Customer Reviews

Bissell PROlite Multi-Cyclonic Upright Vacuum, Bagless, 17G5

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

Length:: 7:15 Mins

I put together a video review of the Bissell Prolite. Here's what you'll see in the video...

1. A review of how easy it is to put the thing together.
2. Basic features.
3. Included attachments and the use of the hand-wand.
4. A demo of the cleaner in-action.
5. How to clean the chamber with 2 clicks.

It really is a great cleaner, because it's quiet, powerful, has a variety of attachments and cleaning options, and more importantly it is SUPER easy to clean.

I hope you enjoy your new Bissell Prolite!

I currently own an Oreck XL and I've just compared this Bissell to the Oreck side-by-side. Here are my overall impressions of the Bissell 17G5, as well as a comparison to the Oreck XL Classic.

Assembly: Putting the Bissell together is a piece of cake and doesn't really even require instructions. Simply slide the top half into the bottom half, secure with two Phillips screws, and you're pretty much ready to go. You do need to plug the hose into the base, but that's quite simple. The total assembly time was less than 5 minutes.

Quality: The Bissell seems to be well-built. I sense that with a little care, it will last for a long time. Comparing it to the Oreck, it's my view that the Oreck's build quality is probably superior. However, Bissell did a nice job with this vacuum and I would expect it to last.

Performance: The Bissell outperforms my Oreck, although the Oreck is also quite good. This Bissell has a 12 amp motor versus my Oreck's 4 amp motor. Don't get me wrong, the Oreck XL is a quality, efficient product, but it's my sense that the Bissell picked up more stuff from the carpet. The Bissell seems to handle non-carpeted floors better due to the self-adjusting feature. The Bissell also offers a hose and attachments that allow you to get into crevices and difficult-to-reach areas that would be tough or impossible for the Oreck to get to.

Value: The Bissell vacuum is considerably cheaper than the Oreck, so I'd consider it the better value.

Weight: The Oreck is the clear winner here. It only weighs about 8 pounds and I'd say that the Bissell 17G5 is roughly 17 pounds or so. The Bissell isn't difficult to use, but the lightweight nature of the Oreck XL is very attractive.

Attachments: I'm not crazy about the way that the various attachments secure to the hose. There's not really a latch or anything that clicks into place. Friction and force alone seem to hold the accessory heads to the hose. I had a head pop off of the hose while vacuuming several times and had to really push the head onto the hose end to keep it in place. I'd much prefer some sort of a more secure mechanism that clicks or locks into place. I also wish that more of the Bissell's attachments could be stored on the vacuum itself, rather than having to store them in a separate draw-string bag (provided).

Brushes: I like the fact that you can turn the Bissell's brushes on and off. The switch is illuminated and located in a convenient location on the upper handle of the vacuum. I also like that the Bissell's brushes stop spinning when the handle is in a vertical position, even if you don't turn the brush switch off. My Oreck does not allow me to shut off the brushes, and this could result in a burn to your carpet if you leave it running while the unit is stationary.

Noise: The Bissell is quite a bit quieter than the Oreck XL.

Operating costs: The Oreck has a smaller motor that presumably uses less electricity, but how long are you going to run a vacuum for anyway? Probably not all that long. The Bissell uses a bagless system, which seems to be superior and certainly more cost-effective, as you won't have to buy replacement bags. The Bissell's bagless dust bin (if that's the right term) is very easy to empty. Changing the bags on the Oreck isn't rocket science, but it takes a bit more work.

Verdict: Both the Oreck XL and the Bissell 17G5 are excellent performers. However, if you are looking for more performance at a lower price and with lower operating costs, I'd recommend the Bissell. If owning a very lightweight unit is important and you don't mind paying more for a lighter unit with good, but slightly inferior performance, but perhaps a marginally better build quality, you might like the Oreck XL. One thing is for sure, the Bissell is a quality performer and you get a lot of vacuum for the money.

Over the last couple of months, our family has had the opportunity to try out several vacuum cleaners side-by-side in our house and we're starting to get a good feel for what makes a good vac. The main vacs that we've been using are the Bissell 17G5, the Bissell 16N5, and the Dyson DC15.

As far as the Bissell 17G5 vacuum goes, I'd have to say that it is an excellent machine if you are willing to live within its limitations. It actually beats out the larger, more expensive 16N5 in several categories - and really excels in small areas.

Here are the main advantages that we found in the 17G5:
1) The 17G5 is far more maneuverable than the 16N5, which feels clunkier. Actually, the 17G5 is more on the level of the Dyson in this area; although the Dyson is a more powerful vac.
2) The 17G5 has an automatic height adjust for carpet, which the 16N5 is lacking. That actually seems like a surprising omission in the larger vac since it really is a nice feature.
3) For us, the 17G5 is just the perfect size to stash away in a bathroom closet; but the larger 16N5 is just too big for that.

The 17G5 is smaller than either the Dyson or the 16N5, and there is a price for that compact size. Here are the disadvantages that we ran into:
1) The 17G5 has a 12 amp motor like the other vacs, but it doesn't really seem to have the same amount of suction on carpet. For example, we vacuumed our upstairs rooms completely with the 17G5 and then followed immediately over the same area with the 16N5 - the larger 16N5 actually picked up more dirt than the smaller unit had on the first run. (In our previous tests, we couldn't really detect any significant difference in suction between the Dyson and 16N5 vacs.)
2) The cord on the 17G5 is several feet shorter than the cord on the 16N5 which limits the smaller vac to smaller areas unless you're willing to constantly be moving which outlet your plugged into. The Dyson actually has the longest cord of the bunch since it is 5 feet longer than the 16N5.
3) The attachments on the 17G5 are not stored on the vac like the other units. This probably isn't a huge deal most of the time - but it can be a hassle to go find the attachment bag on those times when they are needed.
4) The 17G5 has a smaller cannister than either of the other units. This makes a big difference if you have pets that shed a lot.

There are other significant differences that can't really be categorized as either a pro or con. For example, the vacuum head on the 17G5 isn't as wide as the other vacs so you won't be able to cover as much floor space with each push - but that also makes it possible to get into smaller areas where the larger 16N5 struggles to reach.

Overall, I think the Dyson is probably the best vacuum of the bunch - but it is also significantly more expensive and I'm not sure it's really that much better than the other two. If you find yourself trying to decide between the 16N5 and the 17G5, then the size of the space that the vacuum needs to cover is probably the most important factor. As I mentioned, the 17G5 is easier to store and maneuver than the larger 16N5 and it really seems to excel if you keep to smaller areas. For larger areas, I'm not sure you would really be happy with it.

I recently reviewed the Bissell 16N5 Healthy Home 12 Amp Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner, so my expectations of a vacuum cleaner are now much higher! In that review, I highly recommended the 16N5 with the only caveat being that it was a bit heavy and perhaps not a good choice for Grandma. Tip: if it is too hard to push, just turn the height adjustment dial, as it may be too low (especially with higher carpet).

The Bissell 17G5 PROlite Multi-Cyclonic Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner is also very nice and significantly lighter (and easier to push) than the 16N5, but I prefer the 16N5 over the 17G5 (I will explain why below).

The first thing you will need to do with the 17G5 is about 5 minutes of very easy assembly. You'll need a Phillips screwdriver. You basically slide the handle onto the unit, and then screw in two Phillips screws to secure the handle in place. The instructions discuss assembling other pieces, but these steps were already done on the unit I received. This actually created a moment of confusion for me, when I was looking everywhere for the hose to install, per the assembly directions. I finally noticed that this hose unit (which is very different from other vacuums) was already in place. If you buy this unit, you'll see what I mean how the hose is a bit different, as it is very stretchy and flexible.

I have one major complaint that causes me to ding this vacuum one star. There is a large marketing sticker on the base of the vacuum, and they used some glue that apparently cannot be removed. I ended up having to leave the sticker on in order to avoid the unit being covered with glue. This is very irritating, and I don't recall the Bissell 16N5 having this problem. I seem to recall that the sticker on the 16N5 was tricky, yet possible, to remove, whereas this one seems impossible. There are plenty of glue products that allow for easy removal by the consumer, so Bissell needs to change the glue it uses. Who wants to keep marketing stickers all over the vacuum?

There are three other points about this 17G5 that cause me to not like it as much as the 16N5. First, the removal and cleaning of the various filters is not quite as intuitive as on the 16N5. On the 16N5, the filters are very well labeled, and it is easy to figure out what to do without having to find the instruction booklet. On the 17G5, perhaps due to its smaller size and lighter weight, it's not quite as intuitive, and one needs to read the instructions to figure out how to access all of the filters.

Second, there is no headlight on the 17G5. I don't know how much the light actually helps in seeing the floor ahead of you, but I did find that I missed it right away. Not a show stopper but something to consider.

Third, most of the attachments have to be stored in an accessory bag, rather than having a home on the unit itself. This increases the chances that you will lose those attachments. I really liked how the 16N5 had a home for each attachment on the unit itself, but of course, this factors in to the weight. Keeping the attachments off the unit helps keep the 17G5 lighter.

On the flip side, there are a few advantages of the 17G5 over the 16N5. First, it is significantly easier to push, due to its lighter weight. And it has an auto-height adjustment, so you are not going to accidentally have the unit set too low, which can make it hard to push. The 16N5 has a dial to adjust the height. Second, the 17G5 comes with more attachments, including one that lets you easily get underneath a sofa.

One of the marketing points of the 17G5 that had me excited was its supposedly very long hose length. My test is to put the unit at the bottom of the stairs and see how many steps up I can get with the hose. This was very disappointing, as the 17G5 only let me get about 1/4 of the way of the stairs, despite the marketing claim. The 16N5, on the other hand, lets me get about 3/4 the way up the stairs.

I have had good luck with Bissell products over the years, and 16N5 AND 17G5 are both overall fantastic vacuum cleaners. I especially like the bagless feature and the simplicity of the controls. On the 17G5, there are two buttons: (1) power and (2) brushes on/off. My last vacuum cleaner had more buttons than I can recall, which just adds confusion.

Look for my review about the 16N5 to read why I like the bagless feature so much.

In summary, if weight and ease of push are your most important factors, go with the 17G5. But if you don't mind working up a bit of a sweat while vacuuming, then go with the 16N5. Regardless of the model you choose, you will likely be very happy with a Bissell bagless vacuum cleaner.

Okay, I admit it. I'm a complete Dyson fanatic. I don't really think that any vacuum can be nearly as good as my Dyson (the second one I have, and only because I got it on sale and sold the first Dyson for what I paid for it.)

So why would I like a Bissell? Well, because I had a brand new Bissell right before I got my Dyson, and I loved it!

This ProLite model is even better than the original Bissell I had, and that's saying something.

It picks up like a champ on carpets, and the attachments are easy to use, in fact, even easier than the Dyson. A quick clip and swing, and the attachments are on. (If you ever had a Dyson, you'd understand that while the attachments work great, actually putting them on the vacuum is akin to an aerobic exercise workout.)

The other important thing is how much lighter this Bissell is than my Dyson. It's about a million percent easier to push, which is a nice thing when you feel like vacuuming is giving you carpal tunnel syndrome.

So how about the pick up? Well, in my opinion, the Dyson is still better. I have a huge, hairy dog, and from what I can see, the Dyson does a better job of sucking the hair out of the carpet.

But how much better? Not more than THREE times better, which is roughly how much a Dyson cost next to the Bissell ProLite.

So if you aren't housing Noah's Ark in terms of pet hair, this Bissell is an excellent choice. You'll also save some money as well, and maybe your wrists.

I'm still a huge Dyson fan, but I have to admit, for the less-hair dog household, the Bissell wins, in handling, pick up, maneuverability, and most importantly these days - cost!

Maybe my 12 yr old Fantom Fury had me spoiled, because I don't find much of any innovative, thoughtful design behind this Bissell, as the box it came in suggests.

My old Fantom had all the tools I needed conveniently stored in various locations on the machine. This Bissell holds the bendable wand and that's it. The wand has an annoying rattle when the vacuum is carried. If you want to use any of the other attachments, you need to tote around the storage bag that comes included, while you are vacuuming. The manual does say you can store the crevice tool on-board, but I don't see the place to put it.

The power and brush buttons are illuminated but there is no headlight. I don't see the point in having illuminated buttons since I won't be vacuuming in the dark, but a headlight would be nice for dark areas underneath tables, etc.

Pros:
Lightweight, easy to push, easy to carry
Good suction, even when the container is near the full mark
Good suction on the hose, too
Easy to empty the container into the trash, just push the button
Long 25' cord
Brush can be turned off on bare floors
HEPA filter & washable pre-filter, easy to access

Cons:
Needs on-board storage for all the tools, it's a pain to carry them around
No headlight
Instruction manual is hard to comprehend, pictures 1" tall and poorly shot
Hose & extension wand not quite long enough for me, I am 5'4" tall and I can't reach the top of my vaulted ceiling, 11 feet up.

If having your attachments handy while you do your vacuuming isn't a priority for you, you will more than likely be happy with this vacuum. If you like easy access to your attachments, probably not. Lack of on-board accessory storage is a deal breaker for me.

I like the PROLite vacuum, but I would love it if the design could be changed to hang ALL the attachments on the sides.

This will be a short review because we are waiting for a response from Bissell on the problem described below. The vacuum was easy to put together and all went well until we tried to use it on our oriental rugs (machine made). The suction is so great that the vacuum sticks to the rug like a suction cup and requires a lot of force to break it free. If you look carefully at the video review, the reviewer has the same problem initially (it actually moves the rug until he breaks it free).

We were very surprised that nobody else mentioned this problem on any of the reviews because of the four oriental rugs that we have the vacuum sticks to three of them and the suction is so great that we have to tilt the unit to one side, raise the handle to upright or push very hard to break the suction. As soon as we start to vacuum again the suction grabs the carpet and won't let go. This is the one time that we wish the unit did not have automatic height adjustment.

We called Bissell customer service and it is obvious that they are aware of the issue because they are sending us a "bottom plate" to attach to the bottom of the vacuum to "solve this problem." We are hoping that the bottom plate fixes the problem because we like the other features of the vacuum. We'll return to this review when we receive something from Bissell. If the problem is solved the rating will improve if not the vacuum will go back.

Update 4-29-10
Bissell shipped a replacement "Sole Plate Assembly" for the 17G5 (part # 2032099) and the replacement solved the problem. They beveled out four areas, each about one inch long and one eighth of an inch deep into the trailing edge of the sole plate assembly. The result - no more sticking to our oriental rugs. If you have a problem with the vacuum sticking call Bissell customer service to get the sole plate assembly.

We have now upgraded the review from a three star to a five star. The only issues that we still have with the vacuum are minor and are pretty much mentioned in several of the other reviews (tool storage and tool connection only fair). Overall we really like this vacuum.

I'm not going to go overboard and say that this is the best vacuum ever but for the price and performance I can highly recommend it. The suction is good and the design allows it to get under furniture easily. Also with the transparent dust collector (which is very easy to empty)you'll be amazed how much was on your floors that you weren't aware of. One minor downside is that most of the accessories are not "on board." A bag is provided to store them in. All in all, a good product.

I found the Bissell 17G5 PROlite Multi-Cyclonic Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner to be a winner on several points, but still needs some work on others.

Pro's
1. Great suction! This vacuum really pulls the dirt out of a rug. I tried the machine on a hallway rug that had just been vacuumed the day before and it picked up nearly half a container of hair, dust and lint.
2. Great brush action! As noted above, the brushes on this this machine brought the dirt to the surface of the rug very well.
3. Easy assembly. Two screws and 10-minutes.
4. Separate power buttons for suction and brush.
5. Long cord!

Con's
1. The attachments and attachment hose are somewhat clunky and a little hard to handle. While they include several good ideas, the overall implementation just doesn't quite cut it.
2. The portable brush works very well to pick-up cat hair and lint off of upholstery, as long as you can hold it at just the right angle, but it is very difficult to get at all sides of a chair (etc.) and keep the attachment at the right angle.
3. The "elbow" used for sweeping under furniture, is quite hard to handle.
4. The machine is just a little heavy for a vacuum that is designed to be "lite".

Overall, this machine has a-lot going for it, but needs some tweeking to make it to five-stars.

I'm a guy, and not generally one to enthuse about stuff like this, but I am so enamored by this Bissel PROlite multi-cyclonic vacuum that I have to point out its excellent features. It's not the vacuum per se that's extraordinary, though it is very fine, with plenty of suction and ample room for dust and dirt. Rather, it's the construction and design. Lately most vacuums out there feel flimsy, as though they won't be around in three years of use. And so often the design is poor--the machine quickly clogs, as Mr. Dyson points out in his TV spots with his machine, and when you have to empty the canister it's a dirty job, and much dust and grime sticks in the nooks and crannies of the innards, leading to eventual loss of efficiency. These nooks have to cleaned to unblock them, and it's unpleasant and messy. Not with this baby. Like the Dyson, it's cyclonic, and it's true: the thing doesn't clog and lose suction. Or at least, it would take a heck of a lot to clog it (maybe if you sucked up your cat). Emptying it is a breeze: remove the canister with the click of one button, hold over trash, press another button and the bottom opens like a trap door--out goes your gunk. The cyclonic fixture inside the canister, should it become enmeshed in hair et cetera, is easily removed (it unscrews) and shaken out, then reattached. The whole canister then just clicks back into place. Your contact with dirt and dust is minimal. The power cord wraps up high on the unit, so there's no squatting down when unwrapping and rewrapping. The power buttons are placed high and are almost feather-touch; a few reviewers said their power buttons got "stuck" and would no longer work, either in the on or off state. Since that piece is assembled by the user, and is the only part that requires assembly, I think they just had to press the two sections together more firmly to make sure the power supply makes contact with the motor. We pressed ours very tightly (make sure you hear it *click* into place) and have had no problem after about three months of frequent usage. Tools do not store on the unit and come in a separate tote bag. You may or may not like this. Not toting tools around means the unit is slimmer and lighter, which allows it to corner better (it corners fine in our tight home without the Dyson's fancy round ball). Some have said the attachment hose is flimsy. It may be and that's one criticism I might have with it (though we don't use attachments too much); the other minus is that the unit has no floor light, and I think it really should. Aside from those two negatives, this is a great unit--strong, stylish and well-designed. It's hard to believe in a world of flimsy vacuums this very sleek, strong and, it seems, durable model isn't better-known, or more Bissels aren't designed with these characteristics. If you just have a typical house and are not looking for an industrial-strength, industrial-suction device, this 12-amp machine, as light and skinny as a supermodel, should do a more than satisfactory job. As vacuums go, it's fairly quiet, too. At one-third the price of a Dyson, it leaves more expensive machines--dare I say it?--in the dust.