EmailBest Reviewed
Handheld Vacuums
- Best cordless handheld vacuum Black & Decker 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac PHV1800CB *Est. $70
- Budget handheld vacuum Dirt Devil Kurv *Est. $40
- Corded hand vac Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Hand Vacuum *Est. $30
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Budget handheld vacuum
- Stylish appearance
- Four color choices
- Long battery life
- Reusable filter
- Three-year warranty
- Weak suction
- Mixed user reviews
- Narrow nozzle
The Dirt Devil Kurv costs less than the Black & Decker 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac PVH1800CB (*Est. $70) and its battery lasts five minutes longer in one comparative analysis. This vacuum is available in four color choices and is stylish enough to leave close at hand rather than shut in a broom closet. The Kurv is recommended in one professional review and in two less formal tests. It performed better on carpets than bare floors, sucking up pet hair from medium-pile carpet without a problem. Despite positive professional reviews, owner-written reviews are mixed. Some say it's powerful, while others complain about its lack of suction and tendency for its air vents to blow debris away from the nozzle. This vacuum has a reusable filter and is covered by an impressive three-year warranty.
ConsumerReports.org includes the Dirt Devil Kurv in its thorough, comparative testing of 12 handheld vacuums. Another comparative review at The Wall Street Journal ranks the Kurv along with four other handheld vacuums based on how well they pick up crumbled potato chips, wrapping-paper bits and other debris. Amazon.com has the most owner-written reviews of the Kurv hand vac, and scores there are echoed by users posting to Target.com. A review on SlipperyBrick.com compares the Kurv to Dirt Devil's other sculptural hand vac, the Kone, and the Calgary Herald and AssociatedContent.com have decent overviews of the Kurv's strengths and weaknesses.
Black & Decker PHV1800CB 18-Volt Pivoting-Nose Cordless Energy-Star Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
 from Amazon.com New: $69.99 $58.49 In Stock.
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| Featured Stores | Store Rating | Notes | Total Price | |
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| DirtDevil.com--The Official Site |  300 store reviews | In Stock. New | $49.99 | See It |
 |  2155 store reviews | In Stock. Your Online Discount Superstore. Get Latest Deals, sign up for the Daily Hotsheet! | $58.99 | See It |
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Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.org
ConsumerReports.org editors conduct comprehensive testing of the Dirt Devil Kurv and 11 other models of handheld vacuums, before recommending four. Each model is evaluated on carpet and hard floors as well as along edges and picking up pet hair. Testers also rate the vacuums for ease of use, run time, recharge time, emissions and noise level.
Review: Small Vacuum Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, March 2009
Of the five models tested for this article, the Dirt Devil Kurv hand vac gets the least favorable score. Because of the Kurv's narrow nozzle, the test mixture -- potato-chip crumbs, wrapping-paper bits and other debris -- had to be vacuumed several times before the area was clean.
Review: No Crumbs for Christmas, Charles Passy, Nov. 23, 2007
3. Amazon.com
The Dirt Devil Kurv has five separate listings that have accumulated some reviews at Amazon.com. Despite some very enthusiastic posts about its effectiveness and good looks, the overall rating here is just average. The consensus is that the Kurv is adequate and looks nice.
Review: Dirt Devil Kurv, Contributors to Amazon.com
The Dirt Devil Kurv and Kone are compared in this short article, which doesn't include any other handheld vacuums. According to the author, the Kurv significantly outperforms the Kone in informal tests around his home.
Review: Review: Kone and Kurv Dirt Devil Hand Vacs, Conner Flynn, Nov. 20, 2007
This short article doesn't give details about what, if any, testing was performed with the Dirt Devil Kurv, but it does provide a useful summary of this hand vac's strengths and weaknesses. The final assessment of the Kurv is that it's "a curvy success if you're using it on hard surfaces."
Review: Mini Tried and Tested: The Dirt Devil Kurv, Editors of Calgary Herald, Dec. 22, 2007
6. Target.com
More than a dozen mixed reviews of the Dirt Devil Kurv are featured on Target.com. The main complaint is that the hand vac isn't powerful enough, and a few say the button stuck in the "on" position.
Review: Dirt Devil Kurv Hand Vac, Contributors to Target.com
Brandon Lambert summaries the features on the Dirt Devil Kurv and conducts an informal test by sucking up potting soil. He says the Kurv "does just as good of a job as some of the more expensive models," but we aren't sure what other models he has experience with.
Review: Product Review: Dirt Devil Kurv Bagless Cordless Hand Vacuum, Brandon Lambert, Aug. 25, 2008
Handheld Vacuums Runners Up:
3 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
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