Eureka Boss SmartVac 4870GZ

Reviewers say the Eureka SmartVac 4870GZ is the best value in a bagging upright vacuum cleaner, cleaning as well or better than more expensive models and doing a very good job of picking up pet hair on carpeting. However, at 20 pounds, this vacuum can be cumbersome to push and hard to carry up and down stairs. If you're not concerned with the ability to turn off the brushroll and don't mind a bagless vacuum, the 16-pound Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900 (*est. $70) is also worth a look on the value end of the spectrum, but it brushroll can't be turned off, so it's not the best choice for vacuuming bare floors.

We found the best review of the Eureka Boss SmartVac 4870GZ at Consumer Reports, which runs 65 vacuums over the equivalent of 11 miles of carpet and bare floor and rates them for cleaning ability, noise, emissions, ease of use, and their ability to pick up pet hair. The Eureka SmartVac 4870GZ is also reviewed by The Green Guide (though it's not clear if it was actually tested), and a previous model is included in a thorough comparison test by Good Housekeeping. Finally, this Eureka vacuum cleaner receives many comments from owners posting to Amazon.com and Epinions.com.