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Vax Blade Pet Cordless Handstick VX66 review

Priced at $249.

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CHOICE Expert Rating

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What is the CHOICE Expert Rating?

CHOICE Expert Rating

This is the product's overall performance score, based on key tests conducted by our industry experts in the CHOICE labs.

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Good points

The product's best features and benefits

Bad points

Drawbacks or issues you need to know about
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Recommended View more details.

We recommend currently available stick vacs with a CHOICE Expert Rating of at least 80%, and at least 70% for hard floors.

CHOICE Expert Rating View more details.

The CHOICE Expert Rating is made up of hard floor dirt pick-up (30%), ease of use (30%), pet hair removal (15%), thorough carpet clean (10%) and quick carpet clean (15%).

Pick-up dirt from hard floor score View more details.

We test how effectively the stick vac picks up a variety of materials (cornflakes, potting mix and flour) from hard floor.

Ease of use score View more details.

We measure how easy it is to manoeuvre the cleaner; empty and clean the dirt receptacle; operate the controls; and use and store the supplied accessories.

Pet hair removal score View more details.

To test pet hair removal, we embed cat hair in the carpet and, as with the dirt pick-up test, vacuum it to a set pattern and speed. We rate the results based on how much cat hair is left behind after the test. Where supplied, the turbo brush or power head is used for this test; otherwise, we use the standard cleaning head. Pet hair for testing supplied by Woof Cat & Dog Grooming, Bondi, NSW.

Thorough carpet clean score View more details.

We embed sand evenly into a section of carpet, then vacuum. The sand is weighed and recorded, which is done twice for each model with the results averaged. A thorough test is 10 passes.

Quick clean score View more details.

We embed sand evenly into a section of carpet, then vacuum. The sand is weighed and recorded, which is done twice for each model with the results averaged. A quick test is 4 passes.

Car cleaning score View more details.

For those models that separate from the stick into a handheld vacuum, we disperse pebbles and sand throughout the front and rear floor of a car and evaluate how well they pick up these materials. This is not counted towards the final score, as not all vacs are 2-in-1 products.

Cleaning corners and edges View more details.

Sand is spread into a right-angled corner and vacuumed to see how far into the corner each cleaner is able to pick up dirt, using the standard cleaning head.

Noise (dBA) View more details.

Noise is measured at the user's position at maximum power setting. Some models emit a high-pitched whistle that can be irritating, even though they may not be louder than others. For comparison, a typical conversation is carried out at about 60dB, while city traffic is measured at around 80dB.

Running time (min) View more details.

How long the vacuum battery lasted in our tests. Measured under load (on carpet) with the brush head on, and at full power.

Shop Ethical rating View more details.

Shop Ethical rates the environmental and social impact of the company (not the product) using independent sources. This rating is not included in our total score. The rating ranks from A (highest) to F (lowest); N/A means there is no rating for that company.

C
Brand reliability score View more details.

We asked members in our 2020 reliability survey to rate their stick vacuum brands, and state whether they had run into any problems in the last 12 months. Not all brands have a reliability figure as we require a minimum of 50 responses per brand.

Brand satisfaction score View more details.

We asked members in our 2020 reliability survey to tell us what they thought of the stick vacuum brands they own, rating them from excellent to terrible. We use this information to give each brand an owner satisfaction rating. Not all brands have a satisfaction figure as we require a minimum of 50 responses per brand.

Country of origin View more details.

The model has a claimed origin somewhere on the model itself. This should be taken with a grain of salt, as it's rare that all the materials for a product come from the one country.

China
Warranty (years)
2 years
Price View more details.

Recommended retail price at time of publication.

$249
Speed settings
2
Claimed charging time (hr) View more details.

How long the battery will typically take to charge.

4
Battery voltage (V)
21.6
Battery type
Li-ion
Measured dust collector (L) View more details.

The capacity of the dust collector, measured in litres.

0.4
Weight (kg) View more details.

A lightweight stick vacuum is easy to move around.

2.82
Items supplied with vac
Vacuum cleaner, brush head (power), crevice tool, dusting brush, pet/stair tool, battery charger, and wall mount with screws.
Website
vax.com.au
Swappable battery View more details.

Cordless stick vacs have rechargeable batteries – some are easily removable so you can swap them over with a fully-charged one to extend cleaning time without using a tool. Not all come with an additional battery.

No
Storage for extra tools
Mini vacuum head
Extra tools supplied
Power button type View more details.

An on/off button is simple and easy to use, whereas a trigger release means the user will need to hold the trigger down to keep the vacuum on.

Hard floor head View more details.

This is a cleaning head with a soft cylindrical roller with no bristles - it may be combined in the same head as a bristle roller or separate. 

No
Crevice tool
Yes
Upholstery tool
No
Dusting brush
Yes
On-board storage View more details.

Whether there are storage slots on the vacuum for tools, and how many.

No
Storage on charging dock View more details.

Some stick vacuums let you store some or all of the accessories on the charging dock, which can help prevent them going missing or sitting in a drawer unused.

Not collected
Handheld as well
Yes
Telescopic wand View more details.

This lets you adjust the wand to suit your height, so you can vacuum without bending your back too much.

No
HEPA filter View more details.

HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. Vacuums equipped with HEPA filtration trap the dirt you can't see, rather than sending allergens back into the air.

No
Member reviews

Average rating

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