This is a pretty amazing device. It's replacing a trusty twenty-year old regular upright vacuum cleaner that had some serious mileage on it so it had big shoes to fill, but it's made that old device seem like a relic of an earlier age. Dyson machines have a certain mystique around them and I was very skeptical of paying $350 for a bunch of hype, but having used one at my parents house, I was convinced enough to pay the ticket.
First impressions: this thing is light, effective and just a whole ton more easy to use than any vacuum cleaner that I've used before. The ‘Stick vacuum’ setup was entirely new to me and seems a little odd: all of the mechanism of the vacuum cleaner (including the dirt container) has been moved into the handpiece/handle thing. When you use it, you're effectively holding the entire vacuum cleaner up in the air and waving the suction wand around. This turns out to be a great solution: the wand is now light and nimble. Anyone who has used a cassette vacuum cleaner (ie. wand-and-box) knows how this feels, but in this case there's no box to heave around either. The other startling difference is NO CABLE. It's battery powered, so you stop battling with the flex, moving sockets, running over the cord, etc, etc. I can't tell you how much simpler it is to pull out the vacuum and clean - as a consequence I have a cleaner floor, because it doesn't take as much mess to make me take it out.
There are downsides to these features: mainly battery life and the fact that the hand-piece is pretty heavy - these are linked issues. This model (V8 Animal) has a slightly bigger battery than my parents V7 Motorhead so it runs for 40min on a charge (V7 does 30mins). That's enough to clean 2-3 rooms of our pretty small house, but it just shuts off dead when it's done and charging takes a long while (like, three hours). Consequently, the hand-piece is heavier than my parents and I find my wrist is pretty tired and a little sore after a half-hour: I'm a mid-forties guy, my wrists are in pretty decent shape! I wouldn't think older folk would be happy with the weight and I'd say go for the smaller model or consider a more traditional design.
The other worry is battery lifespan: I'm quite sure that this lithium battery isn't going to last 20 years like our last cleaner and you're looking at $50-$100 to replace the battery IF they still sell it when it dies. And while you get there, the battery life will get shorter and shorter. It's a worry.
The enduring impression is of something well-built and well-designed. Everything clicks together positively and all the attachments are sturdy. I'm an ex-engineer and I get the impression that they haven't skimped on material quality and things like the thickness of plastic walls, so I'm expecting it to last ok.
The bagless design seems like a huge win (no need to buy and toss bags, no decrease in suction) but it comes with two big inherent compromises:
1. There's nothing to contain the dust and dirt when you decide to empty it (naturally). So as it clunks open (it's a fairly dramatic mechanism) I find it creates a pretty disgusting cloud of airborne dust and grossness. You shouldn't do it indoors as it undoes the good work you just did. Even outdoors I find myself breathing in nasty-tasting mystery particles.
2. Be very careful around water. When you suck a bit of water, the cyclone thing smears the water all over the inside of the transparent cartridge, and dust starts sticking and clumping. Again, if there was a bag - no problem - but now, if (when) you let it dry, you'll have to manually scrape the stuck-on residue from the cartridge. And because it's transparent the pretty clean sci-fi looking cartridge now has yucky brown crud stuck to the inside. It’s impossible to completely clean it.
This cleaner isn't the most powerful vacuum cleaner you ever used, but it's obvious that they've tried to balance the issues of weight and power to make it work well enough. We have a dog, so it's not an easy job cleaning our family room and it does just fine.
On balance, the pluses easily outweigh the negatives. Our house is cleaner and vacuuming has gone from sweaty, fussy work to a grab-the-Dyson-and-swish kind of vibe.
---
Happy that people found my review helpful: just thought I'd give a perspective after 4 years: the battery is still running surprisingly strong. I can't say I've noticed a big decline so far, but when Lithium Ion batteries go, they go, so - still a worry. It's weathered a decent amount of usage, still battling dog fur without anything breaking so far. On my recommendation, a friend of mine bought the same and the power 'trigger' broke after approx 3 years, which wasn't great. I think they had trouble repairing it, but that could happen with any device, I guess.
Add to your order
-
Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary) -
24/7 support when you need it. -
Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
Cover all of your eligible devices:
Asurion Complete Protect: One plan covers all eligible past and future purchases (Renews Monthly Until Cancelled) $16.99/month
Select a plan
Add to your order
- Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
- 24/7 support when you need it.
- Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
Select a plan
There is a newer model of this item:
Frequently bought together
Top rated similar items
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
From the manufacturer
Deep cleans carpets and hard floors
A powerful motor inside the brush bar drives stiff nylon bristles deep into carpet pile to remove ground-in dirt and pet hair.
Transforms the way you clean all around your home
From pet hair on furniture to cobwebs in tight corners.
Features
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
Cord-free. Hassle-freeNo cord to unravel, plug in, drag around and restrict your reach. You can quickly and easily clean when you need to. |
Up to 30 minutes of fade-free suctionTrigger releases instantly. Battery power is only used for cleaning. Up to 30 minutes of run time. |
Transforms to a handheldQuickly and easily transforms to a handheld for cleaning on the stairs, in the car and on the sofa. |
Whole machine filtrationWhole machine filtration captures allergens and expels cleaner air than the air you breathe. |
Cord-free. Hassle-free. Powerful suction.
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
Transforms to clean up highBalanced for cleaning up top, down below and in between. |
Hygienic dirt ejectorHygienically drive out trapped dust and debris in a single action. There’s no need to touch the dirt. |
2 Tier Radial cyclones15 cyclones, arranged across two tiers, work in parallel to increase airflow and capture fine dust. |
Max power modeSlide switch to select power. Provides up to 6 minutes of higher suction for more difficult tasks. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dyson V7 Motorhead | Dyson V8 Animal | Dyson V10 Motorhead | Dyson V11 Animal | Dyson V11 Torque Drive | |
| Customer Reviews |
7,444
|
8,045
|
5,513
|
12,276
|
12,276
|
| Price | $295.88 | $394.00 | $399.00 | $499.99 | $480.00 |
| Run time | Up to 30 minutes¹ | Up to 40 minutes¹ | Up to 60 minutes¹ | Up to 60 minutes¹ | Up to 60 minutes¹ |
| Bin size | 0.14 gallons | 0.14 gallons | 0.14 gallons | 0.20 gallons | 0.20 gallons |
| Suction | Powerful suction | More powerful suction than the Dyson V7™ | +20% more suction than the Dyson V8™ | +40% more suction than the Dyson V8™ | +40% more suction than the Dyson V8™ |
| Modes | Powerful suction mode, MAX mode | Powerful suction mode, MAX mode | Suction mode 1, Suction mode 2, Boost mode | Intelligent Auto Mode, Eco Mode, Boost Mode | Intelligent Auto Mode, Eco Mode, Boost Mode |
| Cleaner head | Direct Drive | Direct Drive | Direct Drive | High Torque with Dyson DLS | High Torque with Dyson DLS |
| Extra tools | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| LCD digital display | - | - | - | - | ✓ |
| For homes with pets | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Whole-machine filtration | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Videos for this product
4:17
Click to play video
Compare 3 Highly Rated Battery Stick Vacuums Side by Side!
Jason Creel
Reviews with images
Conquer Doggie Fur Sagebrush
I have golden retrievers and for years have relied upon my Miele vacuum (a truly well-engineered machine) to keep up with the amazing amount of fur that seems to accumulate hourly, no matter how much brushing, vacuuming, cleaning I do. Given the expense of Miele vacuum bags, I have sought other options for the 'quick' pickups of 'fur sagebrush' that rolls across the floors, in between serious vacuum sessions (you know, sometimes the thought of dragging out the corded vacuum for a quick 'once over' just doesn't seem worth it). None have been perfect or particularly convenient (dustmops, Roomba(s), etc.). So.... recently I was considering a carpet sweeper (manual) for area rugs and/or some type of floor sweeper. My aim was to find something efficient and portable that could be quickly 'grabbed' from the utility closet. After a lot of research and weighing my options I came upon the Dyson-animal cordless line of vacuums. To be honest, I have never really liked the 'look' of Dyson products... all that plastic (!) gave me the impression that they were just over priced hype.Anyway, I decided to take the plunge. I settled on the V8, as the price point was easier to justify than the recently released V10, and it appeared to have most everything I needed. All I can say is WOW!!! This device rocks! Easy to use (almost fun!--like a new toy), and it does an amazing job cleaning, exceeding my expectations. All of our dog's fur is instantly removed from carpet, furniture, corners, floors, etc. etc. In addition, the device captures a surprising amount of dirt and dust. It requires less effort that grabbing a broom or dust mop, and one can easily do vacuum 'touch' ups in minutes. The efforts that went into the design of this device is clearly evident. Don't be 'put off' (as I was) by the look of this vacuum. It is an ergonomic wonder--making your vacuum session fast and effective. The storage mount is also very well designed--making the device easily 'grabbed' and put away as it charges for its next assignment. I rewired a light switch in my utility closet adding an outlet which enabled me to store it mounted on the wall out of sight while charging) (though I have to admit it is kinda' cool to look at). I have not yet had any issue with the battery life (I've only had the vacuum for less than a week, but have used it every day)... you really don't need the max suction very often (this setting drains the battery very quickly).So... if you are a dog (or cat) owner, and are looking for an easy and efficient solution to managing the fur that accumulates in your home from day to day, look no further. The Dyson V8 cordless is definitely one of the best (and smartest) purchases I've made in quite a while.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2017
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2024
Top reviews from other countries
Jade
Pièce défectueuse
Reviewed in France on November 6, 2022
Jade
Reviewed in France on November 6, 2022
C est très désagréable, alors que cet appareil à le mérite d être pratique en état.
Je pense que vous pourrez résoudre ce soucis.
Je suis une cliente fidèle à Amazon , vu mes historiques de commande.
Cordialement
Images in this review
