest value | Medium value |
| For lots <10,000 sq. ft | Highly recommended | Highly recommended |
| For lots <1 acre | Highly recommended | Recommended |
| For lots >1 acre | Highly recommended | Not recommended |
FAQs
Is Stihl BR600 a good backpack blower? ›
If you have a small yard, you'll do better to get a smaller Stihl blower. We recommend the Stihl BR 600 backpack blower for anyone who wants to do a pro job with an easy-to-use machine. The price is a little high, but if you've got the budget, it'll be worth your investment.
Which is better BR600 vs br700? ›The Stihl BR 700, providing a CFM of 912, outmatches the 677 CFM of the Stihl BR 600. Your leaf blowing experience will therefore be outstandingly improved with the Stihl BR 700, as it should be able to move considerably more leaves per minute. The Stihl BR 600's MPH of 238 beats the 197 MPH of the Stihl BR 700.
What fuel mixture for BR600? ›The 4-Mix engine requires an oil-gas mixture. Gas/oil ratio is 50:1.
What is the strongest backpack blower on the market? ›Most Powerful Backpack Leaf Blower
Echo's X-Series equipment boasts tremendous power and the Echo PB9010T is the most powerful backpack blower available. Its max airspeed is 220 MPH with airflow that can hit 1110 CFM using its 79.9cc engine.
Our winner: Stihl BR 600 vs ECHO PB-770H Backpack Blower
But for this battle, there has to be one winner: the Stihl BR 600. We chose the Stihl BR 600 because it is simply easier to use and more trustworthy than the ECHO PB-700H. The features that come with the BR 600 make it easier to start and easier to control.
BR 800 C-E - STIHL's most powerful blower.
What is the most powerful leaf blower on the market today? ›The Ego Power+ is one of the most powerful battery-powered options you'll find. This blower can fire air speeds up to 650 cubic feet per minute (CFM) or 180 miles per hour. Of course, you don't always need to blast leaves into oblivion: Toggle between speeds of 225 to 500 CFM with the use of a handy dial.
What is the strongest yard blower? ›1. Schröder SR-6400L. The Schröder SR-6400L gas-powered backpack leaf blower is our top pick for backpack blowers. With an impressive air volume of 920 CFM and airspeed of 230 MPH, it is powerful enough to handle heavily wooded yards over an acre.
What MPH is 580 cfm? ›Fitting into Stihl's professional line, the BGA 86 uses the AP-line of batteries, with the company recommending the AP300 6Ah battery for this model. This delivers up to 21 minutes of runtime.
How many cc is a BR 600? ›
stihl br 600 backpack blower, gas, 64.8 cc engine displacement, 2-stroke engine, 677 cfm air, gray/orange.
What is the difference between 40 1 and 50 1 fuel mixture? ›For a 50:1 ratio of gas to oil, use 2.6 fluid ounces of oil per gallon of gas. For a 40:1 mixture, use 3.2 fluid ounces of oil per gallon of gas.
How much oil do I mix with gas for a STIHL blower? ›All STIHL gasoline-powered equipment uses a 50:1 gas and oil mixture.
What is the best air-fuel mixture? ›The science behind air fuel ratio
The scientifically “perfect” mixture for normal petrol is 14.7:1, that is 14.7 times the mass of air to fuel. However, that doesn't mean a car should run at that. For optimum fuel economy 16-17:1 is usually best, leaner than that and the car will begin to misfire.
The RedMax EBZ8500 with an MPH of 206 slightly exceeds the 197 MPH of the Stihl BR 700. Thus, in comparison, the former expels air at a slightly higher speed, and should do a better job at blowing leaves on grass or lifting wet leaves and debris (acorns, etc.).
What leaf blowers do landscapers use? ›Walk-behind leaf blowers (also called push blowers) are designed for the heavy-duty landscaping jobs. They have the power to clear leaves and debris. If your yard has many trees, a walk-behind leaf blower is a preferrable option to a rake or even a hand-held blower.
Is higher CFM better for leaf blower? ›Because CFM measures a quantity of air, it's a great way of understanding how much material you can move with your leaf blower or how large an area you can clear in a period of time. The higher the CFM value, the more air your leaf blower will produce. You'll be able to clear a wider area in a shorter time.
What's more important in a leaf blower MPH or cfm? ›The higher the CFM, the larger the area your blower effects and the better you can keep objects moving. You need both to make the most efficient use of your time. If you have high MPH and low CFM, you can get pebbles, mulch, and other large debris to move, but it won't go very far away from the nozzle.
How do I choose a Stihl blower? ›- Property size.
- Type of material to blow.
- Noise restrictions or considerations.
- Special features on blower models.
STIHL Inc. is located on over 180 acres in Virginia Beach, with over one million square feet of manufacturing, warehouse, and office space. STIHL Inc. employs almost 3,000 people nationwide, with over 2,700 employed at its manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach.
What are the top 5 leaf blowers? ›
- Best Corded Blower: WORX WG520 Turbine 600 Corded Electric Leaf Blower.
- Best Cordless Runtime: EGO Power+ LB5804 Cordless Leaf Blower.
- Best Warranty: DEWALT DCBL722P1 XR Blower.
- Best Backpack Blower: Poulan Pro PR48BT Backpack Leaf Blower.
- Most Lightweight: Greenworks 24252 Cordless Leaf Blower.
Stihl was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in Waiblingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. US operations are based on Virginia Beach. STIHL Inc. manufactures over 260 model variations of handheld outdoor power equipment for sale in the U.S. and around the world.
What is the best blower in the world? ›Our overall top pick for the best leaf blower is the Ego Power+ Brushless Handheld Cordless Electric Leaf Blower due to its lightweight build, its long runtime, and its high power that rivals industrial-grade leaf blowers.
How many CFM should a good leaf blower have? ›Depending on its intended use, a cordless leaf blower with a CFM between 400-700 should be powerful enough to greatly ease your fall yard chores. If you have a small yard with little debris, choose one with 200-400 CFM.
How much should I spend on a leaf blower? ›The average cost of a leaf blower is $150, with most models costing $80 – $200. Gas leaf blowers are the most expensive, typically costing $125 – $400. Corded electric blowers are the cheapest, typically costing $30 – $100.
Are Stihl blowers good? ›Stihl is one of the top brands in lawn care equipment and they know blowers. From the powerful BR 800 Magnum leading the backpack blower class to battery-powered options, they consistently cover the needs of professionals and homeowners.
Does MPH matter in leaf blower? ›What leaf blower MPH is helpful for understanding is how quickly and forcefully your leaf blower can clear leaves and other debris away from you. The higher the MPH rating, the faster and more forcefully that material can be pushed away.
What is considered a powerful leaf blower? ›The most powerful electric leaf blower that consumers can buy blows wind at 600 CFM (cubic feet per minute). The most powerful gas-powered leaf blowers put out around 900 CFM.
Is a leaf blower faster than raking? ›If you want the job done fast, a leaf blower is the way to go. In our man-versus-machine rake-off, a handheld blower was twice as twice as fast as a rake. Backpack or wheeled blowers can clear a yard even faster, thanks to their added blowing power.
How many CFM do I need for 300 hp? ›How big of a CFM do I need? ›
To calculate the CFM for a gas stove, add the BTU ratings for all burners. Typically, 5,000 to 15,000 per burner is common, and a standard size four-burner stove will be about 40,000 BTU total. Divide your total by 100 to figure the CFM you need.
How much CFM is required for proper airflow? ›For continuous indoor air quality ventilation, a heat or energy recovery ventilator (HRV or ERV) should provide 0.35 air changes per hour. This calculation must consider the complete occupied volume of the house. This rate can be more easily calculated by allowing 5 CFM per 100 square feet of floor area.
What is the strongest battery-powered leaf blower on the market? ›The Greenworks Pro 80V Cordless Backpack Leaf Blower is the most powerful cordless leaf blower we tested. Most of the cordless leaf blowers we tested had an 18-volt, 20-volt, 40-volt, or 80-volt battery, and this one is at the top of the list with an 80-volt battery.
Can you leave STIHL batteries on the charger? ›Use only STIHL chargers to charge your STIHL battery and unplug the power cord afterwards. Store your battery in a closed, dry space in a secure location. For optimum service life and low self discharge, store your battery at temperatures from + 10°C to + 20°C. Ideally, you should store the battery in your basement.
How many times do you prime a STIHL blower? ›Press the manual fuel pump a minimum of 5 times. HANDHELD: Hold the blower firmly with your right hand and press against ground. Grab the starter handle with your left hand.
What kind of fuel does a Stihl backpack blower take? ›Use a minimum of 89 octane gasoline and always use fresh fuel. Only buy enough gasoline that you can easily use up within a two- month period. For air-cooled, two-cycle engines, use a quality mix oil that meets the engine manufacturer's recommendations.
What kind of gas do you put in a leaf blower? ›For most engines like lawnmowers, leaf blowers, snow blowers, and generators, experts recommend that you use unleaded gas with an 87-octane rating and a max of 10% ethanol. This is typically the regular gas you find at the pump. DO NOT use 15% ethanol or higher.
How many cc is a Stihl BR 800? ›The stoichiometric mixture for a gasoline engine is the ideal ratio of air to fuel that burns all fuel with no excess air. For gasoline fuel, the stoichiometric air–fuel mixture is about 14.7:1 i.e. for every one gram of fuel, 14.7 grams of air are required.
What happens if you use 50 1 gas in a 40 1 engine? ›Yes it will be fine. The actual ratio of the mix is 40 to 1 (40:1). Within limits you can always add extra oil to lower the ratio. Too much though and the spark plug can foul or the engine will smoke more than usual, too little can damage the engine.
What is the best two stroke mix ratio? ›
Most modern chainsaws, string trimmers, leaf blowers and other small-engine two-stroke equipment recommend a 50:1 oil mix ratio, but some recommend 40:1 and older two-stroke equipment might even call for 32:1.
What fuel does Stihl BR 600 use? ›...
Adjustable Support Harness.
| POWER SOURCE | Gas |
|---|---|
| MAX. AIR VELOCITY | 238 mph |
| AIR VOLUME AT NOZZLE | 677 cfm |
| ENGINE POWER | 3.8 bhp |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 47.3 oz. |
| Mixing Ratio (Gas:Oil) | Volume of Gasoline | Volume of 2-Cycle Oil |
|---|---|---|
| 32:1 | 1 US gal. (128 oz) | 4 oz. |
| 40:1 | 1 US gal. (128 oz) | 3.2 oz. |
| 50:1 | 1 US gal. (128 oz) | 2.6 oz. |
| 32:1 | 1 liter | 31.25 ml |
This ratio indicates how much fresh, regular unleaded gasoline (containing no more than 10% ethanol) to mix with how much oil. For all Remington 2-cycle products, the ratio is 40:1. This means you'll want to add 3.2 oz of oil to every gallon of gasoline.
Which air-fuel mixture gives good mpg? ›The 14.7:1 ratio is perfect for idling and light throttle cruising conditions as it's the most efficient mixture possible, meaning the best fuel economy and lowest emissions.
What gas is best for carburetor? ›If you perform regular maintenance on your equipment, (keep fresh fuel, clean the carburetor, etc.), then Regular octane gas will work just fine. You only need Mid-grade or Premium gas (89-octane or higher) if you have a vehicle with a high compression ratio, which will be noted in your owner's manual.
What is the perfect air-fuel ratio on a carburetor? ›The ideal chemical air-fuel ratio, in which all the fuel is oxidized, is 14.7:1, that is, 14.7 parts air to 1 part fuel. A “rich” condition means more fuel is being used, an air-fuel ratio less than 14.7, while a “lean” condition means less fuel is being used, an air-fuel ratio higher than 14.7.
Which STIHL blower is the most powerful? ›To tackle large properties and heavy debris, there is nothing like the clean-up power of the BR 800 C-E MAGNUM®.
Is STIHL a good brand leaf blower? ›Stihl is one of the top brands in lawn care equipment and they know blowers. From the powerful BR 800 Magnum leading the backpack blower class to battery-powered options, they consistently cover the needs of professionals and homeowners.
How many cc is the Stihl BR 600? ›STIHL BR 600 Backpack Blower with Low Emission Technology Specifications: Engine Displacement - 64.8 cc. Engine Power - 2.8 kW.
How long does a STIHL battery blower last? ›
Fitting into Stihl's professional line, the BGA 86 uses the AP-line of batteries, with the company recommending the AP300 6Ah battery for this model. This delivers up to 21 minutes of runtime.
Is STIHL blower better than Husqvarna? ›In comparison, the Stihl BG 50's engine displacement of 27.2cc is slightly outperformed by the 28cc of the Husqvarna 125B. This suggests that the latter consumes slightly larger amounts of fuel per stroke and will provide you with slightly more power. Each of these leaf blowers features a 2-cycle engine.
What brand is comparable to STIHL? ›STIHL competitors include Husqvarna and MTD Products.
What's the best leaf blower in the world? ›- Best Leaf Blower Overall: Worx Turbine.
- Best Electric Handheld Leaf Blower: Toro Powerjet F700.
- Best Battery Handheld Leaf Blower: RYOBI 40V HP Brushless Cordless Jet Fan Blower.
- Best Gasoline Handheld Leaf Blower: Troy-Bilt Full-Crank Engine Gas Leaf Blower.
BR= Blasgerät Rückentragbar= Backpack Blower. TS= Trennshleiffer= Cut Off Machine.
What does the C stand for in Stihl? ›To help you identify model features, look for these corresponding symbols: C = Comfort feature, E = Easy2Start™, Q = an additional chain braking system, R = wrap handle, and M = STIHL M-Tronic™.
How many cc is the Stihl MS 500i? ›