Henry vs James Vacuum: What Is The Difference Between Henry and James Vacuum?

Henry the vacuum cleaner has many derivatives and one of the most popular ones is the James vacuum cleaner. In this post, we’re going to take a look at the Henry vs James vacuum cleaners to understand what the difference is between the two models.

We have both the Henry (HVR160-11) and the James (JVP180) vacuum cleaners at home so are perfectly placed to review the differences between the two models as we make use of both of them regularly in different settings.

What Is The Difference Between Henry and James Vacuum?

The Henry and James vacuum cleaners were designed to offer the same benefits of powerful suction on both carpets and hard floors but the key difference between them is that the James vacuum cleaner is much lighter (1.5kg or 20%) than the Henry hoover. The James hoover was designed to be a lightweight and convenient alternative to the original Henry and having used both models regularly we believe Numatic have met their aims as the James delivers the exceptional cleaning capability we’ve come to expect from a Henry machine but at a much lighter load.

Henry HVR160-11

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James JVP180-11

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Let’s take a look at the key areas of both machines to understand where the Henry and James vacuum cleaners differ.

Henry vs James Vacuum: Weight

The first thing you’ll notice between the Henry and James vacuum is that the James hoover is much lighter. The James vacuum cleaner is the lightest model in the Henry hoover range.

A 1.5kg difference in the weight does not go unnoticed especially when you need to get the James up the stairs. In comparison to the Henry it is much easier to carry up the stairs. What is very pleasing about the weight of the James hoover is that although you get a lighter model, you don’t lose any of the performance that you get from the Henry as they both have the same suction power.

Due to its lighter design, the James vacuum cleaner works quite well when you need to reach those higher areas like light fixtures and curtains for dusting as you can carry the unit in one hand and use the other hand to clean those areas.

Henry vs James Vacuum: Capacity

Another significant area of difference between the Henry vs James vacuum cleaner is in the capacity. Though the James is 20% lighter than the Henry, the former has 33% extra cleaning capacity. The James can carry up to 8 litres of dust and dirt whilst Henry can manage only 6 litres. Whilst both capacities are comfortably larger than most other vacuum cleaners, the James does offer a distinctive advantage in terms of capacity.

Henry vs James Vacuum: Cleaning Tools

When it comes to cleaning tools and attachments the Henry and James hoovers come with the exact same set. Firstly they both have a Combi Floor Tool (brushhead) which has a setting for carpet and one for hard floors.

They also both have a Crevice Tool which is handy for getting in between tight spaces in your furniture or those corners on your stairs to get rid of crumbs and bits of food that have gone off the beaten path.

Next they both come with a very useful Dusting Tool which is great for dusting areas like skirting boards, curtains, shelves, ornaments and light fittings. Though the tools are pretty much the same one big difference we have noticed between the Dusting Tool on the Henry vs James, is that the Henry Dusting Tool has an extra layer of dust soft bristles which the James doesn’t which means you have to be a lot more careful with the James Dusting Tool to avoid scratching delicate surfaces.

Lastly, both the James vacuum and Henry vacuum are supplied with a very useful Upholstery Tool designed to get to work on areas like the stairs, sofa and the car. We’ve found this tool particularly good when it comes to getting a very close clean on the carpet on the stairs. It’s very effective at getting rid of dust and all sorts on the stairs. This tool allied with the powerful suction that you get from both the Henry and the James makes cleaning the stairs quite a delight.

Henry vs James Vacuum: Cleaning Hard Floors

Both the Henry and James hoovers are equally adept at cleaning both hard floors and carpets with ease.

Both models are equipped with a Combi Floor Tool which allows you to switch between carpet cleaning and hard floors easily. You set the brushes up for carpets whilst you have them down for hard floors.

Though both the James and Henry vacuum cleaners are very powerful, they are helpfully not too powerful so they do not lift up carpets that aren’t too well secured to the floors.

This can be a real nuisance with some vacuum cleaners that are overpowered but you do not have that issue with either the Henry or James vacuum cleaners as they provide excellent suction on carpets without you having to struggle to move them along.

For particularly tricky areas of your carpets or on the stairs for example, the Upholstery Tool which comes with both the James hoover and Henry hoover prove to be quite useful. From our experience, the Upholstery Tool is the best way to handle carpets on the stairs as it really penetrates the carpet fibres.

Henry vs James Vacuum: Cleaning In High Places

When it comes to cleaning in high places such as curtains and light fixtures, Henry and James have the exact same reach as they share similar tools and dimensions for hoses and nozzles etc.

With the Dusting Tool available on both models it’s easy to get rid of dust in those delicate and hard-to-reach areas like light fixtures.

A major difference between the two when it comes to cleaning in locations above your head though is the ease with which you can pick up the James hoover to get a better reach if you wanted to compare it to the Henry.

For example, when I’m dusting up high in our home I find it quite easy to hold the James vacuum cleaner in one hand and operate the handle with the Dusting Tool attached in the other. I can do the same with the Henry but it feels heavier (1.5kg extra does make a difference when you’re carrying it for a while) and the handle on the Henry is not as friendly to hold as it is on the James vacuum.

Henry vs James Vacuum: Cleaning The Stairs

In terms of cleaning the stairs, the James hoover and Henry hoover share many similarities. Their reach is pretty much the same meaning you can set either unit at the bottom of the stairs and clear most of it (around 8/9 steps) without having to move it.

With the Upholstery Tool and Crevice Tool available on both models, you can get a very detailed clean of the stairs with ease.

Where you will notice a difference will be when you need to move the vacuum from the bottom to the top of the stairs as the James hoover is far lighter than the Henry making it a lot easier to shift the unit.

Henry vs James Vacuum: Cleaning Power

One area where the Henry and James vacuum cleaners do not differ is in their cleaning power and capability. Both models are equipped with powerful 620w motors and deliver 2300mm H20 of suction resulting in great performance whether you’re cleaning the carpet or hard floors.

Both the James and Henry hoovers have a single-speed motor meaning you only have to deal with a simple on-and-off switch. They both also have red mains lights which light up whenever they are plugged in and getting power.

Henry vs James Vacuum: Cable Length & Storage

When it comes to the cable, both the Henry and James vacuum cleaner models have a 10-metre length cable. This gives you great cleaning flexibility and range and means you do not have to worry about switching plug sockets as often as you might with other vacuum brands with shorter lengths.

Where there is a major difference between the two models is in terms of storage of the cable. The Henry hoover has a very useful cable rewind mechanism that allows you to retract the cable and store it inside the unit. The James vacuum cleaner does not have this feature. Instead you store the cable on the James hoover by wrapping it around its motor head. It is actually surprisingly easy to wrap it and keep it neat as it also has a handy clip which helps to keep the cable in its place.

One feature we do sometimes miss though when using the James compared to the Henry is the ability to rewind the cable when you don’t need as much of it loose to reduce the tripping hazard it causes. This is by no means a deal breaker when deciding on the two but something to keep in mind.

Henry vs James Vacuum: Colour

A clear difference between the Henry and James vacuum cleaners is their colour. Henry remains in its original and distinctive red and black outfit whilst James now comes in a striking blue. Interestingly enough though James was previously available in yellow but more recently it’s supplied in its blue cover.

Conclusion: Henry vs James Vacuum

In summary, when looking at the Henry vs James vacuum cleaners we can see that they share several of the same features. Both models have the same level of suction alongside 620w motors. T

hey both have excellent cleaning capabilities on both hard floors and carpets and share the exact same set of tools. Where you will see a big difference between the two is the fact the James weighs 1.5kg less than Henry which makes a big difference when moving around the home and up and down the stairs.

Unlike Henry, James doesn’t have a rewind wheel and internal storage for its cable instead it lies wrapped around its head which although not as elegant as the Henry still looks surprisingly neat.

Overall, if you need a lighter version of the Henry but with more cleaning capacity the the James vacuum cleaner is a great choice.