Hoover Platinum Lightweight Bagged Upright with Canister (UH30010COM) (3/14/09)Overall, this is a terrific vacuum. The person who will be happiest with this combination is the person who: (1) wants a lightweight vacuum, (2) has mostly carpet in their home, (3) has carpeted stairs, and (4) uses attachments.
I liked my old vacuum, so using the LBU has been an eye-opening experience for me: I didn't realize how much effort I was exerting with my old upright with attachments not only heavier, but so much bending and stooping to change settings or get tools.
At 11 pounds, the LBU is 2 to 3 pounds heavierbut less expensive than competing models. Bonuses: it has a longer cord and a stair cleaning handle.
Competing models -
Hoover LBU, 11 lbs list $300/retail $300 (includes canister), 6 yr warranty
Riccar RSL5; 8 lbs list $710/ retail $500 (without canister), 3 yr warranty
Oreck XL Gold: 9 lbs list $600/ retail $500 (includes canister), 5/10 warranty
Oreck XL Platinum: 9 lbs list $800/ retail $600 (includes canister), 10 yr warranty
All of these uprights (including the LBU) are similar to commercial models, but you don't get the same auto carpet height adjustment, lifetime belt, HEPA filtration, and warranty on commercial models.
The supplementary canister has a strap and a 25 food cord. I didn't like it the first time I tried it, but the second time I adjusted the strap to fit me (DUH!), and then I LOVED it! The canister carries the crevice and brush attachments on board, so switching is easy, and the wand is extendable. (I don't use the floor tool, because I use a stick vac on my hardwoods.)
ADDED ADVICE (9/9/09): I have been using my machine about 6 months. About a month ago, I noticed that my machine was no longer expelling fresh smelling air. I assumed that although the bag was not completely full (after 5 months, in a 2800 sq ft mostly carpeted house), the dust from my 15/16yo carpets had clogged it up and so I replaced it (not bad...5 months for one bag). After replacing the bag, it still didn't smell as good as at first. Not nasty, just dusty. Hmmm. So I took out the new bag, vacuumed out the interior of the bag area (carefully, so I wouldn't damage anything), removed the base of the machine and cleaned and vacuumed that out as well (an advantage to a separate canister).
(Edit 11/13/09) That seemed to pretty much solve it for me, but I asked about it when I called about the battery for my Hoover Platinum Collection Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum) (see review), and was told that if you live in a very humid climate (like the Gulf Coast), then a cloth bag machine can develop a funky smell especially if stored in an unventilated area which can be treated by putting the vaccuum out in the sunshine on a hot, dry day. I was told NOT to use carpet fresh or other powders or spray fresheners (like Febreeze) because the product might build up over time and clog up the outer cloth bag.(END OF ADDED ADVICE)
If you want details about specific features, read on:
PROS
FINGERTIP CONTROLS Wonderful. Many models have this type of control now, and now that I have used it I wouldn't buy one that didn't have it.
HEPA SYSTEM Remarkable. My old vacuum was a HEPA model with HEPA bags, but there is no comparison to this model. The air on this vacuum comes out smelling fabulous. I bought and returned a top rated Kenmore canister that had the exact same amazingly clean exhaust (turns out I don't like using a canister), so I think this is the new hallmark of quality vacuums.
AUTO CARPET HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT Works beautifully. I used to have to stoop down to change the carpet height adjustment on different rugs, but the LBU self-adjustment really works no problem pushing vacuum over even the thickest pile.
CORD PLACEMENT Smart! It comes out the behind the top of the bag rather than the bottom. This means I have even more useable cord, because I don't have to hold part of the cord up to avoid running over it.
CLEANING ABILITY VERY effective carpet cleaner, my 15 year-old carpets look & feel (to bare feet) remarkably cleaner, and even look & feel newer. Excellent at removing pet hair from carpet. The upright is 5.5 amps with direct air flow, like the Riccar & Oreck models listed. The canister is 7 amps. (The combined total is listed in the product description very confusing. I suppose that Hoover thought consumers want a 12 amp machine, but amps are like gas mileage; if you get more suction for less amperage it's like getting better mileage. That's good, not bad. Plus you won't blow your fuses!)
EASILY MANEUVERABLE One expects this of a lightweight model, and all the models I tried turned easily and so forth, but the Riccar & Orecks I tried had to be kicked or tipped up over the edge of an area rug placed onto another carpet. In my home I have area rugs in several rooms on top of the wall-to-wall carpeting, and the LBU moves seamlessly over the edges (even on my thickest area rug) without needing a kick or an extra hard push.
LIFETIME LED HEADLIGHT Brilliant! (Literally!) It is brighter than any other light I have ever had on a vacuum, and is it actually aimed at the carpet! I think having the LEDs has allowed them to aim the light better than with a standard bulb. I am sure other LED equipped models are comparable, so look for this feature,
LIFETIME BELT YES! I've replaced SO many belts over the years and I won't have to do THAT anymore, thank goodness.
STAIR-CLEANING HANDLE Finally. It is comfortably shaped & works well. To use competitors' models on stairs, you have to hold them by the back tube, which I've tried, and it isn't nearly as easy as using the handle. However, see cons below.
CORD RELEASE (6/9/09 edit) I thought it didn't have one until another Amazon customer posted a commment to me (see comments) that it most certainly does; then I tried it again and VOILA! it does. Because I couldn't figure it out before, I got into the habit of just winding up the 35' cord on my arm and plopping it into the top cord holder. The LBU doesn't threaten to tip over at all when I do this, so it works just great and saves me yet another bend and stoop but it's a good feature to have, so I'm glad the engineers didn't leave it out.
CONS
STAIR-CLEANING HANDLE Good grief! I assume it really WAS necessary to vent the motor exhaust toward the stair-cleaning handle (!), so rather than curse the engineers, hold the handle on the right-hand side. It's big enough to do that, thank goodness. Or vacuum the stairs first, before the motor gets warm.
NO BRUSH ROLL ON/OFF Hmmm. This is in the description (and competitors' models are the same), so it means that the vacuum is intended ONLY for people with mostly carpet. (2/1/2011 edit: I have been told by other Amazon users that the brush roll does not touch the floor when put on a hard surface & so I need not worry about damaging my hardwood floors. I have occasionally used it on my hardwood and I have not seen any damage, but I am not sure about this. Up to you.) I have about 80/20 carpet/bare floor, so it works for me. I use a stick vac on my hardwood, and the other person I talked to that has hardwood floors and this vacuum says she doesn't care because her hardwood floors aren't new anyway. But if you have brand-spankin'-new hardwood floors, will you really want to use a brush-roll on them?
EXPENSIVE BAGS Really, $5 each? But they are huge, and they are the very high quality type with fabric-like paper, so we'll see. I used to have to change my old ones ($3) fairly often, so maybe this will work out the same or even cheaper.
CARRY-STRAP FOR CANISTER Not padded. Anyone know where I can buy a pad for a 1 ½ inch strap?
This review is longer than I would like, but since there are so few reviews out there as yet, I wanted to be thorough. Sorry for the length but hope this helps!
(7/19/2009 edit) By the way, the original price on this was $400 and now it has dropped to under $300! This is a terrific value at this price! I would be furious if I hadn't gotten a 20% discount in the first place!
Save 19% Off
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