People don’t associate the word “lightweight” with a “vertical vacuum” but Oreck did it again but removed the unnecessary clutter to produce a streamlined product called the axle.
What makes this product special?
It only weighs 9 pounds, yeah, that’s not a typo, this fully functional vertical position weighs about as much as the Hoover Cordless Air Vacuum Cleaner.
But with a lot more power minus the floor versatility that Air Cordless brings to the table.
Despite the slim size, this vacuum cleaner packs a punch. What is the price? One hundred and five miles per hour of air flow at the nozzle.
This means debris is sucked up at 40 mph past the speed limit.
Try to run at 102 mph on a racetrack – that’s how fast debris gets sucked into this void.
It is very powerful and when you add the sleek design of the bag, this machine can reach the bottom of most furniture and deeply clean carpeted areas.
Quick look at the features
- It has low and high speeds for bare floors and carpets respectively
- Weighs only 9 pounds
- Hermetic HEPA filtration system traps microscopic dust down to 0.3 microns
- 5 year guarantee on the entire vacuum cleaner
- Comes with a side brush to clean the edges
- The low profile and flat feature of this allows for deep cleaning under furniture
Positives
- Weighs only 9 pounds
- Strong suction and good agitation
- Slim design and foldable flat feature make this vacuum cleaner great for cleaning under furniture
- Fully closed system makes it a great choice for people with asthma
- A cheaper option than Oreck Magnesium
- Certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute
Negatives
- No above floor cleaning capabilities
- The cost of bags will increase over time
- No headlights
- There is no rotating steering
- very loud
Table of Contents
What do you expect from this lightweight upright?
If you can’t afford Oreck Magnesium, this would be a viable alternative because like the Magnesium RS this is lightweight (although more than a pound heavier) and has a lot of suction and great action.
The main design of each of these blanks is similar. This includes the same flat bag and lowered cleaning head – the biggest difference will be the weight.
Magnesium RS uses magnesium while that’s not much of a reason for the price difference.
Both have a fully sealed HEPA filtration system that traps up to 0.3 microns of dust. This variant has the Seal of Approval from the Rug and Rug Institute.
This means that this vacuum has passed a rigorous CRI test to see if it really picks up allergens and cleans carpets as they claim their product can.
Keep in mind that this is a paid service offered by CRI for manufacturers who want to test their products but the results are not biased.
side brushes
This cleaner comes with a side brush on both sides of the cleaning head for improved edge cleaning. When you combine it with the powerful suction power, you get a vacuum cleaner capable of cleaning to the edges.
No poles or headlights
Unfortunately, this vacuum won’t spin nor have any headlights, so maneuverability will be less attractive than a Shark or Dyson but the lower weight makes up for it.
Lack of headlights will only be a problem when cleaning under furniture.
packed
This machine uses bags with HEPA filters inside and replacement bags aren’t really that expensive.
An 8-pack will cost roughly $12, which is just over $1 per bag which isn’t bad for the quality and note that you’re not exposed to allergens when cleaning this broom.
bare floor performance
Similar to the Oreck Magnesium RS, the Insight also has a brush roll on/off switch that you can access from the handle itself. I like that Oreck added fingertip controls in their voids because it keeps us from bending over just to turn on the device or going from bare floor to carpet.
In terms of suction, it has more than enough to handle small to medium sized debris. The side brushes help move dirt that might be stuck in the baseboards.
The lowered cleaning head design worries me a little when cleaning up larger debris because it can create a snowplow effect.
carpet performance
This is where you get your money’s worth on the Oreck, when you combine the 102mph airflow with excellent thrills, you have a deep cleaning broom capable of picking up a lot of dust, sand, and pet hair in the carpet.
Remember, this vacuum cleaner is backed by the Rug and Rug Institute seal of approval, so you can be sure it’s fully capable of picking up allergens in your carpet. This is a great option for people with allergies who are looking for a lightweight texture.
upholstery performance
Unfortunately, this broom can’t clean any upholstery because it doesn’t have any hose, extension wand, or tools to do any floor cleaning.
If you’re buying this, make sure you have a portable vacuum cleaner on hand to clean upholstery.
Pet hair removal
On both carpets and bare floors, this machine is fully capable of cleaning pet hair and dander.
If you have a medium to plush rug, this will be helpful in keeping pet hair on the rug from accumulating.
When you add that it’s only 9 pounds, you’ll have a pretty good incentive to use this every day to clean your floors – yes even under the bed or couch where your pets might want to nap.
Attachments and accessories
This vacuum cleaner does not contain any tools or accessories.
rope length
The power cord is approximately 30 feet long and does not come with any rewindable cord.
Filter maintenance and cleaning
There are no filters in the Oreck Insight as the bag is lined with an internal HEPA bag. If you look at Amazon, you’ll notice that they combined this with an Oreck paper bag that costs just over $12—these bags don’t have HEPA bags inside.
If you need the extra HEPA filtration (say you’re allergic), you’ll have to get a “HEPA Odor Fighting” bag that costs a bit more ($28 for a pack of 8).
Guarantee
Oreck backs this up with a 5-year warranty on the entire vacuum cleaner.
product specification
| Model | insight |
| attachments | Nobody |
| Height adjustable handle |
 |
| rope length | 30 feet |
| Automatic wire winding |
|
| motorized brush |
 |
| Brush on/off switch |
|
| rotates on axis |
|
| the Flashlight |
|
| Filter clogging indicator |
|
| bin full indicator |
|
| without bag |
*This is a vacuum filled |
| multi surface |
|
| self-propelled |
|
| Net weight | 9 pounds |
| Purchase Weight | 14.6 pounds |
| hose length | Nobody |
| cleaning path | 13 inches |
| total length | 48 inches |
| dirt capacity | Unavailable |
| filter type | HEPA filter |
| brush speed | Unavailable |
| Energy | 105 mph direct air flow |
| Voltage | Unavailable |
| Made in | United States of America |
| Price | Check Price |
Customer Reviews
When you read the reviews on Amazon, two words stuck in my mind – strength and light weight. Many of the people who give high ratings to this upright vacuum cleaner say that this machine is so powerful that it’s best to keep it away from carpets or light strings or you’ll try to suck it up!
Consumers also loved how Oreck left only the essentials – the bag and the main cleaning head slicker and when you add the flat-fold feature, it tucks under the furniture. The downside to this bare-bones design is the noise – this broom is noisy, consider yourself a warning.
Strong suction has a downside. Plush rug can be difficult to press due to the resistance it creates. It also does not have a height adjustment feature which might work against cleaning really plush carpets.
Finally, just a reminder that this upright is quite a floor cleaner because some consumers were upset that it couldn’t clean anything above the floor.
Where can I buy this?
You can buy this from Amazon for less than $200. It qualifies for 2-day Amazon shipping if you join Prime.
to finish
The Oreck Insight is a great choice for people looking for a lightweight vacuum cleaner that packs a punch.
When you look at the suction power (102mph airflow!) and the direct suction path, you have a fully functional deep cleaning vacuum that you can use on carpets and bare floors.
But you will only really appreciate this broom if you use it on the carpet since it has a good action to pick up dust and sand trapped under the threads. HEPA quilted bags make sure the nasty stuff you’re cleaning up stays inside the bag.
I would recommend this to people with allergies who can’t afford the more expensive Oreck Magnesium RS because it’s much cheaper although the alternative HEPA bags are expensive but you have to invest in your health.