Ryobi 40V HP Whisper Series 730 CFM Backpack Blower
Ryobi RY404017 – 40V HP Brushless Whisper Series 730 CFM Backpack Blower Review
Ryobi 40V 730CFM Whisper Backpack Blower (Model-RY404017)
Manufacturer: Ryobi
Model number: RY404017
Price: $409.00
Power source: (2) 40v Batteries
Motor size: Brushless
Weight: 21.2
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Whisper Series 730 CFM Backpack Blower | Specifications
- Air Volume 730 CFM
- AirSpeed 165 MPH
- Speed Tip 145 MPH, 155 MPH, or 165 MPH
- Noise Rating 59 dB
- Weight 21.2 lbs.
- Warranty 5-Year Limited Warranty
- OP40604 40V 6Ah Battery, With Fuel Gauge LEDs
- Warranty 3-Year Limited Warranty
- OP406A 40V Rapid Charger Input 120V, 60Hz, 295W
- Warranty 3-Year Limited Warranty
Ryobi 40V Backpack Blower is Whispering Quietly
The Ryobi Backpack Blower is called the Whisper series for a reason. It is very quiet and Ryobi claims that it is only putting out 59 decibels of sound, which is about 85 percent quieter than a gas blower. I wanted to verify the decibels so I downloaded a basic cell phone app decibel reader. I decided to test while in turbo mode because that is when the blower makes the most noise. While wearing the blower on my back I held my phone near my ears and the app read an average of about 75 decibels. With the blower still on and in turbo mode it averaged about 67 decibels from 20 feet away. Regardless of the decibel reading, this blower is very quiet.
Ryobi RY404017 | Weight & Comfort
The Ryobi Backpack Blower weighs 26 pounds with both 40V 6.0 Ah batteries attached. A good amount of this weight is attributed to the twin batteries which are very large and weigh in at 4 pounds each. The straps and back pad feel comfortable to wear for an extended period of time. Being battery-powered, there is substantially less felt vibration compared to a traditional gas-powered blower. The lighter weight and reduced felt vibration make the Ryobi Backpack Blower blower very comfortable to use.
Ryobi RY404017 Whisper Series | Features
The Ryobi Whisper has a variable speed trigger. There is a lever to lock the trigger at full throttle, which reduces user fatigue during extended use. Two end tips are also included as pictured below. The two tips appear identical to me. It’s nice to have a spare for when the first one wears out or wears. The tip is made of rubber which can be easily cut shorter if a different airflow is preferred.
Ryobi RY404017 Backpack Blower | Runtime
This kit is equipped with (2) 40V 6.0 Ah batteries and the included Rapid Charger, which charges each battery in under 60 minutes. Being OCD I like to blow off my garage floor, patio, and driveway almost daily. These batteries stayed charged for about two weeks and lasted a good amount of time with intermittent use. The blower had the most power in Turbo mode at full charge. As the battery’s charge gets lower so does the maximum Turbo output power. Even with one bar on the batteries the Turbo feature still works, it’s just not as powerful as when fully charged. The batteries are also positioned perfectly to check the battery power level indicator easily. Here you can see a 40v battery next to an 18v battery so you can get a sense of how large they really are.
Ryobi RY404017 BackBlower | Power
The new Ryobi 730 CFM blower has replaced the older 626 CFM model. Ryobi’s new 730 CFM Backpack Blower has sufficient output for the majority of household cleanup tasks and is a nice upgrade from the last model. When I was using the blower along flower beds or mulch I used the blower in the standard model with the low throttle for controlled airflow. When blowing leaves or debris I often needed to push the Turbo button to access the blower’s full power. I found that I used full throttle turbo mode most of the time in open areas. Turbo mode automatically shuts off after 2 minutes, however, once it turns off you can press the button again to immediately regain maximum power.
Room for Improvement
I think this is an excellent blower and there isn’t much more I could ask for besides more power. Yes, it has good power for a battery-powered unit but I was really hoping it would compete with higher-end gas leaf blowers. Just because this is a backpack blower, do not assume that it is capable of clearing acres of fallen leaves.
Where This Blower Excels
The Ryobi 40V Backpack Blower will compete with most gas-powered handheld leaf blowers. It’s extremely quiet and delivers good power without the hassles of gas and premix oil. If you have a large yard and you plan to do massive leaf clean-ups this is not for you. For normal non-excessive use, with small to medium leaf clean-ups, this Ryobi 40V Backpack Blower will definitely do the trick. Furthermore, by moving the bulk and weight of the design to a backpack configuration, the Ryobi Whisper would be an excellent option for older users or individuals that have issues with hand fatigue.
Where To Purchase
The Ryobi 40V Backpack Blower can be purchased at Home Depot for $409.00. I think that in today’s market this is a fair price considering that it comes with two huge 40v batteries that provide long run-times and could be used in your other 40v Ryobi tools. Plus it is covered by Ryobi’s 5-year limited warranty.
About the author
Dan Wheeler
Dan is the ultimate believer in “if you want something done right, you do it yourself.” He is currently working as a General Contractor building a series of custom farmhouses. Dan doesn’t just oversee the projects; he is always on-site, slinging nail guns and making sure that the homes are built with quality craftsmanship. Besides his background in construction, Dan is also an automotive restoration specialist and all-around car nut. He enjoys restoring cars to showroom quality with a twist of custom modernization. He recently has restored a 1977 Jeep CJ7, a 1979 Jeep CJ7, a 1985 Corvette C4, and a 1988 Mustang 5.0. From an early age, Dan has had an inerrant ability to understand all things mechanical. This led him to have a lifelong passion for cars and trucks as well as for dirt bikes and motorcycles. He truly understands how things work, which allows Dan to rebuild and repair many different mechanical systems. Dan strongly believes in getting the job done right, and using the correct tool in that process helps ensure the job gets done quickly and accurately.
Disclosure
Product reviews on this site contain our opinion of a product or service. We will always strive for objectivity and transparency in our reviews. Our goal is to provide readers with honest, objective information based on our own experiences. We never have and never will accept payment in exchange for a positive review. Many of the products that we review are provided to us for free by a manufacturer or retailer. In some cases, we also have advertising or affiliate relationships with manufacturers and retailers of products and services we review. For additional information please visit our additional disclosure policies.
