Casdon Dyson Cord-Free Vacuum Review
Reviewed by David Ashworth
With two girls in my house aged 4 and 3, I’ve been through my fair share of toy vacuum cleaners over the past few years and I’ve got to be honest I’ve never been massively impressed with any of them. They all boasted being the most realistic toy vacuum cleaner, came with a multitude of accessories and “really worked” but alas, the product never really lived up to the hype.
Instead of a large lump of plastic that obnoxiously buzzes its way through double A batteries though, the Casdon Dyson Cord-free vacuum boasts working suction that really picks up and works like the real thing (including dust box), easy release attachments and “whizzing cyclone action.
The question is, will the Casdon Dyson replica break the mould where so many others have failed?
Casdon has been around for over seventy years. Originally founded in 1946, after the end of the second world war, the company specialises in producing role play toys for children and promotes the value of learning and developing through fun and active play. More information and the full catalogue can be found on the company’s website www.casdon.com.
The Casdon Dyson Cord-Free Vacuum comes boxed with a semi open front so you can see how realistic it looks and I’ve got to be honest, aside from the colourful pieces in the central cyclone section which make it that little bit more appealing to youngsters, you honestly couldn’t be faulted for thinking it was a real vacuum. In fact, I previously owned the actual Dyson model vacuum that this toy is based on and it literally feels like a smaller scale version. On a personal note, I can appreciate some children may want a toy that looks just like what their parents may use at home but I much prefer my kids to play with toys that are brightly coloured, stimulating and actually look like they belong to children, but obviously realism is the aim of the game here and for that the Casdon deserves an A star.
The box is brightly coloured and is plastered with features of the vacuum and section which explains the educational and developmental benefits of the toy for young children. Aside from inspiring imaginative play and creativity, The Casdon Dyson Cord-Free Vacuum can help improve hand-eye coordination by sucking up the colourful pieces and teach children about cause and effect as well as aid and improve the development of a child’s motor skills.
When taking it out of the box, the Casdon Dyson Vacuum feels solid but not too heavy for a young child although it is made of plastic and the central chamber does feel to be the most fragile part of the vacuum. This is unfortunate as it is integral to the use of the vacuum and could be broken by a misplaced foot. The attachments are easy to remove and connect and although the vacuum is recommended for children of 3 years and over it would be suitable for slightly younger children as well (with supervision).
The Casdon Dyson Cord-Free Vacuum requires three AA batteries rather than a charging station and unfortunately the trigger is a little stiff to operate. Also the suction is just about adequate to collect the colourful beads but struggles to even suck up paper or small debris. Instead of sounding and operating like an actual Dyson, the familiar sounds of the dull buzzing so familiar to me from several years of toy Vacuum Cleaners was not a welcome return.
The Casdon Dyson comes with three attachments: the standard floor head, a long narrow head as well as the long extender hose which are easy to attach and detach with the push of a button and once applied hold firmly in place without slipping off at all.
Although I wasn’t expecting a real vacuum like quality I must admit I was a little disappointed with the Casdon Dyson Cord-Free Vacuum, it is just another toy vacuum in the seemingly endless selection and despite boasting it’s features on the box I couldn’t really see any discernible difference between this and the Henry Hoover I bought for my kids over a year ago. The suction is weak, and it definitely doesn’t sound anything like a real vacuum. It does look fantastic however, and younger children will definitely enjoy mimicking their mums and dads as they hoover the living room. The attachments are fantastic and easy to exchange, and the overall quality of the product is excellent. The addition of an actual dust box that can be emptied is a nice touch and in terms of appearance and options I can’t fault this product. For a young child who enjoys copying and role playing this is an excellent idea for a Christmas gift and is reasonably priced when compared to similar products on the market, just don’t expect to have your socks blown… or in this case, sucked off by the Casdon Dyson Cord-Free Vacuum.
Rating: 3/5
RRP: £20
For more information and stockists visit www.casdon.com.
