garden vacs ..... any good?

We get LOTS of leaves and I want a quick way to pick them up BUT the vac has to cope with lots of straw and wood shavings from the various hen, rabbit and duck houses...Of course I rake up the obvious straw etc but there will always be some still on the ground....    Are the vacs any good?

I got one off freecycle, more trouble than its worth and then freecycled it again to some one I knwo has not had much use out it either.

I've tried those electric ones, and couldn't get on with 'em, so I bought a stihl hand held blower that has the vacuum attachment. I've got to say that I've never used the bag 'cos the blower bit's so good.

My wife decided that we should have one. I have mixed feelings about it, it is useful for clearing up leaves etc. where the ground is uneven. Where the ground is fairly even I prefer to use two pieces of plywood to pull the stuff together then pick it up with the plywood to dump it in the Green Bin (or compost bin). I feel that you should not use a vacuum unless absolutely necessary, much better to use the plywood and save electricity.

Although I do have some petrol engined equipment (Strimmer & Rotavator), I am in the process of changing to all electric (Mantis Tiller, Rioby Chainsaw & Performance Power Strimmer & Rotary Mower from B&Q), I have enough lead to reach anywhere on my 1/4 acre from existing power points. Although electricity has increased in price (+5% Vat) it is still cheaper than petrol (17.5% Vat + Road Fuel Tax + having to drive to collect it).

Can anyone explain why the Mantis can dig 10 inches deep with a 780 watt motor but it takes a 1000 watt motor to cut the grass. Doesn't make sense.

I should have thought of that, I did "pulleys,beams and levers" at college (65 years ago). The Mantis has a wormdrive gearbox, that's a big reduction in rpm.