Product: Oreck Ultra XL
Price: $500
Rating: Recommend*
Nutshell Review: While not the most attractive member of the 2008 vacuum club, the Oreck XL Ultra is, nevertheless, a very pleasing standout. It's motor delivers huge sucking power, it's frame is very light and it has the old fashioned simplicity of a bagged vacuum with NO attachments that will appeal to the minimalists among us. Think of it as the Buddy Holly of vacuums...
Full Review: We tested the Oreck XL Ultra in our offices on dirty floors and were pleasantly surprised. Despite looking like a machine that's been behind the Iron Curtain for 30 years, it was a powerful brute that handled super easily due to it's overall lightness.
The Oreck XL Ultra is surprisingly agile, moves under and around furniture with ease, and the box-like head that houses the roller brush hugs the floor to provide a very focused sucking area. Bags are used, which Oreck claims are a crucial part of the "odor control system." They also claim that their bagged model cuts down more on microbes, is lighter than bagless vacs and is therefore superior. While we agree that that the lightness was pleasing, we were not able to find any sucking or odorific difference from other bagless machines tested.
Bags cost $55 for 20.
The Oreck XL Ultra has no attachments, a significant part of it is made out of metal and seems incredibly sturdy. While many might find these qualities limiting, it has the appeal of simplicity and gives one the sense that it will last for years and years. Indeed, Oreck has been in business since 1963 and got their start making machines for use in the hotel industry. Think of these things at commercial grade machines with no bells or whistles that will take a beating and keep on ticking.
Product Pitch: IntellaShield Technology™ creates a bacteria-fighting barrier around the Oreck XL Vacuum, combining antimicrobial protection to resist the growth of odor and stain causing bacteria plus powerful odor control. First, Microban®, an antimicrobial agent, is built right into the vacuum cleaner. It actually penetrates microbes and inhibits their growth and ability to multiply in and on the vacuum. And this lifetime antimicrobial protection is infused into places where microbes accumulate, like the handle, roller brush, and base plate - never washing off or wearing away. Intellashield technology featuring Microban protection works 24/7, even when the vacuum is off! Plus, the odor controlling inner bag and odor shield in the outer bag work to eliminate everything from pet odors to other stubborn smells. This powerful odor control system makes your home fresher and cleaner than ever before, easily and effortlessly. And all that performance is packed into a vacuum that weighs just nine pounds.
*Our Ratings:
Strong Recommend
Recommend
Weak Recommend
Avoid!
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Comments (10)
I appreciate its retro look, and am happy to hear that it performs well - but $500 and no attachments? $55 for 20 bags?
My Dyson ($400 with a coupon) doesn't have a bag and I haven't noticed any "stubborn smells."
Please review a Miele next - I've always wondered...
Consumer reports rated it really low.
yep, the oreck is a throwback to the land of door to door salesmen stuffs...on the flipside, check out that awesome tin-tin statue in the background!!!
Major misuse of the contraction "it's" in this post. It's not, "It's motor delivers huge sucking power, it's frame is very light..." Please take more care.
And the company is from New Orleans... so you are supporting the economy!
I purchased an Oreck XL from one of those television shopping shows. I don't recall which, so I won't mention any. This has been at least 6 years now and I have never regretted the purchase. The only thing I've had to purchase was the bags. My XL is the 8 pounder and came with a canister vac and one of those rechargable handheld vacs for the car. (So 3 for the price of 1). I would purchase it again and highly recommend it. Whatever you choose,remember -- buy once and buy well. American made is the way to go and it came/comes with the awesome Oreck guarantee.
One more thing -- I've never paid $55 for replacement bags. I generally buy them at the Oreck store located in Cherry Hill, NJ.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Oreck, which I bought about 8 years ago and have had zero trouble with. It's lightweight, slim-line for easy storage, and does the job on hardwood and carpet even though I've got four cats. I've had it cleaned and serviced once just to replace the belts and give it a going-over, but no repairs necessary.
No, I don't work for Oreck, although I am from New Orleans. You can get refurbished ones (that are still waranteed) for less than $500 on eBay last I checked.
i did a lot of research on vacs before buying the bright green Oreck 3 years ago. i was having my baby and have 4 cats so i really wanted the best.
i think it is superior to other brands at the mid price range. it did come w/a canister vac with plenty of attachments that work great, and a fancy iron, but i haven't tried it.
i use it on thick shaggy wall-to-wall carpeting and on tile... oh and pick up kitty litter and sand off tile floor. so i really like it. when i tried to pick up stuff like that with my regular vacuum it would just blow the sand and stuff around.
We own three vacuums.
The Oreck is my Honda with 750,000 miles and still running the same. Or maybe an air-cooled VW. Simple to use, simple to maintain, though JUST a LIttle LOUD. (!!) Leaves visible fur and bits along the baseboards, though ... this is not a precision instrument.
The Roomba is a poor, wrecked, electric microcar with battery problems. Parked in the garage awaiting a mechanic.
The Dyson Slim is a powerful and exhilarating dream machine. Fun to drive, responsive handling, with every conceivable attachment. The extra time it takes to knock the pound of dust and dog hair out of the dirt catcher is strangely gratifying. Not bad for 10 minutes' work. I'd compare this to a brand-new BMW.