When you think of a tool like a leaf blower, your mind doesn’t automatically go to snow removal. As the name might suggest, you’re probably thinking of late summer or early fall yard cleanup. But when it comes to winter, it’s time to generally break out the snow blowers and shovels as the standard go-to tools. But, this year, we had a different idea for snow removal. We gave the Echo eForce DPB-2500 cordless blower a go as a snow removal device.
If you live in a wintery climate (like me), you can relate to the following; clearing snow off your car in the dead of winter is one of the least pleasant things in… life. A common tool for this task is a portable snow brush that people often leave in their cars. The problem with this, is you usually get your hands snowy, wet, and cold. And it's really easy to brush snow onto your shoes, getting your feet wet. That’s where the Echo eForce DPB-2500 can shine - snow removal without all the hassle a brush brings.
The Echo eForce DPB-2500 is cordless and battery-powered. Take it out of your garage, blow off the snow on your car while your car is warming up, and no snow on the hands or feet. Well, that’s the idea anyway. But would it actually suffice as a snow removal tool? Is it powerful enough to remove heavy accumulations of snow? Or would you be better off just brushing the snow off? These are all the questions we answer throughout our testing.
Disclaimer
Note: Below we evaluate the Echo eForce DPB-2500 on its performance and suitability for winter conditions. We aim to provide an outside-the-box look to snow removal this winter.
Jonathan Knoder, is a versatile freelance writer and contributing editor for Top Ten Reviews. His work, featured in various publications, covers smart locks, security cameras, and more. Beyond work, he enjoys music, playing with his dog, and golf. Recently, he has tested a series of snow blowers in snowy Utah.
Echo eForce DPB-2500: Key specs
| Power Source | 5.0 Ah Battery |
| Max Air Volume | 549 CFM |
| Max Air Speed | 158 MPH |
| Runtime | Up to 33 minutes (tested/varies by usage) |
| Weight | 9.5 lbs (with battery) |
Echo eForce DPB-2500: Setup
There isn’t much to setting up the Echo eForce DPB-2500. The blower comes mostly preassembled, and all that’s needed is to charge the 5Ah battery and insert it into the designated slot located just behind the handle.
The battery takes approximately an hour and half (90 minutes) to fully charge. This was a little longer than stated on the website, but more on that in the performance section below. Once the battery clicks into place, the blower is ready to go for leaf…, I mean, snow removal.
- Score: 10/10
Echo eForce DPB-2500: Design & Features
At nine pounds with the battery installed, picking it up and moving it around was no problem, though extended use can lead to some hand and arm fatigue, which I came to find while cleaning off the car, but again, more on that later.
One of our favorite features is the locking trigger, allowing you to lock the trigger in place, so you don’t have to continually hold it down. This creates a convenient and consistent flow of air. And when you need to call upon more air blowing power, a turbo button jacks up the blowing power a notch to remove that heavier bit of snow accumulation.
But you can’t lock the turbo. That sits atop the trigger and needs to be pressed with your thumb as you hold the leaf blower.
The build quality is largely made from plastic, but it feels sturdy. We noticed the blower tube is well-proportioned and distributes its weight nicely - it's not top-heavy or overly handle-heavy. This helps maintain a good balance in your hand while in use.
- Score: 9/10
Echo eForce DPB-2500: Performance
Remember, my testing focused on the Echo eForce DPB-2500’s performance as a snow removal device for clearing snow. I put it to the test after a storm left about five inches of snow accumulation. Its primary use case was how well it would remove snow from a vehicle.
I was pleasantly surprised by how it was able to remove that much snow. At that point, it wasn’t a matter of whether it could clear the snow, but how long it would take.
With only using the Echo eForce blower, though it took 10-15 minutes to fully clear a Subaru Impreza Hatchback. Lifting it to reach the roof started to become tiresome. I often had to switch arms due to fatigue as I held up the blower to get the roof.
With that portion of the testing concluded, while it could remove up to five inches of snow, the time-consuming nature almost makes it not worth it. Now, if there were only a couple of inches of snow, it left me with no doubt that it would breeze through it. Your hands and feet would remain dry and your car would be cleared off in half the time.
As for snow removal on a flat surface, it's a little more of a mixed bag. Blowing air onto the snow isn’t as directional as a snow blower tossing in the area you choose. The Echo Leaf Blower did blow snow out of the way, but it certainly scatters far more than snow removal with a snow blower or shovel.
Ideally, you probably shouldn’t use a leaf blower as a snow removal device on any more than a small surface like a porch. It certainly cleared a path, and was much less labor intensive as a shovel, but not as clean as one either.
As far as the battery is concerned, with a mix of turbo mode and full power, the blower lasted 31 minutes, and when I pinned the throttle down for continuous use the run time was extended to 33 minutes.
This indicates that turbo mode, though slightly more power-intensive, is still efficient. Charging the battery required about 1.5 hours, which is a bit longer than the 75 minutes listed on the website.
Overall, the blower isn’t designed for heavy-duty snow removal, (heck it’s a leaf blower, not a snow blower), but I found it to be a useful tool for quick snow removal more ideal for lighter snowfall.
- Score: 6.5/10
Echo eForce DPB-2500: Care & Maintenance
The best thing you can do is ensure the blower is dry after each use. Take a towel and wipe down the blower to dry before it is stored away.
When it comes time to store the Echo eForce DPB-2500, don't store it with the battery installed. Also, don't store it by a window where it receives direct sunlight for long periods of time. Keep it in a dry place.
Be sure to remove the battery. And if you are going to store it for long periods of time, don't charge the battery fully or store the battery completely drained.
- Score: 10/10
Echo eForce DPB-2500: Price & Value
The Echo eForce DPB-2500 is available through major retailers such as Home Depot and Amazon as well as the Echo website. Pricing typically falls around $129 for the tool-only option, $199 for the battery and standard charger, and $249 for the battery with rapid charger.
- Score: 9/10
Would I buy the Echo eForce DPB-2500?
Yes, why not? It was powerful enough to blow away several inches of snow, and obviously, has other use cases come summer and fall, making it a versatile yard tool for all seasons.
That being said, its weight can become a factor during prolonged use. If you are going to use it for snow removal, the lighter the snow, the better.
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Quick and easy | 10/10 |
| Design | Simple to use, and locking trigger is convenient | 9/10 |
| Performance | Gets heavy after extended use clearing a car, but powerful | 6.5/10 |
| Maintenance | Just keep it dry and store in dry place | 10/10 |
| Value | Cheaper than other leaf blowers with similar specs | 9/10 |
How does the Echo eForce DPB-2500 Compare?
When compared to a top contender like the Greenworks 80V Jet Blower, the Echo eForce DPB-2500 is the more affordable of the two options (tool only). The Greenworks model offers more power but the DPB-2500 has a longer tested run time.
Compared to the Enhulk 930 CMF leaf blower, the Enhulk is more powerful, and has better battery performance, but is heavier.
Overall, you save a little bit of cash going with the Echo and standard charger, yet you’ll still reap the benefits of good performance.
How I tested the Echo eForce DPB-2500
Testing included clearing snow from a car and walkway after a storm that left about five inches of accumulation. Battery life was measured during mixed-use and continuous runtime at full power. I also measured performance based on efficiency, ease of use, and portability during our snow removal testing.
Discover more about how we test here.
