ECHO PB-755ST Backpack Gas Leaf Blower review

The PB-755ST keeps the PB-755 output and moves the speed control to the tube

ECHO’s PB-755ST is a 63.3 cc gasoline backpack blower with a tube-mounted variable-speed trigger and throttle-position lever. The PB-755SH counterpart moves the throttle to the operator’s hip. That is the practical distinction to start with: choose the ST if you want the trigger at the hand that aims the tube, not because the suffix has more published airflow. ECHO’s current U.S. page lists 651 CFM and 233 mph; the shared PB-755S H/T operator’s manual and official support table list 653 CFM and 233 mph. I use the lower current-page 651 CFM for an essential airflow floor, preserve the manual/support difference, and do not present either rating as measured clearing speed.

How tube control changes the work rhythm

The ST lets the operator change engine speed at the tube grip. ECHO’s manual describes both a trigger and a throttle-position lever; the product page calls the arrangement variable-speed with cruise control. If your routine involves frequent steering or changing speed as you move among a hard walkway, lawn and bed, keeping the throttle control by the aiming hand can feel more direct. That is a control preference, not a guarantee that the tube weighs less in the hand or that the machine is easier for every operator to carry. The PB-755SH is the alternative if a hip-positioned control is more comfortable to reach.

ECHO’s current support table gives the ST a 480 mm / 18.90 in width, compared with 500 mm / 19.69 in for the SH; the latest manual repeats the dimension difference. The manual also lists 25.13 lb dry for the ST and 25.35 lb for the SH, but the exact product pages state 24.7 lb dry with standard pipes for both, while the support table lists 25.13 lb and 25.3 lb respectively. Because these manufacturer numbers do not establish a consistent pipe basis, the finder leaves a strict PB-755 weight limit unmatched. Do not select the ST on the assumption that it is a materially lighter pack simply because one manual column is about two tenths of a pound lower.

Fuel preparation, maintenance and safety are part of this choice

The ST is not a cordless convenience tool. Its 63.3 cc two-stroke engine needs a 50:1 gasoline-and-oil mixture; the PB-755S manual specifies 89-octane unleaded gasoline and approved two-stroke oil, and prohibits E-15 and E-85 along with certain fuel blends. It uses a recoil starter, choke and purge bulb. That can be a reasonable operating plan for someone who already manages small-engine fuel and service, but not for someone whose essential condition is battery power, no exhaust or no premix.

The tank itself is another source conflict: the current ST product page says 62.0 fl oz; the 2023 manual and support specification table give 2.0 L / 67.7 fl oz. This profile does not use a single tank number to pass an essential capacity requirement. ECHO’s product page lists 651 CFM, 233 mph, 28 N and 74 dB(A); only the CFM and speed are corroborated by the manual/support table, while the page-only force is not treated as manual-listed. The manual lists 74 dB(A) at 50 feet under ANSI B175.2, not an operator-ear sound level or local-noise approval.

For ordinary cleanup, the manual advises using lower speed for dry leaves on walks and drives, then increasing only if material needs more force. Avoid blowing debris toward people or pets; use eye and hearing protection plus the listed face protection, and keep dust down with reasonable speed and dampening where suitable. The same manual warns that prolonged low-speed running may build deposits, directs at least five minutes at wide-open throttle per hour and calls for spark-arrester inspection/cleaning at about 40 hours. These details help a prospective owner understand that a big-air backpack requires a more involved work and maintenance routine than an occasional quick pass with a battery handheld.

When the PB-755ST makes sense

This version suits a shopper who needs the gasoline backpack format, wants the speed control at the tube, and can live with ECHO’s 74 dB(A) 50-foot rating and fuel routine. It is a poor fit if the priority is a lower manufacturer-listed sound rating: PB-760LNT is the lower-noise tube-control alternative at 65 dB(A), with a lower 535 CFM specification and unresolved cross-source air-speed and weight details. The 755ST’s higher CFM rating does not promise proportionally faster cleanup, and its hopper is not a vacuum bag—the reviewed model is a blower, not a leaf vacuum/mulcher.

Choose the PB-755SH instead if you want the hip control layout while keeping the same published airflow class. Choose a battery handheld if avoiding mixed fuel and backpack carry matters more than this gas engine’s output. The PB-755ST appears on ECHO’s current U.S. product pages, but a manufacturer listing does not establish local stock. Before purchase, use the exact PB-755ST model term, verify the serial-matched manual and ask a dealer about the exact machine if weight, tank capacity or service history is a hard condition.

ECHO PB-755ST product page · ECHO PB-755SH/ST specifications · PB-755ST technical documents · PB-755S H/T operator’s manual