Ridgid Gen5X 18-Volt Brushless Vacuum R86090B

By Mike Delisle on Tools PLUS!

RIDGID GEN5X 18-Volt Vacuum Review

I tend to take on a lot of smaller jobs when working. Jobs like hanging mirrors, putting up a stair handrail or putting in a single replacement window. Doing these small jobs I’ve always struggled with one aspect, cleanup.

Do I bring a dustpan and broom or do I lug out the shop vacuum? It seems like with a dustpan and broom you always miss those “crumbs”. The shop vacuum on the other hand takes up a ton of space in the truck and is no fun carrying up 3 flights of winding stairs.
Well it seems as if RIDGID was reading my mind when they recently introduced the Gen 5x 18-Volt Brushless Vacuum. A lightweight (3lbs Bare tool) handheld vacuum, custom made for those small jobs.

RIDGID GEN5X 18-Volt Brushless Vacuum

The Vacuum comes as a bare tool, and consists of the following components. The Vacuum unit, which has a removable dust bowl and filter, battery pack connection and on/off trigger switch. The two-foot floor wand which is friction fit onto the vacuum for getting in hard to reach areas. A flooring head for cleaning floors and larger areas. Lastly, the crevice tool, which also friction fits onto the vacuum unit.

Using the RIDGID GEN5X 18-Volt Brushless Vacuum

Using this on jobs proved it’s worth rather quickly. The RIDGID GEN5X brushless vacuum quickly cleaned up concrete dust I had made drilling holes to anchor a pergola to a concrete pad.

I have used this more times than I can count, whether to clean up on small jobs, around the shop for little messes or my latest use for the RIDGID GEN5X brushless vacuum, as my primary cleaning tool, in my camper.

Ergonomics

The RIDGID GEN5X brushless vacuum is lightweight. The trigger switch is actually an on/off switch, pull the trigger once it’s on, pull the trigger again and it shuts off. I find that the on/off switch makes it a lot easier when cleaning a bigger area, no more holding down the trigger for 5 minutes.

Runtime

The RIDGID GEN5X brushless vacuum when paired with a fully charged 5Ah Li-ion battery ran constantly for 26 minutes before the battery was completely drained. I find this more than acceptable as most of my cleanups wouldn’t require me to run the vacuum for more than 5-10 minutes.
Although the vacuum comes with 3 attachments I have found that most of my other attachments for my small shop vac (1 ¼”) fit nicely onto this unit as well

Wet and Dry Capabilities

The RIDGID GEN5X brushless vacuum boasts wet/dry capabilities. With that being said, my experience with fluid cleanup on jobsites usually goes in this order;

  • paper towel
  • shop vac
  • sump pump

So even though while reviewing this tool I found it quite capable of sucking up small spills, I wouldn’t alter the way that I usually cleanup fluids. The reservoir also only allows about 16 oz. of fluid to be vacuumed into it before not providing further suction so that the filter won’t become waterlogged.

Dry Capacity

The vacuum’s dry capacity on the other hand is about 4 cups, more than enough for most of the small jobs I do. Emptying the dust reservoir of vacuumed contents is simple with the RIDGID GEN5X brushless vacuum, the head unit easily unclips from the dust bowl. The dust bowl and filter can then easily be separated and cleaned out into the trash.

Vacuum Filters

The pre-filter is made of fine mesh, and if it becomes overly dirty due to fine dust, it is easily unsnapped from the filter and can be rinsed off with water. I found that even after vacuuming up a large amount of dusty material, I could get the filter clean just by separating the filter from pre-filter and banging it on the inside of the trashcan.

The rear of the RIDGID GEN5X brushless vacuum sports a keyhole hanger for storing in your shop. This little feature is handy to keep the vacuum and attachments up off the floor of my shop minimizing the possibility of it getting damaged.

RIDGID GEN5X 18-Volt Brushless Vacuum Specs

  •  Strongest Hand-held 18V Jobsite Wet/Dry Vacuum
  • Brushless Motor Technology- Delivers more run-time, more power, and longer motor lif
  •  Wet/Dry Capable- Vacuum both wet and dry debri
  •  Floor Nozzle, Crevice Nozzle, and 2 ft. Extension Tube Included– Clean up large areas and reach tight spaces
  •  Pre Filter- For blocking large debris
  •  Removable Dust Cup- For easy Cleaning Hex Grip Micro Texture –Grip enhancing micro texture for maximum user comfort
  • Weight- 3lbs (bare tool) 5lbs when paired with 5Ah battery (not included
  •  Warranty- Lifetime Service agreement
  •  Price- $79.97 (bare tool) $179.96 when purchased w/ R840086 2.0 Ah Battery, R840095 charger

RIDGID GEN5X 18-Volt Brushless Vacuum Conclusion

If you are already on the RIDGID 18V Li-Ion platform, than this vacuum should be on your must have list. This is an extremely powerful, yet compact vacuum that will more than meet the needs of anybody who needs to do a little cleanup. Although the wet pickup capacity isn’t robust, for me it’s not really an issue. I don’t see myself using this vacuum to pick up much in the way of liquids anyway.

I wouldn’t mind seeing this vacuum sold in kit form with a battery and charger for those who are not on the RIDGID platform. I think it would be a really positive introduction to the RIDGID platform for those people who have yet to try RIDGID tools. It would be nice if replacement parts for the RIDGID GEN5X brushless Vacuum were sold at Home Depot and didn’t have to be ordered, but it’s definitely not a deal breaker.

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About the author

Mike Delisle

Mike is a carpenter, handyman, and woodworker from Rhode Island, where he has spent the last 17 years working in the trades. Mike became interested in building construction by helping out the contractor who built his house. While being a carpenter is enjoyable and pays the bills, his real passion lies in woodworking and using his favorite tool, the scroll saw, to create 3d signs. In his spare time Mike enjoys bass fishing, skiing, and cheering for the Montreal Canadiens.

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