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

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.

Works nicely, and easy to empty. I'd give it an extra star if the extendable nozzle didn't get pushed back in so easily and if the design better suited getting into tight corners (on the other hand it's nicely compact). Could use a brush on the nozzle to free up stuck down debris. On the whole, it does the job and was good value.

Good little gadget. Good price.

The best hand held vacuum cleaner that we've ever had and this is the fifth we've bought.

Great and lightweight, easy to use and charge.Only problem encountered is that the battery has lost all charge after a few months and won't last longer than a minute now ( from about 30 minutes )

A very useful handy tool for picking up a few small items without needing to take out the full vacuum cleaner. Powerful enough for its size. Charge lasts long enough for the small jobs

TLDR:Low suction even on full charge,battery runs low quickly,Doesn't hold charge when storedI went for a brand name and not a cheap model to hopefully get something good as although it was for occasional use when I needed it I needed it for be good but unfortunately its woefully underpowered, I think I can probably suck harder through a straw than this thing sucks when fully charged. I would use it and keen thinking the battery was about to die as the suction was so weak but it would keep going for another 7-10 minutes before actually running out of life.So the combination of poor suction meaning you have to go over the same area time and time again along with the short battery life means that unless you are literally just trying to clean up some crumbs from a hard surface, the vacuum is more trouble than its worth.I've persisted with this i've had it around 5 years and keep forgetting how bad it is when I come to using it, the battery doesn't stay charged either so after a few months of no use next time I go to use the the battery is run out and it needs a charge.

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.