Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot Polisher Review

Mitch By: Mitch | Last updated June 16, 2021

 Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot Polisher
 Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot Polisher  trigger
 Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot Polisher speed dial
 Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot Polisher vents

8.5 / 10

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PROS:

  • Very little vibration, very well balanced
  • Easy to handle and use
  • Large throw covers polishing area fast
  • Lightweight and great power 

CONS:

  • Most expensive on the list
  • Doesn't come with anything else for almost $300
  • The price is hard to justify unless you are a pro detailer
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SUMMARY:

With the superior craftsmanship of the Milan-based Rupes, the LHR 15ES Big Foot Random Orbital Polisher offers more than Italian efficiency. Whether you are working in a garage or outside the house, you need not worry about getting tired too quickly, thanks to its lighter weight than other similar polishers. 

Take the word from us: this model is highly flexible and made to handle any detailing situation – be it waxing or polishing a large surface area. On top of that, the Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot Random Orbital works perfectly for both car care enthusiasts and professionals alike. 

However, with this amazing quality comes a pretty hefty price tag. At almost $300 to get started this model isn't suggested for someone who has their budget in mind. If you are using the polisher all day everyday, your hands and back will thank you for choosing the Rupes. If you are using it once a year, your wallet will thank you for choosing another option.

The package costs $299 and includes:

  • The polisher itself
  • Allen Wrench
  • Manual

Polishing pads and detailing wax and compounds are sold separately. 

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COMPLETE REVIEW

The  Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot Polisher has everything that anyone could dream of when building their fantasy polisher. The sleek and well constructed design scream quality when you hold them. The lack of physical feedback gives you the ability to polish for a long time, instead of feeling like your hands are shaking after you polish a panel. 

Overall the  Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot Polisher has a lot of features which include:

  • Controllable Speed. The Italian-made polisher has 1700 to 4200 orbits per minute (OPM) to adjust with the 6-speed settings dial depending on your preference.
  • Corrects More Surface Area. Long-throw polishers like the 15mm Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot Random Orbital have mastered the art of car imperfections removal in large surface areas. 
  • Ergonomically Designed. Nothing can beat the LHR 15ES Big Foot's overall structure – superior quality casing, comfortable handle, and grippy platypus head. We can say that Rupes' engineering team had invested lots of time in testing and quality control, which resulted in this product we know today.
  • Creates No Imperfections After Used. What is the reason customers buy a polisher? It is because they want to remove every car imperfection and make their wheels brand new again. 

Rotary polishers leave minor issues on the car once used, but this is not the case for dual action polishers like the Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot.

You bring it to your car care arsenal; you will get beyond satisfactory results.

  • Awesome Basic Extras. The Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot may not have the freebies to offer, but it certainly has everything to kickstart your car care journey. For example, you have the cord so you can move wherever you want in your garage. There is the Allen Wrench to help you in removing and installing the backing plate. You have to make good use of it.

Many people have loved the Italian efficiency offered by this polisher and the reviews on Amazon speak for themselves. It currently has a rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 from 110+ customers which is pretty impressive.

  • RPM

The Italian polisher comes with a 6-speed settings dial which lets you adjust the orbits per minute (OPM) from a slow 1700 to a fast-paced 4200. Your goals (whether you plan to wax or polish your car) determines how fast or slow the OPM is.

  • Distance of Throw

A 15mm throw is usually considered a long throw for random orbital polishers like the Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot. Polishers of this type are ideal for polishing large vehicle surfaces, which speeds up removing imperfections.

  • Ergonomics

Every amateur and professional detailer all want the same thing: efficiency and productivity without getting burned out quickly. When we speak about "getting burned out easily," it only means a polisher has ergonomic issues with the user.

However, this is not the case for the compelling Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot Random Orbital Polisher since their products are user-centric. For example, the trigger has a lock to prevent turning off. However, we fear the same issue with the Adam's Swirl Killer 15mm DA would happen the same.

The Italian polisher comes with a sturdy and lightweight casing that offers you more control as you remove car imperfections. With only 5.73 lbs., it was lighter than its competitor, the Torq 15mm DA polisher.

  • Handle

Trigger button and lock are the features of the Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot's handle. No matter if you are left or right-handed, you can still work efficiently with this user-friendly polisher. 

Also, gripping the head is another good option for more control.

  • Attachments and Extras

The Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot is sold on Amazon with only its basic kit. You get the model itself and some tools to get you started. Note that pads, detailing compounds, or waxes are sold separately which can add a pretty big hit to a budget if you've just spent $300 on the polisher iteslf.

 However, here is every included add-on that you will get for $299:

  • 5" hook and loop backing plate (Velcro) 
  • Cord
  • Allen Wrench
  • Operating Manual

Brand Quality

Rupes proudly presents Italian pride as it is one of the unique companies in the world of competitive market of car care. "Why unique?" you say? From our experiences, most detailing companies come from Germany, Asia, and North America.

Just like the Griot's Garage, Rupes is a family-run business that started from a simple car passion and later turned into a profitable business. Since 1947, the Milan-based Rupes have been manufacturing countless tools, accessories, electrical equipment, and many more.

Rupes is known for its straightforward missions and visions. It serves as their "guidelines" or "commandments" to be followed when negotiating with their clients. Powered by their selfless rules, they set out to dominate the world of car care.

Regardless, here are every value that the company upholds:

  • Safety first. Any Rupes-made products do not go out without passing the strict safety regulations.

  • The higher the quality, the better. For a more productive day at the garage!

  • Technological improvement. Rupes always put themselves in their client's shoes and improve based on their opinion.

  • Innovation. The only thing that separates between good and bad experiences is innovation.

  • Superior design. Italian design is something uncommon that is worth being recognized.

  • Customer service. People who love their cars deserve to be loved too. If any product is defective, customers can always approach the top-class customer service agents of Rupes.
Pricing

As mentioned above this polisher is an Italian made piece of art, as far as polishers go. However, just like a Ferrari, things that are so finely tuned and made come with a big price tag. This model goes for $299 to start, so in all honesty we just can't give it a good rating because we have to judge the value to the everyday person. Sure, having a Ferrari is great, but if you are not needing that performance then those expensive gas station visits or services will really hurt your budget.

So just like a Ferrari, it is great if you can have one, but for most people it just isn't economical. 

Performance

The Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot Random Orbital Polisher can be a monster if appropriately used. Knowledge about car polishing separates poor and satisfactory outcomes. Still, you do not have to be a professional detailer to hop into the world of car detailing as this model is user-friendly; you just have to take your time and really think about what you are doing. You don't need to be scared of ruining your paint, you just need to invest in some online videos to get the idea behind it. 

When we first fired this model up, we already knew that it is the perfect tool for every vehicle – if you can handle the noise. Some people may find working with a noisy polisher irritating, affecting their performance on getting the desired outcome they want. The LHR 15ES Big Foot is noisy but vibrates less compared to other cheaper models in the market.

Another good thing about this car polisher is the overall maneuverability. Its weight greatly increased our comfort level, and as we test it, we feel more control as we grab the DA polisher.

On the other hand, we hope that the Rupes LHR 15ES Big Foot Random Orbital Polisher will not do the same as the Adam's Swirl Killer 15mm DA because of the trigger button. Trigger buttons can become awful at some point when your hands accidentally press it, turning off the power tool. We did find that there were times it would get turned off by accident, but happened a lot less than with Adams model. So perhaps there was a bit of learning curve there to really get in sync with how to use this polisher.

Help/Support

Rupes can be contacted via their customer support panel at : https://rupesusa.com/contact-us/ 

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Our editorial staff evaluates products and services independently, but Best Review Guide may earn money when you click on links. Read our advertising disclosure.

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