Need help choosing a backpack blower and chainsaw

[AV8OR]

Last spring I bought the RedMax EBZ8500 and it absolutely blows.

http://www.redmax.com/products/blowers/ebz8500/

I run nothing but the canned gas I get at Home Depot though all my 2 cycle machines now days. I'm paying $25 a gallon for gasoline but I don't have nearly the issues with the lawn equipment I used to have.

 

[eeprete]

Hard to go wrong with Husqvarna or Stihl.

Bought a Stihl FS110 Weedeater over the summer and have no complaints.

Bought a Husqvarna 150BT backack blower from Northern tool for $250 after coupon because I couldnt justify spending twice that on a Stihl. Its great. Actually makes me look forward to dealing with all the oak leaves that are still falling.

My wife just bought me a Husqvarna 150BT blower from, yes, the big blue box store. I was so skeptical I didn't open the box, until I had raked and mowed for about 3 hours already. I opened the box, assembled it, got it running, and wow, does this thing have plenty of power. WAY better than the Troy-Bilt I put to the curb that originally retailed for 80% of the price of the 150BT. I figured the next 30 days would give me plenty of test time with it but I think I am keeping this.

 

[cashishift]

Stihl for both

 

[NJ Marty]

I used to work for a landscaper before going out on my own and I have used them all. Echo is the worst (unless they made some great strides over the last few years) and Red max and Shindaiwa are almost as good as each other but the Shindaiwa is the best blower in my opinion. They are pricey but well worth it, right around $500 for the 802. Have had mine for 5 years now no problems prob because I use the echo power blend oil. If you can spend the extra $ for the best, it will be like watching an old black and white tv versus a flat screen.

 

[wild cowboy]

Echo is the worst (unless they made some great strides over the last few years)

apparently they have, a lot of the yard guys have started using the Echo blowers, look around your neighborhood, and it is not due to price, the ones they use are about $400-$500 at Home Depot

the other one I see a lot in professional use is the high end Makita

 

[NJ Marty]

apparently they have, a lot of the yard guys have started using the Echo blowers, look around your neighborhood, and it is not due to price, the ones they use are about $400-$500 at Home Depot

Im sure they have, the ones I remember from 3-4 years back were not so great, so bad they must have realized they needed to improve or loose all commercial business, they will always sell to the home owners. I always look at the commercial guys when Im on the road and its Red max #1 by a big margin then Shindaiwa and I am starting to see the scapers using stihls not many but some and I think I saw one or two crews with echos.

 

[sseddon641]

If it was me I would go with either husky or stihl as those are hands down the top two name brands. I would then base my decision between those two by which one has a dealer close by and if they both do then which local dealer is better/ easier to deal with.

 

[Screwcompressortech]

I have a Redmax Ebz5150 and Stihl ms170. Couldn't be happier with either.