Hoover Windtunnel vs Windtunnel 2: Which is more worth buying? My short answer is the newer version.
The Hoover Windtunnel 2 is generally worth the money. It has excellent suction power, ideal for deep cleaning low-to-high carpets, but not ideal for floor cleaning. Some deal breakers that you should to consider are that it’s heavy and bulky, and its on/off button is in an awkward position. It and its predecessor also have no front lights illuminating your cleaning path.
The Hoover Windtunnel also cleans carpets well but also has many drawbacks, and most of them are the same as the newer version. What makes it slightly inferior to the winner is that its hose is considerably shorter.
Hoover Windtunnel vs Windtunnel 2: Comparison Chart
Hoover Windtunnel vs Windtunnel 2: Differences
The Hoover WindTunnel 2 wins 1-0 and ties once against the Hoover WindTunnel. The two are similar in many factors, except that the latter is better at cleaning corners while the former is better at vacuuming hard floors and has a longer hose. Both are great for deep cleaning carpets and are suitable for those on a tight budget. But consider their heavy weight and bulky size before making a purchase.
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Tie
The suction on the Hoover Windtunnel is outstanding. To give you an idea of how powerful its suction is: I was vacuuming my living room and accidentally passed over my iPhone cable. Guess what happened? The vacuum captured the cable, tore it to shreds, and left it frayed. I had to spend a few bucks to get a new cable, but glad about how powerful it was.
However, this machine didn’t perform well on bare floors. It did tend to push debris behind the floorhead, resulting in a large amount of debris left after the first pass. Even after I made extra passes, it failed to pick everything up. So I recommend buying a hard floor tool and extension wands to do on the hard floor.
The good news is that the Hoover Windtunnel is ideal for deep cleaning low-to-high carpets, thanks to its powerful motorized roller. As long as you set it on the proper surface-type setting and don’t have a lot of large debris on your carpet, it will pick up everything without hesitation. Another pro of this model is that it’s good at cleaning edges, proof that it picked up a good amount of debris that I have dropped at the edges and corners.
As for the Hoover Windtunnel 2, the suction was still great, and the ability to clean bare floors has improved but wasn’t significant enough to make it ideal for this purpose. On carpets, it also performed admirably, and the amount of hair and dirt (dirt, dust, hair, human dander, etc.) that emerged from my carpet after just one pass raised my eyebrows. It was like my carpets had never been cleaned, although they were vacuumed regularly.
However, the Hoover Windtunnel 2 didn’t do well along the wall, meaning its edge cleaning ability is worse than its predecessor. This sounds ridiculous, but it actually happened.
My biggest concern regarding cleaning performance is that the motors on both got extremely hot after normal use. Fortunately, when the unit got close to overheating, it shut off automatically, greatly reducing the risk of burning out the motor and catching on fire.
Another big thing is that there was a good amount of long hair wrapped around the roller, and I couldn’t remove it by pulling myself. Fortunately, it was a breeze to remove the roller to take off any horribly tangled things that stayed on it, such as stubborn long hair or string.
Weight and Maneuverability
Winner: Tie
The Hoover Windtunnel weighs 16.5 pounds, while the newer version is slightly lighter at 16.1 pounds. I’m used to pushing heavy machines, such as the Dyson uprights, so I have no problems with them. But I bet pushing these monsters will make many people end up angry, hot, and sweaty for the first time. These machines have no swivel steering like Shark uprights, so maneuvering each is challenging. And if you are elderly or have a weak upper body, you probably can’t carry it safely up and down the stairs.
In addition, the Hoover Windtunnel vs Windtunnel 2 are very bulky (with dimensions of 44 x 13 x 13.5 inches and 44.5 x 13 x 13.5 inches, respectively). They allow you to store all the attachments on board, but they take up a lot of space and can’t go under furniture.
Hose Length
Winner: Hoover Windtunnel 2
The hose of the Hoover Windtunnel is 8 feet long, while the newer version comes with a 12-foot one. The Hoover Windtunnel hose is on the short side and doesn’t allow me to reach certain areas, such as the ceiling fan and bookshelves. Meanwhile, I was okay with the 12-foot hose of the Hoover Windtunnel 2.
Hoover Windtunnel vs Windtunnel 2: Similarities
Cleaning Path
The first thing these machines have in common is the 13.5-inch nozzle width. This wide nozzle allowed me to cover a large area quickly with fewer passes. But getting the unit into tight spaces wasn’t easy.
Cord Length
The Hoover Windtunnel vs Windtunnel 2 share a 25-foot power cord. This cord is too short, so I had to move the plug various times. Also, it comes out from the bottom of the device, so I must hold it with one hand to avoid accidentally vacuuming or stepping on it.
On the positive side, this cord is retractable, a feature I love very much. Instead of having to bend over and wrap it manually, all I did was press a level.
Filtration System
The duo has two filters: a reusable easy-rinse filter and a HEPA filter. Together, these filters help improve air quality and reduce filter replacement costs since only the HEPA filter needs to be replaced. The replacements also won’t be very frequent, as most of the stuff was captured by the washable filter.
The first can be easily removed, washed, and reused. Just rinse it under running water, let it dry completely, and it will be good to reuse. The HEPA filter, which is responsible for trapping anything past the first filter, will need replacement. The first filter captures most of the particles so that the HEPA will last a long time.
Unfortunately, these machines have no sealed systems. So HEPA filters cannot do their job well since dust and dirt leak in many places, resulting in a bad smell.
Control
The Hoover Windtunnel vs Windtunnel 2 share a knob on their floorheads that’s used to toggle between five settings depending on the type of surface you’re vacuuming. So I had to bend down frequently, which was bad for my back. I wish there were a slider on the handle for this purpose, like the Shark Vertex. I also love how Dyson uprights can automatically adjust the height of their heads to fit any surface.
Moreover, the on/off switch is located in an awkward position, so I also seemingly had to bend over to find and press it.
Quick Rundown of Hoover Windtunnel 2
- HASSLE-FREE CORD REWIND: 25 feet power cord automatically retracts in seconds so you never have to wrap a cord again.Voltage:120 volts
- DEEP CLEANING POWER: WindTunnel 2 Technology creates 2 channels of suction to lift and remove surface debris and deep-down embedded dirt
- OPTIMIZED CLEANING: The multi-floor brush roll allows you to turn the brush roll on for optimal cleaning on carpets and off to prevent scattering of debris on hard floors
- EXTENDED CLEANING REACH: With up to 16 feet of cleaning reach, so you can clean dirt and dust anywhere in your home from floor to ceiling with our live hose and tools
- GREAT FOR PETS: Our advanced allergen block technology and odor-absorbing carbon assists in capturing dust, pet dander, pollen and eliminating pet odors
Quick Rundown of Hoover Windtunnel
- Windtunnel technology: Creates suction to lift and remove surface debris and deeply embedded dirt
- HEPA media filter: Traps 99.7 percent of dirt, dust and pollens down to 0.3 microns
- Room to room cleaning: 5 height adjustments to go from deep carpet to hard floors and 25 foot retractable cord
- No scuff bumper: Protects your furniture as you clean along edges of underneath
- What’s included: Extension wand, crevice tool, upholstery/dusting brush, and powered hand tool
Product Videos
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References:
- Hoover Windtunnel 2: https://hoover.com/products/whole-house-rewind
- Hoover Windtunnel: https://hoover.com/products/windtunnel-t-series-rewind-plus-upright-vacuum
Victor K. Giles is a leading consultant and expert in vacuum cleaner technology with over a decade of experience. As a mechanical engineering graduate in the University of Michigan, he specializes in product development, design optimization, and performance analysis. Victor collaborates with manufacturers and educates consumers, making her a sought-after guest speaker at industry events. His work has been featured in renowned publications, and he shares his expertise on his blog, “The Vacuum Teria”. Victor’s passion for cleaner, healthier living spaces drives his to help clients choose the best vacuum solutions for their needs.