Dyson DC18 Slim

After testing the new DC18 Slim we have found it to be one of our favorite Dysons.  While all the Dysons are great the DC18 has some new features that we found to be amazing and address some of the issues people may have had with older Dyson models.

The fist thing we noticed about the DC18 was how much lighter is when compared to other upright Dysons.  All the other uprights are around twenty pounds.  That may not seem like a lot but if you have to carry that dead weight up stairs or around the house it can quickly become cumbersome.  The DC18 is five pounds lighter and we could really feel the difference when comparing it to the other models.

A great by-product of the weight is the slimmer profile.  We have been using the DC15 in our home which appears bulky next to the DC18.  With the narrower profile the DC18 is easier to maneuver between furniture and around the home.  It is also easier to store.  Of course the DC18 also has our favorite feature - the Ball.  It is so easy to maneuver that it is hard to use a normal upright later.

Another great feature is the motorized brushbar.  With a German Shepard, a Labrador, a long haired cat, two children and medium nap carpeting our house is a great testing ground for a vacuum.  The Slim did a great job on the high traffic carpet areas and performed the same as our DC15.

A few other things that we noticed were the handle and the kickstand for the ball.  The handle has been molded to better align with your hand and is easier to grasp than previous Dyson uprights.  The kickstand on the DC18 has been improved over the DC15 and is easier to use and feels sturdier.  You can see the new kickstand in the picture to the right.  Now you just simply push down on the red release lever.  A great improvement.

The DC18 also has all the great features that come with any Dyson.  It is very easy to empty, no extra costs and has great constant suction.  We also liked how the crevice tool and the large brush were combined.  It made it easier to go from one task to another without changing the accessory.

The one thing we were worried about was the smaller bin size but it ended up not being a problem.  After vacuuming our home we have to empty the bin on the DC15 and even though the DC18's clear bin is 1/3 smaller we could still vacuum our whole home before having to empty the container.  Not bad for 1800 sqaure feet.  The DC18 also has a shorter cord compared to other Dyson uprights and that is really the main disadvantage.

Currently the DC18 is only available in the All Floors model.  There is a lot of confusion regarding the names of the vacuums as many of our customers are under the impression that if they have pets they need to buy an Animal model.  That is not true.  Animal versions of the Dyson differ from the All Floor models only in the accessories that they come with.  Besides that the vacuums are identical.  The Animal models include a mini turbine tool, a low reach floor tool and a carpet cleaning kit.