Backpack and Knapsack Sprayers vs Pump Up Sprayers for Weed Control
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For weed control over long walks and full days, a backpack sprayer, also called a knapsack sprayer, is the right tool, because it carries 16 litres on your back and keeps spraying while you walk. For spot spraying from the ute, short runs and small sites, a 3 to 8 litre pump up sprayer does the job with less weight on you. If your work mixes both, it is worth having one of each.
Backpack or pump up: where each one fits
A backpack sprayer is built for coverage. The Di Martino 16.0L Professional Backpack Weed Killer Sprayer is made for weed and pest control over large areas, carried on your back for all day work. You pump the handle as you walk, and a 1.0 litre compression chamber holds pressure between strokes so the spray stays even. Long fence lines, verges and revegetation sites are typical backpack work.
A pump up sprayer is built for convenience. You charge it before you start, spray, and top the pressure up as it drops. The Gloria PRIMA3 holds 3.0 litres, lists pest and weed control among its uses, and is the light choice for smaller areas. The Gloria PRO5 and PRO8 poly sprayers hold 5.0 and 8.0 litres. The stainless Gloria 505TK and 510TK hold 5.0 and 10.0 litres, work at up to 6 bar and pressurise by hand or from an air line, and the 510TK has an optional trolley. These suit spot work close to the vehicle.
Weight is the real trade off. Sixteen litres of a water based mix is roughly 16 kilograms of liquid before you add the sprayer. That suits a fit operator on a long run but is hard work for a short job. A 3 or 5 litre pump up sprayer is far lighter, but on a big site you spend more time walking back to refill.
Backpack and pump up sprayers compared
| Sprayer | Liquid capacity | Pressure | Seals | Lance and nozzle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Di Martino 16.0L backpack | 16.0 L | Gauge and 1.0 L compression chamber | NBR | Telescopic, 70 to 110 cm, adjustable fan jet |
| Gloria PRIMA3 | 3.0 L | Up to 3 bar (44 psi) | NBR | Brass lance, adjustable hollow cone |
| Gloria PRO5 | 5.0 L | Up to 3 bar (44 psi) | VITON (FKM) | Brass lance, adjustable cone |
| Gloria PRO8 | 8.0 L | Up to 3 bar (44 psi) | VITON (FKM) | Brass lance, adjustable cone |
| Gloria 505TK stainless | 5.0 L | Up to 6 bar (85 psi), gauge | VITON (FKM) | Brass lance and nozzle |
| Gloria 510TK stainless | 10.0 L | Up to 6 bar (85 psi), gauge | VITON (FKM) | Brass lance and nozzle |
What to look for in a professional backpack sprayer
- A compression chamber and a gauge. The chamber holds pressure between strokes, and the gauge shows whether the output is steady. The Di Martino has both.
- A lance that reaches. The Di Martino's telescopic lance runs from 70 to 110 cm, so it reaches along fence lines and under shrubs without bending.
- The right nozzle. An adjustable fan jet gives a band you can set to the width you need.
- A handle for either hand. The Di Martino handle swaps from right to left for left handed operators.
- A filtered filler and a relief valve. A large opening with a filter keeps debris out of the pump, and a safety relief valve guards against over pressure.
Keep herbicide on the weed with a spray shield
Along garden edges and around plantings, the risk is spray landing on plants you are meant to keep. The Gloria Weed Killer Spraying Shield, part 000260, hoods the nozzle so the herbicide stays on the target. It has a built in flat jet nozzle, measures 10 by 39.5 cm, and is made for weeds along fences, paths, kerbs and garden edges. Gloria lists it for its high performance sprayers such as the 505TK. For any other lance, including a backpack, ask us to confirm the fit. Replace the shield if it cracks or warps.
Match the sprayer to the herbicide
Seals decide how long a sprayer lasts on a chemical. The Di Martino and the PRIMA3 have NBR seals, and NBR is not the seal for acids, caustics or strong solvents. The PRO5, PRO8, 505TK and 510TK have VITON (FKM) seals, explained in our VITON and EPDM guide.
The Chemical Compatibility Guide groups glyphosate and other water based herbicides at normal dilutions together and rates them conditional, not suitable, because formulations differ. Solvent carried or oil based concentrates are a different case. So check the label, and send us the SDS before a new herbicide goes into any sprayer. One weed killer the guide does rate by strength is pelargonic acid, which Klager lists as a substitute for glyphosate. Up to 18%, the guide points to an acid resistant (VITON) or alkaline resistant (EPDM) sprayer. Above 18%, ask us.
Keep a dedicated, labelled sprayer for herbicide, so residue never ends up on plants you are meant to protect.
Spray safely
Rates, mixing, protective gear and weather conditions come from the herbicide label and its SDS, not from the sprayer, so follow them every time. Our Dilution Calculator turns the label rate, in mL per litre, per cent or per hectare, into mL of concentrate for your tank. Before you start, check the weather with our Delta T Calculator: it gives Delta T, an inversion check and a wind check against your label. Release the pressure before you open a pump up sprayer, and store sprayers depressurised, out of heat and direct sun. After the job, rinse the tank and spray clean water through the hose, lance and nozzle.
Servicing and parts
When a seal wears, repair the sprayer rather than replace it. Genuine Gloria spares are stocked, including the VITON seal kit for Pro sprayers, the brass pump for the 505TK and 510TK, and the PRIMA3 brass lance. For more reach, Gloria 1 m and 2 m telescopic extension lances fit Gloria TK and pressure sprayers, and a brass lance with a fan jet nozzle fits the PRO5. For the Di Martino, tell us what has worn and we will confirm the part. The routine is in our Refill and Repair Guide, and seal kits sit under parts and seal repair kits.
Browse the agriculture and horticulture range, the Di Martino range, poly pressure sprayers and stainless steel sprayers. Pest operators will find the backpack in the pest and termite control range too, and the Sprayer Selection Guide compares every type.
Frequently asked questions
Is a knapsack sprayer the same as a backpack sprayer?
Yes. Knapsack sprayer and backpack sprayer are two names for a sprayer whose tank you carry on your back while you pump and spray. NORA PRO supplies the Di Martino 16.0L Professional Backpack Weed Killer Sprayer, with a 1.0 litre compression chamber, a pressure gauge and a 70 to 110 cm telescopic lance.
What size sprayer does a weed crew need?
For long runs and full days on foot, a 16 litre backpack sprayer means fewer trips back to refill. For spot spraying and small sites close to the vehicle, a 3.0 litre Gloria PRIMA3 or a 5.0 or 8.0 litre Gloria PRO5 or PRO8 pump up sprayer is lighter to handle.
What seals does a sprayer need for glyphosate?
Our Chemical Compatibility Guide rates glyphosate and other water based herbicides at normal dilutions as conditional, because formulations differ, and treats solvent carried or oil based concentrates as a different case. Check the label and SDS, and send us the SDS so we can confirm the sprayer before you fill it.
How do you stop herbicide drifting onto other plants?
Follow the directions on the herbicide label, and hood the nozzle with a spray shield such as the Gloria Weed Killer Spraying Shield, which has a built in flat jet nozzle and keeps spray on the weed along fences, paths, kerbs and garden edges. Tell us your lance and we will confirm the fit.
Can a backpack sprayer be repaired?
Yes. The part that wears is usually a seal, not the tank. For the Di Martino, tell us what has worn and we will confirm the part. For the Gloria PRO and TK sprayers, genuine Gloria pumps, seal kits, relief valves and lances are stocked.
Councils, weed contractors, landscapers, nurseries and rural resellers can request a quote for backpack and pump up sprayers in volume, or apply for a trade account for wholesale supply. NORA PRO supplies Di Martino and Gloria sprayers and stocks genuine Gloria parts.