The Bissell Velocity is my very own $130 Dyson!
Written: Aug 13 '07
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Pros: inexpensive, great suction, picks up cat hair, lots of tools, ergonomic, no bags
Cons: tips over easily, need to empty canister often
The Bottom Line: If you're in the vacuum market, you must consider the Velocity!
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| mjtriplett's Full Review: Bissell Velocity Bagless Upright Cyclonic Vacuum |
About 6 months ago, coinciding with the slow and torturous death of my Hoover vacuum, I read a Consumer Reports article that gave a glowing account of the Bissell Velocity, saying that it could suck up a million pounds of pet hair per minute. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I cannot find the article today, so you’ll just have to take my word for it. A few days later, I walked out of Target with my $130 Velocity and the hopes that I could rid my carpets of our two cats’ constantly accumulating cat hair.
Assembly
I pulled out the contents of the box as soon as I got home. Usually my husband is in charge of assembly, but he wasn’t available and this didn’t look too difficult. It only required a Philips screwdriver and the ability to read instructions. In fact, all I had to do was screw on the handle, several wraps and clips and then snap in the hoses and tools. It only took me between 5 and 10 minutes before I was ready to give the Velocity a test run.
Design
Someone definitely ran this model through more than a few test runs, because it’s so very ergonomically nice. The handle is slim and curves slightly back at the top so that it’s comfortable for pushing, pulling and carrying up the stairs. The hose wand where you snap in all the on-board tools is curved to do corners and crevices at a nice angle with the best suction as opposed to being straight on. Although my husband would disagree, I actually like the look of the Velocity. It’s a retro purple color, with black and silver attachments.
Bagless
The Velocity doesn’t require any bags; it has a dirt canister on the front just below the on/off switch. The canister is clear so it’s easy to see what you’ve picked up, especially if it happens to be something you’d like to retrieve. The canister is easy to empty, just slide the locking switch to the left and it will drop down. So long as I empty it after each use, I have no problems. If it gets too full, however, the dirt and hair will get stuck up above the part of the canister that comes off and will fall down and create a mess when you unlock the lever. It’s not a big deal to clean it out after each use, though, and the vacuum looks better when the canister has been rinsed out anyway.
Size
The Velocity has 7 height adjustments, ranging from bare floors to extremely high carpet, all adjusted easily with the turn of a knob on its base. It also has 3 different positions: upright for storage, slightly back for regular vacuuming, and low for getting under those tables and other furniture. The actual base is 15 inches wide, so it can cover a lot of ground in just one swipe. One of the best things about this vacuum is that it is extremely lightweight. Unlike my Hoover, I can carry this up the stairs one-handed without breaking a sweat. The only problem is that it is very back-heavy. No matter how many times I remind myself to steady it, it tips over when I’m using the on-board tools and makes a loud smacking sound on the tile floor that one time actually set off our “glass breaking” alarm!
Cord and Tools
The Velocity’s cord is 35’ long, which comes in very handy for my triple landing staircase. I can plug it in at the bottom, vacuum the stairs all the way up and even part of the upstairs hallway before I have to switch outlets. The cord wraps around clips that rotate so that you can release all of it at once instead of winding and winding and winding.
For tools, the Velocity comes fully loaded. There are two wand attachments for ultimate reaching power when snapped into the 14’ stretchable hose. A crevice tool and dusting brush make corners and baseboards a breeze. My favorite, the turbo brush, is a mini-vacuum that works great for the stairs or for furniture. It has powerful suction so long as you remember to press it gently; pressing it firmly on a surface interferes with the rotating brush.
Filters
There is a pre-motor filter and a post motor filter. The pre-motor filter is just below the dirt canister and is washable. I pull mine out every couple of weeks and wash it down with mild soap and it’s good as new. On the front of the vacuum there is a filter indicator that starts at green. If it turns black, there is a clog in the hose or filter. I haven’t had this happen as of yet. It turns to red as the filters become dirty. When it’s red, like mine just was, the post-motor filter will need replacement. It’s a very simple open door, snap in new filter, process, but the new filters will set you back about $13/each. I just got mine and had no problem installing. The manual says it will require replacement every 3-6 months depending upon use. I vacuum at least once a week, have a lot of cat hair and a toddler, and mine made it just short of 6 months.
Suction
Although I haven’t used a Dyson, I have no desire to get one after seeing how much pet hair this vacuum picks up. There is none left on my carpets when I’m done cleaning and I love to see the difference! The suction is very strong, even the last couple times that I vacuumed when the filter was getting dirtier. My cats are both long-haired and they shed a lot. My dirt canister is pretty full after each use, but this is so much better than going over the same area twice with my Hoover. One swipe with the Velocity and I can actually see the difference in my carpet! The same is true for furniture. Instead of spending half an hour getting the hair off that one spot on my couch, a couple runs with the turbo brush takes care of it! I’m extremely pleased with the suction strength for both bare floor settings on tile, berber and plush carpets, and on rugs.
Final Thoughts
I’m giving this vacuum five stars because its suction power, tool availability, ease of assembly and use, and low cost beat any minor annoyances such as tipping over or needing to empty the canister frequently.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 130
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mjtriplett
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Member: Mel
Location: Minnesota
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