Cordless vacuum cleaners - help!

I like my Dyson cordless, yes it is top heavy and you can't just put it down or even feel safe leaning it against something, I always just lay it down and it doesnt last 20 mins!, there is a max power function that I have to use on my short pile carpets, so in fact it only lasts around 11 mins, I use it really like you would a carpet sweeper (remember them) and for downstairs loo and such where you would normally have to use hoover tools to reach in. If you store the Dyson on the charger/holder then it would be ready for use at all times, but I havn't got a plug where I store mine so I just remember to recharge before I put it away, so its always 'topped' up. I have seen the ads for the Gtec AirRam and think it seems good. I would be tempted to go for that when I need to replace this one.

I have recently bought a GTECH Air Ram K9 and I love it! It is powerful, quite light and easily manoeuvreable even on the stairs. However, it doesn't quite reach right up to the skirting boards and has no attachments. I also have a hand held Dyson, for which I bought an extension tube and head to make it like the new ones, but it has far less suction, probably because the motor is so far from the head. I have cat litter tread on my carpets and the GTECH is so easy just to whizz over, whereas the Dyson can't cope with the weight of the bits and deposits some of them back onto the floor. The Dyson holds a charge for only 10-15 minutes, but the GTECH lasts for weeks. You remove the battery to charge it. so you don't need to store the whole machine near a plug point. You can also buy a spare battery if you want, but I haven't found the need. There are 4 lights on the vacuum when fully charged so when it runs down to one light, I know it will need a charge before the next use.
I like the GTECH cleaner so much that I have also bought their grass strimmer and hedge cutter. I was looking at their bike too, but at £1000 I can't justify it for only occasional use.
Good luck with whichever you choose.

I've got the Dyson V6 complete - it was quite expensive but the best thing I've ever bought. My big Dyson hasn't been out of the cupboard since I got it and I find I can clean right through my quite large 4 bed house on one charge. I use it on numerous occasions through the day cleaning up cat litter as a hand held. I've got 2 G-Techs and thought the first one was/is pretty good but the newer one is useless. I have 2 cats and it won't pick hair or fluff up but the Dyson does. I sound like I'm a hoover-holic but I've had quite a lot over the years

I do love my hand held dyson but don't use it for the weekly hoover.
I seem to use the max function a lot but as i only use it for quick tidy ups that fine.
I plug it in anywhere and do just lean it up against the wall.

I think that there has been a thread about this before. I have a Gtech Airram, and have had it quite a while now. I love it, it is light and manoeuvrable and lasts ages on one charge. I admit there are no tools, but we bought the little multi machine at the same time, and find that useful. I also use it for cleaning the filters after use. My Gtech appears to clean up to the skirting board edges. The only drawback I have found, but now overcome, is the fiddly bit of removing the filters for cleaning/washing, but have now got it sussed. I must admit to yearning after one of their bikes ? But know I wouldn't use it much. I saw an electric bike a couple of days ago and it's started me off again.

Thanks ladies, this is really useful. Would welcome any more comments if anyone has any.

I want one of those round ones that runs around on it's own !

We bought a Gtech Airram with the little one as well. I love the little one and whizz round the edges, clean sofas etc. while my other half does the middle of the floors with the bigger one. Our old Dyson broke and we bought a new one which I hate. It is so cumbersome but the Gtech is very good as long as you buy both.
The little one is great for the car too.

Ha ha aggie, I thought about one of those but reckon you'd have to have a round room to be of any use, would never do the corners!

It does do the corners, actually. There is a little brush sticking out at one side that gets into them. Best thing about it is the ability to programme it so that it vacuums regularly without you even having to remember to switch it on. It doesn't like rugs with fringes, though.

I have a handheld Vax, best I've ever had!

I have a cordless Dyson and it really is the best thing since sliced bread! It lasts as long as it takes me to vacuum and the only time it ran out of power was when we were doing a clean up after we'd had the bedroom re-plastered so loads of vacuuming required. I leave mine charging in the boiler cupboard so it's always ready for action.

My lazy daughter has a Roomba, one of these robotic vacuum cleaners and she loves that too.

I love my Dyson handheld, convenient when I was post op,however it doesn't remove white cat hairs completely,I need to use my large Dyson. The cordless is a boon for stairs but I have read great things about the tech and will probably get one when I need to replace the Dyson.

I have a G Tech as well.It is brilliant for dog hair etc. The only thing is it is not good on shaggy type rugs as it gets trapped in the fibres.

I second all the positive comments on the GTech Airram, amazing, light, fast, efficient, makes hoovering almost a pleasure

Thumbs up for dyson v6
Best purchase ever light easy to use and always on standby
Fantastic for dog hair and super on max speed

I agree with everything that Kateykrunch said - my experience exactly.

I bought a dyson flexi cordless recently and a great buy, but it is top heavy. I have a lot of wooden floors/tiles in my living areas so I just brush up and vacuum up the debris. I love that if you see a little bit of fluff anywhere you can easily whip it out without having to unwind cord and plug it in. Fantastic for doing under sofa cushions.

Love my G-tech Air Ram.I could no longer use a "normal" vacuum cleaner because I have brittle bones in my wrist due to osteoporosis.I rejected the Dyson because of the weight being at the top.
It cleans to the edges,came with 2 sets of filters and picks up all my dog's hair easily.

I bought a Gtech Airram just prior to retiring along with the small hand held one. I LOVE it. My daughter often ' borrows' it if I'm away. It's so easy to use and a charge last's ages. The filters are easy to clean too. The small one comes away with us in the caravan too. Best piece of kit I've ever bought.

I did buy a Dyson years ago and hated it, heavy, cumbersome and expensive filters etc. my elderly neighbour is considering buying one as it is so light and she struggles with her Hoover because of the weight.

I bought a cordless Dyson a few months ago, and I would recommend it to anybody. I was finding my old plug-in vacuum too heavy, and also struggled to clean the stairs. The Dyson is very light, and also easy to empty. The suction is very good. I do one room a day rather than doing the whole house in one go, though the battery charges up quite quickly. For someone who is older or disabled I think it could extend the time you could manage your own housework without help.

How are these vacuums for weight and ease of opening to empty and clean? I have a Henry which is far too heavy to get upstairs and bought a lightweight upright but cannot open it so cannot use it. I have a small very lightweight one but it's not good enough for a full house clean. I have arthritic hands so need something light and easy to open but don't know what to choose. I prefer uprights to cylinder (my son bought the Henry).

In a recent Which? report, generally speaking the Dyson models came out on top, the Gtech models also did well, but the Bosch range which was lauched in July, also scored highly, and were a little cheaper.
Check out the Which? magazine reports in your local reference library for more details.

A lot depends on whether you have carpets or hard flooring. We bought a DysonV6 and find it invaluable for the latter (and on the carpeted stairs, when one can detach the tubing - much safer without the cable on our upright Dyson). DH has used it for the car too, very dinky without the tubing. Wouldn't like to depend on it primarily for carpets though. Why don't you go into a store and test it for weight, that's what we did.