So I’m a DIY guy. And while cutting tight miters, dialing in a tile project, running awesome roof shingles or building outdoor projects is my bag, I like the maintenance aspect too. Cutting grass, planting flowers, and…wait…NOT raking leaves.

I’ve hated it since I was a kid. And even more when I landscaped for a living. And while I’ve never tried it—because it’s new—Leaf Loader looks like it makes sense.

With its unique funnel design, Leaf Loader slips easily into any bag, can or bin. Its four-foot diameter “wide-mouth” can catch raked leaves from up to ten feet away, eliminating the time-consuming steps of raking into piles and picking them up.  

As you know, if you read Pegboard, I’m not much for gadgets. Tools that work, yes. Gadgets: no.

However, Leaf Loader creator Mark Noonan kind of hooked me with this: “I’ve raked leaves my entire life and always felt that there had to be a better way to streamline the process. Raking into piles, then raking piles onto tarps, or picking up piles, small scoops at a time—the whole process is inefficient.”

Another thing that also got my attention: design detail. Leaf Loader has a flexible but rigid-edged frame that keeps it firmly sealed to any surface—so you’re not raking under it. Leaf Loader folds and stores flat, taking up about the same space as a hula hoop and with a simple twist, which is what Leaf Loader seems to be—a new twist on an old job.

Mark & Theresa Clement host MyFixItUpLife and are HGTVPro’s home and how-to aces.