Canister Vacuums: Reviews

Although it is expensive, many reviewers say the Miele S5281 Callisto is worth the cost, especially for allergy sufferers. Despite weighing just 13.5 pounds, it packs in an assortment of useful features, such as HEPA… expandfiltration, adjustable suction and onboard tool storage. Its sealed-system construction, combined with self-sealing bags, does a great job of containing dust and preventing emissions. This Miele canister vacuum comes with one attachment for carpets and another for hard floors, both of which perform very well in professional tests. It is also very quiet, and users find it easy to maneuver. However, a couple of owners report mechanical problems with the powered head on this vacuum. (Two other versions of the Miele S5281 -- the Libra and the Pisces -- come with different powered heads, but we did not find enough reviews for these models to rate them effectively.) collapse

The 22-pound Electrolux Oxygen canister vacuum offers good all-around performance on a variety of surfaces, without the high price tag of the Miele vacuum. Like the Miele vac, it has a HEPA filter, fingertip controls,… expandonboard tools and adjustable suction, as well as two separate heads for hard floors and carpets. It also offers a longer-than-average five-year warranty. According to users, this may be an important benefit, because we did see some durability complaints about this model, covering a wide range of mechanical problems. However, professionals and users agree that the Electrolux Oxygen is powerful, quiet and easy to use. collapse

Weighing in at less than 9 pounds, the Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G is the lightest canister vacuum we've seen. Its small size makes it easy to carry up and down stairs, and it's also very maneuverable. Owners say this… expandinexpensive bag-equipped vacuum is a great value, with decent suction and durability. However, some note that it's noisy and doesn't perform that well on carpet. Because this is a budget model, it lacks many of the features that come with more expensive vacuums, such as HEPA filtration, onboard tool storage and a retracting cord. However, for those with mostly bare floors, the Mighty Mite 3670G does a perfectly respectable job. collapse