EGO Backpack Blower Review + Comparison [600 CFM, 145 MPH, 1020 M3 Air/Hr]

It was simply a part of a manufacturing business that appealed to international audiences when it first began in 1993, but ever since then, EGO has grown to become one of the largest and best-known tool manufacturers.

This is our EGO backpack blower review, and we’ll go right through its features, power, and construction – as well as compare it with some of its competitors, including Greenworks, DeWalt, and Ryobi.

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EGO has developed a solid reputation for many reasons, and one of them is their attention to the key details of products. EGO produces over 10 million units each year and sells them in at least 65 countries worldwide. 

EGO puts a strong emphasis on cleaner, greener energy when they create new products. They want to ensure that you have a hassle-free experience when you tidy up your garden or take on a more complicated landscaping task.

What’s not to like about that?

EGO offers a battery leaf blower with the power of a gas-powered one. Check out this comparison between the EGO backpack leaf blower and the Husqvarna gas blower:

Let’s discuss the benefits of one product in particular, the EGO 56-Volt Backpack Blower, and we will break down both the positives and not-so-positives of this tool. 

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EGO Backpack Blower Review

 

Features

Power

The EGO 56V is a cordless leaf blower that features a maximum air volume rating of 600 cubic feet per minute (CFM), and 145 MPH of maximum airspeed.

The blower delivers its impressive power through a brushless, battery-operated motor. No cords to deal with, and no gas to fill up.  

It can blower over 1020 m3 of air per hour – that’s pretty phenomenal! This is in Turbo Boost mode, which you can activate with a switch. 

Battery

 

This leaf blower runs on a single 7.5 Ah 56-Volt ARC Lithium-ion Power+ battery, which will allow you to work for as much as 180 minutes of run time in a single session on low speed, if it is completely charged. 

The battery isn’t included, though!

EGO recommends the 7.5 Ah battery, which you can buy here. You can use any EGO battery in this blower, however, so you can switch between all of your EGO tools if you’re running them on the 5 Ah, for example.

Just be aware that a smaller battery won’t last as long as the recommended 7.5 Ah.  

The technology that is used by EGO is called Power+, and it is based on a high-end patented ARC Lithium design. A third row of cells is utilized by this design to achieve high-voltage performance.

In other words, don’t be fooled by this leaf blower’s 56-Volt listing. It is more powerful than you think.

Handling

Most of the unit that makes up this EGO backpack blower is well-distributed, which means you can operate it without any hassle on most occasions. Having most of the weight on your back takes the pressure off your arms and shoulders a lot.

I’m sure you know what I mean if you’ve been using a hand-held blower!

The tube contains a mounted throttle, which frees up your left hand. When you get a feel for the blower, you may get the impression that it feels like a rocket launcher. (Okay, that is an exaggeration!)

One question that came up a lot is whether you can disconnect the backpack to use it with other EGO tools.

The answer?

You cannot, unfortunately.

If you’re wondering whether it comes with a flat nozzle – the answer to that is also, no…

Weight

The shipping weight of this product is listed as 28.9 pounds, but in actuality, the leaf blower weighs 12.57 pounds without the battery, and 19 lbs with.

While this is still a far cry from being considered the lightest backpack leaf blower on the market, it also isn’t the heaviest. 

Speed

Here is a great reason why you would consider getting this leaf blower. Its maximum air volume rating is 600 CFM, as already stated, but the speed control on this device is variable.

All you have to do is turn the knob on the side of the handle. This means you can adjust the speed anywhere from 320 to 600 CFM. 

You’ll get a maximum air velocity of 145 MPH!

Run Time

As long as you operate the blower on its lowest speed setting, you will be able to squeeze 180 minutes of run time out of its 7.5 Ah ARC Lithium-ion battery.

This offers you immense amounts of help especially if you have a big yard that needs a lot of debris to be cleaned up. 

Turbo mode will significantly reduce the amount of time you can use it – but then, it’s moving over 1020 m3 of air per hour – how long do you need?!

Noise

EGO themselves state that this blower is precisely 8 times quieter than gas-powered backpack blowers.

Other user reviewers state that the use of hearing protection, such as earmuffs or earplugs, is not required when using this blower. If you are sensitive to loud noises then you are in for a pleasant surprise! 

A major contributor to this blower being a quiet device is its electric power source along with the tube-mounted motor, which restricts the bulk of its noise to the area of your hips.

Many gas-powered backpack leaf blowers purposely mount the motor to the backpack, an area that is much closer to your ears. EGO’s blower has a backpack that only carries the single 56-Volt battery, which is proven not to bother your ears. 

Assembly

The Backpack Itself

Let’s talk about the backpack itself, shall we?

When strapping this thing onto your back, it should make a seamless fit. If you have a long history with backpacks for any purpose, then the hip strap may be a familiar look to you. If you regularly hike outdoors, you would want to transfer a lot of weight from your shoulders and back to your hips.

In the case of using a leaf blower, you need the pressure of the blower’s weight taken off your shoulders and back. Otherwise, you won’t be able to endure long leaf-blowing sessions. EGO does this beautifully with a wide hip strap and distributed weight. 

Warranty

You will be pleased to know that the EGO 56V backpack blower has a 5-year warranty.

However, it helps to read the fine print of the warranty’s details because it may not cover every part of the leaf blower. 

EGO Backpack Blower Weaknesses

The not-so-positives of the EGO 56V backpack blower must be mentioned.

For starters, you will get no cruise control feature with this blower, which means that you can’t have it operate on its own. While this isn’t a deal-breaker, it is certainly something that could have been added.

Another weakness of this blower is the fact that it has a relatively low run time of 30 minutes when it is used at its highest speed setting.

For any power tool you use, it has to remain reliable for a sustainable amount of time. If any tool consistently peters out on you after a few minutes, then that is a potential red flag to raise.

One more thing – Turbo Mode cannot operate on its own. If you like using it at the highest power setting, you’ll have to keep the button pressed. There’s no setting to have it in Turbo Mode all the time. 

The last weakness is the price. 

This has always been a nitpick of mine when it comes to power tools, but there are many instances where some tools are simply overpriced compared to others. There is absolutely no doubt that EGO has made an awesome backpack leaf blower that truly rivals powerful gas leaf blowers.

However…

The price reflects the quality. Yep, you get what you pay for, but you WILL be paying for it with the EGO backpack blower. The tool itself costs around $200, then you’ll still have to get a battery and a charger, unless you’ve already got those. 

Here are some of the EGO batteries and chargers:

The Competition

The EGO 56V backpack blower isn’t the only leaf blower in town, and inevitably competitors will rise to challenge brands like EGO.

Comparing the features of the EGO backpack blower with the rest of the pack will be key in whether you decide to buy the 56V backpack blower or not.

Let’s introduce those competitors, shall we?

Greenworks 80-Volt Cordless Backpack Leaf Blower

I think we all knew Greenworks would appear here to challenge EGO, right?

Greenworks made their own cordless backpack leaf blower and it is incredibly lightweight! How does 8.12 pounds sound? Its motor runs at a maximum speed of 145 MPH, which is the same maximum speed as EGO’s leaf blower.

Its airflow capacity delivers a solid 580 CFM, which is only 20 CFM short of EGO’s delivery.

Like the EGO backpack blower, the Greenworks 80V blower has its own variable speed trigger with a turbo button, and its Lithium-ion battery is backed up by a 40-minute rapid charger. 

Among the perks of this blower is its metal debris scraper on the very end of the tube, which helps guide you past any unforeseen metal obstacles.

However, the real kicker is Greenworks including a cruise control for their backpack leaf blower, as opposed to the EGO Backpack Blower not having such a mode. 

There are drawbacks to note with the Greenworks 80V blower.

Even if you have a small yard that’s under 1 acre, it may take you 2.5 charges to finish the whole yard.

For example, you start with 10 minutes of leaf blowing and then you alternate back and forth with 36-minute charges. Another drawback could lie in the trigger. If you press or release it in frequent succession the trigger may stop engaging altogether.

Yikes!

Ryobi 40-Volt Cordless Backpack Leaf Blower

Don’t let this contender’s lack of voltage fool you!

The Ryobi 40-Volt backpack leaf blower delivers in speed just as well as the EGO Backpack Blower as it runs at a maximum speed of 145 MPH.

The Ryobi 40V Blower also delivers just a bit better than EGO in reach as it can blow at 625 CFM. Ryobi’s backpack blower comes with a 40V 5 Ah Lithium-ion battery that is compatible with more than 40 tools in the Ryobi 40V family.

The blower itself weighs 21.1 pounds, so it won’t be too heavy to carry on your back, but it’s heavier than the EGO and the Greenworks. 

The cool thing about the Ryobi 40V blower is that it has 2 battery ports. While it only needs one battery to work, adding a second battery to the other port will give the blower a longer runtime to work with.

If you don’t use its turbo setting, you can steadily work around 45 minutes in a single session with one battery inserted.

We are conceivably talking about 90 minutes of work being done to your yard if this leaf blower has 2 batteries inserted, and that’s a big plus in my book!

The only concerning thing about this blower is the battery and perhaps monitoring its lifespan. Multiple reviews have started that if only one battery is used for a session, that battery will last for only 20 minutes.

DeWalt 40-Volt Backpack Blower

If you are looking for a backpack leaf blower that is packed with power, then you would have a solid candidate with DeWalt’s creation.

Running on a single 7.5 Ah Lithium-ion battery, this backpack blower has a brushless mower that will not harm your ears in any way. In fact, it distributes a low noise level every time you use it.

How does 63 decibels sound? 

The amount of air volume this backpack blower has is impressive as it delivers 450 CFM at 142 MPH. The difference between this blower and the EGO 56V Backpack Blower in regards to air volume is razor-thin.

There are two battery wells for you to insert batteries, which is very helpful. This means you can add a second battery for an extended runtime if you feel you need to cover more ground. 

Should anything happen to this backpack blower, DeWalt has it covered with a very convenient 3-year limited warranty and a 2-year free service plan.

Now, what is not so convenient about this blower is that its batteries can take some time to recharge, and its accompanying battery charger doesn’t come with a wall mount bracket.

Other products like the DeWalt 40V hedge trimmer will include one when you purchase it.

Also, if you are left-handed and want to change the blower hose to the left-hand position, then you will get no help here, but I’m pretty sure the EGO doesn’t have this feature either. 

One of these days, we’ll have to compare EGO’s products with Kobalt’s! Did you read our Kobalt 80V Self-Propelled Mower review? 

Breakdown: EGO vs The Competition

Here is a detailed breakdown of how well the EGO 56V Backpack Blower fares against the highlighted competitors.

You can make a close comparison between all backpack leaf blowers in some categories, though there are clear differences in others. 

Why a Backpack Leaf Blower?

Don’t you hate it when you have piles of leaves accumulating in your yard throughout the Fall season? Isn’t it rather unpleasant when you notice excess grass that you just cut in a lawn mowing session stick around in your yard?

I love using mine for getting dust of pathways and the veranda, and even spiderwebs underneath the house!

Those are just some of the reasons why it’s great to have a leaf blower in general.

The main reason why backpack leaf blowers are great is because of their sheer convenience. Instead of having to pull around a lumbering chunk of equipment that’s called an engine like it’s a vacuum cleaner, you have a lightweight engine strapped to your back that will give you no pressure.

Keep in mind that all leaf blowers, backpack and handheld, deliver serious power when you use them, so you will have to get a feel for the leaf blower you are handling.

If you have a history of being easily blown back (no pun intended, seriously…) by heavy-duty equipment, then a backpack leaf blower may not be the right choice for you.

However, if you have made it this far you will be glad to get acquainted with the EGO 56-Volt Backpack Blower. 

Do We Recommend the EGO Backpack Blower?

Heck yes!

The only downside, really, is its price. Other than the price, this is an awesome backpack blower. 

When it comes to features, this backpack leaf blower proves to be as serviceable as they come in the market.

It fares well against the competition and gives you enough power to get through a single session if your yard is over 1/2 an acre in size. 

Buy the EGO backpack blower on Amazon!

Do you own the EGO backpack blower? Another backpack blower? What are your experiences with it?

Do you own one of the listed competitors? Do you like backpack leaf blowers? Let us know in the comment section below!

Last update on 2021-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API