Review of the Husqvarna Professional Gas Backpack Blower
As of this writing, there are 829 customer comments and 115 answered questions for the Husqvarna Professional Gas Backpack Blower. I have read the customer feedback and then condensed the results into this review. I hope this review helps you when shopping for the best leaf blower to help maintain your yard.
Best Features
- Padded harness and hip belt are shaped to fit the contours of the operator
- Variable speed throttle with cruise control
- Offset handle makes the blow forces easier to control
- The engine design reduces harmful exhaust emissions by up to 60%
- Dampeners between the engine and chassis will effectively reduce vibrations
Item Specifics
The Husqvarna Professional Gas Backpack Blower is a gas-powered, backpack-style leaf blower. It is designed to be worn on your back so you don’t have to hold all that weight in your hand. This leaf blower weighs 22.5 pounds, but because it is designed to be worn on your back, it does not feel as heavy. The engine design reduces harmful exhaust emissions by up to 60% and increases fuel efficiency by up to 20%.
This leaf blower’s offset handle makes the blow forces easier to control by preventing the arm from being pulled downwards. It features dampeners between the engine and chassis, which will effectively reduce vibrations. The idling speed of this leaf blower is 2200 rpm. The Husqvarna Professional Gas Backpack Blower features a padded harness and hip belt. They are shaped to fit the contours of the operator. The variable speed throttle with cruise control can be set for easier handling.
Heavy, but Not Too Bad with Straps
The included strap is designed to lighten the load of this gas-powered leaf blower. And that’s a good thing because at 22.5 pounds this is one of the heavier leaf blowers on the market. If you have problems carrying heavy things, you may want to go with an electric or battery operated leaf blower because they will be much lighter. But the strap will definitely make a big difference if you chose this one. A customer commented, “Product works great! Seems heavier than I thought it would be, but once on board, I didn’t notice the weight. Cleaning the beds under the oaks trees was the primary purpose of this purchase and after several years of raking and using a handheld blower, I can assure you that this purchase was well worth it.”
Harder to Start Than Electric and Battery Operated (And Shoulder Strap May Slip)
In general gas-powered machines are usually harder to start than electric or battery operated machines. The Husqvarna Professional Gas Backpack Blower is no exception. But with that being said, this is a durable, and powerful leaf blower. One customer had this to say, ” I have always thought the blower was a bit difficult to get started, usually taking 3-4 pulls, but one thing is certain: It is repeatedly 3-4 pulls for EVERY use over the 5 years I’ve owned it. So, while I wish I had the unit that takes 1-2 pulls, it is what it is. I use this blower to move every leaf on my property during the fall, which usually happens on every weekend over 4-6 weeks. It is at full-throttle over much of the 2 hours it generally takes to round them all up on each go-round. Air volume is excellent, moving 2-3′ tall piles of (dry) leaves easily. I’m a big guy and the shoulder harness tends to roll off my shoulders if I don’t improvise a bit, tying across my chest. Otherwise, comfort is very tolerable, even over 2 hours. So far, except for the tube slipping off where it’s clamped (loose), I’ve not had one failure. My outstanding rating is due in large part to the reliability and value. I recommend this unit.”
This 350BT May Not Be Much More Powerful Than the 150BT
Some people felt that this 350BT wasn’t any more powerful than the less expensive 150BT. So if you are looking at saving some money, you may want to consider the 150BT. A customer who had both said, “So I got the 350BT thinking I would see what the difference is in performance considering the 350BT is SUPPOSED to have more volume but a lower MPH….When everyone asks what the difference between the 350BT and the 150BT I can tell you there is ZERO difference!! IF the air tubes are supposed to be larger on the 350BT they are NOT!! I just compared to my old 150BT and they are identical, interchangeable! I can’t tell any difference in performance either..MAYBE the 350 is a TINY bit quieter? Maybe just my imagination because I saw the dB levels are lower on the box, but probably not even noticeable. All I can say is get whichever is cheaper at the time, they are the same damn machine in every spec, other than the sticker on the back of it. That’s my 2 cents… If I were blindfolded and handed a 150 then a 350 to use, I bet I couldn’t tell the difference!”
Extended Warranty Is Tricky
A customer commented that in order to have the extended warranty honored, you will need to purchase their fuel on the same invoice. This is definitely something to be aware of if you plan on buying the extended warranty. The customer said, “If you’re purchasing the leaf blower and fuel with the hopes of getting the extended warranty, keep in mind that if both things aren’t fulfilled by Amazon, the orders will be split and will appear on different invoices. According to Husqvarna’s terms for the extended warranty, both the leaf blower and the fuel must appear on the same invoice, otherwise, the extended warranty will not be honored. I haven’t needed any warranty service, so I can’t say if Husqvarna would deny the claim, but chances are they’d deny it because the purchase didn’t follow their terms (even though they were both part of the same order).”
Loud; You Should May Want to Use Earplugs
Because The Husqvarna Professional Gas Backpack Blower is a gas-powered leaf blower it is going to be much louder than your average electric or battery operated leaf blower. For safety reasons, you should protect your ears with earplugs. A customer commented, “Also, it IS a large powerful gas blower that goes on your back, and it is loud. If the sound is a concern, my neighbor has a small electric blower that is probably 1/3 as loud. I bought the Husqvarna 531300089 Professional Headband Hearing Protectors, and can listen to music with earbuds on a normal setting.”
Good Price
For what you are getting The Husqvarna Professional Gas Backpack Blower is priced well. In general gas-powered leaf blowers will cost more than battery operated or electric leaf blowers. But for what you get this one is priced well. A customer commented, “For the price of this blower you cannot beat the power, and the quality/comfort has to be equal or better than top of the line models.”
Powerful
The majority of comments about this leaf blower were positive pertaining to power. If you are looking for power, your chances are greater with a gas-powered leaf blower over an electric or battery-operated leaf blower. Here is one of those comments pertaining to power, “It has great power. I can clean gutters easily, clear large amounts of grass clippings and leaves…I have 16 acres of trails and a couple acres I keep manicured. I look forward to clearing my decks and side walk in the Winter with it. If you’re on the fence…pick this one for sure.”
Pros
- Good price
- Included strap helps you carry it
- Powerful
Cons
- Loud
- Heavy to carry
- Extended warranty has tricky rules attached
Husqvarna Professional Gas Backpack Blower Conclusion
The Husqvarna Professional Gas Backpack Blower is designed to be worn on your back so you don’t have to hold all of that weight in your hands. This leaf blower weighs 22.5 pounds. The engine design reduces harmful exhaust emissions by up to 60% and increases fuel efficiency by up to 20%.The offset handle makes the blow forces easier to control by preventing the arm from being pulled downwards. It features dampeners between the engine and chassis to reduce vibrations. The idling speed is 2200 rpm. The Husqvarna Professional Gas Backpack Blower features a padded harness and hip belt shaped to fit the contours of the operator. The variable speed throttle with cruise control can be set for easier handling. For the price, The Husqvarna Professional Gas Backpack Blower is a great buy. It is powerful, and durable according to customers who bought it.
Common Questions
Here are some top questions that I found for people considering buying the Husqvarna Professional Gas Backpack Blower.
- Can I move the throttle and tube to the left hand? Unfortunately, the throttle and tube cannot be moved to the left for those who are left-handed.
- Are the shoulder straps adjustable? Yes, they are adjustable.
- How much does this weigh? The Husqvarna Professional Gas Backpack Blower weighs 22.5 pounds. Although this is a very heavy leaf blower, it is not too heavy feeling because of the straps.
Related Article: Best Leaf Blower Options to Help Keep Your Yard Well Maintained
