If it weren’t for its power cord, the Ultralight would have competed for Best Overall on our list. It is fun to play with, however, which might inspire the kids to help out when it comes time to clean the minivan. The DeWalt’s crevice tool also struggled against large chunks, and emptying the vac was a tad trickier. However, the DeWalt is lighter, and more of the weight is over the middle of the machine—which helped with wrist fatigue. Despite its unique design and around-home functionality, when it comes to cleaning up floorboards the Dyson V8 doesn’t quite live up to the hype surrounding the brand. The Dyson V8 gets brownie points for also being usable in the home; only needing one vacuum to clean everything is a plus in our book.
The Athlet in particular, although slightly heavier than the Dyson, distributes its weight well due to its design, something the Shark doesn’t do. This vacuum’s anti-allergen seal and HEPA filter effectively trap dust—a major win for families with pets and allergies. You’ll also enjoy the clear dust bin that allows you to see what you’re capturing in real time, and it releases very easily with the help of built-in latches. At this price point, you can’t beat the performance and easy-to-use design that makes this vacuum a favorite among our team.
You can easily upgrade to a different cleaning head if you eventually buy low- or medium-pile rugs. Experts disagree on the traits a “clean-air” vacuum needs to have. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) says that some bagless vacuums are okay in this regard. We’d recommend erring on the side of caution with a bagged, sealed-system vacuum that has a HEPA filter.
This filter collects most dust, allergens, and small air particles as it cleans. The P50 can, therefore, switch between heavy-duty cleaning on both hard flooring and low dyson robot vacuum pile carpets seamlessly. DuoClean technology offers powerful cleaning even when in regular mode, although the P50 lets you take it up a notch with a power boost mode.
Well, we call in plenty from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to find out. We grind pet hair into the carpet before vacuuming, to create the worst-case scenario. Not that you really need to worry about switching between modes; its ‘clean sense IQ’ technology will automatically ramp up the power if it detects a notably dirty spot. Though not as advanced as the pet-specific model above, this simpler Vax is a smart choice if you don’t have any furry friends.