Stihl BR600 vs BR700 vs BR800 – What’s The Best Option?
So, you’re shopping around for leaf blowers, are you?
Well, if you’re researching these three, you’re in good company. Stihl’s range of BR600, BR700 and BR800 are excellent quality leaf blowers. But which one is the best, and why should you care?
Well, while all three will deliver great value for your purchase, each one does have a few subtle differences.
Today we’re going to look at exactly what those differences are, and how they will affect you and your purposes for buying a leaf blower in the first place.
An Overview of the Stihl BR600 vs BR700 vs BR800
Stihl is a well-known brand in the garden appliance sector as seen by the many reviews the product has received.
As many will tell you, you can’t go wrong with this brand. It’s well worth noting that the Stihl BR700 and BR800 are more recent models compared to the BR600.
All three possess the patented STIHL 4-MIX® engine.
That’s right… it’s actually the BR600 that helped to create the reputation Stihl leaf blowers have today.
For around 16 years, the Stihl BR600 has been used by professional garden companies, property managers, and private homeowners.
It’s no wonder that Stihl wants to perpetuate that reputation by systematically bringing in two more similar (but different) leaf blowers for you to choose from.
Let’s look at the differences between these three in the table down below.
Quick Facts Comparison Table
SPECS |
Stihl BR600 |
Stihl BR700 |
Stihl BR800 |
Weight |
21.6lbs |
23.4lbs |
25.79lbs |
Noise Output |
75dB |
75dB |
104-112dB |
Fuel Capacity |
47.3fl.oz. |
47.3fl.oz. |
67.6fl.oz. |
Engine |
64.8cc |
64.8cc |
79.9cc |
CFM & MPH |
677CFM and238MPH |
912CFM and197MPH |
912CFM and 239MPH |
Main Differences Between the Stihl BR600, BR700 and BR800
While the BR700 and BR800 boast a higher CFM than the BR600, the nozzles that come with each one respectively are quite different.
The lower CFM on the BR600 is mitigated by the narrower nozzle, and is therefore best suited for specific garden clean-ups.
Moving up from the BR600 to the BR800, the weight of each of these three leaf blowers is also different, getting slightly heavier by around 2lbs.
Despite this weight difference, it’s the BR800 that boasts a larger engine capacity compared to the BR600 and BR700.
One other main difference is the MPH between the BR600 & BR800 compared to the lower MPH of the BR700. And finally.
Let’s not forget how much louder the Stihl BR800 is compared to the other two. Yikes!
EKey Selling Points for Each Leaf Blower
BR600
- Excellent reputation: The BR600 has been around for around 16 years now, so its reputation speaks for itself.
- Light and relatively quiet: This model is the lightest between the three, and shares a low dB of only 75.
- Adaptable nozzle: The nozzle on the BR600 is narrower, making it ideal for garden bed clearing where the debris is light and dry.
BR700
- High CFM with wider nozzle: Watch Lawn Care Life’s video to see for yourself. Because the BR700 is a powerful blower with a wider nozzle, you get an excellent distribution of air over garden beds without disrupting the soil or gravel underneath.
- For the same reason, this model is also excellent for clearing hard surfaces such as pavement or driveways.
- The BR700 is also quieter than the BR800, with a sound output of 75dB.
BR800
- Wet debris leaf blower: The BR800 is powerful in terms of its CFM and its MPH. It works well with its attachment to clear hard surface areas of wet or dry deBRis. But may not always be ideal for garden beds.
- Larger fuel capacity: The BR800 will appeal to garden service professionals because of its larger fuel tank.
Which Leaf Blower is Cheaper and Why?
The Stihl BR600 is the cheapest of the three options, and this is probably based on the fact that it’s an established product with thousands of sales behind its name.
What is perhaps more unexpected is the price comparison of the other two.
The BR700 is actually more expensive than the BR800. The reason why can only be speculated, but it’s probably because the BR800 is more of an industrial grade leaf blower, and therefore sells more units than the BR700.
Ease of Use: Weight and Handling of the Stihl BR600, BR700 and BR800
We found that the BR600 is by far the easiest one to handle out of the three.
It’s lighter, has a low noise output, yet at the same time delivers the blow power necessary to clear a large backyard.
The other two leaf blowers have been designed to also lend convenience to the user, and are excellent options if you’re able to carry approximately 24lbs of weight for long periods of time.
A Power Comparison: CFM & MPH
Here’s where the differences really get interesting, because the BR800 is essentially a combination of the best of its counterparts.
With a 912CFM and 239MPH, it delivers everything you’d expect from an industrial leaf blower.
The BR600 possesses a superior MPH of 238 compared to the BR700, which has 197MPH. But the BR700 does have a stronger CFM of 912 compared to the BR600’s CFM of 677.
Where Do they Get their Power?
All three of these leaf blowers get their power from the infamous STIHL 4-MIX® engine design, which has become synonymous with “lightweight with good lugging power” across the world.
Attachment Guide for the Stihl BR600 vs BR700 vs BR800
The attachments for each of the leaf blowers in question are probably what distinguishes them most.
While the BR600 gives off a reduced amount of CMF, it still manages to pack a punch because of the narrower nozzle.
This makes it perfect for private garden owners who want to clear dry debris off their lawn or hard surface.
The BR800 on the other hand has been specifically designed to give off a high amount of blowing power while covering a larger area with its wider nozzle.
This makes it great for clearing wet or dry debris over larger areas.
The BR700 is also unique in its design, because with its lower MPH and wider nozzle. This invariably means that large areas of dry debris, are no match for this one.
Pros and Cons of the Stihl BR600 vs BR700 vs BR800
Stihl BR600 Pros and Cons:
PROS |
CONS |
High MPH |
Smaller fuel tank |
Cheapest |
No vacuum capability |
Relatively quiet |
Lower CFM |
Lighter weight |
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Stihl BR700 Pros and Cons:
PROS |
CONS |
Relatively quiet |
Lower MPH |
Higher CFM |
Slightly heavier |
Wider nozzle |
Most expensive |
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Stihl BR800 Pros and Cons:
PROS |
CONS |
Moderately priced |
Noisiest |
Highest mix of MPH & CFM |
Heaviest |
Larger engine capacity |
|
Nozzle for wet or dry debris |
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Which One Should You Buy?
If you’re a private homeowner looking for a good leaf blower, you can’t go wrong with the BR600.
It’s light, quiet, and costs relatively less than its two counterparts. But we’d also encourage you to consider the BR800 if you find that wet debris is more of a regular occurrence on your property.
Final Assessment
It’s worth noting that the BR700 is specifically designed for extremely large areas, but bear in mind that it handles dry debris better than wet.
So ultimately, the choice is up to you. But we were super happy with the BR600 as the best all-rounder of the three.