Boring Question about Leaf Blower/Vacuum

[BobDear]

I don't care much for the blower bit as our garden is tiny, but we have a huge tree over hanging us so the vacuum bit is key. But I can't find one that isn't a faff to switch between blow and suck.

I've heard myths and legends of corded ones that you just flick a switch to make them change function, but I can't find one. Does anyone have on they'd recommend? Or even just a leaf vacuum without the blower?

Would a leaf rake not be better if it is a small garden rathen than a piece of electrical equipment that only gets used a few times a year?

No. I am clearing leaves almost daily due to the ginourmous tree that overhangs our entire garden. Definitely want a vacuum

We have a flymo which vacuums and blows and can also shred leaves.We don't use it often as if the leaves are wet it can be more trouble than a rake, but on a good day it's great. Has an option for a clipon wheel so you don't have to support all the weight yourself.

As someone who lives next to someone obsessed with their leaf blower please do consider the impact the noise has on others and the wildlife. It really is the most antisocial of power tools. Especially the regularity of use you’re talking of

I had a combined blower /vacuum / shredder (Mountfield I believe) as our last house had several mature trees. The garden was lovely to be in but at times the amount of leaves on the ground was significant (and a pain when wet).
Kept the blower a couple of years but I increasingly couldn't be bothered and just used the rake instead.
It was big & heavy, had a strap and a wheel but it was still a large item to lug about. It was corded but as we had power in the garden I didn't have to faff around with extension leads. Changing from suck to blow was ok (just a large lever on the side) and disconnecting & emptying the bag easy enough but when full the bag did add to the bulk & weight. Boy was it noisy, you certainly knew when you were using it (as did everyone else!).

In the end I just couldn't be bothered with using it and went back to the rake & leaf scoops. Setting it up, lugging it around, cleaning it out (important when picking up wet leaves) was just too much bother and didn't actually save much time.
Funnily enough the machine was passed onto me by my father who had found exactly the same. His garden was huge and contained loads of mature trees but he also quickly gave up using the machine (took him one season to come to that conclusion) and went back to the rake & wheelbarrow.