Bagged vacuum cleaners have many hidden benefits, and Halo’s new launch is a masterclass in how to do them right

• Halo Capsule XR is a cordless bagged vacuum cleaner
• Use compostable, sustainably sourced, high-capacity bags.
• It also features HEPA-14 filtration and an anti-tangle head.

Nowadays, bagged vacuum cleaners may seem a little old-fashioned. Certainly, most manufacturers seem to focus on bagless designs that proudly display the dirty contents of their rugs.

As a vacuum tester, I’m a little sad to see this, mainly because bagged vacuums have a lot of hidden benefits. Keeping everything neatly contained in one bag means you won’t find yourself engulfed in a plume of dust, dirt and allergens every time you need to empty the bin. The filters need much less frequent cleaning than on a bagless vacuum cleaner and are generally stronger and more reliable as well.

One of the few brands that continues to produce bagged vacuums is Halo – it’s the brand behind the Capsule X vacuum cleaner that earned a perfect five stars in our review. So when the news reached my ears that a new model was coming out, I was excited.

The new Halo Capsule XR looks even better than its predecessor, with stronger suction, increased airflow, and an improved filter. Because it’s packaged, you get all the benefits I mentioned above. Allergy sufferers are especially well served: in addition to the effective dust containment the bag offers, Halo has added a HEPA 14 filter. This is a specialized medical-grade filter that can capture even smaller particles than your standard HEPA.

Halo has also gone some way to negating the disadvantages of bagged vacuum cleaners. The bags can hold up to 2 liters of dirt, meaning they can withstand a lot of cleaning before you have to change a new one. They are also made from FSC-certified sustainable sources and are compostable at the end of their useful life, to minimize their environmental impact.

The design is slightly unusual and features some useful touches. It can stand on its own, for example, and a flexible tube is provided to reach right into the corners where hair and dust can hide.