I have zippered leaders and just recently switched to using Red Snappers...I really like them, I can load my quilts in about 10 minutes now. Before, I used the corsage pins you can buy through your quilt store...but beware, they have huge heads, so to run over one of them is to invite disaster! If you really want "tearless" loading, buy the red snapper type clamps...best part of it is, there are no pin-sticks to worry about!