Makita XCV11Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 2 Gallon HEPA Filter Portable Wet/Dry Dust Extractor/Vacuum, Tool Only

This is my portable vac for my home and cars and I'm very pleased with it's strong suction, large debris bin and excellent build quality in small light weight package. It also does good dust extraction when connected to my other tools. Unfortunately Makita doesn't make all dust ports the same size so this will fit some (like Makita Planer & Router with the large dust port nozzle size) and not others (like Makita Jigsaw & Orbital sander with the small dust port nozzle/attachment size). In those cases I 3D printed an adapter that attaches this vac to them perfectly. I did the same for my Dewalt bench miter saw. The vac also has connecters for a typical duffle bag shoulder strap which is very handy. A shoulder strap is great hands free operation: portable dust extraction and cleaning around the house. I've never timed batt life but I feel like I'm getting a 30 - 40 runtime on the high setting with a 6Ah battery. Expect a much longer runtime on the low setting - which has decent suction too. I recommend a 6Ah battery. You don't get strong suction like this for free - it sucks batt juice. Also I bought a generic long nose attachment to spare my back when dusting my baseboards, staircases, walls, etc. I had to 3D print an adapter in order to attach it. With all of that said this is a very versatile tool and you can fill in any gaps to fit your needs.

Years ago I could muscle my big wet/dry vac up a ladder and onto the 2nd floor of the shop. That was years ago. There's no way I can do that anymore. So I needed something easier to handle. I'm in the Makita 18v system so this was a no brainer. It came in today (early Christmas) and operation is common sense, I had it without even reading the manual. It has all sorts of suction but I don't expect it to do the job of a big "floor" vacuum. I read the horror reports where folks stated it was lacking. Mine sure doesn't lack suction. I haven't used it in the shop yet, just in the home on my keyboard and around the wood stove. I can see this getting lots of use.The fact that a shoulder strap doesn't come with it? Yes maybe it should come with one, but just go into the box of spare rifle slings and get out a cheap one with spring hooks that you'd never put on a rifle. Maybe not the "right" color but it works.It also doesn't come with a wet HEPA filter and one needs to be purchased separately. There's a warning in the manual that suction will be lessened if the dry HEPA filter is used for water. Maybe that's what people complain about low suction?One thing I need to do is get an extension so that I can stand upright and use it for the floor on the 2nd floor of the shop. Hopefully PVC pipe or old vacuum attachments will work. I'll figure something out.edit: since writing this review I've realized a use for it that I never thought of when I purchased it. We have a ceiling fan and in years past we would muscle up the floor vacuum putting it on a shelf on a stepladder. That was awkward at best. The wife would hold it there while I would vacuum the fan blades. This unit will work soooo much better!

I am unimpressed with the suction power of this vacuum. Expected a little better from a brand that I really love. Some competitors' products have better suction. I will still keep this one around though because it still works fine and I like the fact that the battery is interchangeable with my other Makita tools.

I love this little Makita vacuum. It is small, takes a standard Makita 18v battery, and has two attachments (a broad wand hose attachment and a narrow hose attachment). It is lightweight and compact. It is about the size of two show boxes stacked on top of one another.I give it 5 starts because it does exactly what I want. Which is to pick up debris and go wherever I want it. No, you're not going to vacuum an entire room with this. But you're not looking for that if you are thinking of this tool. I have a bigger shop vac (Fein vacuum) and while I love that vacuum I wanted something that could go anywhere and cordless and not have to fuss.Battery life is good. I haven't yet run it nonstop to point of battery dying. Which is good in that it should tell you in an average day's use for me, a home DIY guy, that I put a fresh battery in it and it hasn't run out yet. And yes I've done some decent use with it. Even if battery did run out I suspect if you're looking at this vacuum it is because you already have other Makita 18v tools. Meaning you likely already have several batteries.Filtration is excellent. It has a sock over a foam cover over a pleated canister filter. It is HEPA rated and while I can't verify that, it seems to be accurate. Again, I'm a DIY guy...how to verify HEPA? Cleaning it is easy, undo the two latches (one each side) and lift top off and empty bottom. No bags. Cleaning the filter is like any shop vac, meaning easy if dusty. I don't know the volume but would guess near a gallon? I've never filled it so that's a good thing.Complaints? Only two and nothing big, so not knocking a star off. One, the hose could be a bit longer. I don't know exactly how long it is but seems about 30". Of course, by keeping it that small it stores on the body of the vacuum very well. And as light and small as the body is the hose length isn't really an issue since you just the body closer. Second, the handle collapses. I read about this another review and didn't think much of it...but it happens. So the handle swings up, pivots/hinged. It has a detent but doesn't lock. The issue is once in a while the handle will collapse and pinch you hand between the handle and the body. Nothing huge, but does hurt for a few seconds. Nothing so bad as to take a star off, but it is real.Anyway, if you have a need for this, or think you do...get it.