The Best 4-Gallon 12-Volt Backpack Sprayer

Qualities to Consider

• A leaky product is an inefficient and dangerous one. O-rings located at strategic areas help prevent this. Use the sprayer with plain water before you put chemicals into the tank. Test it for leaks by turning it every way you can. Note any warranties included.

  Wear the product to determine its comfort and stability. A full tank will be much heavier than an empty one. Most empty sprayers weigh 14 lbs. or more.

  Look for an easily accessible fill tank opening. Many mixtures are poured within a minute after preparation. Spilling when filling is a minus.

  Some rechargeable units have lights and some have meters, while others have no indicator for battery charge at all. Depending on your needs, this could be important to you.

  The sprayer itself should be substantial yet lightweight, stable when placed on the ground and easy to clean after use. Hoses should be flexible and kink-proof. Clogging can also be a problem, but the presence of adequate filters can eliminate this flaw.

Dramm BP-4 and BPQCB

• The BPQCB is a BP-4 unit equipped with a quick-change battery that removes easily; both units run two hours on a full charge. There is a battery meter to show charge levels. The padded back and ergonomic design increase comfort when wearing this 11-lb. empty sprayer. There is an intake strainer and O-ring in the large fill opening located at the center top of the unit to help prevent debris clogs and leaks. The unit has a low center of gravity for stability on surfaces. The wand is long and attached to a short, flexible hose. The wand contains several O-rings for leak prevention. There are two pump speeds and two nozzles are included. Warranty registration is submitted online, although no particulars are given.

SRS-600 Propack by Shurflo

• This sprayer weighs 14.2 lbs. It is ergonomically designed with a padded back and straps, and a waist belt for greater comfort and stability when worn. The center top fill opening is large. The hose is reinforced, braided PVC that resists kinking and cracking. There are inlet and spray wand strainers to help prevent clogging. It has four pump speeds and can spray up to 120 gallons per charge. The battery is removable, and an indicator light informs when you need to recharge. The product is warranted to one year from date of manufacture for defects in material and workmanship under normal use, or for one year of use, with proof of purchase.

Hudson 13854

• This sprayer has a large fill opening located on the top side. The rechargeable battery operates up to 10 hours on one charge. The sprayer body, which weighs 18 lbs., has padded straps for comfort and a handle for carrying. The hose is textured PVC. There are O-rings in several places on the long hose and sprayer wand assembly to decrease leaking. It comes with four different nozzles. The manufacturer's website has easy-to-follow instructional videos for troubleshooting problems. There is a 12-month warranty for parts and labor on the product.