The first two words that come to mind regarding the Makita XCV10ZX backpack vacuum are “lightweight” and “powerful.” Tipping the scales at a mere 10 pounds, it’s definitely one of the lightest vacs I’ve tested. (See Cliff’s other backpack vacuum review here). But don’t let the small size fool you. It packs a powerful punch and has some good features. If you’re on the Makita battery platform, this might be worth a second glance for site clean-up and dust collection.
The unit I received comes standard with a HEPA filter and disposable filter dust bag. And while Makita has a kit with wands and accessories, the company shipped me a bare tool to test. The disposable bag has a closable top to prevent creating a mess while you’re changing bags. If you prefer a reusable bag, Makita also has them available. With what amounts to a dual-filter system (bag + HEPA), it does a great job at containing the dust inside it. It does have a slight tendency to clog and reduce suction when gathering finer dust particles like MDF or drywall dust.
The bags can be sealed.
This minimizes the mess when changing bags.
That’s not a problem, in my view. While the unit did great sucking up general dust around the shop—larger particulate items like sawdust and so forth—when it came time to gobble up powder, it slowed down. Which is what it’s supposed to do—catch the dust before my lungs do.
Included “tool collars”—adapters—enable you to step up or down to various hose fittings.
It does come with assorted dust-collector adapters (which Makita calls “tool cuff adaptors”) so that it fits Makita and brand tools. I think this is thoughtful and, absent the wands and such, is how I used it: A small mess vac and dust collector for various tools.
It worked well as a portable dust-collection unit with my track saw. With a 59-inch flexible hose, I had no issues at all with mobility or reach. It worked fine whether I wore it as a backpack or stored it at my feet. The straps felt comfortable. Combined with the light weight, it was easy to use.
A cool feature from Makita generally is the Automatic-start Wireless System (AWS). While this vac is AWS-compatible, I was unable to try that out. Again, if you’re already on the Makita platform, this is worth a look. AWS is a Bluetooth-capable tool trigger that mounts on a tool and communicates to the vacuum to start when you pull the tool’s trigger. I used the cord-mounted on/off switch. The switch was a bit awkward and cumbersome at times. It has a hook attached it but has a tendency to fall off and was difficult to reach.
Powered by two 18-volt Lithium Ion batteries, it has an approximate continuous run time of an hour. Since I did not vacuum for an hour, I’ll take Makita at its word. What I can say is that it ran plenty long and plenty strong for what I needed it to do.
The Makita XCV10ZX Backpack Vacuum has 36 volts of dust-gathering power.
One issue I did have is not specific to the vacuum but the batteries. Here in the South, it’s hot and we sweat. The battery housings are smooth, so they can be slick and difficult to remove with one hand when you have sweaty palms.
To sum it up: To use this tool to its full potential, you do need to spend a few bucks more and get the Automatic-start Wireless System (AWS) and wands and so forth, if you don’t already own them.
If you’re on the platform, this could be a great addition to your dust collection in the shop and on site. If you’re not on the platform, you’ll also need two batteries and a charger, so that’s worth considering. The unit, as tested, was pretty much bare bones and I liked it for final sanding, finishing, and touch-up sanding in the shop or in a location where dust collection is critical.
3 ½ Hammers out of 5 hammers
This article originally appeared in Tools of the Trade.