Black & Decker Leaf Collection System

I was looking for a way to stop chasing leaf piles around the yard and spend less time bagging. This collection system attachment has a straightforward promise: snap it onto a compatible BLACK+DECKER blower vac, park a trash can nearby, and vacuum leaves straight into the bin. After several weekends of cleanup, it’s earned a place in my fall kit—with a few caveats and some setup tweaks that make a big difference.

Setup and Compatibility

Assembly is truly tool-free. Out of the box, the kit includes an 8-foot flexible hose and a trash-can lid with a port. The hose mates to the vac outlet on my BLACK+DECKER blower vac, and the other end snaps into the lid. The lid fits snugly on a standard round trash can (I used a 32-gallon plastic can), and I had no trouble getting it sealed. I recommend a can with wheels; dragging a full bin across the yard gets old fast.

Worth noting: this attachment isn’t powered. It doesn’t have a motor or battery—it relies entirely on the suction from your blower/vac. If you’re used to the vac’s leaf bag, this is conceptually the same, just with the bag replaced by a hose and a trash can. There’s no “cord vs. cordless” decision to make here; compatibility with your blower vac is what matters, and it’s designed for BLACK+DECKER units.

Design and Build

The whole setup is light for what it does—about 3.7 pounds—and easy to handle. The hose is flexible enough to snake around shrubs and landscaping, and the lid is sturdy enough to keep debris contained without wobbling off the can. The port and hose cuffs are friction-fit. That keeps the assembly fast, but the connections can loosen under vibration or when the hose snags. I got better reliability by:

• Ensuring both mating surfaces were clean and dry before assembly.
• Aligning the hose so it doesn’t hang with a heavy bend off the blower.
• Adding a reusable hose clamp or a couple of zip ties on the blower-side cuff for a more positive lock.

I’d love to see a more secure bayonet-style or cam-lock connector on the blower end in a future revision, but with simple tweaks, I kept everything solid.

BLACK+DECKER includes a two-year limited warranty, which is reasonable for an accessory that takes a beating during yard cleanup. For longer life, store the hose out of direct sun; UV exposure makes flexible plastics brittle over time.

In Use: Performance and Speed

On dry leaves, the attachment works exactly as advertised. Vacuuming straight into a trash can dramatically reduces trips to dump a shoulder bag and, more importantly, eliminates the wind factor that makes blowing frustrating. I could move steadily down a fence line, pull the hose along, and watch the bin fill with mulched debris. The vac’s impeller does the shredding; the attachment simply routes material into the can. As long as your blower/vac has decent suction, the process is fast and tidy.

Wet leaves are another story. Damp mats are heavier and clump in the hose, especially at bends. I found three tactics helpful:

• Work on dry days or hit damp areas last, after they’ve had sun.
• Keep the hose as straight as possible and avoid tight loops.
• Feed the intake at a moderate pace. Overloading the nozzle with a dense pile is what causes jams.

If you do clog the hose, a quick shutoff and squeeze along the bend usually clears it. Worst-case, pop the connection at the can lid and knock the plug loose.

Small sticks and seed pods can also reduce performance. My yard sheds thin twigs that like to ride along the bottom of the hose and occasionally wedge near the cuff. I had better luck after a quick pass with a rake to pull sticks out of the leaf layer before vacuuming. If your yard is heavy with woody debris, plan on the occasional stop to clear the hose and expect some cosmetic scuffing on the first couple of feet where most of the impact occurs.

Workflow and Ergonomics

The 8-foot hose is a sensible length. Longer would be convenient, but it would cost suction and add weight. With a wheeled can, I could park the bin, vacuum a 10–12-foot radius, and roll to the next spot. The setup shines along patios, driveways, and fence lines where leaves tend to drift. I also liked it for cleaning beneath shrubs where a blower just scatters everything back onto the lawn.

There’s a small learning curve to managing hose position so it doesn’t rub across rough surfaces or get caught on landscaping. Think of it like a small shop vac—plan your path, keep the hose trailing behind, and move the can in regular increments. The lid does a nice job keeping dust down compared to using open bags.

Maintenance and Durability

This is a consumable accessory in the sense that it sees abrasion and impacts from debris. To keep it performing:

• Inspect the first couple of feet of hose regularly; that’s where wear shows up first. If you start to see nicks or thin spots, wrap with a few turns of clear repair tape to extend life.
• Keep the hose interior clean. A quick backflush with a garden hose clears grit that can sandpaper the plastic from the inside.
• Store the hose coiled loosely—not kinked—in a cool, shaded spot.
• Give the lid gasket a wipe now and then; a clean seal maintains better suction.

I haven’t punctured the hose, but I can see how repeated ingestion of sharp twigs could cause small holes. If your yard is stick-heavy, pre-raking saves headaches and preserves suction.

What Could Be Better

• Connection security: Friction-fit is convenient, but a positive-lock cuff would prevent accidental disconnects when the hose snags.
• Hose toughness: The flexibility is great, but a slightly thicker or reinforced section near the blower end would resist abrasion from sticks and concrete edges.
• Quick-release cleanout: A small twist-lock access near the can-side cuff would make clearing clogs faster without popping the lid.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they’re the kind of refinements that would elevate the experience.

Who It’s For

• Homeowners with compatible BLACK+DECKER blower vacs who want a cleaner, faster way to bag leaves.
• Small to medium yards with primarily dry leaf fall.
• Anyone tired of shoulder bags, especially if you’re working in breezy conditions or along hardscapes where blown piles scatter.

Who should think twice: If your property sheds lots of small sticks or you frequently deal with wet, matted leaves, expect more stops to clear the hose and a bit more wear over time. It will still work, but it won’t be as seamless.

Tips for Best Results

• Use a wheeled 32–45 gallon plastic can; lighter cans move easily and seal well under the lid.
• Vacuum in passes and feed the nozzle steadily instead of attacking thick piles head-on.
• Let damp areas dry before tackling them. If you must, take smaller bites to avoid clogs.
• Keep the hose path smooth and avoid dragging it over rough concrete or edging.
• Secure the blower-side cuff with a clamp or zip tie if you notice loosening during use.

The Bottom Line

This collection system delivers on its core promise: it turns a compatible BLACK+DECKER blower vac into a more efficient, cleaner leaf bagging setup. It’s quick to assemble, easy to maneuver, and—on dry leaves—noticeably faster than blowing into piles or emptying a shoulder bag. You’ll need to manage hose routing, secure the connections, and take it easy on wet, twiggy debris, but those are manageable tradeoffs.

Recommendation: I recommend this attachment for most homeowners already invested in a BLACK+DECKER blower vac who want to speed up leaf disposal and keep cleanup neater. It’s not a magic bullet for soaked, stick-laden yards, and the connection could be more robust, but with a wheeled bin and a few practical tweaks, it saves time and reduces hassle across the bulk of typical fall cleanup.