All of these canister vacuums offer some way to either slow down the suction motor or allow some air to bypass through a vent. That makes them more versatile than even the most prestigious brands in our upright vacuum review that just got bogged down or stuck. We’ve tested over 130 vacuum cleaners, and below are our recommendations for the best canister vacuums to buy. We select these picks not only based on their performance across a variety of surfaces but also their design and price. Look at our lists of the best vacuums, the best laminate floor vacuums, and the best multi-surface vacuum cleaners.
The NV356 is the “pro” model with a slightly larger dust cup, and the NV370 is the “pro” model with the different handle and placement of the power button. The ADV LA322 is a new version of this great vacuum, a little bit lighter and better-looking, but with essentially the same performance in our tests as the classic Navigator Lift-Away models. shark canister vacuum If you’re willing to upgrade to a vacuum that can clean the heck out of your home and last for decades, buy a Miele C3 canister vacuum cleaner. Every industry expert we’ve spoken with (even one from a competing brand!) has told us that these are excellent vacuum cleaners, and a few technicians have said they’re simply the best you can buy.
Since the cleaning head is relatively narrow and the body is top-heavy, this machine does fall over more easily than some other vacuum cleaners do. If you find tipping to be a constant problem, you can lift away the main assembly shark dustbuster and set it on the floor for a sturdier base. Some of our staff testers disliked having to use the clips to take off the dust cup. We tested many different Miele canister vacuums, each suited to different types of flooring.
It’s long enough to reach curtains, corners and other hard-to-access places. The included HEPA-class filtration works well enough to clean your air while you vacuum. In order to compare the raw power of these vacuum motors, we plugged them each into a vacuum gauge rig and noted the maximum amount of negative pressure made by the motors. After our pet vacuum tester’s lackluster experience with his own Miele – Calima, though, we thought long and hard about how to qualify value for a general review. Similarly, there’s an accessory holder that clips to the wand, so you can keep both the accessories close to hand while vacuuming as well as storing them on the vacuum. Or, if you rarely use them, the accessory holder needn’t be attached.
And with such a long battery life, you could vacuum your apartment multiple times or clean an entire two-story house before having to charge it. For all of these reasons, plus the easy three-minute assembly time, this is our top pick. This is a lightweight and maneuverable canister vacuum with a motorized brushbar making it capable on both carpet and bare floors.