TTQ B4U
Well-known member
- Jan 20, 2016
- 5,504
- 70
I may be the odd-man out here and I'm not final in my opinion, but the initial impressions I had have left me a bit disappointed in the unit. From a base-line standpoint, I am a Flex 3401 guy with lots of Hybrid Force and other Lake Country pads. The CCS and Hexlogic pads from CG"s are the thinnest ones I own. For the record I do not own the Rupes Pads as I really don't want to invest in a whole new set of pads when the ones I have do an awesome job on the Flex.
I know everyone talks about the "beast" Flex and how some feel it gives them a workout. Perhaps for many it does or I'm just plain 100% used to it. I'm not a great writer so where to start? Hopefully, I'll have my son capture some images that will better correspond with what I'm about to share but for now, it's text only.
Ergonomics: Here is the biggest challenge for me. IMO the Flex wins hands down. The most noticeable aspect of it is in the handle and grip areas. The handle of the Flex is contoured nicer and when I grip it near the trigger with my right hand, the grasp does not interfere or touch the trigger in any way. I set it at speed 6, hit the lock button (which operates nicer) and then hold it. On the Flex, the button is a little "clicky" and not as smooth to engage and the trigger throw is long and in the way of my grip. Hard to picture I know but wait until later and then if you have a chance, try them both. Joe mentioned in his video the dial for the speeds. I agree with his point that it rolls almost too easily whereas the Flex "clicks" as is moves making the Mille more easily changed should you bump/rub it. That however isn't something I experienced as it's placed above where my grip is at. It's more just an opportunity to relocate and better place it as a control. It's on the top of the handle whereas the Flex is more well placed on the side where you won't touch it during use unless you intend to and its' slightly recessed making it perfect.
Grip wise, my left hand on the flex is solidly planted on the grip at the end of the unit. It's big so that my entire hand has control of it and when needed can apply presser to it with ease and comfort as it's contoured to my hand. The Rupes is not. It's a much smaller grip and while I have medium sized hands, it is not at all comfortable for me to use my entire hand on it to control. I find myself wanting to grap the actual motor part of the unit and press down. It works but then my hand is stretched to do so and it's not at all contoured thus comfortable.
Another ergonomic point is that the Flex is a shorter unit. That is the distance between the pad and the grip isn't as tall thus with the unit being flatter it's much easier to hold it flat on the surface. Contrast that with the Rupes where it will have more of a tendency to "tip" or wobble. The Flex being flatter also allows me to move it in closer to say a door mirror that is flipped upwards where as the Rupes hits the top of the unit on the mirror. Same with the front grills of vehicles. The flex can get in the lower fascia areas pretty easily.
These two points are by far the biggest disappointment to me.
Control: One of the main points Rupes went after it seems based on the comments here and really why I chose to buy and try it was it's control factor. It absolutely runs smooth and generates a little less (mostly different) type of noise when running. both are fine for me as I tend to wear ear protection but it's a difference. Direction of rotation. Here I think it's 100% personal preference and one where I will go-back and use the Mille with my opposite hands / grip. I actually am fully used to and like the counter rotation of the Flex. Just the same I think what I'm noticiing is what many here who don't use the Flex notice when they first do is that it seems odd. IMO that's what I think people feel when they say the unit "fights them" I'm feeling that same exact "it's fighting me" about the Mille. I do believe it feels that way because it's rotating the opposite way. Makes sense for them as Flex long throw users will not notice it as much. I do and I am going to try and do my best to work with the opposite arms and grip.
Walking....as a continuation of the above IMO they both "walk" about the same. The Mille was not at all any smoother or less "grippy" to me. It felt very much like my Flex, just in the opposite direction. Again, here I think it is due to my being used to one rotation vs the other.
I'm going to stop here with my notes as it's enough for now until I get more time with it but in the end as a unit overall. In summary, it's smooth and totally Rupes like in that respect. My concerns thus far are more with ergonomics. I'll add to this post later as I do have another detail this weekend to work on and worst case, I will sell it to someone locally for a small discount and chalk it up to a lesson learned. Best case, I'll be able to deal with the grip using my opposite hands to control it and perhaps leave it as my back up. For now, the Flex 3401 remains my more comfortable choice but only time will tell. I REALLY want to like the Mille and not just because I put money towards it, but because it does seem to have some strong potential in terms of smoothness and the generation of less noise.
I know everyone talks about the "beast" Flex and how some feel it gives them a workout. Perhaps for many it does or I'm just plain 100% used to it. I'm not a great writer so where to start? Hopefully, I'll have my son capture some images that will better correspond with what I'm about to share but for now, it's text only.
Ergonomics: Here is the biggest challenge for me. IMO the Flex wins hands down. The most noticeable aspect of it is in the handle and grip areas. The handle of the Flex is contoured nicer and when I grip it near the trigger with my right hand, the grasp does not interfere or touch the trigger in any way. I set it at speed 6, hit the lock button (which operates nicer) and then hold it. On the Flex, the button is a little "clicky" and not as smooth to engage and the trigger throw is long and in the way of my grip. Hard to picture I know but wait until later and then if you have a chance, try them both. Joe mentioned in his video the dial for the speeds. I agree with his point that it rolls almost too easily whereas the Flex "clicks" as is moves making the Mille more easily changed should you bump/rub it. That however isn't something I experienced as it's placed above where my grip is at. It's more just an opportunity to relocate and better place it as a control. It's on the top of the handle whereas the Flex is more well placed on the side where you won't touch it during use unless you intend to and its' slightly recessed making it perfect.
Grip wise, my left hand on the flex is solidly planted on the grip at the end of the unit. It's big so that my entire hand has control of it and when needed can apply presser to it with ease and comfort as it's contoured to my hand. The Rupes is not. It's a much smaller grip and while I have medium sized hands, it is not at all comfortable for me to use my entire hand on it to control. I find myself wanting to grap the actual motor part of the unit and press down. It works but then my hand is stretched to do so and it's not at all contoured thus comfortable.
Another ergonomic point is that the Flex is a shorter unit. That is the distance between the pad and the grip isn't as tall thus with the unit being flatter it's much easier to hold it flat on the surface. Contrast that with the Rupes where it will have more of a tendency to "tip" or wobble. The Flex being flatter also allows me to move it in closer to say a door mirror that is flipped upwards where as the Rupes hits the top of the unit on the mirror. Same with the front grills of vehicles. The flex can get in the lower fascia areas pretty easily.
These two points are by far the biggest disappointment to me.
Control: One of the main points Rupes went after it seems based on the comments here and really why I chose to buy and try it was it's control factor. It absolutely runs smooth and generates a little less (mostly different) type of noise when running. both are fine for me as I tend to wear ear protection but it's a difference. Direction of rotation. Here I think it's 100% personal preference and one where I will go-back and use the Mille with my opposite hands / grip. I actually am fully used to and like the counter rotation of the Flex. Just the same I think what I'm noticiing is what many here who don't use the Flex notice when they first do is that it seems odd. IMO that's what I think people feel when they say the unit "fights them" I'm feeling that same exact "it's fighting me" about the Mille. I do believe it feels that way because it's rotating the opposite way. Makes sense for them as Flex long throw users will not notice it as much. I do and I am going to try and do my best to work with the opposite arms and grip.
Walking....as a continuation of the above IMO they both "walk" about the same. The Mille was not at all any smoother or less "grippy" to me. It felt very much like my Flex, just in the opposite direction. Again, here I think it is due to my being used to one rotation vs the other.
I'm going to stop here with my notes as it's enough for now until I get more time with it but in the end as a unit overall. In summary, it's smooth and totally Rupes like in that respect. My concerns thus far are more with ergonomics. I'll add to this post later as I do have another detail this weekend to work on and worst case, I will sell it to someone locally for a small discount and chalk it up to a lesson learned. Best case, I'll be able to deal with the grip using my opposite hands to control it and perhaps leave it as my back up. For now, the Flex 3401 remains my more comfortable choice but only time will tell. I REALLY want to like the Mille and not just because I put money towards it, but because it does seem to have some strong potential in terms of smoothness and the generation of less noise.
