The All New G-tech AirRam

[myles_v]

I had heard about the Air Ram a while ago, and I was surprised to see it in a Brookstone magazine a few weeks ago. I had just walked by where my dad puts the mail at and saw it out of the corner of my eye. I was actually quite surprised, as Ii was really not expecting them to sell them in America-at least not under the G Tech name.

 

[sebo_fan]

The Air Ram is just the next logical step up from Gtech's long standing cordless sweeper. As told in previous threads, I adore the Gtech's basic design as a cordless sweeper and its a good and cheap alternative to taking out your main size vacuum. Gtech now have a lithium battery powered SW22 cordless sweeper, priced around £70 to £90.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

I was in Brookstone today and noticed the Gtech Air Ram... I was going to start a thread about it and discovered you guys were already talking about it here! This was my first time seeing it, and at first I thought it was just a glorified Shark sweeper (the original Gtech is identical to the Shark Sweepers), but it seems this Air Ram as suction as well as agitation and it is very expensive... 349.99. It better be awesome to command a price like that.

I didn't play with it because I had my hands full with my umbrella and the other things I'd purchased elsewhere, but I did notice a couple of things about it that I didn't like. The first is the power switch halfway down the body of the machine. I always hate that. I also didn't like the way it charges... no docking station, but instad you have to plug a little wire into the battery itself. Machines that cost a quarter of what this one does have a docking station and there is no reason for this not to as well. I wonder how it performs on bare floors. I also wonder about air filtration and how much it can pick up before it begins to lose power.

I bet 5 seconds on my shag rug would kill this thing! From the online animation I found, it didn't look like there was anything special about the brushroll. I'm not sure I would pay 349 for one, but might get one if I found it used for a decent price.

 

[sebo_fan]

I don't think its fair to judge a cordless vacuum with a brush roll on any shag or long tuft rug to be honest. Of course that is going to snag and cause the brush roll to slow down. I watched an excellent video online about this Air Ram at You Tube and its pretty impressive - it isn't an official video but just a home video (see link.)

The whole concept behind it is that it offers owners a very lightweight cordless concept, able to do carpets, hard floors and compacts the dust up in the square bales. It also has an extended run time.

Gtech are the home company who produce their cordless carpet sweepers - Gtech probably gave license to Shark for selling the cordless types.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

The thing is they are advertising this not as a cordless sweeper or supplemental vacuum, but as a machine to replace real full sized vacuums, so the fact that is is cordless shouldn't be considered when comparing it to full sized vacuums. However, there are several full sized vacuums that don't perform well on shag either....

Still, it's an interesting idea and it would be fun to play with...

 

[sebo_fan]

Yes but then there's Dyson's hand held cordless with the long suction pipe and brush roll attached. It might not be a direct rival to a proper vacuum but both the Dyson and Air Ram are allowing buyers to think differently to what has gone on before.

 

[ultraperformer]

I think the Dyson handheld or the Ergorapido offer similar cordless convenience but with added flexibility of above floor cleaning, those would get my money if I wanted a cordless vacuum.

 

[parwaz786]

Gtech Air ram IMO Is not a very nice performer, I ttried it at comet and it spilt the dirt out!!! Go for Dyson, Cordless c lewaning, suction, excellent stair cleaning, car and above the floor cleaning, and can go into tight confined spaces

 

[sebo_fan]

Again though, one has to consider what buyers are prepared to do and to consider what they would need in terms of a vacuum in the home. The Dyson hand held is a good design WITH the tubes and floor head attached. I can't see the elderly lady who lives down from me using the Dyson though instead of the Air Ram - whilst the Dyson has good and versatile cleaning attachments that employ constant changing per cleaning need, for carpet care alone, the Air Ram looks like a neat design.


 


Comet et al are known for having demo machines that have been pretty abused. It doesn't surprise me in the least that the Air Ram at your store could well have spat out dirt - John Lewis stores are notorious for badly maintained demo vacs.

 

[MikeKLondon]

Air Ram

I had one for Christmas and love it, BUT its really only a sweeper and not a vacuum cleaner as there is only a very small airflow that compacts the dust into the bin. Its very, very effective on short pile carpets and hard floors and deals with dog hair but only as a 2nd vacuum for a quick run-round. I use it daily with a Dyson Hand held DC44 or sometimes a Dyson City for above floor stairs car ect, but use a Miele with PN twice a week for a full clean. I love the Dyson Hand Held,o but am not a big fan of the city vac as its so much work to empty and clean out the bin, and the Filtration is so poor, I'd sooner have a bagged vacuum with a hepa filter any-day. All 3 I had for Christmas but I would never have spent my own money on anyone of them.

 

[bagintheback]

This video popped up on my Youtube Subscriptions this morning. Bissell now has the G-tech under their name in Australia. 


 


 


 

 

[rexair]

i finally found one

i saw one today while i was at a mall in dc and picked it up sorry for the blurry pic.