The numbers quoted are based on an "average" amount of square footage that can be cleaned by the respective machines.

Posted by Grant Arden on April 10, 2007 - 10:42 PM -
The proper comparison to the Challenger is the machine called the Instigator. It costs several hundred bucks less and comes with a brush driver which is nicer than the solid velcro on wood one on the Challenger.

Either of those is ok for smaller resi work and could do small commercial work. But don't expect to average much over 200 sf per hour with the Challenger, often less if its trashed or berber.

The Commercial Breeze is really a different class of machine. I own one and I own a Challenger, and I use the Breeze basically whenever it's not a problem to get it into the house (breeze weighs about 89# and The Challenger around 60) because imo it digs deeper, faster.

If the job is just a room or two and not too dirty, or there is a ton of furniture to clean around, or a lot of going up stairs, etc, then I consider the challenger. Though if I had a 15" breeze I'd prefer that for these situations.

I think there's been talk of this comparison before. You might be able to track it down in a search.