Ryobi HP Brushless Pet Stick Vac Review: A Real Step Up from the Original

Introduction

To see how much Ryobi has improved its cordless stick vacuums, we put the HP Brushless Pet Stick Vac head to head against one of the brand’s original stick vacs, which was a good unit in its own right. The test was a four-stage mess track: sawdust and wood chips, damp sand, crushed cereal, and pet hair. The result is a clear picture of where the new model genuinely pulls ahead and where the gains are more modest.

Four-Stage Mess Test

The first stage used sawdust and chips. Both vacuums left some chips behind, but the newer model clearly did a better job, picking up more of the dust as well. On the wet sand stage, neither vacuum performed well, which is unsurprising for this category, but the new vacuum spread the sand less, thanks to its front roller.

On crushed cereal, the new vac picked up more of the smaller pieces and grabbed more of the broken fragments, while the original left noticeably more whole and crushed pieces behind. For the pet hair stage, both did a decent job on the loose fluff, but the older vac worked hair deeper into the carpet fibers, while the newer one left far less behind.

One important caveat: this was a single slow pass over each mess. In real use, you go over the same spot multiple times, especially with a stubborn mess, so neither vacuum’s single-pass result tells the whole story. What the test does show is that the new vac picks up more debris, more effectively, particularly on pet hair.

Canister Capacity and Emptying

After the run, both canisters were noticeably filled by a single pass. Both are removable, and the release sits on the side of the unit, with a flap for quick dumping.

The new vac’s front-mounted canister is easier to access, and its larger, more cylindrical design gives it more capacity than the original’s angled canister. The cyclonic action sends hair around the sides while larger debris settles at the bottom. Comparing the contents, the new vac appeared to collect more of the heavier solid debris, suggesting stronger suction.

Battery: The High Performance Factor

The first test was run exactly as each vacuum came kitted, which meant different batteries. Both packs were 4 Ah, but the new model shipped with a High Performance battery, an advantage the original never had, since High Performance packs did not exist when it launched.

To make the comparison fair, the same battery was then used on both vacuums. With the identical pack, results were more even: a small suction boost appeared on the dry debris, and the cereal stage improved noticeably with the High Performance battery. Wet sand remained unchanged, and the new vac still did better on pet hair. The takeaway is that the High Performance battery helps, but the new vacuum itself is still the stronger performer.

Dual Roller Brush and Pet Features

Ryobi calls this part of its pet rated line largely because of the dual roller brush. The front roller carries a soft brush that picked up pet hair in testing, while a more traditional carpet brush sits behind it. Together, the two rollers pick up more debris than a single roller, and the extra suction from the brushless motor adds to that.

LED lights on the front of the floor head help with spotting debris in dim corners, and the brushless motor is noticeably quieter than the older unit’s, even while delivering better suction.

Everyday Design Touches

One practical improvement that stood out immediately: this vacuum stands up on its own. That is a big deal compared with previous stick vacs that need to be leaned against a wall or laid down between passes.

Price and Availability

The bare tool runs $249 and includes the attachments and a wall mount. The kit, at $299, adds a 4 Ah High Performance battery and charger. Both are sold at The Home Depot and homedepot.com.

Conclusion

The Ryobi HP Brushless Pet Stick Vac is a meaningful upgrade over the original: better pickup on dry debris and pet hair, more suction, a larger and more accessible canister, quieter operation, a dual roller brush, self-standing design, and the benefits of the High Performance battery platform. It is not perfect on every mess, as wet sand proved for both models, but for everyday dry messes and homes with pets, it clearly outperforms the generation it replaces.