Our Verdict: The Henry Xtra has the same durability and huge capacity as the standard Henry, but adds a motorised floorhead to the mix. This improves the vacuum’s carpet and pet hair performance, although we still don’t think it can match the very best cylinders for cleaning performance. Even so, it’s hard to beat the Henry Xtra in this price range.
Henry Xtra HVX200-11
Pros:
- Turbo brush is great for pet hair
- Having a motorised brush improves the vacuum’s performance compared with the standard Henry
- Powerful suction and solid all-round performance
- Wide cleaning radius
Cons:
- Hard to use on stairs
- Relatively bulky and heavy
- Not the best on carpets (even with turbo tool)
The Henry Hoover range is a popular option for people looking for a powerful cylinder vacuum without spending a fortune. However, the standard Henry only provides average carpet and pet hair performance, as it doesn’t come with a motorised brush bar.
The Henry Xtra, also known as the HVX200, is Numatic’s attempt to solve this problem. It comes with the AiroBrush floorhead, which we think noticeably improves pet hair pickup and carpet performance. It also includes an extra hard floor tool for when you need to clean more delicate surfaces.
But does the Xtra justify the increased cost? And how does it perform in comparison to other cylinder vacuums? That’s what we’ll find out in this Henry Xtra review.
Please note: This review is written for the HVX200-11. There’s also an A2 version, but the 11 has a more powerful 620W motor compared to the A2’s 580W motor.
Overview of the Numatic Henry Xtra
- 620W energy-efficient motor
- Includes two floor tools compared to the standard Henry’s single tool
- AiroBrush tool is more effective at digging deeper into carpets
- Large nine litre dust capacity
- Cable rewind function (not automatic)
- Comes with TriTex filtration and HepaFlo bags
In-Depth Look at the Henry Xtra
With its classic smiley appearance, the Henry HVX200 Xtra is instantly recognisable as a member of the Numatic family. It’s not the lightest model on the market, but its impressive cleaning radius and large capacity mean it’s suitable for both professional and domestic cleaning. Let’s take a closer look at this popular vacuum’s features.
Appearance, Features and Design
The bright red design of the Xtra needs no introduction. Many people love the style of the Henry range, as it’s a departure from the typical cylinder vacuum. But if you’re worried about the smiley face looking unprofessional (or just annoying!) you can easily remove it.
More importantly, this vacuum is bulkier than many people realise, as it’s the same shape and design as the Henry/Hetty. It’s not huge, but we did find that the size and shape make it difficult to use on stairs. It has dimensions of 36x34x37cm, so if you’re going to be storing it in a tight location make sure it fits before you buy.
Another minor drawback of all the Henry vacuums is that they can be prone to topple over. They are more stable than three-wheel cylinders (the Xtra has four wheels), but the design can feel a little top-heavy.
On a positive note, we rate Numatic as one of the most reliable manufacturers of vacuum cleaners. Their vacuums are built to last, so you’re unlikely to need to worry about the Numatic Xtra breaking down.
Suction Power and Performance
Overall, we think the Henry Xtra provides strong cleaning performance on all surfaces. We don’t think it’s the best cylinder vacuum for cleaning carpets, but the AiroBrush is better than the standard Henry for both carpets and pet hair. Like the standard Henry, we also think it also does a great job on all types of hard floors.
The Henry Xtra HVX200-11 is powered by a 620W motor. This sounds low, especially compared to other vacuums with a similar price, but doesn’t negatively affect the suction power or cleaning performance of the machine. We also like that Numatic has included a hard floor brush for more delicate surfaces.
The AiroBrush is the stand-out feature of this vacuum cleaner though. Having a brush bar to agitate carpet fibres is a big advantage compared with vacuums that rely on suction alone, and means the Xtra can still do a great job despite the lower motor power.
While the Xtra isn’t the most powerful vacuum on the market, it’s an all-rounder that provides decent cleaning performance. Whether you have laminate floors, carpets or floorboards, the Xtra has enough power to remove dust and dirt quickly and efficiently.
The Henry Xtra AiroBrush also improves pet hair pickup compared with the regular Henry. So, if you have a cat or dog, we think the Xtra is the better choice.
A bonus is that the vacuum is one of the quietest cylinders. With a noise level of 74.4dB, it’s considerably less noisy than many other models (particularly uprights).
Ease of Use Features
Henry vacuums are never going to be the most mobile or convenient. We found the Henry Xtra to be bulky and quite difficult to use around the home, mainly due to the heavy weight and circular design.
It still has some excellent ease-of-use features though. Some examples include:
- The cable rewind function allows you to quickly re-coil the cable after use. Considering the Xtra has a 10 metre cable, this is a welcome feature. We wish it had an automatic cable rewind though!
- The long cable and 2.4 metre hose also means the vacuum has a large cleaning radius. This means you’ll need to change sockets less frequently.
- The Xtra is supported by two castors and two fixed wheels. The castors make manoeuvring the vacuum relatively easy, although we prefer vacuums with three or four castors.
Tip: Need a bigger Henry for DIY tasks or other tough jobs? Check out our Henry XL Plus review.
Filtration
Like other Henry vacuums, the Xtra comes with the company’s TriTex filtration system. While this does a decent job of removing dust particles, it’s not as effective as a HEPA filter. For this reason, we probably wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who suffers from a dust allergy – even though bagged vacuums are generally better at keeping allergens trapped.
In addition to the filter, the vacuum also uses HepaFlo bags. These are relatively cheap, so we recommend sticking with the official Numatic bags.
Price and Value for Money
The RRP of the Numatic HVX200-11 is £200, which makes it around £50 more expensive than the standard Henry. As the models are very similar in design and function, you’re really paying £50 extra for the AiroBrush tool.
We think the Xtra is worth the additional cost if you have pets or lots of carpets. If your home is mainly hard floors, then the standard Henry provides better value for money.
Accessories and Tools
The Numatic Henry Xtra HVX200 comes with the company’s standard XS1 tool kit. This includes two extension tubes, dusting brush, crevice tool, upholstery nozzle and the standard combination tool.
There’s also a tool adaptor included with the machine. This allows you to attach accessories directly to the hose (via the adaptor) rather than onto the curved tube bend. While this might seem like a minor feature, we think it makes it much easier to use the tools in tight spaces, especially as the Henry Xtra tools greatly increase the versatility of the machine.
Henry Extra Specification Table
| Ninja Column 1 | Ninja Column 2 |
|---|---|
| Type | Cylinder |
| Bag | Bagged |
| Filter | TriTex |
| Price Range | ££ |
| Weight (kg) | 8 |
| Capacity (Litres) | 9 |
| Motorised Tool | Yes |
| Hose | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Henry Xtra better than the Henry?
If you’ve read this review, you should be aware of the differences between the Henry and Xtra. With these in mind, there’s no doubt that the Xtra is better than the standard model. Whether you should buy it, however, depends on whether the new floor tool justifies the extra cost.
In our opinion, the deciding factor is whether you have pets. The turbo tool isn’t that much more effective on carpets than Numatic’s standard floor head, so it’s not worth paying extra just for carpets. If you have pets, however, then the turbo brush makes a big difference to the amount of hair the Xtra picks up.
Should I Buy the Henry Xtra or Miele?
This is one of the most common questions we get about the Henry Xtra – and it’s a good one, as Miele cylinder vacuums are one of Numatic’s biggest competitors. The Miele C3 Cat & Dog, in particular, is designed to cope with pet hair and comes with a more powerful motor and a turbo brush.
If we had to pick between the two, the Miele Complete C3 Cat and Dog is the superior vacuum. The Henry Xtra has a larger radius and dust capacity, but in terms of cleaning performance and dust re-emission the C3 is the better option. The Xtra is, however, considerably cheaper, so it’s still an option that provides good value.
Should I Buy the Henry Xtra or Harry?
The Harry is an interesting model, as it combines the cleaning power of the Henry with a charcoal filter and the “Hairobrush” for removing pet hair. There’s not much between the Xtra or Harry, as they are the same price and both are better than the standard model if you have pets. If you hate smelling a pet odour in your home, especially after vacuuming, then the Harry’s charcoal filter can help neutralise this.
Can you buy Additional Henry Xtra Attachments?
Yes, there are both official Numatic and third-party accessories available should you wish to replace any you’ve lost.
Verdict
Overall, the Numatic Henry Xtra HVX200-11 is an excellent cylinder vacuum cleaner. While it doesn’t match the raw power of more expensive options, we think the combination of large capacity, cleaning radius and turbo brush means it’s a viable option for most UK homes. It’s also a better option than the standard Henry if you have pets.
The downsides are that it’s relatively heavy and bulky, so it can be difficult to use on stairs, and there are better options for carpet cleaning (even with the added turbo brush). Still, at this price range it’s definitely an option to consider for anyone looking for a no-nonsense cylinder vacuum.