- Dyson launched the PencilVac Fluffy, after the Fluffycones version
- It features a parallel rather than cone-shaped roller, otherwise the same ultra-compact vacuum cleaner design
- Currently available in the US only, it’s significantly cheaper than the original
Recently, Dyson launched a new, almost impossibly compact vacuum cleaner: the Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones. It looks nothing like a regular cordless vacuum cleaner, as all the main components have been shrunk and hidden in the handle, which itself is about the size of a broom handle.
I tested one and declared it a true feat of engineering and innovation. In fact, I was completely sold on this new design…except for one insignificant problem. Dyson used cone-shaped rollers on the floor head, rather than standard parallel rollers. The plastic housing then follows the shape of the cones, which means that the ground head comes to a slight point at the front.
The knock-on effect is that PencilVac Fluffycones can’t sit flush against a wall unless you approach them from the side, which isn’t always possible. This makes vacuuming room edges unnecessarily tricky, and tasks like cleaning stairs – which this lightweight, nimble vacuum would otherwise be perfect for – become a major problem. This is a problem I also had with the Dyson V16 Piston Animal, which has a similar cone-based floor head.
Imagine my joy when I spotted an alternative on the dyson.com site, launched without fanfare: the Dyson Fluffy. It appears to be exactly the same as the PencilVac Fluffycones, except for the ground head. The conical base head has been replaced by a parallel roller head.
The new floor head looks similar to the Fluffy/Fluffy Optic floor head that comes with the Dyson V15 Detect and Gen5detect vacuums, but is perhaps slightly more streamlined, as the name suggests: the Micro Fluffy cleaner head. Just like the Fluffycones head, the roller is completely covered in soft, dense fibers designed to get close to your hard floors, sweeping away dust and polishing the surface cleanly, without risking scratches.
Potential disadvantages
To me, the Micro Fluffy cleaner head seems to be the clear winner of the two floor head options. This solves the part edge issue and based on the specs it is also lighter.
The only thing that bums me out a bit is that there don’t seem to be any laser headlights on this new version – on the other hand, the FluffyCones have two, one mounted at the front and another at the rear. These help illuminate lingering dust on hard surfaces, to ensure you don’t miss any. They also make cleaning even more satisfying.
The original idea behind using cones is that any long hairs encountered by the vacuum cleaner will go down to the small ends of the cones, to be easily sucked up. It works well, but then again, I’ve never had any issues with the hair winding on the standard Fluffy ground head on my V15 or Gen5detect either. If you have Rapunzel type locks it might be worth considering the FluffyCones version, but otherwise I’d say the Micro Fluffy option will suit you.
The Dyson PencilVac Fluffy is currently available to purchase in the US directly from Dyson, but it’s not yet an option on the UK or Australian sites. It costs $449.99 – significantly cheaper than the Fluffycones version, which costs $599.99.
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