We tested *most* of the top-selling vacuums on Amazon, in side-by-side tests. First, two observations:
(1) Dyson is not the "best" vacuum ever made, but they do have the best marketing. If you''re looking for the "best" vacuum, let''s reframe the question a little bit perhaps what''s the best vacuum under $500 or under $1000? If you''re looking for the "best", be prepared to spend a minimum of $2,000-$3,000 for a commercial upright or whole-house system.
(2) About rating sytems only side-by-side comparisons make sense to us. I have a neighbor who has a Ferrari, and complains all the time about expensive tune-ups. He would give his Ferrari 3 stars on a bad day, 4 stars on a good day. My dad really likes his Hyundai, and would give it 5 stars. Does that make Hyundai better than Ferrari? We believe only in comparing apples to apples.
Different Models Reviewed:
BISSELL POWER HELIX:
We had no complaints about this vacuum, a great buy especially if you''re a dedicated Bissell fan. Our only real complaint is the outdated color (teal). You basically can''t go wrong with this model easy assembly, great suction, nice attachments, etc. In terms of performance, this is performs just slightly below the Dyson DC33 (at 1/3rd the price). However, the current Amazon price is $118, and you can get better suction at a lower price with Eureka Airspeed or Hoover WindTunnel. Read on...
DYSON:
The least expensive Dyson is the (Dyson DC33 Multi-Floor Upright) currently selling on Amazon for $299. If you absolutely need a Dyson to impress the neighbors, this is the best bang for your buck.
However, after testing over a dozen different models, we discovered you don''t have to spend $300 to get a top-of-the-line vacuum, that there are several brands offering models right around $100 that perform just as well. Does the Dyson live up to its marketing claims? Yes it does, fantastic quality and lossless suction.
Here''s an interesting experiment look for Dyson on craigslist from just about any major city. You''ll find dozens of people with buyer''s remorse, who paid full price for a Dyson, realized that much less expensive models perform just as well, and are trying to sell their barely used Dysons in an attempt to recoup their investment. (We checked this morning, and found about 30 such listings in my town).
HOOVER WINDTUNNEL:
These are fantastic vacuums, nearly on par with the Dyson, and currently the #1 selling upright vacuum on Amazon. They have near-lossless suction, lots of attachments, & bagless. We would put them as almost exactly on par with the Bissell Helix, but currently the the (Hoover WindTunnel) is currently only $99 on Amazon.
The auto-rewind cord is a commonly reported malfunction (the one we tested started to lose its spring after about 20 minutes, like an old set of window shades) and both the brush & belts tend to fail early as well. But all vacuums have drawbacks and design quirks. A huge perk is that the WindTunnel has a rinsable filter. Based on bang-for-your-buck, this is our top recommendation along with the Eureka Airspeed. You can''t go wrong with it.
EUREKA AIRSPEED:
There are several different Airspeed models Amazon currently sells the (Eureka AirSpeed Gold) for $110. There are three different models at Walmart ranging from $98 to $135, with slightly different features bagged vs. bagless, see-through brushroll, etc.
In our tests, all of these models performed on par with the Dyson. The Airspeed had slightly better sustained suction than the Hoover WindTunnel, with only a few drawbacks (HEPA filter requires frequent changing). Nonetheless, this is our top recommendation, along with the Hoover WindTunnel. For right around $100, these two models can hold their own against just about any other vacuum in the under $1,000 price point.
SHARK:
Shark has done a major turnaround in recent years, with extremely respectable upright vacuums with impressive suction. The 2 popular models are the (Navigator Upright) currently selling for $150 on Amazon, and the (Shark Navigator Lift-Away) for $199.
Basically these are great vacuums, in the same camp as Hoover WindTunnel, Eureka Airspeed, and Bissell Helix. However the price point is higher for basically the same performance. Unless you''re really impressed with the liftaway feature, we recommend going with the under $100 Eureka or Hoover.
If you''re looking at the Liftaway because you like the idea of having a canister vac, consider buying a separate canister vac (you''ll still end up saving money), or getting a nice lightweight shop vac with a long hose (we like the Ridgid 4 Gallon Portable Shop Vac, which is $91 on Amazon but only $50 at Home Depot. If you don''t have the space for two devices, the Liftaway is a terrific option.
ORECK:
The Oreck 8 lb. Upright is a fantastic vacuum, out of the box there''s nothing under $1,000 with better suction. Currently the price is $167 on Amazon, which is a fantastic price point (retail is about $350).
However, it is not a lossless suction (you must keep it clean, change the bag, etc., to keep the performance up), and there are no attachments whatsoever no hose, no stair brush, etc. A great buy if you just need an upright vacuum with no amenities.
DIRT DEVIL:
We tested several models (Breeze, Easy Clean, Dynamite) they are all basically the same, just different price points depending on size of canister, number of attachments, and size of motor (10 amp vs 12 amp).
All performed basically the same mediocre suction, easy clogging, poor design (many right-angle turns for pet hair &/or debris to clog up). We frequently see these on sale for under $30 or $40. Our recommendation: If you''re looking for an inexpensive dorm vacuum for very occasional/light use, these are fine but don''t pay more than $40. This is definitely an entry level vacuum.
Hope this helps thanks for reading!
Every household, I suppose, has its own vacuum challenge, be it pets, kids, mud trackers, grape juice enthusiasts, whatever. Ours is hair. The women in my house are legendary for their hair: Blonde, brunette, raven black and all of it long, strong and absolutely everywhere. Hair is the bane of my poor Dad''s existence, because we ladies clog his sinks, drains, and most especially, the vacuums. How does the BISSELL 84G Rewind PowerHelix stand up against the House of Rapunzels?
Really, really well.
First, the suction. After a few passes across the carpet, not only did the BISSELL pick up a mess of hair, dirt, crumbs, and fuzzy I don''t want to know, it also picked up a strange powder that after examination proved to be soap residue from the last time we deep cleaned the carpets with a shampooer. This is the best vacuum we''ve ever owned, in terms of what it picked up, and thus far is surviving the hair death traps with flying colors.
Assembly was easy, cleaning and emptying of dirt canister also very easy. We replaced our Dirt Devil with this vacuum (the Dirt Devil kept clogging) and my Dad was worried that the BISSELL would be a lot heavier. However, the competence of the design and the balance on the handle makes the vacuum carry like a machine half its weight. The brush tool is great and simple to use, and my family LOVED the light at the front of the machine (Dad happily vacuums in the dark now. One of the pleasures of retirement is vacuuming at 2 a.m., apparently.) Unlike some other reviewers, we felt the retractable cord was plenty long enough, but of course that depends on your space needs (our biggest room is 10'' x 10'').
Our family has used Dirt Devil, Oreck, Eureka and Hoover brands for our cleaning needs (everything but Shark, really), and thus far we like BISSELL as a brand and the PowerHelix in particular best. Definitely tops for the under $300 price class, well-worth the sensible price, and kinda pretty (those Orecks have to be the ugliest vacuums on the market). No down-side for what we needed, and rating:
GRADE: A
Buy BISSELL 84G9 Rewind PowerHelix Now
This vacuum was very easy to assemble. The only tool you will need is a screwdriver, and there is only one screw. I think it went from box to sucking dirt and pet hair in about ten minutes.
The included attachments are simple, but adequate. There is no real brush attachment, but I don''t really end up using the attachments much so it''s not too important. The attachments are easy to access, which is a plus.
The canister is a good size. I have to empty it after each session, but I prefer to dump my vacuum often. The cord retraction works well. Most vacuums don''t do a very good job on bare floors. This vacuum does better than average. I wish the cord was a little longer so I could cover more ground before switching outlets, but that is a minor point.
The one negative that I experienced with this vacuum has to do with the hose. The hose holder on the upper portions of the handle could stand to be bigger/more substantial. When I first starting using this vacuum, the hose would keep falling off the holder at the top. I had to play with it until I found the "sweet spot" where the hose would stay put. I haven''t had any more issues since.
Edit 10/17/12 removed one star:
You need watch the dirt container very closely and dump it often. If you go above the full line, hair and debris begin to accumulate very quickly in the upper portion above the dirt container and it is very messy and time-consuming to clean it out.
I''ve found that the vacuum''s suction has been getting worse and worse over time. I try to clean out the inside often to help with the suction problem, but it seems counterproductive to have to scrub the dirt out of the inside of my vacuum to get it to work enough to get the dirt out of my carpet. I think I''ll be moving on to something better.
Read Best Reviews of BISSELL 84G9 Rewind PowerHelix Here
I have 5 dogs. I never write reviews....and I buy a lot of stuff on Amazon. This vacuum cleaner was fantastic. It''s lightweight, easy to maneuver and worked better than any other vacuum I''ve used. I bought it because the price was right and I expected it to just be ok, but I was very pleasantly surprised by how durable and efficient it is. I would definitely recommend it. It''s a great price for a tremendous product.
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The Bissell 84G9 rewind PowerHelix vaccuum is a great unit for the price. It was easy to assemble out of hte box, being up and running in a matter of minutes. I love the detachable vaccuum hose that allows you to get crevices and tight areas with the wand. The unit does a great job of picking up dirt. For someone like me who has two big dogs, lives along dirt road with unfinished wood floors, that is a definite plus! You do, however, have to empty it often.
The things that I did not like is that the filter was a little difficult to get reseated properly once you empty it and can spew dirt back into the air. Not good for someone who has allergies! With a little bit of me fiddling, it reseats properly. The retractable power cord is great, but I wish it were just a bit longer.
It is a great unit for the price. It is easier to store than my other vaccuums. I would definitely recommend it for someone who lives in town, rather than someone who lives in a remote area like I do.
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