Handheld leaf blowers are fine for most domestic clearance work, such as tidying loose leaves from lawns and driveways in autumn, but anyone faced with regularly having to clear large quantities of debris will find themselves wishing for something a little better suited to the job. Homeowners with large gardens or anyone engaged in commercial landscaping work may therefore want to try ECHO’s PB-256ESL on for size. A compact and lightweight backpack blower, the PB-256ESL offers a perfect balance between powerful performance, comfort and ease of use to make even heavy workloads eminently manageable.

The superb practicality of the PB-256ESL is attributable in large part to its ergonomically designed backpack harness. It might not seem like such a feature could significantly improve performance in comparison to a handheld blower, but by distributing the weight of the machine more evenly and absorbing any excess engine vibration the harness makes it easier to work for longer without any discomfort or strain. As such it also makes it easier to tackle challenging workloads more efficiently, while additionally offering the freedom of movement required for working on rough or uneven ground. With adjustable straps to ensure a perfect fit for any user, this relatively simple feature therefore makes a world of difference in practice and explains why the vast majority of professional users favour backpack blowers.

Moreover, as the PB-256ESL only weighs 6.05kg (sans blower pipe) it is one of the more manoeuvrable leaf blowers available on the market today. This, along with a flexible blower tube and a dual handle system (with the blower tube on one side and a control wand with the throttle switch on the other side), further boosts the precision with which one can work with this admirable machine, thus ensuring an immaculately tidy finish when clearing leaves, twigs, dirt and other loose debris from lawns and hard surfaces. With a maximum airflow of up to 558m³/h at speeds of 59m/s, the PB-265ESL is also capable of delivering enough pushing power to handle heavier clearance work.

This pleasing clout is supplied via a cleverly designed 25.4cc two-stroke petrol engine. Built with ECHO’s Power Boost Vortex^™ technology to improve combustion, this engine enhances the performance of the PB-265ESL while also offering greater fuel economy and lower emission levels than many comparable engines. As a result the PB-265ESL can easily compete with blowers which appear to be significantly more powerful on paper, while also remaining reassuringly user-friendly. A fuel tank capacity of 0.66 litres, meanwhile, provides enough run time to take on most domestic clearance jobs without having to stop and refuel.

With an optional rain gutter attachment also available to enable cleaning of gutters from a comfortable (and safe) standing position, the PB-265ESL is thus a very handy piece of equipment to have around. Moreover, with ECHO’s usual high build standards and the offer of either a five year domestic warranty or a two year commercial warranty with every machine you can be assured of a long and reliable service life and a pleasingly tidy garden all year round.