Last updated on July 13th, 2023
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Carrying on from my review of the best backpack sprayers here where the Hozelock 16L sprayer and Cooper Pegler Classic proved to be excellent sprayers.
I didn’t realise how good cordless backpack sprayers would be. The Field King Professionals Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer is an amazing model and the Ryobi RY18BPSA-0 18V ONE+ Cordless Backpack Sprayer is another well-designed model that makes spraying larger areas much easier. No need to pump the handle to maintain an even spray, the electric pump does that for you.
To be clear, the cordless backpack sprayers in my review below are for spraying products such as pesticides, lawn feeds, moss killers, weedkillers, patio cleaners, and pretty much anything that you mix with water that isn’t too thick. If you plan on spraying paint on fences, sheds, garden furniture etc, then check out my detailed review of fence paint sprayers where the Wagner Fence & Decking Paint Sprayer was, without a doubt, the best electric paint sprayer I have tested. It really was an amazing piece of kit.
I’m getting a little sidetracked here, so back to the type of sprayer you’re probably looking for, cordless backpack sprayers. Cordless backpack sprayers take all the work out of using a garden sprayer. Instead of pumping the handle all the time to get the spray, you just pull the trigger. And some even have an auto lock for constant spraying.
The cordless backpack sprayers in this review all run on Lithium-ion batteries so no old-style lead batteries here, and they don’t need priming or pumping. Just fill them up with your solution, switch them on and let the pump pressurise, squeeze the trigger or use the auto lock, and then aim the lance and spray. I look at the pros and cons of five different models and give my recommendations. The Buyer’s Guide discusses the major product features that you need to know and make decisions about before buying a cordless backpack sprayer.
Best Pick
Runner-up
Best Cordless Electric Backpack Sprayers Reviews
1. Field King Professionals Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer
Best Pick
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The Field King Professionals Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer is just the right size for the average domestic garden. It comes with one 18V battery and charger and a pre-set spraying pressure.
This backpack sprayer is constructed around a black powder-coated steel frame for durability. The harness straps are fully padded, although you may find them a little flimsy, it really depends on what you are used to as I have many tools with shoulder straps and there is a big difference in quality and comfort, but they all do the job in the end. The 15L capacity tank is ergonomically designed to fit your shoulders and back comfortably.
As for the battery, a single charge lasts for four hours of spraying which isn’t bad and is about 189 Litres of liquid per charge – that’s about 12.5 tank fulls before it needs recharging. That’s if you use the pre-set spraying pressure of 40psi.
And note that the battery is safely out of the way, protected from spray and water.
This unit has a built-in filtration system to take any bits and pieces out of any solution you’re using. It’s a triple-layer system so undissolved particle clumps of different sizes are removed. This is where the more expensive models really differ from cheaper models and are more reliable, plus they have a better build quality of course. The design of the pump is unique and with 60% fewer high-wear parts. This adds to the durability of the unit.
It comes with four brass nozzles for the sprayer with your purchase. There are three fan nozzles – low volume flat; general flat; and high volume flat – plus a foaming nozzle. The foaming nozzle is one that you don’t usually see with backpack sprayers.
There’s also a lockable shut-off that lets the sprayer eject a steady stream of liquid without you needing to hold down the trigger. Your hand won’t cramp up with this sprayer which is something often overlooked but important. Convenience is thought of with the built-in carry handle and a storage place for the wand when you’ve finished your spraying duties. You be amazed how many sprayers I have come across that have nowhere for the spray lance to store.
Pros
- Battery-operated backpack sprayer for the garden.
- Comes with an 18V 2.0Ah Lithium-ion battery and charger.
- A single battery charge lasts for four hours of spraying or 189L of solution.
- Takes 3.5 hours to fully recharge the battery from flat.
- The frame is powder-coated steel in black.
- Spraying pressure is pre-set at 40psi.
- The capacity is a reasonable 15L.
- Harness straps are fully padded.
- The filtration system has triple layers to prevent pump clogging.
- Lockable shut-off allows spraying by pulling the trigger.
- Lance is brass and 53cm long.
- Comes with four nozzles.
- The vertical spray height is 7.3m.
- Patented piston pump design.
Cons
- The strap is flimsy nylon.
Our recommendation
The Field King Professionals Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer has all the features you need in a cordless backpack sprayer. The battery lasts for four hours or 12 tanks of spraying solution. Its filtration system keeps the liquid clean and prevents clogging that you have to clear. You have a choice of four brass nozzles to select just the right spraying patterns for all your tasks. And you don’t even have to press a trigger to keep the unit spraying.
The Field King Professionals Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer is my Best Pick in this review as it is a good mix of affordability, performance and build quality.
2. Ryobi RY18BPSA-0 18V ONE+ Cordless Backpack Sprayer
Runner-up
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The Ryobi RY18BPSA-0 18V ONE+ Cordless Backpack Sprayer is part of the Ryobi series of power tools with interchangeable batteries.
I review the tool plus battery and 2Ah charger combo here and you can choose a larger 4Ah or 5Ah battery too. However, this model is also available as just the sprayer alone for those already invested in this brand’s power tools and who have the battery at home just like I have.
The tank of this cordless backpack sprayer has the standard 15L capacity. This is a large enough size for a standard domestic garden and filled would be 15kg without taking into consideration the weight of the sprayer itself. So I wouldn’t want it to be any bigger because it would be too heavy so it’s just the right size.
An advantage of this Ryobi model is that saves you pressure and stress on your hand. You don’t have to constantly hold down the trigger to release the spray. Use the lock-on feature to eject a continuous stream of liquid; your only job is to direct the lance to the right place for spraying. This makes it easier to spray evenly as you can just walk at a steady pace.
You have the choice of two nozzles to give you different spray patterns so not quite as many as the Field King Professionals Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer which has 4. The flat fan nozzle produces a wide fan-like spray. The other nozzle offers a narrower stream of liquid with adjustable width. Basically, it comes with the two you are most likely to need, it’s unlikely you would need a different spray pattern anyway.
Available for upgrading your backpack sprayer are a Ryobi ONE+ 4.0Ah battery and a Ryobi ONE+ 5.0Ah battery, as previously mentioned.
Pros
- Cordless garden sprayer in a backpack in Ryobi’s signature colours.
- Uses the Ryobi ONE+ series of power tools with interchangeable batteries.
- Comes with one 8V 2.0Ah battery and charger.
- Capacity is 15L of solution.
- The flow rate is 88L/hour.
- The backpack frame is ergonomic and of solid metal with padded shoulder straps.
- The lock-on feature lets you spray without needing to hold down the trigger.
- 2 Nozzles are included for flat spraying and for adjustable spray.
- Weighs 6.7kg.
Cons
- The wand is a little flexible, would be better if it was a little stiffer.
Our recommendation
The Ryobi RY18BPSA-0 18V ONE+ Cordless Backpack Sprayer is part of their ONE+ family of power tools. You can buy the sprayer without the battery if you already have an 18V ONE+ battery in your garage which could save you some of your hard earned cash. The lock-on feature of this model lets you spray constantly without having to hold down a trigger, saving you stress and strain on your hand.
The Ryobi RY18BPSA-0 18V ONE+ Cordless Backpack Sprayer is my Runner-up in my selection. Overall it’s just a great sprayer than has been built by a brand I have come to trust and they seem to have done an excellent job with this cordless sprayer.
3. Sprayers Plus YT25E Battery Sprayer
Best Pick – Lightweight
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The Sprayers Plus YT25E Battery Sprayer isn’t a backpack sprayer as such. But is it very lightweight (3kg) and has a shoulder strap to sling it over your shoulder so I’ve thought it right to include it. It’s powered by a 12V Lithium-ion battery so it isn’t quite as powerful as the other models in this review but it is smaller so it works well with this size of sprayer and tank.
This YT23E model is a smaller unit than many other backpack sprayers. But this addresses the concern of many people who complain that larger sprayers with a full tank are too heavy for them to wear, this sometimes includes me too. The tank on the YT23E is 7.5L, that’s half the size of a regular tank. And much less weight to have on your back.
The 12V battery doesn’t give as much power as the usual 18V ones. As a result, this battery sprayer operates at 30psi, about 75% of its larger competitors. And speaking of the battery, it’s not hidden away out of sight and reach of the spray. Just be careful not to spray in windy weather as it could come into connection with the battery. That being said, I always recommend only spraying in calm weather so this should not be an issue.
Finally, you receive one brass nozzle with your purchase. It’s adjustable so you can spray different stream widths of the liquid in the tank.
Pros
- Battery powered backpack garden sprayer with a 12V Lithium-ion battery.
- Comes with a battery and charger.
- The battery lasts for 18 tanks full of spraying.
- The wand/lance is made of powder-coated brass.
- The nozzle is of brass and adjusts to different widths of sprays.
- Pressure is a constant 30psi.
- The capacity is 7.5L of liquid.
- Weighs around 3kg.
Cons
- Could be a little small for some people’s needs
Our recommendation
The Sprayers Plus YT25E Battery Sprayer is a lightweight sprayer with a small tank. This makes it lighter to carry than the other models in my review which could be a big plus for some people.
It’s not a backpack as such, but there’s a strap that you wear over your shoulder to carry it. This model is slightly less powerful than others. It suits small to medium-sized gardens or someone who can’t carry much weight and doesn’t mind refilling more often if needed.
4. VIVOSUN Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer
Best Pick – Premium
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The bright orange colour of the unit is one of the elements that sets the VIVOSUN Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer apart from its competitors. Another is that you don’t have to remove the 12V battery to charge it – just plug the special charger into the unit itself. Now, this can be a good or bad feature, I like to be able to remove the battery but I know some people find charging the sprayer directly better.
The shape of this backpack sprayer fits comfortably into the contours of the user’s back. The backpack is made of strong and durable plastic, which is always a lighter-weight material than metal. This is a rigid plastic that doesn’t shatter or fracture if you drop it.
The straps you use to put the sprayer on are ergonomically designed and extra wide for your comfort. They have sturdy buckles to hold them in the right position and length once you adjust them.
The outside of the 15L tank is usefully marked in litres and gallons so you can determine how much liquid you’ve put in. If you’re not sure, look through the viewing window to see exactly how full the tank is. And there’s also a filtration system that keeps the bits of undissolved powder or granules from clogging up the system. This saves you time and effort as you don’t have to keep cleaning up the wand and nozzle, or even the pump.
And speaking of nozzles, you have the choice of four adjustable ones to use. The spray patterns put out by these – conical mist, four-hole mist, double mist and fan mist – should cover the spraying tasks in your garden. Whether you’re fertilising the grass or getting rid of harmful bugs, you can find the most effective spray pattern among these.
The socket and power switch are well covered in this unit. The windswept spray won’t damage anything there. And for extra safety, the proprietary fuse system prevents short circuits that could harm the sprayer and cost you time. When we say socket, we mean the place where you plug the battery charger into it.
As for the battery, it runs six to eight hours on one charge. You can do a lot of garden spraying during this time.
Pros
- Cordless garden backpack sprayer made of strong and durable plastic.
- Comes with a 12V 10Ah battery.
- Sprays for six to eight hours when the battery is fully charged.
- Contours of the tank mirror the shape of your back.
- The tank capacity is 15L.
- Viewing window to check the water level in the tank.
- Filtration system to keep out particles.
- Lance/wand is 57cm long.
- Four adjustable spray nozzles for different spray patterns.
- The tank has marks in litres and gallons marked.
- A lockable switch lets you spray continuously.
- The socket and power switch are covered.
- Extra wide shoulder straps (6.7cm) for comfort.
- Wide mouth (12.5cm) to the tank.
- Weighs 7kg.
Our recommendation
The VIVOSUN 4 Gallon Orange Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer is the premium model in this review. It comes with a long-lasting battery and runs for up to eight hours on a single charge. The filtration system keeps things clean while the lockable switch allows for a steady stream of spray without your intervention.
This is a good choice if you need to do a significant amount of spraying in your garden.
5. Sprayers Plus 105Ex Effortless Backpack Sprayer
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The Sprayers Plus 105Ex Effortless Backpack Sprayer is a cordless sprayer that runs on one 20V lithium-ion battery (included, with the charger). The 105Ex is an upgraded version of the previous 105E model and has some safety and comfort changes.
This garden sprayer has a tank with a 15L capacity so a decent size, and that’s standard for this size backpack sprayer.
Working at the pre-set constant pressure of 40psi, one battery charge lasts for 23 full tanks of liquid. You refill the liquid much more often than you need to recharge the battery.
Some of the upgrades to this model include a battery indicator light on the battery itself that tells you when you’re running out of charge. Plus now the battery and pump are enclosed within a plastic box. This keeps both of them away from stray water or spray, making it safer for the sprayer and for you.
This is one of the lightest weight backpack sprayers in this review. It weighs 4.3kg, plus the weight of whatever you fill the tank with. The newly redesigned shoulder harness is wider and more padded for extra comfort.
Pros
- Cordless backpack sprayer powered by a 20V Lithium-ion battery (included).
- Battery lasts for spraying 23 full tanks for liquid.
- Comes with a battery and charger.
- The battery level indicator light shows how much charge is left.
- Capacity is 15L.
- Working pressure is a constant 40psi.
- Sprays up to 10m horizontally and 7m vertically.
- The battery and motor are in a closed container.
- The wand is 50cm long.
- Weighs 4.3kg.
Cons
- The tank doesn’t hold a full 15L.
- No auto lock feature for constant spraying.
Our recommendation
The Sprayers Plus 105Ex Effortless Backpack Sprayer is a reasonably lightweight sprayer with a tank capacity of the standard 15L. Upgrades to the previous model include a comfier shoulder strap, a battery indicator light and enclosing the battery and pump for safety. This unit comes complete with a 20V battery and charger.
Buyer’s Guide for Cordless Backpack Sprayers
The convenience of these backpack sprayers is that you wear them like a backpack. You’re as mobile as you want to be and can go to the furthest parts of your garden easily. This Buyer’s Guide looks at the product factors you need to be aware of and decide on when you make your purchase.
How cordless backpack sprayers work
Instead of needing the user to pump the handle to draw out the liquid in the sprayer tank, cordless sprayers do it all for you. They run on Lithium-ion batteries which provide the power to draw the liquid from the tank to the wand/lance. You just need to squeeze the trigger and aim the wand at the garden area you want to be sprayed. Some models even have an auto lock, a button that you set to keep the unit spraying continuously until you turn the button off.
Pressure
The pressure, in psi (pounds per square inch), refers to the pressure the sprayer can put behind the stream of liquid that it ejects. Too little pressure results in a weak flow of liquid that doesn’t reach too far and gives uneven coverage; too much pressure can harm the plants that the liquid stream lands on. The average psi of the cordless backpack models in our review is around 30-40psi. This is enough for the average domestic garden.
Tank Capacity
The size of the tank, along with the psi, determines how often you have to stop and replenish the liquid inside. For backpack sprayers, the tank should be large enough so that you’re not often running out of solution but small enough that you can carry it around on you when it’s full. The tanks of the models we review all have a capacity of around 15L. This is enough solution to spray between 465m2 and 930m2 of garden and lawn.
Weight
Related to the volume capacity of the tank is the weight of the cordless backpack. The solution in the tank contributes much of the weight of the unit, starting heavy and then getting lighter as you use up the liquid. But there’s also the weight of the battery and the motor to consider. You’re also carrying these around with you all the time. And their weight doesn’t change.
Think carefully about how much you can carry in a backpack. You need to be able to move easily and direct the lance to the spraying area. You could, of course, always operate the sprayer with the tank only half full at most. But you’ll need to keep refilling more often and that interrupts your workflow.
Nozzles / Spray patterns
All the cordless backpack models in this review come with the lance/wand and at least one nozzle. Some come with a selection of nozzles for a variety of spray patterns and others have an adjustable nozzle.
Think about what you’re going to be spraying – lawn fertiliser, weed control solution, insecticide – and where. Each task may require a different spray pattern from a narrow directed spray to a wide fan arc. Investigate which spray patterns are available with the backpack sprayers and make your choice.
Shoulder harness
Given that you’re going to be moving around wearing a heavy, at first, backpack, you need it to be comfortable. This is where the frame and the shoulder harness of the unit come into play. The shoulder strap should be padded and wide enough so that it doesn’t dig into your back or shoulders. You should also be able to adjust it to the length that you need to fit your body. And keep it in place with buckles or straps.
Battery
All of the backpack cordless models I review come with the required battery and charger. In some cases, the unit without the battery is also available. This is a good option if you’re already invested in the power tool series of a manufacturer that uses interchangeable batteries.
Knowing how much spraying you can do on one battery charge is useful. While not all sellers give this information, some state it in the number of tankfuls of liquid you can spray on one charge. Others go for the number of hours you can operate the sprayer on a full charge.
It’s also useful to know how long it takes to recharge the battery. However, this information is usually not available. So, it’s best to have an extra battery charged and ready to go if you anticipate needing to spray for longer than one battery’s worth of power.
Final conclusion
Save your arm some stress and strain by using a cordless backpack sprayer for your gardening spraying needs. Wearing one of these models gives you the freedom to take a significant amount of fertiliser or weed control solution easily to the furthest reaches of your garden to keep it under control and help it remain lush.
My Best Pick for this review is the Field King Professionals Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer. This comes with four different nozzles and a continuous spray feature.
The Runner-up choice is the Ryobi RY18BPSA-0 18V ONE+ Cordless Backpack Sprayer. This model comes with or without the associated battery.
I’ve also reviewed manual knapsack sprayers here. For my recommendations for handheld sprayers, check out 6 Best Garden Sprayers For Spraying weedkiller & pesticides.
Last update on 2024-04-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
