Remember Henry? That reliable red vacuum still rivals all other models

On the box of the Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner is the claim that more than 10 million of these machines have been made since the brand was founded in 1969 and that most of them are still in use. Having now put one through our formal testing process, I can absolutely believe it. Hand me a Henry and I feel confident that I could tackle almost any domestic mess without hesitation. There is something deeply reassuring about its presence: practical, unfussy, and engineered with a kind of steadfast reliability that feels increasingly rare.

You don’t even have to take my word for it. I’ve watched builders wheel a Henry onto dusty job sites to inhale rubble without complaint, and it remains the vacuum I most often spot in hotel corridors and the boots of professional cleaners’ cars. It has earned its reputation as one of the best vacuums of all time through sheer endurance. But nostalgia and industry approval only go so far, how does this heritage model position itself against the high-tech prowess of Dyson, the design intelligence of Shark, or the everyday accessibility of Vax? That’s where my testing comes in.

I’ve used Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner for years, first becoming acquainted with one during my teenage weekend cleaning job, so my relationship with the machine is equal parts familiarity and fondness. However, sentiment has no place in a serious review. This time, I assessed the Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner through our structured testing protocols, evaluating suction performance, usability, and floor adaptability with the same rigour I would apply to any modern rival. Here’s exactly how it performed.

Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner review

Who would the Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner suit?

In my experience, theNumatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner is best suited to someone who values reliability, capacity, and unfussy performance over flashy tech. With a generous 6-litre dust capacity (up to five times larger than many bagless models) it’s ideal for whole-home cleans where you don’t want to stop and empty mid-task.

The 10-metre cable and long operating radius make it particularly practical for larger homes or anyone who dislikes constantly switching plug sockets, while the professional accessory kit means you can move seamlessly from carpets to hard floors, stairs, upholstery, and even the car without needing specialist add-ons.

I would especially recommend it to busy households, methodical cleaners, and anyone prone to tackling “proper” weekend resets, because the high-efficiency bag and self-seal tab lock dust inside for a noticeably cleaner, less messy emptying process, a small luxury that allergy-prone homes will appreciate.

The Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner is less obviously geared toward those who want ultra-light, grab-and-go convenience (at around 7.5 kg, it has reassuring heft), but for shoppers who see vacuuming as a serious domestic ritual rather than a rushed chore, Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner remains one of the most dependable all-rounders I’d confidently wheel out again and again.

Unboxing the Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner

The Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner box is precisely what you would expect from the brand: straightforward, sturdy, and unmistakably Henry. There is no theatrical packaging or glossy excess, just thoughtful, recyclable materials that you can flatten and place straight into cardboard recycling. For a brand steeped in tradition, I was pleasantly surprised by the sustainability credentials.

Numatic includes an instruction manual, but the setup is so intuitive that I barely glanced at it. Inside the box you’ll find the cheerful red main drum, the flexible hose, three wand sections, the primary floor head, and a practical selection of attachments for upholstery, crevices, and dusting. You can, of course, use the hose without an attachment , not officially endorsed, perhaps, but an insider's brilliant shortcut that almost every Henry owner eventually adopts.

As a corded, bagged vacuum, Henry arrives with the power cable already fitted and a dust bag installed. Numatic also provides a handful of spare bags, though you will naturally need to replenish these over time. Personally, I appreciate the hygienic seal of a bagged system; it keeps fine dust contained and makes disposal notably cleaner than many bagless alternatives.

What is the Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner like to use?

With the bag already in place and a generously long cable at my disposal, I could begin vacuuming immediately. The moment I switched the Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner on, I was transported back: the acoustic signature is unmistakable. Corded, bagged vacuums tend to deliver higher airflow and stronger suction, but that mechanical power inevitably comes with more volume.

I measured 86 dB during operation, which is too loud for comfortable conversation and certainly rules out background television. Still, for the level of deep cleaning on offer, I consider it a reasonable trade-off, just worth noting if you share your home with noise-sensitive pets or tend to vacuum in sociable spaces.

The first formal test I run is designed to mimic the fine particulate dust that settles invisibly into our homes: I scatter 100 grams of flour across hardwood flooring, medium-pile carpet, linoleum, and textured stone tiles.

Beginning on the hardwood floor told me almost everything I needed to know about the Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner's suction profile. The airflow was so strong that it didn’t merely collect the flour directly beneath the floor head, it actively drew in powder from the surrounding perimeter, creating that satisfying visual of debris funnelling inward. It signals a well-sealed system and consistent motor power.

Transitioning between floor types required nothing more than a quick tap of my foot on the floor head switch, lowering the brush to maintain glide on hard surfaces. Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner is refreshingly communicative in this regard: if you forget to adjust the setting, the head grips stubbornly, immediately reminding you to make the change.

On carpet, the vacuum felt particularly authoritative. The fibres lifted visibly as I passed over them, and every trace of flour disappeared in a single, deliberate sweep. Linoleum and stone produced similarly thorough results, although I did notice a slight shudder across the linoleum, not disruptive, but a reminder that this is a powerful machine rather than a featherweight one. Still, the outcome across every surface was impeccably clean.

Next, I scattered 100 grams of muesli, a far more complex challenge involving chunky granola clusters, rolled oats, and the occasional stubborn fragment. This test reveals how a vacuum manages larger debris without clogging, snowploughing, or losing suction.

On hardwood flooring, the Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner initially nudged a few of the larger clusters forward before capturing them, a phenomenon even high-end vacuums can exhibit. However, the flatter oats shot up the wand with a satisfyingly sharp clatter, a small but gratifying auditory confirmation of strong airflow. By slightly angling the floor head and taking measured passes, I gathered every last piece.

Carpet was where the Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner truly excelled. Unlike many cordless models that struggle to lift weightier debris from fibres, this machine cleared the entire scatter in what was effectively a single pass. The motor never sounded strained, and there was no sense of resistance, just steady, controlled suction.

Across stone and linoleum, I slowed my pace to allow the vacuum to fully envelop the larger pieces. The result was total pickup with no residual fragments left behind. It reinforced my impression that Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner rewards a confident but unhurried technique.

Hair is notoriously challenging for vacuums, often wrapping around brush rolls and demanding tedious manual removal. Having cleaned my fair share of holiday rentals in the past, I already suspected this would be an area of strength for Henry. And I was right.

I scattered a generous mix of long hair extensions across carpet, hardwood, linoleum, and stone to simulate real household shedding. On carpet, the strands vanished instantly without tangling around the floor head. Hardwood floors were equally straightforward; the suction pulled the hair inward before it had the chance to drift away.

Linoleum and stone can sometimes encourage hair to skate across the surface rather than lift, but Henry’s airflow prevented that entirely. Most impressively, when I checked the floor head afterwards, there was no laborious detangling required — a detail anyone with long hair will appreciate more than they might expect. It simply got on with the job, leaving me with nothing to finish by hand.

How does the Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner compare?

Most people ask me how the Henry compares to its retro rival: the SEBO Automatic x7 Upright Vacuum. Having tested them both, when I compare the Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner with the SEBO Automatic X7 ePower Upright Vacuum Cleaner, what strikes me first is that these machines represent two very different cleaning philosophies. The Henry is a compact cylinder model with a generous 6-litre capacity and a highly efficient 620W motor, designed for longevity and sustained suction without constant emptying. By contrast, the SEBO is an upright engineered with intelligent features such as automatic height adjustment and an integrated brush roller, allowing it to optimise contact with carpet fibres as you move between floor types.

In practice, I find Henry excels at versatility: the hose-led design makes it easier to manoeuvre under furniture and across mixed flooring. Whereas the SEBO, on the other hand, feels purpose-built for deep carpet agitation and structured, methodical cleaning. However, that upright architecture inevitably makes it heavier and more directional to handle than a nimble cylinder.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to cleaning style: if you favour capacity, reach, and mechanical simplicity, Henry remains quietly formidable; if you want automated precision and a more traditional “push-and-go” experience for carpets, the SEBO delivers a distinctly premium feel.

Should you buy the Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner?

The Numatic Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner is a blast from the past in the best way. It doesn't look like it has changed in decades, because it really hasn't. I doesn't need to though: this is reliable, robust, and the vacuum I would take into a building site, hotel room, or a busy home with me.

How we test vacuums

At woman&home, we have a series of standardised tests that we put every vacuum through. I scatter flour and sugar, hair, and cereal onto different floor types (hard wood, carpet, linoleum, and stone) to see how the vacuum handles both different surfaces and different debris. I also look at cleaning and maintaining the vacuum, whilst comparing it to other models on the market too. All in all, by the end of the review, you should know whether this is the vacuum for you. However, if you still have questions, you can visit our dedicated page for how we test vacuums.