Gtech AirRam K9 Review

The Gtech AirRam K9 is the pet-friendly model of the highly successful and versatile Gtech AirRam Mk2.  We recently wrote a review of the Gtech AirRam so if the Gtech AirRam K9 interests you please be sure to read that first. This Gtech AirRam K9 brings all of the great features of the standard AirRam and tries to add some specific pet-centric features in there.

The additional features include aluminium parts for harder wear, and a replaceable scented tab which freshens your home as you clean.

We all know that performance is key when it comes to cordless vacuum cleaners.  The AirRam K9 does not disappoint in the performance category, with its strong motor and powered brush bar working together to shift dirt from carpets and floors. As the video above shows, the AirRam K9 is capable of moving from solid hard floors to carpets and to tiled floors without any need to adjust the configuration.  

The bristles on the power bar go to work on the floor below in an extremely efficient way to deliver a solid clean every time. Our performance reviews did put the K9 slightly ahead of the standard AirRam model.  However, it was close, and if you're just looking at cleaning performance I would question whether the very slim amount of additional performance you get on the K9 is worth the extra money.

The Gtech AirRam K9 has the same standard features as the flagship AirRam (as covered in our Gtech AirRam review).  On top of that there are a few additions to try and help with your pet filled house. Firstly, there is an additional of aluminium components in the main cleaner head.  

The aim of these aluminium parts is to add to the longevity of the device, as presumably there may be damage caused by wear from pet hair and debris that they may bring in (I know pet food can often be an issue).  We took a look at the standard AirRam and the AirRam K9 insides to try and see the difference between the two.  

You can certainly see that many of the moving parts are aluminium in the K9 model, and it felt a little more sturdy in general.  If you plan on using your AirRam a lot then then it might be worth the investment, as tough cleaning environments can take their toll over time.

Next up are the scented tabs. Although this has been questioned, I personally think it's a great idea. When you use a vacuum a lot it will understandably get dirty itself. After all, its job is to continuously pick up dirt and mess from the floor. Have you ever cleaned the dirt compartment of your vacuum? I didn't think so. After time this can begin to smell, especially when dealing with pet hair. To combat this Gtech have introduced scented tabs. These tabs are placed in the main head of the cleaner, behind the main brush bar. The idea is that dirt particles and debris passes through the scented tab's aroma and begins to smell nice. It will also fragrant your home as you work, which is an added bonus. I will say that during our tests you can definitely smell the scented tabs and they do smell quite pleasant. However, it's slightly fiddly to change the tabs, and once you have run out I can imagine it won't be on the top of people's lists to replace them. Having said that, the tabs themselves do last quite a while.

The AirRam K9 is a light cordless vacuum.  It comes in slightly heavier than the standard Gtech AirRam, but that is understandable due to the extra parts required for the scented tabs and the aluminium parts.  The difference in weight is marginal.  We tested them in a very non-scientific way by picking one up after another, and by picking them both up at the same time.  Really, you can't tell the difference.

As we mentioned in our review of the Gtech AirRam, the weight of the K9 sits nearly entirely at the base of the unit.  This makes the K9 easy to move about and easier to store. In the AirRam review we compared it to a standard Dyson upright, which came in at nearly double the weight. The K9's weight and design is nearly identical to that of the standard AirRam.  To reiterate those points:

• The light weight means less damage to furnishings around your house when you accidentally bang into things (oops!)

• The weight is in the base of the unit, which makes it easy to move around.

• There's no bulk in the middle of the unit like a conventional upright, so storage is simpler.

Maneuvering the Gtech AirRam K9 is straightforward.  It's light, so there's no strain when trying to move it.  And, like we mentioned above, the K9 doesn't have a bulky body, so there's nothing to get caught or get in the way when moving round corners.

Just like the standard AirRam, the K9 is capable of pivoting on many different axis at the joint where the arm meets the cleaning head.  This movement allows you to move around corners with great ease. The Gtech AirRam K9, just like the standard AirRam, is capable of lying nearly completely flat.  

Due to the weight of the appliance being in the cleaning head the arm is able to lie flat without the appliance wanting to tip.  The common complaint with the few uprights that do tilt to this level is that they tend to lift the cleaning head off the ground due to the weight of the arm.  

The AirRam K9 doesn't suffer from this problem due to its centre of gravity, making is really easy to get under chairs, tables and other raised furniture.

We'll keep this one short.  The battery life of the AirRam K9 is superb, much like the standard K9. You get 40 minutes of solid work out of the battery.  

There is a small battery indicator on the head unit that shows how much battery is left. Gtech claim that you can get two cleans of the average home with a single charge from the AirRam.  They're right, and we tested it.  Even on a thorough clean there was plenty of juice left after the second trip round a 4 bedroom detached house.