The Ridgid 4.5-gallon ProPack wet/dry vacuum is a sublimely designed tool ideal for DIY and professional use in wet or dry applications. And, whoever designed it managed to remove almost all the hassle associated with shop vacuums and replace it with parts, design and features that work–both in use and in storage.
Top-line features of the Ridgid ProPack Vac
- Compact
- Blessedly corded
- Wet/Dry
- Best-in-class storage
- Cube design
- Powerful
Where do I need it to work?
Let’s start with the kind of user I am: Occasional at best. I don’t need a dust extractor or deafening power. I don’t need wheels. And I certainly don’t need a Medusa meets R2 unit crowding my shop, site or truck. But when I do use a vac, I need it to work and the Ridgid ProPack delivers.
Clean-up during and after interior remodeling projects–I just used it today cleaning debris from inside the joist bays on a bathroom remodel. On a recent kitchen reno, “broom clean” wasn’t clean enough, so I vacced up dust.
I also used it with the awesome and included brush to clean out the cabinets after installing them. There is a vac head and crevice tool but the brush is my favorite, especially for stuff like windows, window sills, whatever.
Does it tackle tough jobs?
The toughest job I gave it was emptying deck footings that had flooded. 20-inches wide by 3-feet deep I had three of them full to the rim with Brim (how fantastic is that video?) and while it was a challenge for the 4.5-gallon body, it wasn’t for the motor. And popping the top to empty the base is simple and super well-designed. Note: This is really a job for a water pump; guess how I learned that.
I’ve even used it to suck dirt out of a post hole during a fence post replacement project.
Is it easy to store?
And as much as I appreciate using it, I appreciate storing it just as much. The whole thing–including its 20-foot, flexible cord–stores as a box on my truck. I have a compartment or it and the whole thing lives there ready for action.
Is it worth the price?
At $139 at The Home Depot, I think it punches above its weight. I find it ideal for everything from basic shop clean-up to cleaning out the car. The thing works.
In a word, I think the Ridgid ProPack vac is “cubular”.
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