Vax Gator Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner | Lightweight, Quick Cleaning | Built-in Crevice Tool - H85-GA-B10, 0.3 Litre, White and Orange

A brilliant hand held device. It picks-up very well and is easy to use and empty. So much better than my previous device (of a different make).

I bought the Vax Gator after seeing a selection of models reviewed on a TV show. It seemed well priced and effective compared to the others. It has a sturdy feel. The front springs opens like a jaw to empty the dirt caddy, and the whole 'face' detaches to access the filter. A nozzle extends from the front for better access to corners and crevices, which is a nice feature. The suction is good enough to pick up crumbs and debris on a sofa or carpet, but it can't compare to a full-size vacuum if the dirt is ground in. The battery life seems good, it has been mainly used in 1-3 minute bursts around the house a couple of times each day and sometimes doesn't get plugged in to charge, there has never been a sign that it is running out of juice. It takes a long time to charge when it is low, when you unbox the product expect to charge it for 24 hours before the first use. Other comments about battery life may be because the unit was charged only a few hours before the first use. The capacity is small, and when it is used for dusty jobs the power can reduce a lot as the filter clogs up, but the filter is easily cleaned in a few seconds with some warm soapy water and full power is restored. The design means that dust bunnies can form and need to be emptied by hand because they cling to the filter. This is possibly the worst aspect of the vacuum, but this is also a common problem with most bagless vacuums. This wouldn't be suitable to deep-clean a car, or to remove a lot of pet hair, or as the main vacuum except in a small tidy flat, because it would need to be emptied and cleaned too frequently. It would be great as a maintenance vacuum for a family car, quickly going over the sofa before the in-laws arrive, or those jobs around the house where you might use a dustpan and brush. My partner loves using it on the stairs as part of the cleaning routine rather than the struggling with the heavy cylinder, and the convenience encourages a "clean-as-you-go" attitude.

Amazing little Vax. These last year's are efficient in use. Easy to charge.

I reviewed my first Vax Gator five years ago. But the best recommendation I can give it, is the old one is now showing it's age and I have bought the exact same model again. The only things you need to know about the Vax Gator is that it is brilliant. It is powerful, is easy to empty and easy to clean. The built-in crevice tool is no gimmick, it is genuinely useful around the kitchen, as it allows you to direct the suction a little further under the microwave and toaster etc, than you would be able to without the tool. Because I am replacing an old Gator, I can tell you that if you keep them on charge permanently, the batteries will last for four years with full performance, then start to deteriorate quite quickly after that. Mine is now five years old and after starting at full power, the suction drops off within about 20 seconds and the vacuum then runs at a noticeably slower speed for about 10 minutes before it begins to slow to a stop. The suction is still useable, but nowhere near its brand new performance. I will still use the old Gator until the poor thing finally throws in the towel. For all you fellow electronic engineers out there, I did consider replacing the battery in the old Gator, but it proved not economically viable. The power source is an integral part of the unit and consist of 9 'C-cell' sized batteries, soldered in a circle around the motor. I took one look, reassembled the Gator and backed away slowly. Truth is, I honestly don't mind paying for another new unit, as these Vax Gators are built like tanks, last a minimum of four years, are sensibly priced and work extremely well. I used to think it was a bit on the heavy side, but now that I have seen what is inside the shell, they are built extremely well. There is only one criticism I have and it is for Vax, not the Gator product, and that is why do they not make a wall bracket for the Gator? Other than that, if you are looking for a really good kitchen clean-up vacuum, the Vax Gator is absolutely brilliant.

Picked up the Vax Gator handheld (H85-GA-B10, 10.8V) for quick cleanups in the bedroom like dust, crumbs, and a bit of pet hair. Suction is decent for a compact unit and it’s light enough that I tend to grab it when I need a quick clean. Noise is reasonable and the handle is comfortable for short bursts. The filter pops out easily which makes maintenance simple. The pre-motor filter on this model can be rinsed under warm water and left to air-dry fully before refitting. My main gripe with this product is the battery life. I’m getting only about ten minutes before power fades rapidly without prior indication, and recharging takes a while. That’s fine for quick messes, but not enough to do multiple areas in one go. For larger cleanups I ended up using a small mains vacuum I bought for less, and that has basically replaced this beyond quick touch-ups. Overall, decent for light jobs and quick cleanups, and would suit anyone needing something for small spaces or car use, but the short runtime limits how much you can get done per charge.

This is an easy to use vacuum cleaner of good size and heft. It sucks, quite well, and can be opened to empty out the dust. It does take a while to recharge the battery, but since it's only used occasionally that's not a huge issue. I use it to clean work surfaces at home, and also from the carpet/sofa when I can't be bothered to pull the big vacuum out.

I bought this because I wanted a light, quick, wizz around, convenient hoover for the stairs, landing, after craft activities, after tea and car without having to get "big hoover Hettie" out. It was highly rated on "Which". Honestly, I have no idea why it got a decent rating. I think they have made a massive oversite, as this thing, is pathetic. I've had this a while now and it's absolutely hopeless. Very weak suction, can't suck up craft bits/hair/sock fluff/small normal everyday floor bits, without you actually picking them up off the floor and feeding them in the nozzle manually. Keeps opening and dropping it's contents all over the place, when you lightly use and press on the surface you are trying to clean. I'm not even kidding, I've had to strap it closed with gaffa tape! Rubbish battery life; because you have to use it excessively more over the same are than you would with a normally, as it doesn't pick up and then opens to drop, what it has picked up. Won't empty easily into a bin, you need to get your fingers into the dust chamber, amongst the detritus and pull it out. Don't waste your money on this rubbish.

This was recommended by Which? magazine. Does a good job with decent suction and charge-life. There are better car vacs, but not at this price!