Vax U91-MA-B Air Multicyclonic Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

I recently acquired a Vax and was impressed to start with, but it had some design flaws which became very annoying - but this new lightweight Vax which offers the same level of cleaning power in a reduced form has ironed out the niggles I had with its bigger brother....

...The Vax U91-P5P Power 5 Pet Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner was a great cleaner but it was top heavy and fell over all too-often, and more annoyingly the power cord entered the unit at the base and so you had to constantly hold it so that you didn't run over over it when you manouvered the vacuum backwards!

The 'Mach Air' doesn't have these problems though. In fact, it is very well designed from an ergonimics point of view. The power button is at the top rather than on the base, and a simple push mechanism allows you to adjust the handle height. I'm over six feet tall and my wife is also tall, she's not likely to use this (I'm a domestic God) but should she ever drag it out then she'll also appreciate that we don't have to stood to use it.

A lot of thought has gone into the general operation of this Vax: The brush bar can be switched off at the press of a button (conveniently placed next to the power button) so that it can be used on hard floors without the risk of scratching. Easy clips on the base allow access to the brushbar to be accessed in case of any entanglements (happens regularly in my house when I pick up a carpet thread), and the dust compartment is detached within seconds so that it can then be emptied into the bin.

This machine is advertised as light-weight, and although you're not going to be picking it up with one finger - it's definitively a lot lighter than the other vacuums I've had. At first I though it looked a bit puny, but the small form means that the brushbar can get right up to the edge, and wherever it can't reach - the onboard tools can.

In a nutshell: A well thought out vacuum cleaner which looks pretty snazzy too. The dust bucket is pretty small so you might find yourself emptying it more regularly than other models. But it's a fine trade-off for a smaller, lighter cleaner which is easily stored. This is incredibly easy to use and the only assembly it needs out-of-the-box is sticking the handle into the main body. There are more powerful models in the market - but this fits a niche and after having a few small vacuum cleaners over the years - this easily out-performs them all.

The Mach AIR U91-MA-B from VAX is a smart and sleek vacuum cleaner, looking quite stylish in the familiar VAX orange and contrasting grey. It is also very lightweight and easy to lift and manoeuvre which would make it ideal for people who have trouble with some of the heavier cleaners.

The Mach Air arrived in a big box and the cleaner came with the main drum and cleaner part separate from the handle attachment. It was incredibly easy to fit the two bits together and I did so without having to consult the instructions. However if you do need them, the instructions are very easy to follow as they are in pictorial form.

Once you have assembled your Mach Air it is very easy to start using. There is a conveniently placed on/off switch and there is a foot operated control in order to tilt the cleaner thus making it easier to manoeuvre as you are using it. There is also another switch directly next to the on/off switch is for operating the brushbar which gives you the choice whether to use this or not depending on how much suction you need.

Apparently the Mach Air weighs a third lighter than equivalent full size machines which really does give it an advantage in terms of usage. Pretty much anyone can use this cleaner particularly as the retractable handle can be adjusted to eight different heights. Even my six year old daughter who is very keen to help around the house and I've no intention of discouraging, can manoeuvre the Mach Air very easily! Also. As it is so light, it is very easy to carry up and down stairs.

The suction and cleaning power is great and I have used it on a multitude of surfaces in my home. Each time I have been really pleased with the results. Also, because the base of the cleaner is quite thin and streamlined I do find that I am able to push it further under narrow gaps, such as the sofas or TV units, than I was able to do with my old cleaner. Also, because of its light weight, it's very easy to change direction, especially when going round corners.

The hose attachment works very well for cleaning stairs, upholstery or tricky corners, although I don't really like the design for how this works. You need to detach the hose from the bottom of the cleaner and then pull it out as far as possible in order to use. There is a clip quite low down that keeps it in place but because of this you are pulling it up from quite a low angle. For me, because of this, it was virtually impossible to use just the hose attachment on its own which is one suggestion. However, if I detach the handle and use that as an extension tube I found that so much better and workable. It is only a small gripe, but I do wish that it was possible to remove the hose from that low clip in order to provide a better angle for using the attachment.

When using the hose attachment there is a great little three in one tool that you can place on the end of the hose either providing a brush or different size nozzles. These all fit together so that there's no worry about losing any one bit when you are not using it. I think this is very handy and quite ingenious!

The Air Mach has a reasonably long power lead although I would prefer it to be just that little bit longer. It also has an easy way to wind the lead up and keep it tidy when it is not in use. When you want to use it again, rather than having to rewind the flex, the top holder easily swivels downwards in order to release it.

The cleaner is one that does not use bags and as the dirt container is clear plastic it is easy to tell when it needs emptying. I think that it is best to empty it before it gets to full in order to get the best cleaning results. Emptying the dirt container is incredibly easy and all you have to do is to press one small catch in order to detach it from the rest of the cleaner and then another catch in order to open the hinged section at the bottom in order to empty straight into your bin.

In the instruction booklet there are good directions for cleaning the filters and removing blockages. It is probably a good thing to pay attention to these because, as experience has previously shown me, if you don't regularly maintain your cleaner it will not work so well.

I really like the Mach Air for its effective cleaner and its manoeuvrability. I think that it's a great cleaner that is likely to suit virtually everyone.

I should first of all say I am a physicist: not, perhaps your average user. I have read Dyson's biography so I know about the development of the cyclonic separator from industrial to domestic use. I have never bought a Dyson partly because they are expensive and partly because almost everybody I have asked has found some fault with them. However the cyclone technology must be one of the most amazing developments of the last 30 years.

Knowing that some of the expense of a Dyson is due to the materials they use and the extensive testing, and that I bought the Vax for less than half the price of the cheapest Dyson, I did not expect the Vax to be particularly well designed or constructed.

My previous vacuum cleaner was an Electrolux bagless cheap device from Tescos. I bought it a few years ago. Though it is bagless it only bears a feeble resemblance to a cyclonic separator: the filter blocks almost immediately and the 1600 watts of power can then only be dissipated in heat within the motor which then cuts out. An extremely bad design.

I do not normally write glowing reviews. I am picky and difficult to please and my engineering background and aesthetic sense will normally find fault in several areas of design. Do not underestimate the significance therefore when I say that the Vax is a thing of beauty and of impeccable design and construction. They have made good use of Dyson's expired patents with the double stage of cyclonic filtration. The dirt left to be deposited in the pre-motor filter is a minuscule proportion of that which is trapped in the cyclonic separators. It drags out dirt from deep within the carpet and continues to do so without noticeable reduction in suction. The floating brushbar sets itself at the ideal height. They have out-designed established names in the parts other than the cyclonic separator as well.