Eureka AirSpeed Gold Bagless Upright Vacuum
- Details
Avg. consumer rating = 82/100
The Eureka Airspeed Gold is a relatively inexpensive bagless upright vacuum that provides strong suction through Eureka's Airspeed technology. It comes with a number of attachments and is also getting good reviews from owners. Consumers like the unit's powerful suction and easy-empty dirt canister but the vacuum is a bit heavy and several owners note that the filters need to be cleaned frequently.
Consumer ratings were found on a number of reputable sites and indicate that, for the most part, owners are happy with their purchase (see table below). - However we have done an "Update" at the bottom of this article that you will want to read -. You can compare this to other vacuums in our Vacuum Cleaner Ratings table or in the Upright Vacuum Ratings table.
| Source | Consumer Ratings | #Ratings |
| Amazon | 4.1 stars out of 5 | 15 |
| Best Buy | 4.2 stars out of 5 | 9 |
| Kohls | 4.8 stars out of 5 | 13 |
| Lowes | 4.7 stars out of 5 | 6 |
| Sears | 5 stars out of 5 | 1 |
Also, a review of consumer comments provides some insights into common Eureka Airspeed Gold likes and dislikes:
PROS
- Strong suction
- Very easy to empty to the dust canister
- Turbo attachment works well
- Effective on both carpet and bare floors
- Good edge cleaning
- Wand is easy to use
- Long power cord
- Not too expensive
- Fairly easy to maneuver
CONS
- Filters need to be cleaned frequently
- Filters require periodic replacement
- Heavy
- Instruction manual is not very easy to understand
- Lots of plastic used in construction
- No auto cord rewind
- Brushbar cannot be turned off
About the Airspeed models
There are presently several different models of Airspeed vacuum cleaners by Eureka. These include the Airspeed AS1000A, the Airspeed Pet AS1002A, the Airspeed Gold AS1001A and the Airspeed Gold AS1001AX. The Gold AS1001A and the Gold AS1001AX are the same machine but the AS1001A is the model available in Canada while the AS1001AX is available elsewhere (like the USA).
All the Airspeed models are remarkably similar with the Gold series having a longer power cord than the other two and also a few more tools. The Airspeed Pet comes with a special pet power brush and also a pet upholstery brush.
Airspeed technology involves utilizing a short but large diameter air pipe (with few bends) between the floor and the dirt canister. The exhaust pipe is also larger to accommodate the increased airflow through the machine. This approach is said to increase vacuum suction and dirt removal. There is also a switch that allows the user to transfer all the airflow to the extension hose for cleaning with tools/attachments.
The Airspeed Gold Vacuum Cleaner
The Eureka Airspeed Gold is powered by a 12 amp motor and it also uses cyclonic technology (many vacuums are using cyclonic technology these days this seems to have been made particularly famous by Dyson). Eureka Whirlwind Cyclonic Technology spins air at very high speeds which causes dirt and debris to be drawn out of the airpath and into the dirt canister. This approach is said to help maintain strong suction while vacuuming (while the dirt canister is filling) and to also help filters stay cleaner longer (although several owners feel that the filters need to be cleaned rather frequently on this machine).
The Airspeed is designed for both carpet and bare floors and it uses a powered brushbar. The brushbar on this machine cannot be turned off however and some folks may feel this to be an inconvenience or a problem on some hard flooring. There is height adjustment to accommodate both bare floors and carpet.
HEPA filtration is standard with the Eureka Airspeed and this will be good news for those suffering from allergies or asthma. HEPA filtration removes the likes of pollen, dust mites, pet dander and other allergens from the air. The dirt canister is bottom-empty and is reported by consumers to be quite easy to empty. In addition, the Airspeed Gold comes with a number of tools and attachments:
- extension wand (plastic)
- combination dusting brush and upholstery tool
- stair and upholstery turbo brush
- crevice tool
The vacuum is marketed as lightweight but at 18.5 lbs it really isnt that lightweight, and some consumers even complain that it is too heavy. It does have excellent reach however as the result of a lengthy power cord of 32 feet and a 14 foot accessory hose. The power cord is non-retractable however, to some owners disappointment. It also has a fairly wide cleaning path of 14 inches, edge cleaning capability and it carries a 2 year parts and labor warranty.
UPDATE (March, 2016)
Due to the number of negative comments at the bottom of this page we decided to do an update on consumer ratings for the AirSpeed Gold AS1001A. Ratings vary widely for this machine but on average are still not too bad - at 82/100.
| Source | Consumer Ratings | #Ratings |
| Amazon | 4.1 stars out of 5 | 484 |
| Walmart | 4.4 stars out of 5 | 114 |
| Bed Bath & Beyond | 2.6 stars out of 5 | 10 |
| Macy's | 3.6 stars out of 5 | 5 |
| Kmart | 4 stars out of 5 | 42 |
To understand how good a vacuum that rates 82/100 is, it is useful to look at a large list of vacuum ratings and see where machines ranked 82 stand. Are they above average or below average for example.
It is interesting that almost all vacuums - no matter how bad - rate 50% or more. When I was in high school (which admittedly was some time ago) that was a passing grade. But I wouldnt touch a vacuum that rated 50 with a ten foot pole. But then with the 5 star scale you are actually starting at 1 star (because you cannot give a 0), and 1 star is already 20 out of 100. In other words if you absolutely hate a machine you still have to give it at least 20.
To borrow an idea from one of our friendly neighbor sites, it may help to consider vacuum scoring along the lines of the following:
< 75 questionable
75 to 80 average
80 to 90 good
> 90 excellent
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