Blowers have been one of the most intriguing OPE tools to try and get a solid grip on since they hit the lithium-ion stage. The nature of the tool demands significant battery capacity in order to get performance and run time that meet the needs of Pro-minded homeowners and commercial crews. The handheld EGO LB6500 56V blower exceeded those expectations with aย highly portable 650 CFM powerhouse. Now, product managers and engineers have turned their attention toward the commercial and large residential market with the new EGO 56V backpack blower.
This one movesย 600 cfm of airโthatโs 600 cubic feet per minute. And it does it at 145 mph. Lest you think theย EGO backpack blower is just a regular blower with a remote batteryโkeep reading.
Backpack blowers are in the early stages of development in this segment. They were able to get the run time up to 45 minutes by using a pair of 7.5 amp-hour batteries. However, the design suffers from excessive weightย and lower performance than most Pros require. Several other manufacturers have products in the works, and perhaps weโll learn more after the Equip Expo in Kentucky.
Editorโs Note: Check out our best backpack leaf blower article to get our top picks.
EGO 56V Backpack Blower First Impressions
The EGO 56V backpack blower operates at the same speed, 145 mph, but with up to 33% greater air volume.ย Withย this blower pushing 600 CFM, itโs a wonder how they managed to keep the weight down to less than 13 pounds. EGO alsoย paid attention to the ergonomic considerations of users by adding a chest strap and hip belt. Thatโs really going to help users who have to strap this thing on for hours each day.
EGO getsย greater performance from the 56V backpack blower, in part, by eliminating the air resistance found in a curved tube design. At first glance, the inline design of the EGO backpack blower begs the question as to why they even bothered to make it a backpack in the first place. After all, it almost seems like itโs just a more powerful version of their handheld blower.
The Waist BeltโA Mandatory Feature
When you get the EGO backpack blower adjusted to fit your back, it all falls into place. If youโve ever been backpacking, the hip strap will be a familiar sight. Those of us who do a lot of hikingย wantย to transfer as muchย weight from our shoulders and back to our hips as possible.
The frame of the EGO 56V backpack blower neatly holds theย included 5.0Ahย battery. You can also use theย larger 7.5Ah model if you need more run-time. A flexible tube runs to the blower motor housing, utilizing top-oriented joystick controls to replicate the traditional backpack blower feel.
Backpack or Handheld Design?
Given the simplicity of the rig,ย could EGO have stuck with a handheld design on this unit?ย Perhaps, but it would have missed the mark for its intended user base. Bearing the weight on your hips is a big advantage for users doing moreย than just a few minutes of work at a time. It also leaves your right arm available for controlling the airflow without fatiguing it. Theย design works wellย whether youโre blowing leaves on a large homestead or pulling cleanup duty on a commercial lawn crew.
Editorโs Note on Air Volume vs. Speed:ย When examining blowersโwhether backpack or handheldโyou need to understand the distinction between volume and airspeed. Think of air volume (cfm) as the amount ofย workย you can get done with the tool. A high airspeed is what allows you to get stubbornย or stuck material off the ground. That includes wet leaves, piles of dirt, etc. You need both, but cfm is probably the more significant of the two numbers since itโs what does the majority of the work.
EGO 56V Backpack Specs
- Model: EGO LB6000
- Brushless motor
- Variable speed throttle w/lock-on
- Run time: 120 minutes (low), 22 minutes (high), 15 minutes (turbo)
- Air speed: 145 MPH
- Air volume: 320 CFM (Low) to 600 CFM (Turbo)
- Noise:ย 64 dB SPL
- Battery: 56V 5.0 Ah Arc-Lithium, 280Wh
- Adjustable harness with waist belt
- Weight: 13 lbs.
- Warranty: 5 years
- Includes: Backpack blower, 56V 5.0Ah battery, charger, user manual
What About the EGO Backpack Blower Performance?
When we visited the Chervon factory inย China, we took the EGO 56V backpack blower inside for a test drive. We used it toย blow around a room full of 3 inchesย of wet sawdust.ย Back home, I tested it againย on a residential home and around the PTR Shop. Havingย reviewed over a dozen handheld and backpack blowers (including two otherย EGO models), Iโve developed a good feel for these units.
When usingย the EGO backpack blower,ย I quickly found a very natural position for both the backpack frame and the vertical handheld controls. Moving grass and dirtย at high speed was easier than I expected, given my experience with other cordless blowers. In China,ย Iย easily blew a solid 4-foot path throughย wet sawdust. Even inย more densely packed, wetter sections, a solid burst in Turbo mode helped the EGO backpack blower break up the mass nicely. Back home, getting moist clippings off driveways and sidewalks shouldnโtย prove to be an issue.
EGO 56V Blower Power and Runtime
Run time is on par with what weโre used to seeing. You should be able to get at leastย 15ย minutes inย High powerย fromย one 5.0 amp-hour battery. Youโll getย more than I care to test in one sitting in Low (EGO claims over 100 minutes). Of course, it only gets better with one of the EGOย 7.5 amp-hour batteries.
In our testing,ย the EGO 56V backpack blower demonstratedย more power than weโve experienced in any other lithium-ion blower. While I think itโs proven itself capable for the homeowner with acreage to maintain,ย itโs in the middle of the pack with respect to gas-powered backpack blowers. Compared to a commercial model like theย ECHO PB-770T backpack blower, it will come up a tad short, but itโs close. It also doesnโt require ear protectionโฆor gasโand thatโs something.
The 600cfm EGO 56V backpack blower is pushing the marketย as far as practical specs go. Pros may want toย get closer to 200 MPH before they jump on board. At that point,ย theyโll be forced to acknowledge that a Li-ion blower isย at the top end of what gas-powered blowers can achieve.
Hereโs a video of the EGO 56V backpack blower making quick work of some wet sawdust:
Conclusion
With each new model EGO has produced, theyโve pushed the limit farther than anyone else at the time. Just when someone else appears to catch up or surpass them, they jump right back up to the lead, leaving a pretty substantial gap to second place.
Now theyโve done it again.
