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Henry Quick vacuum cleaner review

Numatic has released its first-ever stick vacuum, which uses pods for clean emptying - and we got our hands on a Henry quick to test! Read YourHomeStyle's review to find out what we thought...

Our rating

4.5

Oli Woodman / Our Media

Published: October 26, 2022 at 2:21 pm

Our review
A powerful cordless cleaner that’ll keep your house (and even your bin) free of dust and dirt

Pros:

Unique mess-free emptying, impressive suction, very good battery life, brilliant for cleaning stairs

Cons:

Too large for restricted spaces, ongoing cost of pods & their environmental impact

The Henry Quick is an all-new cordless stick vacuum from Numatic. Best known for its smiley range of Henry tub style vacuums, it’s fair to say that the British firm hasn’t rushed to produce a cordless stick-type vacuum cleaner. Taking its time and doing things a little differently has really paid off though, and we rate the Henry Quick amongst the best vacuum cleaners of its kind. Read on to find out why:

What makes the Henry Quick different from its competitors?

Where the Henry Quick takes a major departure from similar vacuums is the fact it uses a small bag or ‘pod’ instead of emptying directly into a canister.

Once full, the pod is ejected into a bin with a single push of a lever. Thanks to the self-sealing end, it's a far cry from the dusty, sneeze-inducing process that emptying canister vacuums can be. Loading up a fresh pod is almost as easy and takes only seconds.

Henry Quick being emptied into bin
As the name suggests, the Henry Quick is speedy to empty - but it's the cleanliness of the emptying process that really impresses. - Oli Woodman / Our Media

A disadvantage of this approach is that Henry Quick will require an ongoing cost when other machines do not. There’s also the environmental impact of such pods to be considered, though Numatic states they are produced from up to 65% recycled material.

Numatic has been particularly generous when it comes to initial pod supply, providing 26 in the box with each new Henry Quick.

Given that the 1-litre pods may well take a couple of weeks to fill then with regular use, we think that could easily be a year’s supply for a typical owner. New pods are currently priced at £12.99 for a pack of ten.

How does the Henry Quick perform?

Overall we were very happy with the performance of the Henry Quick, though it does have its limitations.

At 3.2kg the Henry Quick is a competitive weight for a cordless stick vacuum. It feels particularly light and agile when pushed against the floor but if you’re looking to dust higher surfaces or reach for those irritating cobwebs then expect a workout to the forearm.

Henry Quick cleaning with combination tool
The combination tool is ideal for dusting and spot cleaning - Oli Woodman / Our Media

The Henry Quick features an on/off button rather than the trigger that you’d find on many Dysons and other machines. It’s less fatiguing to your fingers, particularly during a longer cleaning session.

Henry Quick handheld section
The 3.2kg Henry Quick has ergonomics similar to that of a power drill. - Oliver Woodman / Our Media

The powered brush tool is the one that most Henry Quick users and will have fitted most of the time. It articulates freely and does a great job of collecting loose dirt from thin to thick carpets and hard floors with strong suction right to its edges.

The brushes used inside this tool do pick up hair over time, reducing their effectiveness. Thankfully, Numatic’s clever design allows for fast and tool-free removal of the brush bar, so a quick pass with a pair of scissors is enough to keep these working as new.

The LED lights at the end of the brush tool might look gimmicky but can be genuinely useful for those awkward corners or when you need to vacuum beneath furniture.

Henry Quick brush head
The powered brush attachment of the Henry Quick is particularly effective. - Oliver Woodman / Our Media

The supplied 2-in-1 combination tool is ideal for dusting or spot cleaning and can be used with or without the cleaner's extension tube.

Henry Quick is equipped with two motor speeds - suction in the regular setting is well-judged and proved more than adequate for most scenarios but press the button on Henry Quick's simple interface and you’ll boost the motor’s power even further. Once boosted, Henry Quick becomes a fair bit louder than its normal quiet volume, but suction increases significantly.

Henry Quick powered head light
The LED lights of the powered brush tool can be useful for shaded areas - Oliver Woodman / Our Media

With the brush attached and the motor boosted, the vacuum can actually offer too much power for some scenarios and can aggressively lift certain surfaces or make the machine difficult to move. Numatic knew this and has incorporated a vent into the brush head which allows you to bypass just enough of the suction to avoid such stiction. It's great having this additional power on tap but we found it was usually unnecessary.

The Henry Quick really excels where traditional Henry tub style cleaners and indeed any upright cleaners do not – and that’s on staircases. The cleaning head is perfectly sized to clean a single step of a staircase from edge to edge, making it easy to clean an entire staircase in record time.

Henry Quick vacuum cleaner on stair
The Henry Quick excels when it comes to cleaning stairs - Oliver Woodman/ Our Media

A nice touch is that Numatic provides a scented disc that can be installed in a space behind the vacuum's motor. The disc provides a subtle but pleasant smell which we reckon will be especially useful for those who vacuum around pets.

The click-on tubes, tools and accessories are nicely made. Some of ours started off a little stiff to fit and remove but freed up after use.

The relatively large form factor of the Henry Quick did make it disappointing for use in smaller spaces. One example is car cleaning, where the large canister made it awkward to adequately clean footwells. Even with the narrow crevice tool attached, the Henry Quick’s large body meant it wasn’t possible to reach the narrow area surrounding the car's seat rails.

How long does the Henry Quick battery last?

According to Numatic’s claims, the Henry Quick can last up to an hour in its normal setting and with its powered brush switched off. As impressive as that is, it’s not representative of how most people will use this vacuum.

Henry Quick Battery behing charged in socket
We were really impressed by the battery life of the Henry Quick - Oliver Woodman / Our Media

Our typical usage involved having the powered brush on most of the time but rarely using the motor’s boost setting. With this sort of use, the battery life provided by the 25.2v removable pack far exceeded expectations and regularly lasted around thirty to forty minutes - a full charge will take 150 minutes. A battery life indicator means you shouldn’t ever run out of power unexpectedly.

Is the Henry Quick for me?

The Henry Quick is an excellent choice for someone looking for a convenient and effective household vacuum. It’s great for all but the smallest of spaces, has impressive battery life and represents good value for money at its £299 retail price. Where the Henry Quick really sets itself apart is its dust-free emptying, so if you’re tired of time spent over a dusty bin then this is the answer.

Still undecided? Browse our ultimate guide to the best vacuum cleaners in 2023 to see our picks of everything from cordless to robot vacuums!

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