Chainsaw or leaf blower? The right buy depends on the job

Display

This category doesn’t apply in the usual sense because neither product has a screen or display. If we translate the idea into user feedback and interface simplicity, the EGO wins slightly: variable-speed control is straightforward, cordless operation is familiar, and there’s no pull-start routine. The Stihl also has a simple, proven layout, but a chainsaw demands more active attention to chain tension, fuel mix, and safe handling. Winner: EGO, because it is easier to pick up and use for quick jobs.

Performance

The Stihl MS 170 wins decisively for cutting performance. Its 1200 W petrol engine and 30 cm guide bar are designed for pruning branches, cutting logs, and light domestic tree work. In practical UK terms, it’s the better choice if you regularly deal with storm-damaged limbs, small hardwood rounds, or want to process firewood for a burner. The EGO LB6150, by contrast, is all about air movement: 615 CFM is strong for moving dry leaves, grass clippings, and light garden debris across patios, driveways, and lawns. It cannot cut wood at all, so it loses on outright task capability, but it wins for speed when the job is clearing a medium-sized garden after mowing or autumn leaf fall. Overall winner: Stihl for performance, because it does a fundamentally more demanding job.

Build quality and design

Stihl has the stronger reputation for rugged, long-life outdoor power equipment, and the MS 170 reflects that. It is a compact, work-focused petrol saw with a 30 cm bar that suits domestic users who want a reliable, no-frills tool. The downside is the complexity: fuel, oil, maintenance, and more vibration and noise than a cordless blower. EGO’s LB6150 is well-designed for modern convenience, with a cordless form factor that feels lighter to manage for most users and simpler to store in a typical UK garage or shed. EGO tools are generally well made, but the blower is still a plastic-bodied electrical tool compared with a chainsaw built to withstand tougher mechanical loads. Winner: Stihl for durability and heavy-duty design, though EGO is better for ergonomic simplicity.

Battery life

This is a crucial category, and it depends on how you define it. The Stihl MS 170 does not use a battery at all, so runtime is determined by fuel tank capacity and refuelling. For longer sessions, petrol gives it an advantage because you can keep going as long as you have fuel and chain oil. The EGO LB6150 is battery-powered but sold without battery and charger, which means runtime depends entirely on the battery you already own or buy separately. In the EGO ecosystem, large-capacity 56V batteries can deliver excellent blower runtime for a typical suburban garden, but heavy turbo use drains them faster. Winner: Stihl for uninterrupted runtime, EGO for convenience if you already own compatible 56V batteries.

Price and value for money

The EGO is the clear value winner on sticker price at £149 versus £308 for the Stihl, a difference of £159. However, value depends on what you need to accomplish. If you only need to clear leaves, grass, and light debris, the EGO offers excellent performance for the money, especially if you already have EGO batteries and charger. If you need a chainsaw, the Stihl’s higher price is justified by the fact that it performs a completely different, more specialised task. For a UK homeowner with a small to medium garden and mostly seasonal clean-up work, the EGO is better value. For someone who needs cutting capability, the Stihl is worth the premium. Winner: EGO on pure price/value.

Game library/features

Again, neither product has a game library, but in practical features the comparison is clear. The Stihl offers the core chainsaw essentials: a 30 cm guide bar, petrol power, and the kind of straightforward operation that suits cutting timber and pruning. The EGO’s feature set is more modern and user-friendly for garden maintenance: variable speed control, cordless freedom, and quiet operation relative to petrol. It is also better suited to quick jobs where you do not want to mix fuel or maintain an engine. Winner: EGO, because its feature set is more convenient for everyday domestic use.

Overall user experience

For a UK gardener, these tools serve different lifestyles. The Stihl MS 170 is the right tool if you regularly tackle wood-cutting jobs, manage trees, or want a dependable starter chainsaw for rural properties, allotments, or homes with wood burners. Expect more noise, more maintenance, and more involved handling, but also real cutting ability. The EGO LB6150 is better for tidy-up work around lawns, borders, paths, and driveways, especially in damp autumn conditions where leaves accumulate quickly. It is quieter, cleaner, and easier to grab for a 10-minute job, but it cannot replace a saw. Overall winner: tie on usefulness, because each is best in its own category.

Overall summary: if your actual need is cutting wood, buy the Stihl MS 170. If your actual need is clearing garden debris, buy the EGO Power+ LB6150. Since these are different tools, the best recommendation depends entirely on the job, but for most UK homeowners doing routine garden maintenance, the EGO is the more practical and better-value purchase.