I am very pleased with this vacuum after using it for a couple weeks now. Though there are a couple things that I’ll mention as to choosing if this particular model within the React line is the right choice to make.
This model within the line offers powered reach cleaning (similar to current Shark models) which allows you to not only detach the main canister and carry it around for above floor cleaning but also to maintain power to the brush roll for use under furniture. I believe that all of the React models have a mode (Floor Sense) that will switch automatically from carpet to floor mode and slow down the brush roll speed for hard floor cleaning just by a sensor that detects if it is on a hard floor or carpet. Therefore there are no buttons to push. I do have a very low pile carpet in one room which the vacuum detects as a hard floor and therefore puts the vacuum in floor mode. This can be overruled by turning off the Floor Sense button.
As to cleaning performance, I could not be more pleased. It cleans and lifts carpet nicely. I don’t have any way to measure this, but I can say I am surprised at how it lifts and agitates the carpet. You can feel the agitation in your feet and see crumbs and debris jumping around and rushing into the vacuum before it even reaches where they are. The hose / tool suction is outstanding. I’ve used Dyson and Kirby in the past and this to me seemed stronger, though again, I have no specific proof of that. I will say that it sucked up coins that I didn’t intend to pick up as the wand wasn’t that near to them. There is a convenient suction release lever on the handle that raises or lowers suction and I find that it is often necessary to reduce suction for some tasks. I like that the brush roll spins (at a slower speed) on hard floors and I can tell that this is more effective than other vacuums that use suction only and turn the brush roll off. Its great at getting the stuck on dirt on my ceramic tile floors. This is where a Hoover app on your phone comes in. If you want to disable to the brushroll in hard floor mode, you have to do it from the app which isn’t a huge pain, but it isn’t as easy as if there were a button directly on the unit. I did see a video review where a different React model scattered cat litter around the floor with the brush roll turning so disabling the brush roll on floors via that app may resolve that. I have not experienced scattering.
One of the features that I most love is that emptying it is SO easy and there are few cracks, crevices and and holes on the bin door to collect dirt and everything falls nicely into the trash without having to pick out clumps of dust and hair out of the bin as I’ve experienced with other high end bagless vacuums. The cyclone area is covered with a metal sheath as opposed to plastic screens that is very easy to wipe immaculately clean. Other vacs have taken me longer to clean the bin than it took to vacuum the house and that is not the case here.
There are a couple things that I’m not crazy about. My biggest complaint is that the hose is RIDICULOUSLY SHORT. This has been designed with the assumption that you will always lift the canister / bin off the unit if you use the hose and that is not the case. If I see a cob web on the ceiling, I don’t necessarily need to detach the canister to get that one thing, but the length of the hose makes it frequently necessary to detach the canister or lift the entire unit by the handle (which is not a huge inconvenience, but I’d like a longer hose) . Another thing that I HATE is that you can’t easily pull out the long wand without detaching the canister from the wand. Above I mentioned about deciding which model to choose. On the Professional model (Not a lift away) the hose appears to be much longer and the long wand can easily be pulled out with one click. Had I realized this, I might have chosen that model as opposed to this one as I would prefer a longer hose and easier access to the long wand to the occasional need to vacuum under the sofa. Again, if those functions are important to you, the Proffessional model offers the longer hose and more easily detachable longer wand. On the other hand, the power reach premier model comes with addition tools such as a motor powered upholstery tool as opposed to suction powered on the Professional. The motor driven tool is very sturdy and works very nicely on furniture and stairs. The other tools on the powered reach premier including a floor tool with a micro fiber pad and flexible dusting tool are very nice quality tools.
Minor complaints are that the cord is on the right side of the vacuum and seems to get in the way on that side, plus it interferes when you are trying to dock the canister bin back to the wand / floor nozzle. Also the on / off button are on the right side and it seems like you have to reach around the wand to get to it as opposed to if it (and the cord) were on the left side. This is not a quiet vacuum. It’s not unbearable, but the motor sound is somewhat loud and shrill. I believe this is 18 lbs and while not an issue for a man to carry up stairs, could be heavy for more elderly users. I do find it easier to push on plush carpet than a Dyson Ball.
Because I’m so pleased with how well this cleans, I’m going to focus on that and give 5 stars. The new React Line of vacuums is an impressive release from Hoover and compares nicely with the higher end competitor brands.
