As part of our paid partnership with Home Depot, I received a Ridgid wet/dry vacuum at the start of the winter holiday season to check out.
It’s not just a Ridgid wet/dry vac, which are generally well-regarded and great buys, it’s an NXT vac. I thought that the vac was a new special buy, before noticing the new branding and shapes of the collection tubs. Ridgid NXT?
Ridgid says that NXT is the most powerful line of wet/dry vacs Ridgid has ever made. They also say that the NXT are next level in every way.
I’m nearly done testing my vac, and am open to any questions you guys might have. In the meantime, this post is meant to serve as an overview and introduction to the NXT lineup.
Power
Ridgid says that they’ve upgraded their vacs to give them more power. There’s redesigned scroll technology, for increased power, suction, and lift.
Here’s a promo video where they compare their 9 gallon NXT vac to a competing vac.
What stands out to me, aside from the quick pick-up, is the short and stout form factor of the vacuum. That seems like a big plus .
The smallest size is short enough to fit on a workbench shelf.
Durability
Ridgid says that durability has always been a priority, and is emphasizing these vacs have a lifetime warranty.
Advanced Design
The 9-gallon vac features 7 feature upgrades. The following features show the 9-gallon Ridgid NXT vac specifically, but apply to the other sizes as well.
Repositioned carry handle for ergonomic carrying, and it doubles as a cord-wrap.
Upgraded drum carrying handles for comfortable lifting and emptying.
A larger and relocated power switch.
Drum keying that optimizes the vac’s airflow. This should also make lid replacement a snap.
New latches for a secure lid-to-drum seal.
Built-in cord wrap.
The 7-foot hose has been upgraded to dual-flex design that won’t crimp around corners.
The larger NXT vacs have additional features, most notably bottom drum handles, a water drain valve, and on-board hose storage.
Additionally, the vacs come with locking accessories, which means no more fussing around with friction-fit extension hoses that can come apart if loosely attached, or stuck together if too tight.
Sizes and Pricing
- 6 gal, 3.5 peak-HP, $55
- 9 gal, 4.25 peak-HP, $65
- 12 gal, 5 peak-HP, $85
- 14 gal, 6 peak-HP, $99
- 16 gal, 6.5 peak-HP, $119
- 16 gal cart-style, 6.5 peak-HP, $159
The smaller vacs come with a 1-7/8″ x 7′ hose, the larger vacs come with a 2-1/2″ x 7′ hose.
Filters
The new vacs work with existing Ridgid 5-16 gallon filters, and should presumably fit aftermarket accessories as well, such as HEPA-rated Cleanstream filters.
- VF4000: “everyday” 1-layer pleated paper filter
- VF5000: “fine dust” 3-layer pleated paper
- VF6000: “allergen” 5-layer pleated paper, HEPA
- VF7000: wet pick-up
They also work with existing size-compatible Ridgid dust bags.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
First Thoughts
Frankly, I’m strongly considering keeping my test sample and giving away the 16 gallon Shop Vac wet/dry vacuum I purchased two years ago. The Ridgid NXT’s user-friendly features are sweet, and do make a difference.
More on the vac to come.
Promo Video
Here’s a Ridgid promo video, highlighting the new features in the 6 and 9 gallon NXT vacs:
Thank you to Ridgid for supplying us with a test sample for review consideration as part of our paid partnership with Home Depot.
