These vacs went head-to-head with Dyson
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Today, a variety of vacuum styles are available, ranging from full-size upright and canister vacuums to autonomous robot vacuums. However, when it comes to household convenience, few can match the practicality of a reliable cordless stick vacuum. These versatile cleaning devices, unencumbered by cords, offer the freedom to clean any area and surface effortlessly. Their slender design makes them easy to carry and store.
According to cleaning expert Hailey Becnel, cordless stick vacuums excel at reaching challenging spots like under furniture, such as couches, tables, and beds. Becnel emphasizes the limitless possibilities these vacuums offer. She recommends opting for a lightweight cordless stick vacuum with strong suction power, a prolonged battery life, and, if possible, a HEPA filter to capture indoor allergens.
Our extensive vacuum cleaner testing, which included 79 cordless vacuums, involved over 200 hours of comprehensive evaluations conducted both in a laboratory setting and in real homes. Each vacuum underwent eight tests, navigating obstacle courses, measuring noise levels, and demonstrating their ability to pick up various debris like coffee grounds, pet hair, and cereal. From the selection, we brought the top-performing models, ranging in price from under $100 to $1000, into our living spaces for further testing.
Key Insights:
- LED Illumination: Vacuums with LED lighting on the brush head enhance visibility for cleaning dusty spots effectively.
- Budget Concerns: Cheaper models may struggle with hair wrapping and often lack built-in HEPA filters.
- Performance Variation: Higher-priced vacuums outperformed in a single pass for glow-in-the-dark powder tests, while cheaper options required multiple passes.
- Surface Challenges: While most vacuums worked well on carpets, picking up larger debris on hardwood floors often required switching to handheld mode.
- Versatility Assured: All recommended vacuums can convert to handheld mode and include crevice and upholstery attachments for added flexibility.
Best Cordless Vacuum Under $100
Black + Decker Powerseries+ Stick Vacuum
For those on a tight budget, the Black and Decker PowerSeries Cordless Stick Vacuum is a standout choice. Priced under $100, it impresses with powerful suction, effectively handling dirt, dust, grass, hair, and crumbs, particularly on carpets. Despite being slightly bulky, it navigates floors with ease.
Key Features:
Powerful Cleaning: Surprisingly robust suction for its affordable price.
Versatile Illumination: Equipped with bright LED headlights for illuminating dirt on hard floors.
Sturdy Design: Can stand on its own, addressing a common issue in cordless vacuums.
Drawbacks: Louder operation compared to peers, limited to a crevice tool attachment, and somewhat top-heavy.
Battery Concerns: Short battery life of 18 minutes on low power and 13 minutes on high.
Despite its limitations, this vacuum excels in cleaning performance, offering a compelling option for those seeking an affordable solution. Dimensions: 9.84 x 6.77 x 43.5 inches | Weight: 8.3 pounds | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Attachments: Crevice tool.
Best Cordless Vacuum Under $200
Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum
In the sub-$200 range, the Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum stands out as our top pick. Noteworthy for its ability to effectively clean dirt, dust, and hair, it excels in leaving floors exceptionally clean. Surprisingly, it handled a Ruggable rug with finesse, even though the floor head encountered challenges on the rug's edge.
Key Features:
Efficient Cleaning: Impressive performance in capturing dirt, dust, and pet hair without the need for maximum power.
Versatile Maneuverability: Navigates obstacles with ease, fitting under chair legs and into corners comfortably.
Long Battery Life: Demonstrated a lengthy 25-minute runtime on low power and 11 minutes on high during testing.
Spacious Dust Bin: Holds a substantial amount of debris, reducing the need for mid-cleaning emptying sessions.
Despite a minor hiccup on a rug's edge, this vacuum showcases remarkable performance, particularly given its affordable price. With dimensions of 10.2 x 7.1 x 46.1 inches, a weight of 6.9 pounds, and additional attachments like a crevice tool and pet multi-tool, it's an excellent choice for smaller homes with pets.
Best for Pet Hair
The Samsung Jet 75 is a powerful stick vacuum designed for pet owners. With its strong suction, it effectively removes pet fur and dirt.
The vacuum includes a built-in HEPA filter to capture pet dander and allergens. Its stylish design makes it a suitable addition to your kitchen or living room. The vacuum offers different settings and has a runtime of 27 minutes on low and around 10 minutes on high. Despite its higher price, the Samsung Jet 75 provides an elegant and effective cleaning solution.
The vacuum weighs 5.5 pounds and comes with attachments like a dust brush, pet hair tool, and crevice tool. Note that the setup process may be a bit confusing, taking approximately 23 minutes to complete.
Best for Pet Hair, Less Expensive
Whall Cordless Vacuum
The Whall Cordless Vacuum is an excellent and affordable option for pet owners. Its swivel steering allows easy navigation into tight spaces, effectively picking up debris from hard floors without blowing particles around. Notably, it effortlessly tackles pet hair without tangling in the brush head.
While it may require multiple passes on carpets, the vacuum still manages to capture dirt and pet hair. Featuring LED headlights for thorough cleaning on hard floors, its hinged tube design facilitates easy cleaning under furniture without the need to bend over. In summary, it's a solid choice for those with predominantly hard floors in their homes.
Specifications:
Dimensions: Not listed
Weight: 4.6 pounds
Canister Size: 0.5 liters
Battery Life: 50 minutes
Attachments: 2-in-1 brush
Best Shark Cordless Stick Vacuum, Less Expensive
The Shark Wandvac stands out with its super-slim design, serving as both a compact handheld vacuum and a space-efficient storage solution. Available in vibrant colors like rose gold and mint green, it offers a fun twist compared to standard vacuums. During testing, the Wandvac effectively picked up dirt, crumbs, and hair, although multiple passes were occasionally needed. Notably, it efficiently captured the majority of glow-in-the-dark powder on hardwood floors in just one pass.
Key Features:
Slim and Compact: Doubles as a handheld vacuum with a slim design for easy storage and portability.
Stylish Options: Available in trendy colors like rose gold and mint green.
Effective Cleaning: Picks up dirt, crumbs, and hair, with a handheld version that is well-designed and powerful.
Lab-Tested Performance: Competed favorably with the Dyson V8, performing just as well if not better, and at half the price.
Quiet Operation: Quieter than many other vacuums tested, allowing for conversations during use.
Battery Life: Cleans for over 10 minutes per charge, suitable for small spaces or quick pickups.
While it may require a bit more effort for certain debris, the Shark Wandvac's versatility, design, and performance make it a compelling choice, especially for smaller spaces or swift cleaning tasks.
Stylish Options: Available in trendy colors like rose gold and mint green.
Effective Cleaning: Picks up dirt, crumbs, and hair, with a handheld version that is well-designed and powerful.
Lab-Tested Performance: Competed favorably with the Dyson V8, performing just as well if not better, and at half the price.
Quiet Operation: Quieter than many other vacuums tested, allowing for conversations during use.
Battery Life: Cleans for over 10 minutes per charge, suitable for small spaces or quick pickups.
While it may require a bit more effort for certain debris, the Shark Wandvac's versatility, design, and performance make it a compelling choice, especially for smaller spaces or swift cleaning tasks.
Best Dyson Cordless Stick Vacuum
The Dyson Gen5Detect, Dyson's latest cordless vacuum, is a high-end option without budget constraints. It boasts an impressive runtime of about 50 minutes on normal settings and just under 15 minutes on high. During testing, it effectively picked up various debris, including large pet food pieces.
Notably, it features a special floor head designed for hard surfaces, with a green laser for enhanced cleaning visibility. The vacuum's swiveling head allows easy navigation around obstacles, and an upgraded built-in crevice/dusting tool adds to its convenience. With a user-friendly design, including an easy-to-empty dust bin, and the added benefit of a true HEPA filtration system, it's a top choice for households with pets or allergy concerns.
