definetly vac will make your season as woodburner said . I switched over to tubing afew years ago and vac is the secret to success on tubing. no sighn of budding here at all red and silvers are swelling today though. sugars are tight but that dont mean anything. been a great season so far despite the breakdowns. looking for a couple more runs for march. just tapped on the 15th so just getting going here.