82

Milwaukee M18 Fuel 3-In-1 Backpack Vacuum Kit Review

Kenn Muguna Avatar
Updated Jan 2, 2024 1:44 PM

True Score

70
69
1

Experts

72
0

Consumers

Expert Rankings

The Milwaukee M18 had testers impressed with its ability to clear debris on bare floors. They also liked its low noise output and its anti-allergy HEPA filter.

Still, its lack of a surface adjustment feature and missing cleaning tools were drawbacks that reviewers could hardly ignore.

$324.99

We’re reader-supported. Commissions finance our mission. Our ‘True Score‘ system independently powers ratings. Learn more

Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

Overview

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel 3-in-1 Backpack Vacuum Kit was announced in 2013 as a mid-tier backpack vacuum cleaner best suited for workshops, construction sites, and woodworking applications.

It has a 20-pound weight and a standard size 4.3-liter dirt compartment that is difficult to find even among some of the best vacuum cleaners around.

The vacuum cleaner has a battery life of up to 40 minutes, and similar to the Kenmore Intuition Bagged Vacuum, it also ships with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter that traps up to 99.97% of allergens.

Have a look at our Kenmore Intuition Bagged Vacuum review to see what else they have in common. It’ll take slightly more than 80 minutes to charge, which, as you’ll see in our Narwal T-10 review, is pretty quick compared to the 2.5-hour charge time of the Narwal T-10.

These are some of the few features that it shares with some of the best vacuums for cleaning businesses.

Consensus

our Verdict

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3-in-1 Backpack Vacuum Kit delighted product reviewers with how well it eliminated debris on hard floors and carpets.

Testers at Rtings lauded it for clearing 100% of debris and pet hair on hard floors and about 54 to 69%on low and high pile carpets, respectively.

Testers from Pro Tool Reviews were delighted with its build quality and liked that it didn’t feel as heavy as a backpack harness.

Also, with a noise output of about 72 decibels, it gets almost as loud as the Atrix VACPB1 (more about it in our Atrix VACPB1 review).

Testers also found the M18’s suction decent, as they established during their tests that it had a maximum airflow of up to 55 CFM. As you’ll find out in our Roborock H6 review, this is slightly more than the Roborock H6’s 44 CFM.

Still, the M18 also had its drawbacks. Testers didn’t like its lack of a surface-type adjustment feature and lack of extra cleaning tools.

ReasonS to Buy

  • Standard-sized 4.3-liter dirt bin
  • Anti-allergen HEPA filter
  • Low noise output
  • Decent suction force
  • Quick charge time

Reason to Avoid

  • No surface-type adjustment feature
  • Missing cleaning tools
  • No max fill indicator

Milwaukee M18 Fuel 3-In-1 Backpack Vacuum Kit Specs

BaglessBaglessYes
Bin CapacityBin Capacity1 gal
Brush Roll Shut-OffBrush Roll Shut-OffUnknown
Carpet Height AdjustmentsCarpet Height AdjustmentsUnknown
Cleaning Path WidthCleaning Path WidthUnknown
Compatible Floor TypeCompatible Floor TypeAll floors
Cord LengthCord LengthUnknown
Corded/CordlessCorded/CordlessCordless
Filter TypeFilter TypeHEPA
HypoallergenicHypoallergenicYes
PetPetYes
Product WeightProduct Weight15.25 lbs
Vacuum TypeVacuum TypeCanister
Wet And Dry UsageWet And Dry UsageNo

All Specs

Test Results

Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned)100
Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned)56.55
Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned)97
Noise Level (dB)71.5

Like what you’re reading? Get trustworthy, transparent product reviews and the latest tech news delivered to your inbox every morning.

Product Comparison

Milwaukee M18 Fuel 3-In-1 Backpack Vacuum Kit Review

Miele Triflex HX1 Review Draft

Eureka Mighty Mite Review|

Eureka Mighty Mite Review

True Score

70
NR
NR
NR

Ranking

#

82

/

100

#

/

100

#

/

100

#

/

Market Context

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel 3-in-1 Backpack Vacuum Kit was announced in 2013 as a mid-tier backpack vacuum cleaner best suited for workshops, construction sites, and…

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel 3-in-1 Backpack Vacuum Kit was announced in 2013 as a mid-tier backpack vacuum cleaner best suited for workshops, construction sites, and woodworking applications.

It has a 20-pound weight and a standard size 4.3-liter dirt compartment that is difficult to find even among some of the best vacuum cleaners around.

The vacuum cleaner has a battery life of up to 40 minutes, and similar to the Kenmore Intuition Bagged Vacuum, it also ships with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter that traps up to 99.97% of allergens.

Have a look at our Kenmore Intuition Bagged Vacuum review to see what else they have in common. It’ll take slightly more than 80 minutes to charge, which, as you’ll see in our Narwal T-10 review, is pretty quick compared to the 2.5-hour charge time of the Narwal T-10.

These are some of the few features that it shares with some of the best vacuums for cleaning businesses.

The Milwaukee M18 has a larger 4.3-liter dirt compartment compared to the 0.5-liter dirt capacity of the Miele Triflex HX1, as you’ll see in our…

The Milwaukee M18 has a larger 4.3-liter dirt compartment compared to the 0.5-liter dirt capacity of the Miele Triflex HX1, as you’ll see in our Miele Triflex HX1 review. Weighing 20.57 pounds, the M18 is way heavier than the 8.8-pound HX1, making the Miele vacuum much easier to maneuver.

The Milwaukee M18 features an anti-allergy HEPA filter while the Eureka Mighty Mite does not, and its 4.3-liter dirt compartment is also larger than the…

The Milwaukee M18 features an anti-allergy HEPA filter while the Eureka Mighty Mite does not, and its 4.3-liter dirt compartment is also larger than the 2.8-liter dirt bin on the Eureka vacuum cleaner.

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3-in-1 Backpack Vacuum Kit has a runtime of up to 40 minutes, which is much more than the Milwaukee M12’s 29-minute…

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3-in-1 Backpack Vacuum Kit has a runtime of up to 40 minutes, which is much more than the Milwaukee M12’s 29-minute battery life. However, with the M12 being a handheld vacuum, its 2.25-pound weight makes it much easier to handle than the M18, which weighs about 20.57 pounds.

Bagless

Yes

Bin Capacity

1 gal

Brush Roll Shut-Off

Unknown

Carpet Height Adjustments

Unknown

Cleaning Path Width

Unknown

Compatible Floor Type

All floors

Cord Length

Unknown

Corded/Cordless

Cordless

Dig Deeper

All Stores

Updated every 24 hours

  • $324.99

    Availability

    In Stock

    Free Shipping

    No
  • $349.99

    Availability

    In Stock

    Free Shipping

    No

Score Card

E

Expert Score

69

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

72

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

70

Any product with a True Score above 80 is a Absolutely Fresh

Expert Scores

  • Rtings
    101.4

    Category Trust Rating

    80
    The Milwaukee M18 FUEL is superb for bare floors. It easily cleans pet hair as… Read More

    By:

    Dagobiet Morales Alfaro