leaf vacuum

every year i have such problems with sweeping up the leaves in both my front and back garden. a friend who has the same problem has suggested we invest in a leaf vacuum; share the price and share the vacuum. it sounded like the ideal idea but im looking at them online now and they seem quite large.http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61uWkRH206L._AA280_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.gardenleafblowers.co.uk/category/leaf-vacuum&usg=__CURbZ6nhFCuujUjE3QZvUCWxrMo=&h=280&w=280&sz=31&hl=fr&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=nhvoPvOo1DtQtM:&tbnh=161&tbnw=161&ei=m7mITfzxG8eFswbE9MGqDA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dleaf%2Bvacuum%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dfr%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D649%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=137&vpy=233&dur=1047&hovh=224&hovw=224&tx=89&ty=139&oei=m7mITfzxG8eFswbE9MGqDA&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:0 we are going to order it off the internet as we can get the best price but im only slight, and afraid i wont be able to hold it for too long, and perhaps give me back aches. does any other female gardener have / use a leaf vacuum? http://www.twenga.co.uk/dir-Garden-DIY,Gardening-tools,Leaf-vacuum and if so, how do you find it ? i'd rather have the hassle of sweeping up leaves every morning than having an aching back!

 

Welcome to the Forum Alice.
To be honest with you, I had one of those leaf vac things and I hated it. I found it very cumbersome and awkward. My husband is a big, strong chap and he didn't like it either. It was really just as easy to sweep up the leaves.
But see what the others think. I think some people have them and like them.

 

In our situation with a long gravel drive that gets covered in leaves fom adjacent fruit trees and a climbing hydrangea, a vac is a great tool. Raking the leaves tends to rake up the gravel - a 'sook' from the vac just picks up the leaves. Wouldn't be without it.
Our most recent vac cost under £20 from B&Q in a sale last autumn - it was the last in the store and the box was missing so got another 10% off.
Yes they can be hard on the back with prolonged use, but using the shoulder strap if there is one reduces the stress quite a lot.

Other uses for a vac -

On blow they are good for getting bonfires going.
On blow they are pretty good for shifting light snow from paths

 

Hello Alice
I find mine a godsend , it removes leaves very well . Although due to the wind patterns around here most of my leaves end up next door ! They are a bit cumbersome and unbalanced . But if you do 5 minutes vacuuming then 10 minutes off other pottering jobs and so on , it is not a problem. Have a look on EBay lots of people sell them after winter.