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by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
ConsumerReports.org editors compare 12 hand vacuums, some of which are stick vacuums also included in this review of small vacuums. Tests are conducted on both carpet and hard floors. After evaluating… ease-of-use, run time, recharge time, emissions, noise level and ability to clean along edges and pick up pet hair, editors recommend four models. They caution consumers against buying two models of hand vacs that "threw particles of picked-up sand and glass out of their exhaust ports, posing a risk to testers' faces and eyes." It's also noted that two other models were recalled in March 2009.
by Editors of Choice magazine
Choice, an Australian consumer publication, bases its ratings on rigorous independent testing. Editors compare 10 vacuums on their ability to suck up cornflakes and flour from a hard surface, and potting… mix, sand and pet hair from carpet. The Black & Decker 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac takes the top spot as "the only model that performed well in every test." Most of the other models are not sold in the U.S. or have been discontinued.
by Editors of Consumer magazine
Editors of this New Zealand publication test seven hand vacuums, but not all models are available in the U.S. The reviewers conducted testing at Choice magazine's lab, which may explain the similar model… selection as that publication's review of handheld vacuums. Editors recommend the Black & Decker 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac and the Black & Decker 12V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac (now discontinued). The 18-volt version performed the best, with excellent results on both carpet and hard floors. Testers like how the nozzle adjusts to different angles and the tools store with the docking station. A few downsides noted are its heavy weight and noisiness.
by Editors of Popular Mechanics
This video shows testers evaluating three handheld vacuums: the Dirt Devil Kone, the Black & Decker 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac and the Dyson DC16 (now replaced by the DC31). Each vacuum is tested on its… ability to suck up 32 ounces of sifted flour and 12 ounces of wet kitty litter. Testers prefer the Black & Decker, which performs best overall and has a run time that's twice as long as the Dyson. The Dyson, which is considerably more expensive, is quieter and a few seconds faster at picking up the flour, but the attachment clogs easily during the wet litter test. The Dirt Devil does poorly on both tests -- blowing the flour around and barely picking up any kitty litter.
by Charles Passy
We give this older a review a lower ranking because, although it compares five models of hand vacs, the top pick and one other are now discontinued. Testing is conducted on carpet and tile and inside a car,… but the procedure is more informal than some other professional reviews. A "holiday dirt mix" of potato chip crumbs, wrapping paper bits and other debris is scattered and then vacuumed up. While the Black & Decker 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac does relatively well here, the top choice is the inexpensive Shark Cordless Hand Vac SV736 (now discontinued). Testers say the Black & Decker was powerful, but its heavy backend made it difficult to grip. Testers also don't recommend the stylish Dirt Devil Kurv, saying its nozzle "wasn't wide enough, forcing us to go over areas again and again."
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Dozens of models of handheld vacuums are reviewed here, and a few have enough posts to provide a useful picture of how the product stands up in real-world use. Black & Decker models do well, but the top… score goes to the Eureka Easy Clean Hand Vac 71B (formerly named the Quick-Up), which has been reviewed more than 600 times. The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Hand Vacuum gets a good average rating from more than 140 owners who say this vacuum's power is impressive. The top-rated cordless hand vac is the Black & Decker 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac, which has more than 300 reviews in two separate listings. Many models by Dirt Devil have also accumulated a good number of reviews.
by Contributors to Walmart.com
More than 10 handheld vacuums have accumulated some owner-written reviews here. Owners use a 5-star scale to rate five different categories: value, meets expectations, features, durability and appearance.… The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Hand Vacuum is the top-rated handheld vacuum, with more than 100 owners giving it 4.7 stars out of 5. Owners agree it's great at picking up pet hair. The Eureka Easy Clean Hand Vac 71B (formerly named the Quick-Up) does nearly as well. Reviewers say it picks up pet hair quickly and is easy to use.
by Editors of Which? magazine
Which? magazine is a consumer-advocacy magazine based in the U.K. Editors compare seven models of handheld vacuums. Five are tested together and two newer models, the Dyson DC31 and Black & Decker… Dustbuster Flexi (comparable to the Flex in the U.S.), are pitted against each other. Editors don't recommend a particular model, but rather provide a detailed description of the pros and cons for each model. Although some models aren't sold in the U.S., they may be comparable to models that are.
by Mariette Mifflin
Writer Mariette Mifflin selects four handheld vacuums as "best picks" based on unknown criteria. She doesn't perform her own testing on the models selected in the article, so we give this review a lower… ranking. The Eureka Easy Clean Hand Vac 71B (formerly named the Quick-Up) is the favorite overall. The Dirt Devil M08220 (now discontinued), Black & Decker 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac and corded Dirt Devil Purpose for Pets Hand Vac are the other three picks.
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
ConsumerGuide.com editors review eight handheld vacuum cleaners. Reviews are fairly detailed but seem to be based more on features and product specs than testing or analysis. The oldest review dates back to… 2003, but four of the reviews were published in 2007. All but the Dirt Devil Kone are designated a best buy. Since only five of those get a perfect 5-star rating, it isn't clear why the others are chosen.
by Editors of AllergyBuyersClub.com
This online retailer is geared toward allergy sufferers and includes allergy information and product reviews. Editors rate the products they sell on a 5-star system and list what they like and dislike. The… Dyson D31 receives 4 stars and is the highest-rated handheld vacuum. Testers say it has "impressive suction power" and is "surprisingly easy to handle." The only downsides are that it's noisy and the battery lasts only six minutes on high suction mode, which is rather short for a recharge that takes three hours.
by Conner Flynn
by Contributors to Epinions.com
Epinions.com features a large number of handheld vacuums, but the vast majority of models have a single review, if any. Some of the models that have accumulated the most reviews are now discontinued. Owners… use a 5-star scale to rate models on ease of use, durability, ease of cleaning and style. The Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac M03280 and Dirt Devil Extreme Power Hand Vac M0914 have the most reviews. Neither is as highly rated as the Black & Decker 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac, which has the highest rating of 4.5 stars from 15 owners, who say it's more powerful than other models they have used and is well designed.
by Contributors to Target.com
Target.com is another online retailer that allows owners to post product reviews. There are about 20 models that have some reviews, but most get only a handful of posts. The Black & Decker 18V Hand Vac has… the highest rating from 15 owners who say it has plenty of suction and keeps a charge for a long time. The Dirt Devil Kurv has a slightly lower rating here than at Amazon.com. Owners say it doesn't do a good job at sucking, and a few say the button stuck in the on position.
by Contributors to Viewpoints.com
by Editors of Calgary Herald
by Theresa Peterson
by Brandon Lambert
by Gregory Han
After three days of testing, this reviewer proclaims the Ergorapido the "best hard floor vacuum for pet owners." He likes its ergonomic design, the cleverness of the hand vac that snaps into the stick, the… rugged and tight finish and especially the excellent performance. He notes that it's for hard floors and low-pile carpet, and that although there's a HEPA filter, the unit itself leaks air considerably. No other handheld vacuums are rated or ranked.
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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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Dirt Devil M0216CHM Kurv Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
from Amazon.com New: $69.95 $30.00
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Bissell 33A1 Pet Hair Eraser Corded Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
from Amazon.com New: $29.99 $27.95 In Stock.
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