It’s extremely portable, but it doesn’t have the suction power of the others. CR’s expert lawn mower tests are uniquely useful because they combine scientific rigor with real-world usage. To give you ratings and reviews of the latest models by early spring, Consumer Reports’ testers travel to Florida to conduct tests in late winter at grounds we specially prepare each year. We plant 1,800 pounds of grass seed (predominantly annual rye, prized for its dense growth).
Among self-propelled battery models, more than half earn that distinction, and all receive at least midlevel overall ratings. The top self-propelled battery mower, from Greenworks, is priced lower than the top-rated self-propelled gas model, from Honda. Notably, even hyper tough battery those battery mowers that are more expensive to buy may cost you less in the long run. A CR analysis found that depending on the model you choose, the savings on gasoline and maintenance can more than make up for the price difference within a few years of ownership.
Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). We’re currently testing a selection of Milwaukee’s Air-Tip products, which are specialized vacuum tips for tight spaces and extended reach. Senior staff writer Signe Brewster has been using the vacuum for a year and a half. She said that aside from having to replace a ripped filter—which bit the dust (pun intended) while sucking up chunks of concrete and limestone—she continues to use the Ridgid HD1200 without issue. Last, we’ve placed vacuums in the hands of a number of Wirecutter staffers, and we continue to get their feedback. Also, debris needs to take a tight right turn as it exits the hose and enters the vac canister.
If you’re looking for something smaller and more portable, we like the DeWalt DCV581H 20V 2-Gallon Cordless/Corded Wet/Dry Vac. This is a much smaller vacuum than the Ridgid models, and it doesn’t match their capabilities on larger messes. But it’s a real champ with cleaning up little projects around the garage, in the house, or in the basement. Because there’s also a cordless option and this vac is so light, you won’t have a problem using it in a crawl space, a tight attic, or an outbuilding that needs a little tidying, like a potting shed. While the 36-minute run time was impressive, the capabilities of the DeWalt are limited by the small motor and hose diameter. We had no problem sucking up wood shavings, drywall dust, and little bits of this and that, but this vac had problems with anything heavier, like a nail or a screw.
And this vac is similar to the one I’ve spent countless hours using at home and on lots of job sites during my construction career. I’ve never had any problems with it, hyper tough tool set and I’ve never found another wet/dry vac that was noticeably better. Failure to pick up within the given time or refusal of product will result in a 20% restock fee.
For the size, this vac is easy to lug around, and it comes with a great selection of attachments. After a new round of testing, we’ve added Milwaukee’s 12- and 18-volt vacuums to the Competition section. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions.
On other models, like many of the Shop-Vacs, the accessories are on a caddy up at the top; this causes trouble when the hose is moving back and forth over the vac during a cleanup. On construction sites, I’ve often seen these caddies get thrown away as a result of frustration—and then, a month later, all of the accessory nozzles are lost. These heavy-duty vacuums suck up water, sawdust, nails, and screws with equal vigor. We’ve been testing and using them for years, and our favorite is the Ridgid 12-Gallon NXT Wet/Dry Vac HD1200.
Additionally, through my construction work and at my own homes, I’ve dealt with at least a half-dozen flooded basements and have found wet/dry vacs to be instrumental in removing water and cleaning up. They’re more eco-friendly than gas machines because they don’t produce noxious fumes or use fossil fuels. The most energy-efficient battery mowers in our ratings earn CR’s Green Choice designation, signified by a simple green leaf. Not only is that efficiency good for the environment but it’s also to a small degree good for your wallet. There is possibility that there are other Hyper Tough power tools that utilizing the T terminal.
On the other vacuums we recommend, the blower port is located opposite to the vac port which makes more sense to us. The Hyper Tough 20V MAX power tool interfaces with the +, T, and – terminals on the battery. But when we masked out the T terminal on the Hyper Tough 20V Max 8″ 2.0Ah 20V Battery Powered Cordless Pole Saw, we have found that the pole saw still operated.
And with its four casters, well-positioned handle, and manageable weight, this model isn’t that difficult to drag through a basement or clunk up a flight of stairs. The Ridgid 12-Gallon NXT Wet/Dry Vac HD1200 comes with two wand extensions and three nozzles (one for general use, another for wet spills, and a small one for detail work). They all store on the vac and out of the way—a smarter design than that of many competitors’ accessory caddies. This Ridgid vac is regularly sold on the shelves of Home Depot (where it has thousands of mostly five-star online reviews).