Good ones?

Pump, not battery.

Will last 5 years perhaps for homeowner occasional use, not commercial, but willing to buy one of that type to get 5 years out of one.

Solo?
Field King?
Chapin (Northern Tool)?
Harbor Freight?

Others?

I've used Solo at some facilities I've worked at, just looking for options/opinions of those "in the know"

I’ve got a 18 volt Ryobi. Holds about 3 1/2 gallons. Has worked very well and has been used quite a bit.

Straps are comfortable to work with. No complaints yet. The pump speed and pressure has a rheostat for adjustment by I keep mine at the max level.

I use Cornerstone 5 for the weed killing mixture. I get it at the farm co-op and buy a box at the time which is 2, 2 1/2 gallons plastic containers of concentrate.

Didn’t mean to go on so long here.

I really like the Stihl SG 20. It has a brass pump that is super easy to maintain and service. It's rebranded for Stihl but used extensively in South America under the brand name (which escapes me). Makes great pressure and has a long stroke compared to other sprayers so less pumping.

Hard to not want to go with a battery after using a few though. My4Sons makes a really good one for about $200. It's great as you can adjust the pressure up and down with a voltage knob that slows the pump down on the fly. Very effective especially spraying weeds in landscapes.

Been using a Flowzone for doing pest control and it's got a few nice features as well, but geared more for spraying houses. Removable batteries (think Makita/Dewalt) make it a bit handier to charge than the My4Sons that plugs directly into the charger.

I’ve put many a mile on solo sprayers. Whatever you get, don’t let them freeze, that is the kiss of death.

I have a Roundup branded one. It has been good over 5 years of use. The straps aren't well padded, so it's a little uncomfortable when full. I'd buy it again.

Thanks for the hints.

If I could find one that will take the same batteries as my Ryobi drill/saw or one that works on the batteries I have for the B&D mower, I'd consider an electric pump one. I'm filled up on charger space where I have them now and don't want to add another brand.

I like the idea of that Stihl one.

Oh, I'll be careful about freezing, as everything up here freezes in winter. Starting about early Sept and not ending until June some years.

Couple years ago, I caught a Harbor Freight special, 3 4gal backpack sprayers for $60. All plastic and I know it wont last yrs and yrs, but so far the 1st one has lasted 2 yrs. Other 2 are still in the boxes.

I get really good use out of Solo. I rinse well after using it and turn the tank upside down to dry it

Jacto makes some good units, as well.

https://www.birchmeier.us/en/content/home.php#nav-1

Or get a 3 gal SS can and a CO2 backpack and a wand. Used the same one for 33 years.

Sorry, I just noticed that you said pump not electric..

And what model/brand might that be?

Don't think I've ever seen one, therefor would not know what to look for.

Not a big deal. I'll check the Ryobi one to see if it uses the same batteries as my drill.

My drill, saber saw, pole saw, backpack sprayer and 2 leaf blowers are all 18 volt, same batteries , same chargers.

Just FYI.

Cool!

I bought one a couple of years ago at Lowe's. It's Husqvarna branded. It works great. I spray my apple trees a couple of times a year. I only have 7 and they're semi-dwarfs, about 18 feet I'd say. I also use it for spraying vegetation killer. It's never leaked on my back and very comfortable.

Stihl backpack sprayer.

R&D?

I am a big fan of Solo.

Next question, piston pump or diaphragm pump?

Piston pumps do not like wettable powders. Krovar and Tempo for example. It is my opinion that it is easier to swap out a diaphragm than rebuild a piston pump.

But a good battery powered unit would make all that moot.

I have at least 10 years on my Stihl. Its built like a brick S**t house. The only maintenance I have ever had to do was to trim back a section of the hose that had cracked.

I just looked at that Ryobi unit. It looks nice and has a fair price. That definitely appears to be the same spray wand as used on the Sun sprayer. It is a very good wand. Every part in the wand is available on the shelf in our local farm stores.

Available at Amazon or Home Depot.

I used Chapin when spraying weeds for the govt. working summer jobs during college, without an issue. Solo seems good too.
I found the trick to longevity is to make absolutely sure all water has been drained and dried from the pump system, before storing it for the winter. Take it all apart, squirt it all off real well and let it dry out in the sun for a couple days. It'll last 5 years easy if for do so.

Have had my Solo for 17 yrs. Rinse it out when finished, then a drop or 2 of Dawn in a gallon of water through it to keep the seals pliable. Leave lid off until dry.

Glad to see this thread. I have been carrying a 1.5 gal pump up sprayer around the place. Spend more time walking back to the house for a refill than I do spraying.

I have a 25 gal ATV sprayer still out at the farm. But it is not worth while to bring it in for one acre of ground.

I ordered the Ryobi 18V four gallon. I have lots of batteries and two chargers. Amazon has the sprayer available sans battery and charger for less $.

I think you’ll be very happy with it. It’s a robust unit.

Thanks guys, lots of good info.

Probably not going to be using wetable powders much. Mostly will be used for some oil remediation bacteria stuff, 30% vinegar, and perhaps in the future if my fruit trees get to a large enough size for some dormant oil spray.

If puncture vine ever shows up and I can't control what I see on my property I may break out the glyphosate, but mostly we stay away from that and other weedkillers.

I have and use 3 Solo pumps. Two piston and one diaphragm (used with Escort for black berries). I use them quite a bit every year and have for 31 years. I've rebuilt 2 pistons in that time period.

Bought a Field King pump online. Under a 100 and works just great, thus far! Keep em clean , use some silicone oil on the rubber if necessary too. Straps and wand are the weakest links, but both are very reparable!

It’s not winter that have killed a few of mine, it’s the sneaky 29 degree late and early frosts. On the plastic mold gets distorted by ice it’s going to leak on your back.

During the possible freezing time of the year, I run some RV antifreeze through mine at the end of the day. I don't have a backpack sprayer anymore, but the tank on my ATV has a lid large enough that I can put a quart jar of RV antifreeze in there, put the intake in the jar, and have enough to fill the nozzles and the pump. miles

Thats a good one. Believe I'll try that.

Solo is the brand that I see used mostly here. I have a Solo 2 gallon hand sprayer. If I have the need for anything bigger, I use the 12 volt ATV type, or a 3 point hitch tractor sprayer.

I bought a HF years ago... I use a trash bag (normal grocery bag) as a quasi gasket on the lid seal... and a hose clamp to exert additional pressure.

Added some foam to the shoulder pads.

It's a halfass solution, but has run well for me for about 10 years.

Upgrading is a good idea. Good post.

I've got a Solo backpack that I've used for close to if not more then 20 years and it has been good. The only thing I dislike about it are the straps. Not real comfortable and they need a chest strap that keeps the shoulder straps pulled snug across your chest. Other then that, no complaints.

Dittos. Have put "hundreds" of hours spraying all kinds of chemicals on a backpack 4 Gal Solo. Good maintenance, of course, but it has performed beyond my expectations.

And what model/brand might that be?

Don't think I've ever seen one, therefor would not know what to look for.[/quote

Go to R&D Sprayers on the WWW. Got stuff you never dreamed up probably.

I have one and used it several times. They are one of those things that seems better on paper than they are in use. If they have battery powered ones, it would be much better to use than the pump, providing the batteries last long enough. Pumping those things gets old quickly.

That's what I use and mine is got to be 7-8 years old. Still works great.

Seen a 4 gallon one today at Harbor Freight

Geno, I
Figured it’d be a killer for an old man like yourself to lug that around. 😃

I've used a Solo for 40 years, never an issue. I think they're the gold standard everything else is measured against.

At 65, I either fill the thing half full, or burn the top half off fast.

If you move the space one letter you get:
Backpacks Prayer...

Funny this thread came up.
Me and slumlord shopping today.

Harbor freight had a 4 gallon on for like 24.99 IILC.

I got a 2 gal hand carry one from lowes

Has lasted 5 or 6 yrs so far.

Proud member of the modern chemical plant killing league.
Glyphosphate 41% for da win.

Homie gave up weed whacking yrs ago.

👍👍👍

Late as usual on the harbor freight back pack sprayer scoop.


😔😕😕😄😄😄

We get a kick out of seeing that you are taking good care of Slummy.