Bissell PowerGlide Cordless 1534
- Details
Avg. consumer rating = 77/100
The Bissell 1534 is a cordless, bagless vacuum that is somewhere between an upright and a stick vac. If you are expecting an upright then you will feel this vacuum is very lightweight. If you are expecting a stick vac then you may feel the 1534 is on the heavy side. As it is not entirely a full size vacuum it isn’t a good fit as the sole machine for a large home (canister fills quickly and narrow cleaning path width). This, like most compact vacuums, is best for quick, smaller cleaning jobs. If you know what you are buying this vacuum can be a good choice. If you expect something else you may be disappointed.
| Quick Specs | |
| Type | Upright/Stick Vac |
| Bagged/Bagless | Bagless |
| Best for... | Hard Floors & Low Pile Carpet |
| Pet Hair Features | No |
| Approx. Weight | 11 lbs |
| HEPA Filter | No |
| Power Cord Length | Cordless |
| Motor Driven Brushbar | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 Years |
Consumer Ratings (Updated April 2017)
Back in November of 2015 when we first reviewed this vacuum it was getting stellar ratings from owners and it scored and excellent 94/100. However we have noticed over time that the ratings have slumped significantly, so we have redone the ratings for this machine. When averaged the latest ratings generate a score of 77/100 which is not particularly good for either an upright or a stick vacuum. You can view our upright vacuum ratings and stick vacuums ratings if you like.
| Source | Consumer Rating | #Ratings |
| Amazon | 3.2 stars out of 5 | 61 |
| Walmart | 4.2 stars out of 5 | 118 |
| Kohl's | 4.1 stars out of 5 | 81 |
| HSN | 3.6 stars out of 5 | 17 |
| Best Buy | 2.7 stars out of 5 | 9 |
| Lowe's | 3.5 stars out of 5 | 8 |
Consumer Insights
A review of owner comments has provided the following list of pros and cons:
PROS
- 2-in-1 feature works well
- Very maneuverable
- Easy to assemble
- Has a small footprint
- Fast charge time
- Bagless with washable filters
CONS
- Hose is short
- A bit top heavy
- Hose attachment is friction fit (doesn’t “click” into place)
- Has a tendency to clog
- Several complaints that suction is insufficient
There are a number of owner comments about the “look” of the 1534. They seem pleased with the styling of the vacuum and are fond of the metallic blue color, the grey trim, and the sleek, attractive body style.
Probably the most common owner comments relate to the 1534’s light weight and small footprint. Owners like how the light weight makes this vacuum easy to move, easy to maneuver and easy to carry from room to room or up and down stairs. It is also very easy to store as it is a relatively small machine.
However, some folks report that the wand assembly doesn’t provide them with the cleaning reach they would like. This is, in part, likely due to the rather short 6 foot hose. Also, there are several comments that there was no manual in the box. Owners were disappointed but also point out that the unit is so easy to assemble and operate that the lack of a manual was not that big a deal (you can find a link to the manual at the bottom of this article if you need it).
Other prevalent comments include:
- the unit feels sturdy despite being made with quite a bit of plastic.
- the dust canister is easy to empty
- the cordless approach to vacuuming is great
- convenient vacuum for quick cleanups
- excels at bare floor cleaning
- good vacuum for older folks, kids, and those with smaller areas to clean or with a lack of storage space
- suction not as strong as one might get with a full size upright
You can read more owner comments on Amazon
Following is a short video from Bissell that shows the Powerglide at work. It is useful to get an idea what it looks like, see its features and better understand how it works.
Details and Specifications
This is a cordless, bagless, lightweight vacuum cleaner with “Lift-off technology”. The “Lift –off technology” simply means that the dust canister and motor can be lifted off the vacuum body and carried along with you. It’s a great feature and one that we recall from the very popular Shark Navigator Lift Away upright vacuum. This feature is very useful when cleaning stairs, hard to reach areas or even vehicles. It is especially practical when combined with cordless technology, like it is with the 1534.
Bissell write that the vacuum gets “up to” 45 minutes of run time on a single charge, and while that will undoubtedly vary depending on the kind of vacuuming (carpet cleaning while running the brushbar will soak up more power than bare floor cleaning for example), this is quite a lengthy period of time. The 45 minute run time is actually confirmed by many consumers – although some say it is a bit shorter.
Comparing the 1534 run time to one of its main competitors, the Hoover Air Cordless, we find that the Hoover only provides about 25 minutes run time on a charge. Although Hoover has been smart about this and their vacuum comes with 2 batteries so they boast 50 minutes of run time.
Also the 1534 can fully recharge in 2-4 hours (Bissell claim 2 but most owners say between 2 and 4). This is fairly fast compared to many of the machines we have looked at, although recharge times continue to come down. The battery on this vacuum is a 36 volt lithium ion unit. These kinds of batteries provide fade-free power - which means they will deliver power evenly without dropping until such time as they are exhausted. Many owners are not used to this and are surprised when the vacuum just stops without it having visibly slowed along the way. This is normal.
The battery is also charged outside of the vacuum. So the battery is removed and placed in the charger and when it is fully charged it is put back in the vacuum. One might expect this to be something of a bother but most folks don’t find it an issue. It should also be noted that the machine has two power settings – hi and low. Obviously hi will draw more battery power.
The vacuum is designed to handle both carpet and bare floor cleaning. It has a motorized brushbar which can be turned on and off via a switch midway down the vacuum handle. The brushbar is typically turned off when vacuuming smooth flooring (this minimizes scatter) and turned on when vacuuming carpet.
Suction is created via cyclonic technology. Cyclonic technology involves sending the air stream through cyclonic cylinders which spin the air very rapidly in a spiral path. As the air spins the dust and debris are forced out via centrifugal force and into the dust canister. There are no bags and one simply empties the dust canister when it is full. The dust canister is bottom empty and easy to detach, empty and reattach.
The pre-motor filter on this machine can be washed, dried and re-used which is a nice feature as it reduces consumbles and saves money. The 1354 does not come with HEPA filtration however, but this may or may not be an issue for you. You can read more about HEPA filtration in our HEPA filter article.
The vacuum is a lightweight 11 lbs (we’ve seen figures anywhere between 10.8 lbs and 11.4 lbs). This combined with its swivel head makes the unit very maneuverable. The vacuum can be steered by twisting your wrist and the low nozzle height helps the vacuum get under low furniture. The nozzle, however, only has a 9.5 inch wide cleaning path which is rather narrow for an upright but about what is expected on a stick vacuum. A narrow cleaning path means it does not vacuum as much area in one pass as a larger vacuum (with a wider cleaning path).
The vacuum also includes a combination dusting brush and upholstery tool (stores on board the vacuum) and a soft bumper that helps ensure no scuffing or scraping of walls and furniture. The Bissell Powerglide 1534 vacuum is UL listed and carries a 2-year warranty. You can view the warranty here to find out particulars.
Vacuum Cleaner Manual
Some retail outlets indicate that the 1534 comes with a user’s manual but some consumers report not finding one in the box. With our without the manual the 1534 is easy to assemble, operate and maintain. However we have a link to the manual here: Bissell Powerglide 1534 Manual.
Summary
The 1534 is an option if you are looking for something in-between an upright and a stick vac. It is a good fit for smaller homes or apartments, and is best on bare floors but still capable on carpet (low pile is best). It also has a significant run time of up to 45 minutes on a single battery charge. It comes with a lift-away canister that provides portable vacuuming ability. Its lightweight frame make it popular with older folks, but consumer ratings to date are not particularly good and quite a few people have noted that the machine clogs easily and that the suction is not very strong. Also, if you have a large home with lots of carpet however, this may not be the best vacuum for all your cleaning needs, although it is still very convenient for quick cleanups. This machine’s main competition is the Hoover Air Cordless.
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