10 Best Backpack Sprayers
New gardeners are often reminded that they should spray their gardens to kill off weeds and invasive plants, but they’re not usually told how. While it’s definitely possible to cover a whole garden with nothing more than a spray bottle, backpack sprayers offer a much more convenient way to deal with weeds over a large grassy area. No matter what you use the space for, or how large it is, they’ll be incredibly useful tools when it comes to killing off your weeds and leaving your garden looking happy and healthy.
Of course, like most gardening tools, no two designs and brands will be the same. The PSI, capacity, wand size, and design of your backpack sprayer can have a massive impact on how you’ll use it. Below are ten backpack spayers that we feel stand out from the rest, whether it’s because of their extra features or their design as a whole.
View the Best Backpack Sprayer, Below.
- Field King Professional 190328 Backpack Sprayer
- My 4 Sons Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer
- Roundup 190314 Backpack Sprayer
- Chapin 61900 Commercial Backpack Sprayer
- Solo 425 Professional Piston Backpack Sprayer
- Hudson 13194 Commercial Bak-Pak Sprayer
- Chapin International 61575 Sprayer
- Chapin 63924 Battery Backpack Sprayer
- Hudson 13854 Never Pump Bak-Pak
- Field King Max 190348 Backpack Sprayer
1. Field King Professional 190328 Backpack Sprayer
Read Customer Reviews →This manual backpack sprayer combines a set of durable components with a sizable 4-gallon tank to produce powerful 150 PSI sprays of whatever water and chemical mixtures you need, using a simple pump design that’s surprisingly easy to use. The lockable shut-off system and No Leak Pump design prevent damage to the sprayer's pipes and internal workings and make sure that you won't accidentally spray dangerous chemicals around when you don't intend to.
Thanks to this backpack sprayers built-in pressure regulator, you can limit the flow to as low as 25 PSI for a more gentle spray, ideal for dealing with surfaces that need gentle applications of weed killers to stay healthy. A set of interchangeable nozzles and a strong 21-inch-long wand let you create a wide range of different spray types from a safe distance.
This backpack sprayer is relatively simple to use, but offers a lot of flexibility that makes it useful in a range of different situations and locations, no matter what weeds you're trying to kill.
Check Price on Amazon ➞2. My 4 Sons Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer
Read Customer Reviews →The battery-powered pump inside this backpack sprayer creates a steady 60 PSI spray for dealing with a range of different weed types, using an easy-to-adjust spray wand that can be extended to a whole 40 inches in length. Thanks to the variety of different nozzle attachments, you can tailor the spray output to your current situation by simply swapping out your existing nozzle for a new one, and the relatively long battery life means that you’ll have plenty of time to check for spots you’ve missed.
On top of that, the improved trigger design makes the entire unit much more comfortable to use and adds a locking feature that can near-instantly stop the water flow without damaging the hose or causing a build-up of pressure. The curved tip makes it far easier to cover weeds without needing to point the entire wand straight down at an awkward angle.
While some people see battery-powered tools as a nuisance, the long battery life and excellent design of this backpack sprayer makes it an excellent choice for dedicated gardeners.
Check Price on Amazon ➞3. Roundup 190314 Backpack Sprayer
Read Customer Reviews →This rounded, four-gallon backpack sprayer is built for convenience and efficiency, using a larger pump that speeds up the time it takes to pressurize and spray its contents. The hose system has a built-in in-line filter that helps prevent blockages, and the spray wand itself is made of durable, corrosion-resistant materials that ensure a long operational lifespan, even if you’re using heavy-duty chemicals on a regular basis.
The tank itself is relatively lightweight and uses a set of adjustable straps that keep it closely attached to your body without risk of it slipping or pulling you over if you accidentally lose your footing. This, combined with the excellent lumbar support built directly into the tank’s design, means that you’ll stay comfortable for longer. For extra convenience, the pump handle can even be reversed to work for both left-handed and right-handed users.
The simple and user-friendly design of this backpack sprayer makes it an excellent tool for gardeners who want to avoid unnecessary stress and fatigue during long spraying jobs.
Check Price on Amazon ➞4. Chapin 61900 Commercial Backpack Sprayer
Read Customer Reviews →The Chapin 61900 boasts an excellent three-stage filter that makes it almost impossible for dirt and debris to get into the pipes, keeping your water pressure consistent and cutting down on the need to constantly clean the pump system. This backpack sprayer’s shut-off system uses an easy-to-read gauge that tells you the exact pressure of your water flow, with the CF valve automatically shutting it off if something goes wrong.
An adjustable nozzle on the end of a 28-inch hose gives you plenty of versatility and flexibility, letting you spray down different areas without needing to stop and fiddle with any external adjusters or settings. This, alongside the wide default level of 60 PSI and the optional 20-inch extendable spray wand, makes spreading weed killers incredibly simple in gardens of any shape and size.
This backpack sprayer’s long reach and easy-to-use design make it perfect for almost any garden, especially those with a lot of open space.
Check Price on Amazon ➞5. Solo 425 Professional Piston Backpack Sprayer
Read Customer Reviews →Reaching as high as 90 PSI in a matter of moments, the Solo 425 is a deceptively powerful backpack sprayer that's designed for extra durability, using a long-lasting and high-performance pump that can easily be locked and unlocked to stop accidental damage. The sprayer itself comes with four different nozzles: one that creates a hollow cone, one that's a broader spray, a third nozzle for powerful jets of water and a fourth, manually-adjustable attachment. Not only that, but the handle of the pump can be reversed for use in either hand.
The included hose stretches up to 48 inches in length, using translucent materials to make identifying leaks and pressure drops much easier without forcing you to take the entire unit apart. Thanks to the internal design of the tank, it can hold almost any kind of weed killers and pesticides, and can even be used to spray out finishing agents for certain garden patio surfaces.
This backpack sprayer mixes durability with user convenience, meaning that it’s great for long-term use around the house or in commercial settings.
Check Price on Amazon ➞6. Hudson 13194 Commercial Bak-Pak Sprayer
Read Customer Reviews →This backpack sprayer’s strong piston-based pump is ideal for creating strong sprays of water with a long reach, making it far easier to cover your entire garden without needing to move to each missed spot invidiously. Whether you’re spraying weed killer or just keeping your grass hydrated, the 48-inch hose gives you plenty of extra flexibility, with the optional 20-inch fiberglass spray wand offering a more precise option for difficult areas.
The 4-setting nozzle system allows for cones, streams, a wide "fan" spray or even a two-coned spray pattern that can cover a vast area in very little time, making short work of smaller gardens and speeding up the spraying process in large spaces. The wide mouth on the tank also makes it far easier to load in new chemicals, so you can easily refill and start spraying again in much less time.
The design of this backpack sprayer's hose and spray wand make it easy to use in almost any situation, and give it an excellent level of versatility for nearly any kind of garden.
Check Price on Amazon ➞7. Chapin International 61575 Sprayer
Read Customer Reviews →The streamlined, compact design of this backpack sprayer’s tank makes it a really convenient tool for smaller gardens or homes without much storage space. Despite its size, it can offer up to 100 PSI of pressure, regardless of whether you’re using pure water or an undiluted fungicide or pesticide. The built-in straps are padded to give them a longer lifespan, as well as making the entire unit more comfortable to wear for long periods of time – this, alongside the comfortable grip used on the spraying hose, makes it much easier to spray an entire garden in one session.
The sprayer also comes with an adjustable set of nozzles, allowing for a range of different fan- or cone-shaped sprays at varying angles and widths. These can easily be changed around on the fly, meaning that you don't have to take apart the whole unit to use a different spray pattern.
This backpack sprayer manages to be reasonably compact and easy to wear without sacrificing its spraying power or and efficiency, making it an excellent tool for smaller homes with less storage space on offer.
Check Price on Amazon ➞8. Chapin 63924 Battery Backpack Sprayer
Read Customer Reviews →This battery-powered backpack sprayer can run for two hours of continuous use from a full charge, making it incredibly convenient for extensive gardens and grassy areas that need to be sprayed with weed killer or other chemicals on a regular basis. The three-stage filter works alongside the carefully-designed nozzle to almost completely eliminate any chance of the system clogging, even when you're surrounded by irritating debris, and the large mouth on the tank itself has a dirt blocker to keep the contents safe from contamination.
Thanks to the three easy-to-swap nozzles you can configure your spraying pattern to deal with multiple situations almost immediately, changing the speed, width, and angle of your jets of water without needing any extra tools or components. Not only that, but the long hose means that you’ll have plenty of reach, meaning that you can angle it from up to 48 inches away from the tank without lowering the pressure.
A powerful battery and automatic pump make this backpack sprayer an excellent starting point for first-time users, but it's also reliable enough to serve experienced users well, especially when it comes to spraying more extensive gardens.
Check Price on Amazon ➞9. Hudson 13854 Never Pump Bak-Pak
Read Customer Reviews →The ten-hour battery life on this electric backpack sprayer makes it an incredibly strong choice for any gardener who needs to cover a lot of ground in a single session. No matter what you’re spraying, the durable tank’s wide opening and translucent outer layer make it easy to refill, meaning that you can quickly top up the pump if you run dry. Thanks to the built-in padded straps, you can also easily carry it around for long periods of time without getting exhausted.
The pump system itself uses a thumb-operated valve that can stop the flow of water almost instantly, and the 20-inch spray wand helps concentrate the spray through one of four different nozzle types. At 72 inches, the hose itself can come in very handy when you’re trying to reach awkward spots or angles that a shorter design wouldn’t be able to spray.
Although it looks simple on the outside, this backpack sprayer is surprisingly powerful and offers a long battery life without suffering from crippling water pressure or capacity issues.
Check Price on Amazon ➞10. Field King Max 190348 Backpack Sprayer
Read Customer Reviews →This backpack sprayer is specially designed for spreading around herbicides and weed killers, using its straightforward and user-friendly design to ensure that you can quickly and easily cover your garden in whatever chemicals it needs. Easily reaching pressures of up to 150 PSI, it can be easily locked and/or shut off using the spray wand and its built-in extra features, meaning that you won’t accidentally waste too much water while you’re trying to fiddle with the settings or turn the entire pump off.
On top of this, the built-in agitator paddles help keep your chemicals and water mixed together during use, so you won’t have to shake them up or replace them mid-spraying-session. This has the added bonus of keeping the pump relatively safe, so you’ll need to repair it far less often.
The agitator is the star of the show with this backpack sprayer, keeping your chemicals ready to spray at a moment’s notice.
Check Price on Amazon ➞Backpack Sprayer Buyer’s Guide
Despite being a simple idea on paper, backpack sprayers have a lot of different components that can affect how they perform and what they can actually do. Some will be better for particular chemicals, whereas others will be a general-purpose sprayer that tries to accommodate everything in a single design.
Your Garden Size
While you can technically use any kind of sprayer in any garden, the size limits will still slow down or speed up the job you’re doing. A sprayer with a tiny tank and/or battery life will struggle with huge open spaces, whereas an oversized sprayer might be harder to use in very compact gardens with lots of architecture to bump into. Choosing a sprayer of the appropriate size will almost ways result in a far better experience, so it’s worth taking into account.
Remember that storage is also important. If you end up puncturing the hose or tank, you’ll need to get it repaired, and improper storage can do this much faster than you might expect. If your home (or vehicle, if you’re using the sprayer for work purposes) doesn’t have much storage space, try to go for a smaller model, just in case.
The Purpose
Not all sprayers are designed to do everything, and some will be much better at delivering certain chemicals or spraying in certain ways. Make sure you know what kind of tool you’re buying before you make the purchase since you can end up breaking or damaging a backpack sprayer if you’re using in an unintended way.
In a related vein, some backpack sprayers will have low pressures and PSI levels, meaning that they output very weak and gentle sprays for saturating smaller areas at a slower pace. The higher the PSI, the more violent the spray will be, which is excellent for long-distance work but can harm grass up close.
Even models with adjustable pressure levels will generally still have a “recommended” amount of pressure they should be used at, which can dictate the kind of design choices and features that they offer.
Comfort
One of the most prominent features in any backpack sprayers is the fact that, as the name suggests, you can carry it on your back. However, not every design sets out to accomplish this well, and a poor-quality model might even be designed in a way that causes physical pain or bruises after long periods of use. Weak straps made of thin materials can also snap easily, especially if the tank is full, which can cause lasting damage to the internal structure of the unit or even outright break it entirely.
There’s also the much more serious problem of lumbar support. If you’re using your backpack sprayer regularly, whether that’s around your home or as part of your job, you’ll need the best physical support possible to make sure that your body doesn’t suffer any long-lasting posture damage or other types of physical harm. The larger the tank, the more weight you’ll be putting on your back, so weaker or physically frail users should always try to find a model that’s a comfortable weight.
Remember that you don’t necessarily have to fill up the tank completely. If you struggle to judge how much water you’ve actually put into the sprayer, a translucent tank might be easier to use, since you can easily see through the outside layer instead of having to look through the mouth of the tank.
Expert Tip
If you’re trying to calibrate or re-use an old sprayer, make sure you clean it thoroughly first – this will give you a nice, even spray and get rid of any obstructive debris.
Did you know?
Spray wands are less likely to leak: they’ll often have a longer operational lifespan than hoses, and can generally take more punishment from spraying water at high pressures.