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 Our only real complaint is the outdated color (teal).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!
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