Even with the notable benefits of outdoor power equipment, buyers still commonly ask if leaf blowers are actually better than the manual option of rakes. It’s a fair question considering both tools perform well, but the ideal tool for you is dependent on the size of the space you have to clean.
Setting up a leaf blower may be comparable to the time it takes to rake a small area, so for small areas, rakes might be more beneficial. Plus, rakes are inexpensive, light, easy to use, unlikely to break down, and do not require any fuel. However, rakes can be physically demanding and unsuitable for clearing large properties, varying terrain types, and gutters on roofs.
On the other hand, leaf blowers can easily clean up your backyard twice as fast as a rake or broom, regardless of topography. Some leaf blower models are also capable of vacuuming and mulching leaves! Although leaf blowers do have drawbacks, as they are rather pricey, rather noisy, and some models need a certain level of expertise to operate.