Weighing in at 20 pounds—fully loaded with all the accessories and one M18 battery—the Milwaukee M-18 3-in-1 Backpack Vacuum is light.
It’s also versatile: It can be used as a backpack, carried by the top-handle, hooked to a wall block or ladder with the built-in rafter hook, or even suspended by the attached strap. I used it in each configuration on the remodeling projects I do, and it was great.
If you primarily use the handle or need to fit in tight spaces, the shoulder harness can be removed. When you use it in the backpack configuration, the shoulder straps are wide and padded for a comfy fit.
The unit has a waist strap that keeps the unit centered on your back nicely when you are bending over or climbing ladders. The waist strap also houses locations for the additional attachment heads so you can change them on the fly without having to go find them. The two-position switch is conveniently located on the bottom left side of the unit within easy reach. At less than 75 decibels, it’s quiet.
The 1-gallon debris canister is easy to remove with one hand with the push of a single button. Return air is filtered through a HEPA filter mounted in the top of the canister. Emptying the container is just as easy with the bottom door.
That’s already a lot to like, and I’m not done.
I tested it with the optional 9-foot hose, though the factory-shipped 6-footer is more than adequate for an average-height person. The metal wand is easily adjusted to multiple lengths with convenient locking points. A cool feature is the “knuckle” on the hose. This plastic rotating knuckle prevents the hose from kinking up where it attaches to the canister. I used it in a bar remodel after replacing the bar top, and it worked great on heavy sawdust and larger chips. I also tested it with some drywall-dust cleanup; again, it performed well. The filter did require frequent cleaning, but they all do with drywall dust.
Now for the downside. I found that it did have a little trouble with heavier objects like nails and small pieces of plaster. But it is designed to be a portable, lightweight vacuum, and for that, its power-to-weight ratio is awesome. You can not expect the power of a corded floor-mounted vacuum in a small package.
I put it in the back seat of my truck and closed the door, not realizing the hose was against it when it shut. The structural support in the hose was crushed and took some finagling to restore it to a functional shape. This was my fault, but be aware that the hose isn’t indestructible.
Bottom line, if you are in the market for a small, portable jobsite vacuum cleaner, I would encourage you to test drive the Milwaukee 0885-20 M18 Fuel 3-in-1. My wife cleans vacation rentals and I’m having trouble keeping the vacuum cleaner in my truck.
I give it 5 out of 5 Hammers. It retails for $300 (tool only). milwaukeetool.com
