Lightweight stick vacs or cordless vacuum cleaner are great for cleaning up crumbs on the kitchen floor after dinner, gathering stray hairs in the bathroom, or quickly refreshing carpets and floors before guests arrive. Most are cordless, so they can easily be used even in spaces with nary an outlet in sight. Newer models have longer run times, even as long as 51 minutes, before needing recharging. And they are pretty easy to store, often coming with their own wall-mount caddies or bases and with attachments like a crevice tool and dusting/upholstery brush. Find details in cordless vacuum cleaner reviews.
This Good Housekeeping Seal holder could almost pass for an upright with its wide brush roll and large back wheels. In our tests, it ran for an impressive 37 minutes on a single charge and was one of the quietest vacuums we tested. The handle can lay flat on the ground, making it easier to vacuum under furniture and in tough-to-reach places. Our only qualm was the slight drag we felt when we pulled the vacuum backward.
Attachments: None
Run time: 37 minutes in our test
Converts to a handheld vacuum: No
Quiet Mark Rating: Very quiet (3 out of 3 stars)
We love that the Shark ION F80 has two battery packs, so you have double the run-time. We tested the very similar Shark F80 and found it to be heavier than other models in our assortment, but the wand bends in the middle so you can easily go under furniture without having to bend down yourself. It aced our performance evaluations and snagged the top spot besting all the other stick vacuums we looked at for performance.
Attachments: 2-roll power head, crevice tool, upholstery tool
Run time: Up to 60 minutes using both batteries in ION Power mode per the manufacturer
Converts to a handheld vacuum: Yes
Claiming to have 20% more suction power than its predecessor (the D10 and winner of our tests!), the Dyson V11 Torque Drive bodes well for the future of vacuum innovation. What else does it do? It automatically adjusts its suction to whatever surface you’re vacuuming. On easier-to-clean bare floors the suction dials down, but ramps up for deep cleaning carpets. It’s also the only vacuum we’ve seen with an LCD screen. The screen tells you how much battery power is left, when to clean the filter, if there are any blockages, and how to clear those blockages using a quick on-screen video clip.
Attachments: Floor cleaner head, mini motorized tool, combination tool, crevice tool, mini soft dusting brush, stubborn dirt brush, wand storage clip
Run time: Up to 60 minutes in Eco mode per the manufacturer
Converts to a handheld vacuum: Yes
We loved that this combination 2-in-1 vacuum has a removable canister and hose that makes it super convenient to vacuum stairs, curtains, and other hard-to-reach places that a traditional stick vac may not reach. We like that the attachments clip on board so you’ll always know where they are and that it has touch controls and a compactor for the dust cup so you can compress the dirt inside for less frequent empties. While it did pick up almost 99% of the debris we put down, we did notice that a few bits got stuck on the rubber wheels.
Attachments: 3-in-1 nozzle, crevice tool and upholstery brush
Run time: Up to 34 minutes in our tests
Converts to a handheld vacuum: No, but the canister is portable and can be used with attachments.
Quiet Mark Rating: Moderately quiet (2 out of 3 stars)
With 889 5-star reviews on Amazon, this inexpensive corded stick vacuum must be doing something right! Its low price tag and 3-in-1 design make it a must-have. Use it as a stick vac, a hand vac, or with the steel handle removed and nozzle attached, it converts to a stair vacuum. At only four pounds, it’s lightweight and reviewers love its swivel head. Though we haven’t tested this model, Eureka vacuums have performed well in previous tests and this would be a good choice for dorm rooms and small apartments.
Attachments: Floor nozzle, crevice tool
Cord length: 18-feet
Converts to a handheld vacuum: Yes
The Shark Rocket stick Powerhead vacuum has all of its best features in the head. The Powerhead is light in your hand and remarkably easy to maneuver. Its compact design makes it the perfect grab-and-go for day-to-day floor cleaning. The Powerhead provides powerful deep carpet cleaning in this light all-in-the head at just 9 lbs. […]
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