Dyson V11 Outsize

This is the cordless vacuum for you if:

  • You have a large space to vacuum
  • You have LOTS of hair and dust (lots of pets or a couple super-shedders)
  • You take your pets in your car and want to be able to vacuum your car from time to time, but it’s not the priority
  • You have carpet and hard floors (if you only have hard floors we suggest grabbing this tool)
  • You don’t mind a little extra weight and bulk (the canister is larger, as is the battery)
  • You are ready to spend more money for higher performance
Dyson V11 Review - how the vacuum handles pet hair and is it a good choice for pet owners? Featured image and Pinterest pin image.

The Dyson V11 is part of a long line of Dyson V-models and has several versions unto itself: The Dyson V11 Animal, Torque Drive, Outsize Origin, Outsize, and Absolute. The V11 Outsize is the biggest of the bunch and packs a ton of features and performance and may be of particular interest to people with larger dogs that shed a lot.

Dyson v11 Outsize screenshot from Dyson.com
Dyson v11 Outsize screenshot from Dyson.com

The good:

This vacuum sucks!

For power, Dyson has solidly blown away the competition when it comes to cordless (stick) vacuums. You’ll find the most impressive level of suction available in its “boost mode” – one of 3 modes available on the V11 line. The other 2 modes are Eco and Auto.

It can reach up to 220 airwatts, which put simply, is MASSIVE for a stick vacuum.

Pet hair won’t be a nightmare

The V11 line has a particular style of brush that makes it one of the better vacuums for pet hair specifically. The short bristles and wide area between the bristles make tangles less of an issue than many other vacuums.

If you even do need to clean it though, it’s super easy to slide the brush head out and wipe it down or cut away any pet hair that gets wrapped up in it.

Modern Management

The V11 Outsize offers the modern convience of a LCD screen to monitor your vacuum’s performance as you use it. You’ll be able to see:

  • A countdown of how much battery time you have left
  • A warning if your filter isn’t attached correctly, and a small instructional video on fixing it
  • A warning if something obstructs the airflow and a small instructional video on how to check all the areas of the vacuum where it might be clogged

Compact and Versatile

The main floor attachment is great for your big surface areas, but if you have pet hair, dirt and dust on your furniture or in your car, you can choose to forgo the floor attachment for some of the more versatile tools and use the Dyson V11 Outsize as a handheld instead.

Other Features

.5 gallon canister – This is very large for a stick vac and means you’ll have to empty it less. This is one reason why it’s the top of the list for homes with lots of animals.

Replaceable Batteries – Not all the V11s have replaceable batteries, meaning when the battery runs out, you have to wait for it to charge before you can use it again. Fortunately Dyson improved that with the Outsize by giving it replaceable batteries that simply click into place, AND on top of that you get 2 batteries with the Outsize model, so if one runs low you can simply replace it, put the used one back on the charger, and keep going.

This adds up to a total possible cleaning time of 120 minutes – 2 hours!

Plenty of Accessories – Dyson vacuums are famous for including lots of attachments, and the Outsize continues that tradition in style. You’ll also get a special accessory clip that allows you to clip a couple accessories of your choice directly to the body of the vacuum so you have them for immediate use no matter where you are in your home.

Super-wide brush head – The main floor head is an XL version of other V11 models. It’s 11.7 inches wide, which means it covers any area even faster.

Point and shoot empty – The Outsize employs a ‘point and shoot’ style canister. If you’re unfamiliar with it, essentially it allows you to extend the canister down into the trash, while helping to push the debris out of the vacuum, without you ever having to touch the canister lid. So you don’t have to come away fro emptying feeling like you need a bath!

Dyson V11 Outsize vs. V11 Animal Vs. V11 Torque Drive Video

Check out this video review and comparison of the V11 lineup to get a better sense of how these vacuums operate.

Drawbacks

If these things are deal-breakers, look elsewhere…

Weight

At 7.85lbs it’s the heaviest among the Dyson V11s. Even though that extra weight equals more canister and more battery, if weight is a big concern for you, consider a different stick vacuum to help you clean up after your four-legged family.

No led light

I think all vacuums should come with a light on the main brush head, but alas, the V11s, even the Outsize, do not.

Charge time

The batteries each take 4.5 hours to fully charge, which generally should be plenty if you have the 2 batteries that come with the Dyson V11 Outsize, but it’s not the shortest charge time among the V11 lineup.

Large debris on hard floors

For the most part this vacuum performers fantastic on hard and carpeted floors alike, however, it sometimes will have problems with larger debris on hard floors. To remedy this issue you might want to try this attachment.

A bit chunky for the car

The Dyson V11 Outsize does break down quickly and easily into a handheld vacuum with lots of options but, because of the XL container, it is a little on the large size and you might find it difficult to maneuver in the small spaces of your vehicle.

Price

The price of V11 Outsize is definitely the upper end. You’ll be looking at somewhere around ~$800 for this cordless vacuum.

Check out the vacuum and latest price on Dyson.com