Although I`ve never used a Metro (Sidekick or otherwise) I have seen and held one of the larger MetroVac`s. The hose alone on the BigBoi would make me choose it. I hate PIA hoses and the BigBoi is much more substantial in that area.
Probably a personal thing cuz I work for a swimming pool company and hoses are a particular thorn in my side...I gave the BigBoi Mini a quick try a while ago and the minute I saw the hose, I was in. Yeah, hoses bug me that much.
In the pool biz, best analogy is Professional Grade vs. Consumer Grade. When I first saw BigBoi hose I immediately thought of the Professional Grade 50ft vac hoses we use at work. To us, they`re known as `double helix` hoses and when not stretched out, have a flatter texture, lesser prominent ridges between the coils. A bit heavier but far, far easier to deal with when coiling, un-coiling.
The consumer grade are thinner walled, stiffer, more prone to tangling and harder to coil and un-coil. Prominent, stiff ridged texture whether stretched out or at rest. They`re a bit lighter but who cares when it`s a kinky, tangled mess?
See, I`m getting all worked up about stupid hoses.
What I thought soon after giving the BigBoi Mini a go last Fall:
I guess in the end, since every blower, well...blows air, it might just boil down to the intangible `feel` of whatever one goes with. It`s kinda like the difference between a $12 Amazon foam gun and a MTM PF22 foam gun. They both shoot foam but the MTM is just far more pleasurable and solid to use.
I`m still likely gonna go all in for the Pro model and hang it on the wall but I`d be lying if I didn`t say that (although based solely on initial use so gonna have to confirm through further trials) I`m wondering if for my needs, the Buddi wouldn`t be easier and quite effective to live with on it`s own. Given I`ll always be drying coated cars and only 3 at that. But the need for `more power` will likely override common sense...as it always seems to do when dealing with this stuff.
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