I purchased this blower before leaf season based on Consumer Reports high score. I live on a wooded lot and clear about 1 acre 3 to 4 times in the fall. this blower is very strong and super lightweight and even has a cast metal impeller which should last a long time sucking up leaves. I've had 5 leaf blowers in the past 20 years including a Stihl gas unit, and none of them ever performed this well. It's definitely worth the effort of running a long extension cord to use it.