Ridgid 3-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Review HD0300

Ridgid’s HD0300 Wet/Dry Vacuum Offers Strong Suction and Easy Storage

While battery-powered solutions have become all the rage recently, corded tools are still highly relevant, especially when it comes to power-hungry tools like vacuums. Ridgid is making the case for traditional power methods with the HD0300 3-gallon wet/dry vacuum, which promises high performance in a compact form. I got my hands on one to see how well it delivers on those claims and who it’s a good fit for.

Buy at The Home Depot

Reasons to Buy:

High CFM for its size
Picks up wet and dry debris
Clever hose and accessory storage
Compact, stackable design stores easily

Consider Another Model if:

You want to go cordless
You need a larger capacity

Ridgid 3-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum HD0300 Performance

Model: Ridgid HD0300
Max airflow: 100 CFM
Max water lift: 48 inches
Motor: 5.0 peak HP
Capacity: 3 gallons
Fine dust filter
Blower port
Sweep feature

The Ridgid HD0300 wet/dry vacuum connects to power with an onboard 15-foot cord. Its 5.0 HP motor provides top airflow levels of 100 CFM, letting you pick up a variety of materials like nails, dirt, soil, and more. When I tried it on a post-testing sawdust and wood shaving mess that Josh and Tom made, it performed well, making quick work of the cleanup. For a vacuum this compact, I was impressed with how much suction force it delivered.

This vacuum has a capacity of 3 gallons. Personally, I prefer smaller models like this one because they are easy to store and take up minimal space. It may require more frequent emptying if you’re cleaning up a large area, but the benefits outweigh the drawbacks when it comes to storage.

One aspect I really like about this vacuum is the Ridgid Sweep feature. When you have the hose secure and connected, it creates suction on the hose side of the housing. Instead of crawling on your hands and knees or grabbing a dustpan for floor-level cleanup, you can set the vac down and sweep debris over where it pulls debris into the canister.

This is something we haven’t seen in a wet/dry vacuum before, so it’s a neat innovation for Ridgid to include in the design. It also makes this model relevant for cleaning larger areas than you normally would with this size vacuum.

If you’re looking to go cordless, Ridgid also offers the HD0318, which runs on the brand’s 18V batteries. The cordless model reaches top airflow levels of 76 CFM, which doesn’t quite meet the HD0300’s 100 CFM maximum, and it’s also more expensive. However, these trade-offs might be worth it for those wanting to go cord-free.

Did you know? Ridgid vacuums are manufactured by Emerson, not the TTI brand who makes Ridgid power tools.

Ridgid 3-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum HD0300 Design

Dimensions: 10.6 x 18.8 x 11.8 inches
Weight: 12.6 pounds
Hose length: 6 feet
Hose diameter: 1 7/8 inches
Cord length: 15 feet
Locking carrying handle

This Ridgid wet/dry vacuum weighs 12.6 pounds. While there are no wheels, the HD0300 does feature a robust locking carrying handle to transport it around your working area.

The vacuum hose is highly flexible and easily maneuvers where you need without pulling or twisting. It stretches from 2 feet to 6 feet in length, with a diameter of 1 7/8 inches. Though not as wide as the 2 1/2-inch hoses on large shop vacs, the diameter makes the HD0300 ideal for a variety of debris types.

Onboard Storage

On the side of the vacuum, there’s a groove to store the hose when it’s not being used. For additional onboard storage, there’s a top compartment that houses the included accessories.

The cord is stored in another compartment at the top. The cover for this compartment is notched, letting the cord feed through it while the cover is closed. This same compartment also includes the blowing port, which lets you hook up the hose to clear debris off surfaces.

Ridgid 3-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum HD0300 Price

This vacuum retails for $79 and includes a crevice tool and a brush vacuum attachment. It features Ridgid’s lifetime warranty when you register the tool.

The Bottom Line

Between its small storage footprint and clever design features, the Ridgid HD0300 wet/dry vacuum is a fantastic option to keep your shop looking spiffy. While it may not give you complete untethered freedom as a cordless model would, it offers all-day runtime and a significantly lower price tag. If you’re looking to upgrade your old shop vac setup, this model is worth considering.