Quick verdict
A 4 gallon backpack sprayer with one adjustable stream-to-shower nozzle, a 20 inch poly wand, padded shoulder straps, three-stage filtration and a translucent tank that shows the level. It suits a homeowner treating a whole lawn for weeds or spraying a long hedge a few times a season. The caveat is that Chapin publishes no pump type, pressure, hose length or warranty for it, and there is no fan or cone nozzle in the box.
Strengths
- Three-stage filtration at this price level
- Translucent tank shows how much mix is left
- Padded shoulder straps for a full 4 gallon carry
- 20 inch poly extension wand with adjustable stream-to-shower nozzle
- Chapin sells seals, wands and nozzles as spares
Weaknesses
- Only one nozzle; no flat fan or hollow cone included
- Pump type and maximum pressure are not stated
- Hose length, weight and warranty are not in the listing
- No waist belt mentioned
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Who this sprayer is for
The Chapin 60116 is the brand’s simpler 4 gallon backpack: one adjustable nozzle, a 20 inch poly wand, padded straps, three-stage filtration and a translucent tank so you can see how much mix is left. It is for the homeowner who has outgrown a 1 gallon pump sprayer and wants to treat a whole lawn for weeds or spray a long hedge in one load, without paying for commercial nozzles they will not use.
This review is based on the maker’s published specifications and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run this product ourselves.
What you get
The box holds the 4 gallon translucent poly tank on its backpack frame with padded shoulder straps, a 20 inch poly extension wand, a hose, and an adjustable nozzle that twists from a stream to a shower pattern. Chapin lists a shut-off at the wand and the same three-stage filtration found on its ProSeries sprayers. The listing names the pump control as Easy-Pump but does not say whether the pump is piston or diaphragm, and gives no maximum pressure, hose length, empty weight or warranty term, so treat those as unknown until the manual is in hand.
Pump and pressure
Pressure comes from a hand lever on the side, and output depends on how often you pump. Chapin does not publish a psi figure for the 60116, and the honest expectation for a homeowner backpack at this level is a steady spray for lawn weed control and shrub treatment, not the fine high-pressure mist of a commercial piston unit. Owners of entry-level backpacks typically describe pumping every few steps with the nozzle on a wide pattern and more often on a stream. For spraying at knee height across a lawn, that rhythm is comfortable. For reaching into a tree it is not the right tool.
Nozzle and spray pattern
One adjustable nozzle is the main limit. It twists from a narrow stream for spot-treating a dandelion to a shower for coating foliage, and that range covers most weekend jobs. What it does not give you is a true flat fan for even broadleaf herbicide over a lawn or a hollow cone for wrapping shrubs, both of which come in the box with the Chapin 61800 and the Solo 425. The 20 inch poly wand reaches under shrubs and along the base of a fence. If you later want a fan tip, check the wand thread with Chapin before buying accessories.
Comfort and handling
Four gallons of mix weighs about 33 pounds, and the padded shoulder straps are what make that carry possible for a full tank at a time. The listing does not mention a waist belt or chest strap. The translucent tank is a practical touch: on an opaque tank the first warning that you are empty is the nozzle spitting, and with a herbicide that usually means a missed patch. The three-stage filtration catches debris at fill, in the tank and before the nozzle, which is more than most sprayers at this level offer and is the reason the 60116 is worth choosing over an unbranded import.
Living with it
Rinse three times after each use, spray clean water through the wand until it runs clear and clean the filters each time. Store it empty, out of the sun, with the shut-off open. Keep one sprayer for herbicide and never use it for anything else; a second cheap sprayer is far cheaper than a dead vegetable bed. Chapin sells replacement seals, wands and nozzles, which keeps a sprayer like this in service for years.
Alternatives to Consider
The Chapin 61800 ProSeries is the step up from the same maker, with brass and fan nozzles, a cushioned shut-off and a stated one-year warranty. The Solo 425 is the piston-pump choice for high pressure and TeeJet tips. If the lawn is small enough, the Chapin 20000 1-gallon tank sprayer does spot work with far less weight on your back.
Verdict
Buy the Chapin 60116 if you want a straightforward 4 gallon backpack for lawn weed control, pest spraying and liquid feed a few times a season, with filtration that keeps it from clogging and a tank you can see through. Skip it if you need fan or cone nozzles, high pressure for trees, or published specs you can calibrate against, where the 61800 or the Solo 425 are the better spend.
Full specifications
CHAPIN 60116 Backpack Sprayer, 4 Gallon, Easy-Pump Control, Translucent Poly Tank FAQs
The listing does not say, and no pressure figure is given. Treat it as a homeowner-grade hand pump for lawn and shrub work rather than a high-pressure unit for trees.
One adjustable nozzle that twists from a narrow stream to a wide shower. A flat fan or cone tip is not included; the Chapin 61800 ProSeries adds those.
The listing does not state one for the 60116. Chapin publishes warranty terms on its site and runs US-based support, so confirm before buying if that matters to you.
Four gallons of mix weighs about 33 pounds. Mix only what the job needs; a half tank is easier on the back and leaves less to dispose of afterward.
