DirtTamer® Ultima V2510 Cordless Wet/Dry Hand Vac

I've used this or previous Filter Stream models for over 15 years. It has GREAT suction - picks up even the smallest dirt particles as well as larger pebbles, is easy to clean, works well on wet pick up, even on carpet & the tools are handy. Of course, we all wish the batteries would last longer, but has been satisfactory. I've raised 3 kids, 2 cats & a dog with a Filter Stream vac, using it virtually every day, so I really have good basis to recommend it. Have even given them as gifts (housewarming, wedding & baby shower). That said... I must say that I am currently quite disillusioned on this one point: When my battery died recently, I couldn't find a replacement online (which I have done before). When I called Filter Stream, they said they are no longer selling replacement batteries; rather I would need to buy a whole new vac. The reason: a safety concern with customers installing the battery incorrectly. The story: the company decided to stop letting customers replace their own batteries because they'd had a lawsuit due to a small fire, and they couldn't afford the liablity. So I told him I wanted to talk to someone in management, who would actually listen, to let them know this was ridiculous. I got a call back the next day from the co-owner of the company! Ok, I will say that's a first - typically, I never even get a return email! So we discussed the situation for quite some time - he was extremely receptive to my comments & explained the situation - basically they are in a big pickle over one lawsuit(and they are not even sure what actually caused the fire), causing their liabilty insurance to go sky high, so for legal reasons, had to take this stand. Without ranting on about our law-suit happy society, this is certainly a case of one bad apple ruining it for all of us! Anyway, I explained my view about how bad it was to be so wasteful, financially AND environmentally, by disposing of a perfectly good vac unit for want of a replacement battery, and he totally agreed. He said they are considering ways to re-design it to make the battery replacement easier and hopefullly fool-proof, but it may be too expensive. Admittedly, it could have been a better, more user-friendly design in the first place. My conclusion: I will go ahead and purchase a new vac this time because: A) it IS the best one out there, especially at that mid-level price range, and B) I want to support the company in their attempt to make this improvement. However, if they don't, when the time comes, I wouldn't buy a new vac that does not have a replacable battery.

I bought this vac after reading all the reviews I could find on it.. they all sounded very positive. One big reason for buying this model was that it has a HEPA filter, which is very important to us since we live in the dusty desert and have to deal with allergies as well.The basic vac is pretty darn nice... it has a nice comfortable, balanced feel and pretty good suction. It has not run the battery down any time I have used it so far... seems pretty strong.I immediately noticed two problems with the basic unit though, and did some 'engineering changes' to improve it:(1) The on-off switch was almost impossible to operate using just one hand. It is a smooth, dished button that you have to slide with the thumb of the hand holding the handle. Good idea, except that it was so smooth that my thumg couldn't get a grip on it, especially to turn it off, so I would use my other hand to work the switch. I cured that problem by 'dimpling' the button with dots of super-glue, then using super-glue to make a strong ridge across the middle (side-to-side) that my thumb could get in front or back of to turn it on and off.(2) The 'headlight' shines back into your eyes making it hard to see what you are doing in dark areas. I solved that one by putting a small piece of aluminum duct tape across the top part of the lens. It not only keeps the light out of your eyes but also reflects more light toward the area you want to see... works much better.The one problem I have yet to solve involves the HEPA filter. You remove the foam filter that comes installed in the vac, then install the HEPA filter in its place. Problem is, HEPA filters are usually used as a FINAL filter, after the air has passed through the normal filters. Also, the HEPA filter for this vac is pretty darn small in area. Using it as the main filter as they do with this vac, it plugs up almost immediately since it has to catch ALL the dust-type of contamination coming through the vac (the larger debris is caught in the large basket-type prefilter that you remove to empty). I have to clean the HEPA filter after just a few minutes of operation or the suction really decreases... very inconvenient! I have temporarily installed the original foam filter in front of the HEPA filter to see if that helps. Trouble is, they didn't design it to work that way and there is really not very much room for the foam filter. I have not used it enough to know if this is going to solve the problem. If not, guess it's time to try the Dyson DC16 hand vac and sell this one.

The intended purpose for this hand-vac was for daily touchup in my vehicles. It does an excellent job, the attachments are "spot-on", especially the upolstery brush on the A/C vents. The nozzle will fit into most auto cup holders....a quick twist of the wrist and presto! all the little particles that live in the bottom are sucked right up.The other reviews here are reasonably accurate, most of the negatives (short batt. life, headlight too bright, too noisy)are of no consequence to me as an individual user. The unit runs plenty long enough at full power to brisk through the floors and seats of an average 4 door sedan.The comments about the lack of a "positive snap" when placing into the charger do have some merit. However I keep mine flat on a shelf, so it hasn't been that big a deal.I have owned 2 dirt devil/dust buster units in the past, both were a waste of money. One of them I often found myself picking up the dirt with my fingers and putting it into the nozzle. This unit has surprisingly strong suction. I still take my cars down to the big vac at the quarter carwash occasionally, but this unit keeps them spiffy on the inside for a long time.

I have been looking for a small, handy vacuum with good HEPA filtration for a long time. I bought several in the past, and none of them worked for me, including this one. Thanks to the HEPA filter, the exhaust air from this unit is acceptable, and it is very powerful for a hand-held vacuum. Unfortunately it is extremely loud, making it extremely inconvenient to use. Before using it, I first have to make sure that both my husband and cats are not around, and then I have to put ear plugs in. It is so loud that my ears ring even with ear plugs. I would rather take time and use my full-size Miele canister and its attachments!