Gtech System K9 Vacuum Cleaners - Review

Highlights:

K9 models have added aluminium component parts to withstand the extra strain from pet hair
Spares filters and two chargers in the System K9 box
Both machines are light-weight and easy to carry and manoeuvre
Scented cartridges leave vacuumed areas smelling fresh and inviting
High power performance and good battery life for cordless machines

If you live in the UK and have watched daytime TV in the last few years, chances are you’ve seen adverts for the Gtech cordless vacuum cleaner introduced by its creator, Nick Grey. I was always curious to see what Gtech vacuums were like and if it delivered on performance and power, so when Gtech sent me their System K9 to test and review, I was certainly excited and intrigued.

The System K9 is essentially a bundle pack that includes both Gtech’s upright vacuum, the AirRAM K9, and it’s handheld vacuum, the Multi K9, both of which are designed with pet owners in mind. The K9 version of Gtech’s cordless vacuums have an improved rotating brush head and added aluminium component parts to withstand the extra strain from pet hair and accompanying dirt around the home. As a part-time pet owner myself, (I share a Ragamuffin cat with my in-laws and as the name suggests she is very fluffy!) I know first-hand how much added dirt and hair there can be from just one small cat so any enhancement can only be a good thing.

In The Box

Before we get on to performance, let’s see what comes in the surprisingly small box. For the AirRam K9, there is the vacuum head, upper and lower handles, spare filter and charger, and for the Multi K9 there is the main unit (with crevice tool stored inside the handle,) dusting brush, power brush, spare filter, extension tube and charger. Each machine has a scented cartridge in them (more on this later) and there are also 4 extra scented cartridges in the box. Finally, there is a hair removal tool to assist with removing hair from the brush bar.

Even before using the machine I was mightily impressed that there were spare filters for each machine in the box which means you can wash one whilst using the other. Having two chargers is also fantastic as you can charge both batteries at once and keep the chargers in different rooms or floors of the house. So far so good!

Assembling each machine is easy and the manual includes handy picture instructions to follow in case you need them. From here on out I will discuss the machines one at a time starting with the AirRAM K9.

AirRAM K9

Assembly and Charging

As mentioned, assembling is very easy and literally takes seconds to put together. The actual machine is made mostly of plastic but it has a good solid feel to it and doesn’t feel cheap. I also love the black colour design with lime green accents. Before using the AirRAM K9 I decided to charge the battery fully so I could clean the whole house. The 22V lithium-ion battery battery can be charged whilst in the main head or it can be taken out if more convenient. Charging from flat takes 4 hours and the charge indicator shows 4 solid green lights to show when it is fully charged. It’s straightforward and the lights turn off one by one to indicate the state of charge during use.

Performance and Runtime

My home is a two bedroom house with a mix of carpeting, hard floors and rugs and I found the AirRAM K9 to be very impressive at picking up debris and dirt. I found making two passes is effective at picking up dirt although I tend to make three passes out of habit. The brush bar has really strong bristles which really get into surfaces and picks up the dirt in deep crevices. The AirLOC system is designed to pick up large debris from the surface as you push forward and is really effective at trapping and collecting large debris.

I managed to clean the whole house in around 20 minutes and there were still two lights left on the charge indicator which tells me that Gtech’s promise of 40 minutes of runtime with each 4 hour charge to be pretty accurate. The house was also left smelling fresh thanks to the scented cartridge, which is definitely a very useful and innovative feature.

Emptying the bin and cleaning the filter

I had to empty the bin 3 times during the clean and found it to be straightforward if not perfect. The bin comes out of the main head easily and opening it requires lifting and releasing the latch marked with a green arrow. You then hold the whole thing over a rubbish bin and push the green ejector arm down towards the rubbish bin to push all the debris out of the bin. It took out the majority of the debris but there was still some left in the upper corners of the bin which took a few firm taps and shakes before it dislodged and fell into the rubbish bin. This happened a few times but it wasn’t a major issue.

Gtech recommends cleaning the filter once a month or more depending on use and I suspect that the latter will apply to most. Removing it is quite easy and a few taps gets rid of a lot of the debris. It can also be washed under a tap if needed but has to be bone dry before being used again which is where the spare filter comes in very handy.

Features I Love:

The handle design is great as it can twisted so you can reach under tables, chairs, beds and other furniture with ease. Along with this, the front of the vacuum head has LED lights that are very useful for spotting dust and debris in dark corners. The machine is lightweight at just 3.2kg, making it really easy to manoeuvre and carry up the stairs. The vacuum has a scented cartridge alongside the filter which releases a wonderfully smelling fragrance upon use and really helps eradicate pet smells that can infiltrate the house.

K9 Multi

Assembly and Charging

Moving on to the K9 Multi now and again assembling the machine was super easy with much of the device already being set up. Again, the machine is powered by a removable 22V lithium-ion battery and has a 4-stage LED on the battery to show how much charge is left. I charged the battery again for 4 hours until all 4 green lights were illuminated.

Performance and Runtime

I used the K9 Multi in the car and was impressed by the performance immediately. FItted with the dusting brush, it made light work of all the areas of the car and I was genuinely surprised at how quickly it took to clean. Moving inside the house and it also did a great job on the stairs, this time fitted with the power brush. The suction was very impressive and it soon filled up the bin with lots of unseen dirt and debris. The crevice tool, geniously stored inside the handle, is super handy and comes in useful when cleaning the edges of the stair banister.

In terms of runtime, I got about 20 minutes out of the device before the battery gave out which is what Gtech suggests. This gave me enough time to clean the car but I had to charge the battery again before cleaning the stairs. So it is sufficient but I do feel for a 4 hour charge I was hoping for a runtime of at least 30 minutes.

Emptying the bin

This is where I felt the device could be as user friendly as using the machine itself. You have to wiggle and pull the bin out of the device which requires some real force. Once this is done, you hold the bin over a rubbish bin and release the latch to empty out the dirt. It did this very well although a few firm taps help unclog the rest of the dirt. It also helps to remove the filter and give it a good tap to remove further dirt. Like with the AirRAM K9, the filter can be washed under the tap and the spare filter used in its place.

Features I love:

The vacuum has a fantastic lightweight build weighing just 1.5kg, and it also feels really comfortable in the hand. I also really love the fact that you don’t need to hold the on button to keep the vacuum running, press it once to turn on and press it again to turn off. An LED light at the front of the machine is very handy for spotting dirt in dark nooks and crannies in the car and around the house. The scented cartridges really do make a difference to the smell of the house, leaving a fresh and floral smell behind. It has a high power performance that really impressed me and the accessories are all really useful for various cleaning jobs around the house.

Overall?

After years of seeing Gtech adverts and being curious by how the cordless vacuum performs, my hat goes off to Nick Grey and the Gtech team. Both machines in the System K9 bundle are super powerful and pick up dirt and debris on all surfaces including carpets, rugs and hard flooring without any hassle. Both are lightweight and easy to carry around and designed with the user firmly in mind, with innovative features like the LED lights and scented cartridges. Pet owners will certainly benefit from these features and even the inclusion of two chargers, spare filters and scent cartridges, and the hair removal tool are all examples of the thought that has gone into creating this line of Gtech vacuums and System K9.

The K9 Multi could do with an extra 10 minutes runtime and the bin could be easier to take out but all in all the System K9 bundle thoroughly impressed me and both machines combine to make light work of cleaning the house and car.

Both machines are certainly worth having around the house to tackle all vacuuming tasks and the System K9 bundle is great value for money.