In a world where the Dyson cordless vacuum has taken up a residency in many of our households, it’s easy to forget where our humble beginnings lie. That bright red spherical machine of goodness with character to boot: the Henry vacuum cleaner.
Whether at home, in your very first halls of residence at university or in your foray into the world of renting – chances are you’ve come across a Henry at some stage in your life. Renowned for their simplicity, power and unbeatably long lifetime, Henry’s have become a staple across the UK and beyond for a reason. Think about it, when have you ever felt the need to replace one, except to jump on the bandwagon for the shiny, techy new pseudo-robotic vacuum cleaners on the market?
The only criticisms we can think to make of the classic model are regarding the size, and the fact that it must be plugged in. Yet all our Henry die-hards may now rejoice for our favourite hoover has just been released in a spanking-new, lightweight cordless model called the Henry Quick.
The Henry Quick differs from your classic cordless in two significant ways. Firstly, it still uses bags and secondly, it doesn’t have a pesky filter that requires a delicate hand-wash every few weeks.
At present, the Henry Quick comes in two of the signature colours – red for Henry, and pink for Hetty - as well as a graphite hue without the characteristic face on the side for all you boring lot. It’s currently listed at an affordable price point of £299.99, which includes 26 free pods.
Henry Quick at a glance:
- Power: 25V
- Weight: 3.2kg
- Run Time: 70 min Low, 16 min High (with brush head off)
- Pod capacity: 1L
- Charge time: 150 mins – 100 per cent
- Dimensions: 240x270x1220mm
Buy now £300.70, Amazon
We picked up a Henry Quick in Hetty Pink to see if this new, dust-free cordless cleaning device lived up to expectations.
Best non-stick frying pans: Stainless steel, ceramic and cast iron models
Best cylinder vacuum cleaners to give your carpets a deep clean
Best cordless vacuum cleaners for dust-free days
Best halogen ovens for saving money while cooking
Best air fryer deals: healthier, low-cost meals for the whole family
Best mattress brands to buy in the UK 2024, from Emma to Simba and more
Battery life
The label says 70 minutes of battery life, and so 70 minutes you shall get. Though it should be known that I was putting my Henry Quick to the test in a small two-bedroom flat, I found that I was able to do at least three clean sweeps of the entire square footage before needing to recharge. All this on high-power, mind.
After pressing the ‘On’ button (which is regrettably, slightly annoyingly on the front of the hoover, as opposed to behind the handle), there’s a handy ‘Plus’ button that increases the airflow significantly. I found that, in comparison to my old Dyson V8, full power on my Henry Quick was able to remove hairs, crumbs and solid pieces of food in one sweep – none of that back-and-forth nonsense.
However, if you’re looking to purchase a Henry Quick for a larger household, it might be worth investing in a secondary battery for interchangeable charging. This way, you can be 100 per cent sure you’ll never lose charge halfway through a clean. You can grab one for just £69.99.
Capacity
If there’s one thing that continues to amaze me about Henry vacuum cleaners, it’s their capacity. Though the 1-litre capacity on the Henry Quick would at first seem to pale in comparison to the hefty 9 litres of a regular model, the Henry Quick is designed for domestic use. As a result, you’ll find that 1 litre is more than enough to get you through a fair few house cleans. My one qualm having used the Henry Quick while living with a fellow female flatmate is that the anti-hair wrap isn’t entirely top-notch. Nothing a pair of scissors and some weekly maintenance can’t fix.
Dust-free emptying
Perhaps the only controversial element of the Henry Quick is the fact that it boasts dust-free emptying. Now, for those of us who are not fans of inhaling the entire contents of our cordless vacuums upon emptying them into the bin, and are likewise tired of re-hoovering the dispersed contents, this might just be a saving grace.
With a simple click, the already sealed dust bag is ejected directly into the bin. Plus, if for some reason miss, you won’t be crying over spilled milk.
However, there are a few caveats to this dust-free emptying bonanza. Firstly, the environmental impact. Despite the fact that the pods are made from 65 per cent recycled material, and Henry as a company says that they’re carbon offsetting their pods globally, the fact of the matter is that they aren’t recyclable.
Secondly, the cost of re-purchasing pods. Buying a vacuum nowadays should be a one-and-done situation. No extra purchases necessary. The issue with sticking to hoover bags, or in this instance a ‘pod’ model, is that you’re paying an extra £12.99 to maintain your investment.
On the bright side, you’ll only be paying that extra bob once or twice a year. This is because there are 10 pods in every pack, and they’re designed so that you’d get through about 10-20 per year depending on how much you use your Henry Quick.
Nevertheless, in my two weeks of owning a Henry Quick, I haven’t remotely felt the need to change the pod. The suction hasn’t dropped at all, and the hoover remains just as powerful as before. Indeed, I cannot remember having to often change the bag for my classic model either.
If dust-free cleaning appeals to you more than any of the above, then go ahead and add a Henry Quick to your shopping basket.
Accessories
I’m just as lazy a cleaner as any, so I often find vacuum accessories an utter bore – despite knowing full well that they’ll make my life a whole lot easier. Nevertheless, I was particularly enthralled by the handy charging dock that can be drilled into your kitchen wall with just two screws.
I also found the extra brush handle useful for getting into the crevices between my skirting board and flooring, though it’s a simple attachment you’ll find comes with most cordless vacuums.
Other features
My favourite feature on the Henry Quick is the LED light at the base of the vacuum, which comes on as soon as you start cleaning. As disturbing as it was to realise that there was far more dust on my wooden floor than I could have possibly imagined, being able to sweep it up in one go prevented me from that maddening feeling of seeing a dust bunny a mere 24 hours after a full house clean. I also really enjoyed the fact that there’s a brush-free setting, which ensured my expensive woollen rug remained safe from untoward tugging.
Where to shop Henry Quick
Amazon: £300.70
Henry: £239.99
Very: £299
Argos: £240
Currys: £299
Buy now £300.00, Amazon
Verdict
A fine choice for those who don’t want to spend an entire mortgage on a Dyson cordless, the Henry Quick has all the key features of a top-tier cordless vacuum, at a third of the price. However, despite the recycled plastic material of the hoover pods, and their capacity, the ultra-environmentally conscious might spend a little bit more for a zero-waste vacuum.
