Hoover S3865

 

Avg. consumer rating = 59/100 

Consumer reviews are on the low side for the Hoover S3865 Platinum Cyclonic Bagless Canister Vacuum.  Despite this, the Hoover.com site states that is has been rated as a “Best Buy” by Consumers Digest.  Comments from those who have purchased the vacuum indicate that it does a great job cleaning both hard surfaces and carpet and that the unit has very strong suction.  However it is quite heavy and the power cord is short.

Consumer Sentiment
Consumer ratings were found at several sources and can be seen in the table below.  When averaged these generate a score of 59 out of a possible 100.  This is not a particularly high score. 

Also a review of consumer comments related to the Hoover S3865 yielded the following common likes and dislikes: 

PROS
- Long warranty
- Great looking machine
- Strong suction (and adjustable)
- Easy to assemble
- Not too loud

CONS
- Heavy
- Power cord is a little short
- Large machine so requires space to store

Vacuum Features
The Hoover Platinum Collection Bagless Cyclonic Canister comes with a lot of features.  It is powered by a 12 amp motor and uses Hoover’s WindTunnel Techology.  WindTunnel Technology is described by Hoover as a system of three air tunnels that is capable of lifting dirt from the floor and trapping it inside the vacuum while limited any scattering of debris back on the floor (kind of a vague and rather obvious description but there is not much else written on this). 

The cyclonic action of the Hoover S3865 also helps to “spin” dirt out of the air-path before it reaches the vacuum filters thereby leaving them much cleaner and able to pass air more freely.  This approach (which is similar to a Dyson) limits any loss of suction over time.

Like many vacuums today the Hoover S3865 also comes with HEPA filtration.  This stands for “High Efficiency Particulate Air filtration” and it is commonly used to remove allergens like dust mites, pollen, ragweed, mold spores, pet dander, etc from the air.  HEPA filtration is often a good feature for those individuals suffering from asthma and/or allergies.  The HEPA filter on the S3865 is said to be a “lifetime HEPA” filter and it needs to be inspected and cleaned occasionally.

The Hoover S3865 is bagless and the dirt canister is “bottom empty” meaning the bottom conveniently swings open for emptying.  Bagless vacuums have the advantage of not consuming bags (which can, over time, prove costly) however they are often noted to be a bit messy to empty.  There are limited complaints about emptying the dirt canister on the S3865.

This canister vacuum has a power brushroll which can be turned on or off.  The brushroll on/off switch is located on the vacuum handle along with the power button and suction control.  The ability to turn the brushroll on and off is a good feature as one typically wants it ON for carpets but OFF for certain hard surfaces (that you wouldn’t want scratched) or for vacuuming delicate rugs.

This Hoover is touted as having suction control but this is done simply by means of a manual slide valve on the handle that lowers suction by allowing another air intake (other than the vacuum head).  This approach only provides limited suction control and is not really the same as the ability to increase or decrease motor output (like the approach used in the Miele S2 or Miele S4 series canisters for example).  However it is better than no suction control at all.

There are a number of other features and tools on the Hoover S3865 and these include:

- An adjustable height nozzle.  It can be changed to four different heights via a convenient foot pedal.  This helps to ensure effective vacuuming of different surfaces.
- Tools and attachments: telescopic wand, dusting & upholstery tool, bare floor tool, crevice tool, turbo tool (good for stairs).
- A headlight which can be helpful when you need to vacuum in dimly lit areas.
- A 25 foot power cord with auto-rewind.  Auto-rewind is a nice feature but in our opinion the cord is a little short.  30 plus feet would be better.
- A cleaning path of 14 inches (average width)
- A 7 foot hose

The Hoover S3865 is not a light vacuum cleaner.  It weighs in at some 27 lbs and this, more than anything, has caused some consumer grumblings.  It seems to be something most consumers can work with and they are sufficiently impressed with other aspects of the vacuum to not let this taint their high ratings, but if you are looking for a light machine it could be an issue.

Like most Hoover Platinum Collection vacuum cleaners, the Hoover S3865 comes with a six year limited warranty (parts and labor).  All S3865’s are black and silver in color and noted by several consumers to be attractive machines.

Also we have reviewed all the Hoover machines in the Platinum Collection and these are worth looking at.  You can get an overview of the entire Platinum Collection in this brief article on the Hoover Platinum Collection.