RIDGID launched a new 16-gallon NXT Power wet/dry shop vacuum that delivers more cleaning power than their next-leading model.
The new Ridgid NXT Power shop vacuum is advertised as delivering unmatched performance in retail wet/dry vacuums, with 7.0 Peak Horsepower, 396 air watts and 202 CFM of suction power.
Ridgid is sponsoring ToolGuyd for this exploration, and so I asked them to share some points that I should keep in mind.
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They reiterated that this is their most powerful wet/dry shop vacuum, when compared to a Ridgid 6.0 Peak Horsepower vac, and that it delivers high performance debris pickup and suction.
So far, I’m convinced that is true. However, not to mince words, that’s not why I would buy this vacuum.
Yes, suction power is important. But it’s the little things that make the difference to me in use.
The Ridgid HD1900 vacuum has large rear wheels, making it easier to move around. It also features upgrade casters that definitely feel different than what I’ve seen on most shop vacuums before. Also, the cart handle is easily removable. Because I don’t use corded shop vacuums all the time, this makes it easier to store away.
Then there’s the locking hose. No, you’re not supposed to reposition shop vacuums by yanking on the hose, but we all do it anyway. Whether you do that or not, Ridgid’s hose connections were designed to stay put.
Many users, whether DIYers or professionals, buy shop vacuums for the long haul. All of the small touches, such as the power cord, hose, extension wands, and nozzles feel like they were designed to last.
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It also wasn’t lost on me that you get Ridgid NXT Max accessories – a crevice tool, car nozzle, floor tool, and wet shoe attachment.
If you like the idea of Ridgid’s NXT accessories, keep in mind that you can buy them for use with other vacuums – they’re designed to work with standard 2-1/2″ shop vacuum hoses and wands.
You know what I really like about this and other Ridgid shop vacuums? The fact that I can walk into a Home Depot store and find the exact filter I need. You can also buy the full range of Ridgid filters and accessories online as well.
Will it last? Will I be able to find compatible filters? These things matter.
Compared to the HD1800 – also an excellent high-performance shop vacuum – the new HD1900 features more power, a PRO hose (the HD1800’s is good, but this one definitely feels stronger), upgraded casters, and tougher rear wheels.
The ergonomics feel great, and there’s a handle recess at the back of the drum to help with emptying the canister.
All off the little things contribute to a better experience, at least in my opinion.
There was a time when I used just one corded shop vacuum, and that was it. Now, I have a dust extractor, a cordless vacuum, and also an AC-powered shop vacuum for when I need more power, greater collection capacity, or extended runtime.
I wish I could tell you that the new Ridgid NXT Power shop vacuum was exciting. It’s not. I wish I could tell you that using it brought joy to me. It didn’t. So what’s the point? Fewer frustrations – powerful cleanup that just works.
I have known Ridgid shop vacuums to be reliable. This new model gives you more power, a couple of upgrades, and also welcome features that you’ll find on some of the brand’s other shop vacuums.
My time with the HD1900 has been positive thus far, and the differences compared to the HD1800 – such as the new rear wheels – do stand out. They’re both great wet/dry shop vacuums.
I feel that this sponsorship arrangement with Ridgid needs a little more than my telling you that their HD1900 vacuum delivered exactly the experience I expected. How about a giveaway?
Since ToolGuyd will run the giveaway, I need to think about the prize options. Of course one of the prizes could be a Ridgid HD1900 NXT Power shop vacuum, but what about for the users who want something else?
For me, power and suction performance is important, but maneuverability, attachments, and accessible filter options are also high priorities. What are your top priorities in a shop vacuum? I figure that the answers can help me put together some other prize options from within Ridgid shop vacuum and accessories ecosystem.
Thank you of course to Ridgid, for sponsoring this exploration.
Saulac
My top priority in a shop vac is the ease of replacing the bag. This means it must have a bag. The bags should be universal and available everywhere. The power head / top should be easy to unlatch and disconnect from the canister. The canister should be easy to carry to and dumped into trash can. This means the canister should be just a simple can, attached to a cart. The casters and all accessories are on the cart. Come to think of it I want the sort of Tough Build Stack Tech latching between: top > canister > cart.
John
I have the Ridgid WD4070 — I got it for its small size (just 4 gal capacity) and its 5HP motor. I like the compact size, and for my needs it’s fine. I added a muffler/diffuser, which helps with the noise, though it cuts down on the usable space to hold accessories. My one complaint is that while the hose clips to the black plastic vacuum port, the port itself is prone to dislodging from the bucket/base. It’s just a friction fit, and the port (with hose attached) falls out if I’m not super gentle with the hose. I’ve thought of just gluing the port fitting to the bucket — just haven’t gotten around to it. (I’m guessing it’s manufactured and shipped in two pieces so as to allow a wider opening when draining liquids, though honestly, I just end up tipping the bucket completely over anyway.)
Anyway, I’ve been thinking of using this unit as a dedicated vac for my miter saw station, and buying a second shop vac. The #1 thing I’m looking for is a hose that will not dislodge.
Adam
While I’ve always been a fan of Ridgid shopvacs, I got tired of the deafening noise my 12 gallon makes and worried I was being a nuisance to my neighbors when running it outside of normal “business hours”. I bought a 6 gallon DeWalt Stealthsonic and can’t imagine ever going back to a loud shopvac. Maybe if I find myself in need of an emergency water drainage, I’ll use the Ridgid again, but until then, the DeWalt is just too pleasant not to use. It does lack onboard storage and has no drain plug, but the wheels are a major improvement over the Ridgid’s and roll silently and effortlessly. All that said, if Ridgid ever made a comparable shopvac that prioritized noise suppression, I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to them.
Jason
7hp. On 15 amps. So not possible. I hate the way manufacturers rate universal motors like this.
Stuart
I have found it’s best to treat these ratings as a comparative measure. For example, for any particular brand, a 5 HP shop vacuum should deliver greater performance than the same brand’s 3 HP model.
ColeTrain
Kind of like the thousand foot pounds of breakaway to work on my impact wrench? Lol
jeff robbins
It does have a sticker. I heard stickers add HP. It is magic. On 20 amp, 120V the max hp can be 3.2, ignoring all normal physics constraints, like heat, friction etc. 2.4 hp at 100% efficiency on a 15amp, 120 circuit. It really is disengenious to say it is anything better. There is a hysterical youtube video with the host testing shopvacs to failure and he barely cleared 1 hp before the magical blue smoke showed up.
JJ
Y’know what I need more than a more powerful shop vac? A quieter shop vac that’s still powerful. What’s Ridgid’s answer to the DeWalt Stealthsonic?
Justin T
I don’t know about Ridgid, but I did see Shop Vac has their new Whisper vacuums out this year. I’ve only seen YouTube videos so far but those have looked promising. Seems they’re targeting the same price brackets as the Stealthsonics.
But definitely agree that I’m looking for noise suppression, I just swapped my noisy, old Craftsman pancake compressor for a quieter model.
Brad
Power, portability, ease of storage and attachments that are useful and easy to find replacements for. At the very least the attachments should all store on the vacuum without getting in the way.
Phranq
Tell your friends at ridgid that we need a longer hose, and the large rear wheels don’t help anything when they still have the tiny casters on the front. Just put 4″ casters all the way around please.
ColeTrain
The NXT line is confusing. The come and go and seem to have partnerships with other manufacturers. Plus no lifetime warranty. That’s sad 15 years ago when I got my rigid shop vac on Black Friday for $30 I’d say it’s been worth every penny…. And of course you maneuver shop vacs via pulling the hose. Not sure if they have suffered quality problems like the rest of rigid but the newer ones seem like the casters and switch seem a little less quality.
Carlo
Answer to the dewalt is the hd1900. A lot more powerful than the dewalt but not as quiet.
Robert
Stuart, please comment on the noise level of the HD1900.
Stuart
You generally have to choose between lower noise or power/performance – this model is focused on power/performance,
TomD
Shop vacs either need to be maneuverable/portable (like the newer cordless ones) or powerful enough to suck a golf ball through a garden hose.
The latter can be as big and loud as it wants.
For some jobs (insulation cleanup) having a huge bucket is an advantage – like the old 55 gallon drum toppers.
Irving
First, I want a shop vac so powerful the shop walls bulge inward when I turn it on, and it has to be quiet enough that I can still hear the shop radio over it.
Both of those are impossible. So….how about an industry standard decibel measurement ? Same measurement scale from the same distance, with the same orientation in a same environment – no manufacturer cheating – so different vacs can be reliably compared? Same for suction and blowing power – inches of mercury for vacuum, CFM and velocity for both intake and exhaust (I use the exhaust side of my indoor vac with a 4″ adapter to blow out the clothes dryer vent while I’m running a brush through it).
Don’t put wheels on the vac, put them on a locking quick detach platform that has LARGE high quality swivel casters (there are always power cords and wood chips on the floor), and if you’re selling the “bestest, most powerful sooper-dooper shop vac” but it comes with an 8 foot hose you’re not serious about it. Every time I’ve bought a shop vac – and I own two of the older 6.5 HP Rigids and a smaller 4.5HP/4 gallon (very portable) Shop Vac brand – the first thing I’ve done with all of them is GO BUY LONGER HOSES. Why does a 7 HP vac NOT come with a single 20 foot hose? The hoses are Rigid brand and Home Depot sells them (so does Amazon, Lowes, and everyone else; for my smaller 4.5 HP Shop Vac brand vacuum I bought a 25 foot length of 1 1/2″ hose from Cent-Tec Systems online – FYI, they sell all diameter hoses in lengths up to 50 feet). And, yes, everyone drags the things around by the hose and we always will, so sturdy locking hoses are a must.
If it’s on wheels, a 20-25 foot power cord is a must, don’t make us dig out extension cords. If it’s noisy, put a muffler in the box, don’t make us go back to the store for one. Directional control on the exhaust would be nice so we don’t blow floor or work bench dust all over the shop when it’s turned on.
Bigger attachments – I bought the 2nd Rigid to use indoors – my house is all tile and hardwood so vacuuming it is faster, easier and less dusty than the cotton fluffy mops – I had to hunt to find an 18 inch floor brush and sturdier extensions for the ridgid hose wands (Cent-Tec Systems to the rescue….). HD sells a very nice Rigid “auto cleaning kit” for vacuums, but AFAIK none of the accessories in it are available separately. Why not? And has anyone who designed the vacs ever tried using the accessory storage on them? Simple flat spring clips would work fine, as would a quick-detach handle (if your vac holds the accessories on the handle – both my 6.5 HP Rigids have an “accessory bag” that hangs on the handle, from which the accessories always fall out – a detachable handle wouldn’t be useful).
Quick and easy bag replacement, and the ability to remove a bag, use the vac for wet pickup, then put the bag back in (my indoor Rigid always has a bag in it, the shop Rigid never does because wet pickup and paper bags don’t match).
Bigger – MUCH bigger – filters with dust sleeves so I can remove the dust sleeve when it starts clogging, shake it out, re-install it and keep going.
youthere
Its a Shop Vacuum. Its all about the suction. If I have to move it around more, so be it.
Rick
Re “What are your top priorities in a shop vacuum?”, noise level is pretty near the top for me.
This one is rated at 79 db. That isn’t terrible, but it’s not that good either. DeWalt’s Stealthsonic shop vacs have decibel ratings in the sixties, and Shop-Vac has a new model out (# 5430098) which is allegedly even quieter. See the Youtube video “Is This the Quietest Shop Vac EVER?”.
It’s also disappointing that Ridgid didn’t publish the noise level for the HD1900 in its specification on Home Depot’s web page. They detail cord length, dimensions, weight, etc., so why not state the sound level? By chance someone happened to ask about it in the “Questions & Answers” and Ridgid replied, but consumers shouldn’t have to hunt around to find the noise level of a shop vac. That is really important to some potential customers.
That said, I doubt that the omission is deliberate. Perhaps it is because Ridgid does not view noise level as something that consumers care about. Or perhaps it is because this is clearly a powerful machine, so noise level is not even much of a consideration.
But sound level can still be a deal breaker for some. We are willing to accept tradeoffs for a quieter machine, such as reduced suction power, or the loss of blower functionality. I’m now unlikely to buy a shop vac that requires ear protection to use it.
Tool Junkie
There’s a big trend here in many of the posts – “quiet”, low volume, etc. My shop is loud enough without the howl of a vacuum. I got rid of my Rigid in favor of the DeWalt Stealthsonic. I used a quiet Fein for over 20 years before that & my 2 quiet Festools. Now I can have a conversation while sanding, like last night when I was teaching someone woodworking.
All of my vacuums, but one, are attached to cyclone separators to ease dust disposal, with “auto on” on the one hooked up to the miter saw and the one at my bench hooked up to my ROS.
Stuart
I prefer quieter vacs too, and use compact brushless cordless vacs with adjustable suction power for smaller cleaning tasks.
But when there’s flood water to clean up or similar, performance is the top priority. There is always a cost to noise reduction.
With woodworking power tools, I’m already wearing hearing protection, and so things like mobility and ease of use is a priority.
Nate
My kingdom for a clear shop-vac. I just want to know how full it is without having to peek.
Moreover, I want to know if someone used it for wet pickup and left it nasty, before my nose alerts me to the growing horror.
Leo B.
My priorities are power, a long cord, and an easy filter changing/cleaning process. Usually, I have to clean the filter before the collection tank is full, so I want that to be an easy process. Thanks! The new NXT looks great.
Eric
I’ve used a small 5 or 8 gallon Shop Vac for over a decade now. It’s loud, doesn’t have much power, but is usually good enough for cleaning out the car, impromptu deep carpet spot cleaning, and sucking up dust from my sander or trim router. I’m often bringing it up and down my stairs to the basement, out to the garage, and into various rooms in the house. I wish I could get a small, compact vacuum (less than 10 gallons) with a full-sized motor that has lots of power, a larger hose to prevent clogs (preferably a smooth-interior hose), that’s compatible with bags. I don’t need a ton of capacity and much prefer a small unit that’s easy to store in a small house/garage, easy to haul around, but still has plenty of power.
KG
How’d the volume? When I bought my first shop vac, power, warranty, click hoses we’re priority and I got the biggest Ridgid. Now, I’m hard pressed to consider anything with higher dB than the DeWalt Stealthsonic models for my next vac.
Troy
My top priorities are suction power and noise. That’s pretty much it. I had a wall-mount Shop-Vac Classic for years that was obscenely, piercingly loud, and I guess I just assumed that they were all that way.
Very recently I upgraded to a DeWalt Stealthsonic, though, and holy cow – talk about a game changer! Not only was the suction much more powerful, even with a larger-diameter hose, but it’s SOOO much quieter. No need for hearing protection, and you can even have a conversation while you clean up. Never going back to a loud vacuum again, now that I know quiet ones exist.
Steve
I wish Ridgid had a powerful, wall-mounted vac. I’m not sure who makes a durable wall-mounted shop/garage vacuum?
blocky
My Ridgid 12 gallon vac has been a workhorse. I run it mostly with a dewalt 7491 jobsite saw, collecting out the back, with a cyclonic separator, filter bag and an aftermarket ‘hepa’ filter with pre-filter sock, and exhaust diffuser. I estimate it’s at about 1000 hrs of service without any issues. Recently had a roof drainage failure situation and used it to transfer about 700 gallons of water. Miserable night that was. Dried out the vac and put it back on the table saw the next day.
Yes, it’s loud, but not compared to the saw, and although I’ve never given it any special care in handling, it has been a worry-free piece of equipement.
Two important features for me: ability to run it with a HEPA filter, an anti-static hose option. 10′ hose is just about goldilocks for me, but a 7′ hose isn’t going to cause me any grief.
I’ll be setting up a new shop in the first quarter of next year. Some kind of vac is one of those day 1 purchases.
Mike
The large rear wheels quickly become more of a PITA then they’re worth, and the rear wheels on my 6.5HP 16 Gallon NXT aren’t as large as these. The rear handle isn’t nearly as useful as you’d imagine, it’s constantly getting in the way of the power cord. Routing it thru the handle is tedious. Routing it to either side of the handle causes it to get wrapped up with the rear wheels when you move it backwards. It IS easy to remove, but it’s one more (large/awkard) part to store (not lose) when removed.
Is this 2.5″ pro hose ACTUALLY 2.5″?
I purchased one of their 2.5″ pro hoses a few years ago from HD, and was beyond irate to find a 1-7/8″ hose with 2.5″ connectors in the box.
Matthew snyder
My top two are hose and attachment ease of use, and easy clean out of the tank and filter. I have an old craftsman shop vac which my parents from before my memory that isn’t great at either one. But you can’t beat free.
My little Dewalt cordless is much better but only for small tasks of course