Leaf Blowers - Any recommendations?

[Glumpy]

It's getting to that dreaded time of the year and I'd like to get a leaf blower to help keep the garden tidy.

Has anyone got any recommendations?
Are all the best ones petrol, or are they any decent battery powered ones?

Any experiences/advise welcome.
Thanks

 

[Sherman]

Jaysus, whatever happened to the good ol' pre-Celtic Tiger rake? Doubles as a free workout

 

[teachai]

It's getting to that dreaded time of the year and I'd like to get a leaf blower to help keep the garden tidy.

Has anyone got any recommendations?
Are all the best ones petrol, or are they any decent battery powered ones?

Any experiences/advise welcome.
Thanks

The wind will blow all your leaves away.
You really want something that will suck them up.

 

[Sue Ellen]

I find the leaves make the garden look dirty and therefore bought one of the cheap and cheerful ones from Argos some years ago. It was on special offer at the time as far as I can recall.

I've only used it a few times because it is very heavy even with the shoulder strap and wheels. It does a sufficient job though when I do eventually get off AAM and get around to doing gardening which I hate.

P.S. See Argos have e or at the moment.

 

[Slash]

Lidl were advertising an electric blower/vacuum/shredder for 39.99 a few weeks ago, but they may be all gone at this stage.

 

[AlastairSC]

We have one - quite a decent power (electric) and mid-price range - and it's crap. It's heavy, awkward, the nozzle is narrow (About 5") and it gets clogged easily and it's a pain to unclog. It's probably the one tool I regret buying for the garden.

There are good backpack blowers (engine on your back so just the lance in your hand) e.g. Husqnarva et al, that really do have enough ooomph to shift wet leaves, but afaik they don't suck, just blow. (Please, no smut )

 

[rmdt]

I've used quite a few different types and would definitely recommend the petrol versions over the electric ones. Some of them will also collect and shred the leaves which is very useful if you have a smallish area to collect. If you have a larger country garden it is generally easier to blow them into a pile and then collect them up as you would be emptying the bag too often. We have a Shindaiwa petrol backpack type one. Amazing machine, but only necessary if you have a very large area with lots of leaves to clear. Price wise I'd say you're looking at anything from €50 for a cheap electric one, to €200 to 300 for a handheld petrol model, with the backpack types in the €600 euro region.