Leaf Loader 2451027 Lawn Clean-Up Tool

This is a great way to get the leaves off the ground in one go, but there is a learning curve on getting the leaves from the Loader into plastic bags.Here's how I do it:1) Put the white plastic Bag Rib into the straight white pocket sewn into the underside of one of the ends of the Leaf Loader. Couldn't figure out where that thing should go from the photo? Now you know!2) Load leaves into the Leaf Loader. I do this with it in the flat mode3) Curl the leaf loader up into a tight curl. I do this by taking the handle with the strap, threading the handle through the far side of the Loader, then back to the side of the loader where the strap is permanently attached. I then feed the handle through the small hole that the strap is permanently attached to. This cuts the effective length of the strap in half4) Slide the rope loop (you saved that, right?) over the end of the Loader which has the Bag Rib. This forces that end of the Loader into a pretty stiff hoop.5) Stick your bag onto the end of the Loader, and under the rope loop. This step is done with the Loader on the ground, the bag horizontal6) This is the important step, I find: shove a bunch of the leaves from the Loader into the bag while the Loader is on the ground. This shifts some of the weight from the center of the Loader towards the end with the bag, and partially inflates the bag with leaves, giving it some stability for the next step7) While holding onto the Rope Loop and the bag towards the top of the Loader, tilt the whole Loader/Bag assembly into the air so that the remaining leaves slide towards the bag. You now use your hands to stuff the remaining leaves into the bag.8) While pushing down on the leaves, slide the Loader out of the bag. Remember to remove the rope loop from around the bag before tossing it into the trash bin (I found my rope loop around one of the bags I filled).9) Repeat steps 2-9 until yard is clean/you are exhausted/it is too dark to see/you can't feel your fingers from the cold.Cheers!

This lawn tool is a real time and labor saving device when bulk leaves or lawn cuttings, etc. have to be collected and bagged for disposal. About the only substantive reason I was unable to give the device a full 5-star rating was the fact that I was unable to effectively use it as described in the manufacturer's advertising. IMHO two hands are needed to control the Leaf Loader when dumping a reasonable sized load into a garbage bag. Two hands are necessary to (1) form and hold the delivery end of the device into the desired small "U" shape that is inserted into the mouth of the bag, (2) at the same time restraining the spring steel hoop that the forms the outer perimeter of the device, to keep it from twisting into the "figure-eight" shape that the unit naturally forms when it is setup for storage, and (3) to control the waste as it is transferred into the plastic bag. It seems that the only way it could be used as shown in the instructions would be to limit its use to small loads of leaves only, which would significantly reduce the weight of the load being dumped (i.e. no freshly-cut grass or pine needles etc.). Such limiting factors would result in the amount of work required to use this tool equaling or exceeding that of my previous collection method.I have, however, found that the Leaf Loader does significantly reduce the work necessary to collect my lawn waste, if, I use an alternate method. I line the inside a standard plastic garbage can or similar container with a 55-gal. leaf bag, folding the excess bag down the outside of the container. Then it is very quick and easy to dump a good sized load of waste into the now stabilized bag while leaving both hands free to manipulate the Leaf Loader and its contents.There is one other complication in using this device. If there is any noticeable wind blowing while using the Leaf Loader, it will tend to behave like a sail and blow away when you do not have physical control of the device. Such periods of time might occur, for example, while you are raking up more leaves, etc. In windy conditions, when not being used, the Leaf Loader needs to be secured to a stationary object.

It's not magic and it isn't going to rake the leaves for you. It will probably be very frustrating the first time you use it. The more you use it the better you will get at managing the leaf taco. Is it a time-saver? Not sure. But it definitely makes thing easier, especially on your back. I used to step on the bag, bend over and shovel the leaves in with my hands. I'm 34 and this is no longer as easy as I remember.I got 50 gallon plastic trash bags. I did not use the string connector thing. I just folded the tarp into a taco with my right hand and held the 50 gallon bag in my left hand. I inserted the taco into the bag all the way. Then just lay the leaf taco down gently. If your too rough with it it will snap out of its shape. Once the taco has some leaves in it it will be more manageable. Rake the taco full of leaves then push the leaves in the bag, repeat until the bag starts to get full. With the taco full just close it up lift it upright and stuff down into the bag, then lay bag down and repeat. I soon realized that raking the leaves into a pile was useless. You don't really need to do this, as it creates extra work. It also gets a little messy. I got a 50 gal brute garbage can, put the 50 gal bag into it and then the leaf taco in the can, but this didn't work as well and created an extra step.Further details: I had 39 gallon trash bags that I used for the leaves. First off these bags are too small. The taco really needs to be deep inside the bag for it to retain its shape and not snap out. There is no way I would be able to get it to work with paper bags. If you fold it up too much it will twist out of its taco shape. Very frustrating. It can also get frustrating when it is windy out.