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Top Pros
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Reddit Reviews
Do not buy a shark if you want durability. Look at a bagged vacuum as they are infinitely more durable. As mentioned; a Henry with the aero brush if you have short piled carpets, or if the budget stretched, a Sebo Felix. You’ll buy both of these things once and they will last decades. Far more hygienic and easier to maintain. The Sebo is a beast for proper carpet cleaning. Nothing comes close. Depends what your priorities are. BTW; those Black Friday deals are usually always a scam. They’ve been that price multiple times throughout the year. The retailer only has to raise the price for 30 days before lowering it again to call it a “deal”. Genuinely good products sell on their performance, not price.
The Henry is going to be more durable and reliable, although Miele aren’t bad in that front, they have become more fragile recently. Spare parts and bags are more expensive. In the UK, a Henry like this can be had from £100, which makes the argument for it far easier. Miele tend to be far more complicated to repair than a Henry or Sebo which are both derived from the commercial sector.
Not compared to anything Numatic or Sebo which are by their design, serviceable. I can only speak from experience but the S7 upright Miele did a few years ago was the most complicated vacuum I have ever worked on, including modern dysons. Horribly complex.
Because it’s a simplistic design dating back to the early 80s; the motor being above the bags means there is no loss in suction even as it fills, the plastic tub at the bottom has nothing mechanical or electrical, and the top unit housing the cable rewind. Everything is designed to be tough, durable and repairable. Most Henry’s ever made (over 15 million) are still in use today. Absolutely no benefit if a Henry looking like a Miele which while it might be more aesthetic, is compromised in comparison. There may be an argument that Henry is top-heavy, but given the many other benefits over this design vs the Miele, it’s not a big deal at all.
I’ve never had a Henry fall while using it. The coasters are much bigger on Henry than a Miele. Miele canisters can dig into the carpet. I’m still struggling with the original comment suggesting that this design is in any way ugly. It has a smiling fucking face 😂there are far uglier appliances out there
Fully spinning casters on a household vacuum I don't think is a benefit, most of that is a wash and personal preference I would say. Henry has suction control, telescopic wands, tool and wand storage and a pretty bulletproof cord rewind. Are you really concerned about carbon dust in your home? Your post gave me a headache to read.
If it's top heavy my answer is, you're using it wrong and probably PULLING the machine vs. the vacuum trailing you. Henry will tip if he's stuck on something and is pulled by the house. The poster above mentioning falling down the stairs - a Miele can't fall down the stairs? Be more careful...
Ok. Get a Henry, quieter, even the 160 is larger at 6L, similar tools with an AS0 kit and significantly more suction (waterlift).
The numatic Henry with a tile head would work. Take the wheels off the tile head to help lift the chalk. We used to use Henry when we did builders cleans, lots of plaster dust went through that bad boy and he lasted over 10 years. Cannot recommend that vacuum any more. I bought my own after using the work one for years haha.
Henry 4 the win
I've had a few and basically any vacuum with a spinning brush attachment works well for picking up pet hair. I use a Dyson cordless for day to day bits and bobs and Henry with a hairo / airo attachement for bigger jobs like clearing up after builders.
We have Dyson, Miele and Henry. Dyson cordless is the best for daily convenience but not so good for a deep clean and it's quite high maintenance with all the charging, emptying, filter washing, getting hair off the brushes etc. Miele is solid and the suction is bonkers but I wouldn't use it for building work etc as I want to keep it nice. Henry is the work horse for cleaning the log burner, mud, brick, sick. You can chuck anything at him but he falls over a lot.
I had a Henry extra 5 years ago, it was fine. I replaced with a corded shark which has been better suction wise and has lasted 5 years but... I think it depends mainly on how much you want to care for it. For my shark I have the rollers to check, clean the housing, the anti hair wrap which eventually gets hair wrapped around it needs sorting. The dust collector needs washing out, the filter needs changing. Essentially it feels like there is always something than needs doing with it. With a Henry you just buy spare bags and stick them on, oh it's full changed the bag. Other than a quick wipe when he's grubby Henry will just keep going, no maintenance needed.
Henry Xtra, had ours now for 20 years. Still going strong and never broken or needed repairing. Brilliant machines.
I bought a Henry from numatic and had an extra long cord and extra long hose added. Lived in a 4 story house and left it in floor 3, and with the extras could clean floors 2 and 4 also. Worth looking into as I've still got mine 20 years later
It’s crazy how much more expensive Numatic machines are over there. They’re really quite cheap / offer excellent value for money in the UK. My mains powered Numatic vacuum was only £150. And the Henry Xtra cylinder machine has just been on offer for about £130.
Rankings by Use Case
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