Hoover Platinum Collection Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum

Click to see on Amazon

 Avg. consumer rating = 85/100 

The Hoover Platinum Collection Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum is sometimes referred to as the Platinum Collection Cordless Stick Vac or sometimes simply the BH50010 (which is the model number).  It is a cordless and bagless stick vacuum cleaner and is the first stick vacuum to come equipped with Hoover’s WindTunnel technology. Also, out of the 13 retail sites we found with consumer ratings, not one had ratings that averaged less than 4 stars out of 5, and most were higher.

As indicated this is a bagless vacuum cleaner which means that it uses a dirt-cup instead of a disposable bag. There is a long standing debate about whether bagged or bagless vacuum cleaners are better – bagged tend to make it easier to dispose of the collected dirt, and it is cleaner to throw away the bag and put a new one in.  Bagless do not require purchasing and disposing of bags but it should be noted that they often have filters that need to be maintained or replaced and they rely on seals to prevent the dirt-cup from leaking.

The BH50010 is the first stick vacuum to come equipped with Hoover’s WindTunnel technology that, as explained by Hoover, is a system that lifts and traps dirt very efficiently (using three distinct air channels) without any scattering.  The unit uses rotating brushrolls to help pick up dirt in carpeting and these can be switched off (via a switch on the handle) to transition the vacuum to bare-floor surfaces.  This vacuum is very light, weighing in at 7.3 pounds.  The weight and cordless design make it very easy to move throughout the house while vacuuming.  The product dimensions are approximately 11”x8”x42”.  Please note there is a new version of this vacuum, the BH50020 - see our note at the bottom of this article.

The Hoover Platinum Collection Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum runs on an 18-volt Lithium Ion battery.  The battery is interchangeable and can be used with the Hoover LiNX Platinum Collection Hand Vacuum.  The vacuum is marketed as having “fade-free power”.  This is the result of using a Lithium-Ion Battery as opposed to the more traditional Ni-CD batteries in which power tends to fade over time.  Hoover also claim that the 18 Volt Lithium Ion batteries have about a three hour charge time compared to an 8-16 hour charge time for traditional Ni-CD batteries.  The battery is also Energy Star rated (environmentally friendly rating) as the result of the “smart charging” system in which charging stops when the battery is full – this conserves energy and protects the battery.   The vacuum also has a battery fuel gauge that shows remaining battery life.

Other vacuum cleaner features include an 11 inch wide nozzle, automatic height adjustment, edge cleaning bristles, and a low profile base and Extreme Recline Handle that allows for easy access under furniture.   The BH50010 can also stand up on it’s own and does not need to be leaned against furniture or a wall.  It carries a two-year limited warranty on the vacuum and a two-year limited warranty on the battery and charger.

Reviews of consumer comments indicate that in general consumers feel the vacuum is a good buy.  High consumer ratings (table below - updated 2016) also show that most owners like their Linx stick vac. 

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Highest Scoring Vacuums

#1 CORDLESS VACUUM:   Dyson V8 Absolute (94/100)

#1 UPRIGHT VACUUM:      Shark NV752 TruePet (94/100)     Also see Shark NV801 (94/100)

#1 CANISTER VACUUM:    Miele Complete C2 Hard Floor (93/100)

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The following common pros and cons are also noted:

Pros
- Great for small spaces & quick pickups
- Powerful and light
- Very good on both rug and hard surfaces
- Great for stairs
- Quiet

Cons
- Short battery power (consumers report 15-20 minutes)
- Long time for battery to recharge (consumers report about 3 hours)
- Small dirt-cup.  Must be emptied frequently.
- Probably not a replacement for your larger vacuum

Specifications:
·Brushed Edge Cleaning
·Brush Type: motorized
·Brushroll Shutoff
·Bagless
·Dirt Path: center
·Handle: comfort grip
·Height Adjustment: auto
·Replaceable Filter
·Cordless

There is also a Hoover LInx video that is informative - see below.  It is indeed a commercial but it is helpful in seeing the vacuum and learning about the features. 

UPDATE 2018 - There is a new version of this vacuum out now.  The new version is the Hoover BH50020.  It is essentially the same machine with a few small tweaks.  The newer version is getting good reviews and it is probably the one to get (for some reason it is also sometimes less expensive than the older unit).  You can see it on Amazon.