Vax U85-AS-Be Vacuum Cleaners - Review and opinions
Is it worth it?
If you want a corded upright that can cover a whole house without constant socket changes, the Vax Air Stretch makes a clear case for itself. The 17 m reach, 5 kg weight and bagless multi-cyclonic setup suit busy homes that want a straightforward deep clean on carpets and hard floors, but the trade-off is that this is still a mains-powered upright with a fixed route through the house rather than a grab-and-go cleaner.
This is the kind of vacuum to buy when long reach, strong pickup and simple day-to-day emptying matter more than cordless freedom. It fits homes with stairs, mixed flooring and a fair bit of floor space; it is less compelling if you want the lightest possible push, the quietest run, or the least physically involved cleaning routine.
| Format | Corded upright |
|---|---|
| Suction power | 820W |
| Dustbin capacity | Full size capacity |
| Weight | 5 kg |
| Filtration | Cyclonic |
| Reach | Up to 17 m |
17 Metre Reach
The stretch hose and long cord give this upright a wide working radius, which is the detail that makes it practical for stairs, landings and larger rooms without constant plug changes.
That reach turns everyday cleaning into fewer interruptions, especially in homes where the nearest socket is never quite where you need it. The trade-off is simple enough: you gain coverage, but you still live with a corded route through the house rather than cordless freedom.
Lightweight Upright Handling
At 5 kg, this sits in the lighter end of upright vacuum territory, and that matters when you need to lift it between floors or carry it upstairs.
The weight helps it stay usable as a proper household cleaner rather than a machine reserved for one room. Even so, it is still an upright, so the handling advantage is about manageable carrying and lifting rather than the effortless feel of a stick vacuum.
Bagless Multi-cyclonic Bin
The bagless, cyclonic design and full-size bin are built to reduce emptying frequency and keep running costs down.
That makes it a practical choice for regular cleaning, particularly in busier homes where a small dust cup becomes annoying quickly. The caveat is routine upkeep, because a bagless design replaces bag changes with bin emptying and filter care.
Above-the-floor Tooling
The extension hose and 3-in-1 tool give it a proper route for stairs, upholstery and corners, not just open floor cleaning.
This is what keeps the model relevant once you move away from carpets and hard floors. It is useful for everyday edge work and stair cleaning, though it still feels like an upright with attachments rather than a dedicated handheld.
Use evaluation
In a hallway-and-stairs clean, the first thing that matters is how far the machine can travel before you need to stop and reset. The 17 m reach gives this Vax a proper working radius for landings, stairs and a few rooms in one pass, which cuts down on outlet hopping and makes it feel better suited to a full-house sweep than a small, stop-start cleaner. The flip side is that the corded format still defines the rhythm of the job, so it rewards homes with a sensible plug layout more than homes that want complete freedom of movement.
On carpets, the 820W motor and the repeated praise for strong suction line up with the sort of pickup most buyers want from an upright at this level. That matters most where dust, crumbs and pet hair build up in fibres, because the machine is built to keep pulling rather than tapering off as the bin fills. The practical caution is that strong suction is only part of the story; the push effort and handling can still feel more involved than a lighter stick vacuum, so the fit is best when cleaning power outranks featherweight steering.
For longer sessions, the 5 kg weight and full-size bin are the two details that change the routine. Five kilos is light enough to carry upstairs without turning it into a chore, while the larger bin reduces the interruption of frequent emptying, which is useful in bigger homes or when you are doing a proper weekly clean. That said, it is not a set-and-forget machine: the cord, hose and upright format still ask for a bit more physical involvement than a cordless alternative, so buyers who want the least friction should look elsewhere.
The maintenance story is straightforward rather than luxurious. Bagless, cyclonic cleaning keeps consumables down and avoids the cost and faff of bags, which helps the value case over time, but the design also means the bin and filters become part of the weekly routine. That is a sensible trade for anyone who wants a lower-running-cost cleaner and can live with a bit of hands-on upkeep; it is less attractive if you want a vacuum that disappears into the background after each use.
Pros
- Strong pickup on carpets and hard floors
- Long 17 m reach reduces socket changes
- 5 kg weight keeps lifting manageable
- Full-size bagless bin lowers emptying frequency.
Cons
- Corded upright format still limits freedom compared with cordless cleaners
- Push effort and handling may not suit everyone
- Build feedback is mixed, with some long-term use concerns
- Bagless upkeep still needs regular emptying and filter care.
Community
User reviews
The pattern is clear enough: people are most convinced by the suction, the long cord and the value, while the main hesitation is handling and long-term robustness. That makes this a strong buy for someone who wants a capable upright for real housework, but not the neatest choice if you are sensitive to push effort or want the most hard-wearing finish.
Excellent vacuum cleaner. Light, powerful and very long cord and great stretchy hose. Highly recommend this. Great value.
We have bought the Vax Air Stretch Upright Vacuum Cleaner for our house many times and although the vacuum gives up on us three years down the line we still keep coming back as it's by far the best vacuum we have had.
Incredible suction. Was quite ashamed as how good my carpets came up. I was just about to buy new ones.
Three days ago I decided it was time to vacuum clean the upstairs carpets. It handled the different carpet types well and made the job straightforward.
Comparison
| Attribute | Vax U85-AS-Be Current | Vax Air Stretch Pet Max | Vax Mach Air | Vax CDUP-LOXP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Out of stock | £80.10 | - | £154.39 |
| Weight | 5 kg | 4.9kg | 4.9kg | 6.11kg |
| Format | Corded upright | Corded upright | Corded upright | Corded upright with lift-out canister |
| Suction power | 820W | 820W | 820W | 600W |
| Dustbin capacity | Full size capacity | 1.5L | 1.5L bagless | 2L |
| Filtration | Cyclonic | - | Washable filter | Two-stage filtration down to 0.3 microns, 99.9% claimed capture |
| Reach | Up to 17 m | 17m cleaning reach | - | - |
| Editorial score | 7.5/10 | 7.3/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 |
Against the Vax Air Stretch Pet Max, this standard Air Stretch is the cleaner route if you want the same 820W class of corded upright at a lower, simpler entry point. The Pet Max makes more sense when pet-specific positioning matters, but if your priority is a straightforward upright for mixed flooring and long reach, this model keeps the decision cleaner and easier to justify.
Compared with the Hoover TH31B002001, which brings a larger 3 L dustbin and a 850 W motor, the Vax looks more like the lighter, more reach-focused option. Choose the Hoover if bin size and a slightly higher power figure matter more to you; choose the Vax if you value the 5 kg weight, the 17 m working radius and the more established long-reach upright shape.
Compare with Compare this model This product stays fixed; add a recommended alternative or search another model in the category.
Compare with
Add a second model to activate the direct comparison.
Recommended models
No products match that filter combination.
Is the Vax U85-AS-Be vacuum cleaner worth it?
The Vax Air Stretch is a sensible buy for households that want a proper upright with long reach, strong carpet pickup and low-friction emptying. It is especially appealing if you clean multiple rooms in one session, deal with stairs, or want a machine that feels more substantial than a lightweight cordless without becoming overly heavy to carry. Checking the current offer makes sense, but the real attraction is the way the 17 m reach, 5 kg weight and bagless bin come together into an easy-to-live-with upright route.
Skip it if you want the lightest steering, the least hands-on upkeep or the most reassuring long-term build story. The mixed durability signal and the physical reality of a corded upright are the real reservations here, so the best fit is a buyer who values reach and suction first and accepts a bit more routine effort in return.
FAQ
Is this better for stairs than a cordless stick?
Yes, if you want a corded upright with an extension hose and a 5 kg lift weight, because that combination suits stair cleaning and upstairs runs better than a tiny handheld route.
Does it suit mixed flooring?
Yes, it is set up for carpet, hard floor and upholstery, so it works as a whole-home cleaner rather than a carpet-only machine.
Review published on