Truly sad thread about backpack vacuum cleaners - does anyone have one?

[Gingernaut]

I have an older Numatic James vacuum cleaner (Henry's little brother)

He's a pain in the arse. Unlike more modern versions, there's no cord rewind (I take the hose off the unit and spin it to wind the cable round the motor housing). He works, but he's nightmare fuel

In spite of the fact the little fucker is round, he gets stuck on corners and door frames and looking back to see what's wrong, his little grinning face infuriates me, as I have to rescue him and pull him free.

Hauling him, the extra long hose, the tubing and the accessories up and down the stairs and then trying to clean the stairs with him is hard going and requires multiple trips.

I have found out about back pack vacuums and, embarrassingly, I'm getting quite excited about it

Literally, a vacuum cleaner that fits like a backpack and can be used with only the cable to worry about.

The only ones I can find are commercial, with some specifically for aircraft.

Does anyone have a backpack vacuum?

Can they recommend their one?

I don’t have one but a friend works for the royal household at Windsor and they use them to clean the v long corridors. She said it was a game changer - I think she said it was a shark one? Or maybe the shark ones were for “normal” rooms. She loves the backpack ones anyway.

See, this is the thing.

I can see it making it easier for stairs, the small rooms and the high bits around the picture rails, but why aren't they a 'thing'?

Why aren't they popular?

Nothing useful to contribute, you would be a ghostbuster

Fear of crossing the streams, probably.

😂

Op, I agree re. that smug little face grinning away as he gets stuck on the door frame for the billionth time - I’ve seriously considered painting over his face!

Can’t help with a dedicated backpack vacuum, sorry.

However! I bought a Shark upright (anti-hair wrap, lift away as per pics) for use at home a couple of years ago. Didn’t ever intend using it for work (I’m a cleaner), but turns out I’ve actually ended up using it a lot. The lift away function means I can put a strap through the handle and sling it over my shoulder, and I use it like this when doing extensive walls/ceilings/stairs and also ladder work (leaves a hand free for safety).

Your thread has prompted me to dig out an old harness from a petrol strimmer to see if I can adapt it to clip the lift away behind me, rather than hanging to the side - so thank you for posting!

Oh my words, there is definitely a business opportunity here. I would love one. It's my pet hate getting the hoover stuck on all sort if things that shouldn't be there

My robot vacuum changed my life. The day it learns to climb stairs is something I dream about.
in the meantime - cordless dyson. Is that an option?

Have you looked at cordless vacuums? Just lift off charger and go. No cables, no heavy machine. We have a few-years-old dyson and i can do the house top to bottom on one charge.

I've seen a cordless Dyson in 'action' and frankly, wasn't impressed with the battery time.

That day may be a long time coming 🤣🤣