Rainbow or Competitor
Greg,
I can only comment on the Hyla and Rainbow. I have the new Hyla and Rainbow.
I am not a lab so these are JUST my observations.
I much prefer the Rainbow based on 2 major areas of the machines where it proves to be superior either in ease of use, design and cleaning performance.
The Rainbow is better performing with the new power nozzle design.
Rainbow power nozzle:
(1) brush guards so it does not pull the rug edges into the nozzle and cause it to stall or shut down
(2) brush on the Rainbow does not tend to get threads and dog hair wound around the brush roll. I think this MAY be due to the larger diameter and the softer brush design
(3) Rainbow has much narrower channel design for higher air movement
(4) Rainbow has direct connect wands with step on release
(5) easier to use wand release. My Hyla power nozzle has only one pedal
(6) Rainbow has all enclosed wiring and direct connect to the hose
(7) New power nozzle revolving side brushes to get the dust on the edges and along the baseboards
Rainbow Motor unit:
(1) oblong dolly that is not as wide and easier to move around the furniture
(2) BIG ADVANTAGE-Longer electric hose and ONE hose set up. No need to keep changing the hose from suction/water pick up to electric hose
(3) Rainbow has the more advanced Hurricane brush less motor
(4) Rainbow will store the fuller brush on the machine and easier tool storage
as tools store higher on the unit.
(5) easier cord storage-with Rainbow just loop and drop on holder
(6) better design and pick up of the fuller brush floor tool
(7) Hyla uses 2 times the water so the machine is much heavier to pull around on the carpets
(8) more advanced carpet shampoo system with motorized brush
(9) love the Rainbowjet to wet clean the hard surface floors
(10)on/off /lock on power nozzle control on hose handle with quick release suction release under your thumb.
(11) I prefer the 2 piece wand system to the Hyla one piece that is much heavier to lift.
(12) Service and parts are available for Rainbow but my Hyla dealer has already closed and moved on. Now forced to order from wherever the company sends you. They DO NOT sell replacement parts on their web site directly to customers.
These are just some of my observations after using both machines. The new Rainbow power nozzle has proven much more effective and easier to use on my carpets and very good on sand pick up.
Yu may want to check as I have done posts before about the differences of the machines on the forum with pictures of the differences of the power nozzles
These are both good machines but I feel the Rainbow to just be much more user friendly and easier to use plus they offer the new Aquamate, Rainbowjet for wet cleaning floors, Minijet for small spaces and the new Super mop for hard surface floors.
I have knowledge of the other water vacs