Shop-Vac All-Around 971-02-00

*Est. $55

Pros

One of the lightest, most portable shop vacs available
Relatively quiet
Excellent value for the price
Dust bags are available so it's easy to empty

Cons

Low power and suction
Liquid capacity is very small
No onboard tool storage

Our Analysis

The 1.5-gallon Shop-Vac All-Around 971-02-00 wins praise from owners for its low price, light weight and easy portability, despite its tiny capacity and limited suction. Tests show that Shop-Vac models exhaust more dust than the 2-gallon DeWalt DC500 (*est. $100) that can run on AC or battery power. However, the Shop-Vac All-Around still has relatively clean exhaust, more power than the DeWalt shop vac and costs half as much. Both models use small-diameter hoses designed for vacuuming dust rather than large debris, which can result in clogs. The Shop-Vac All-Around can accommodate dust bags, so it's easy to empty. If you need a shop vac to handle larger jobs, reviews recommend the 14-gallon Ridgid WD1450 (*est. $100) for general cleanup of both dry debris and liquids.

We found a handful of owner-written reviews of the Shop-Vac All-Around 971-02-00 posted on Amazon.com. Consumer Reports tests a larger but similar Shop-Vac All-Around model, comparing it with five other extra-small shop vacs in its recent review of 23 shop vacs. This review is based on objective tests and ratings, but the owners' reviews at Amazon.com give more detail based on longer experience with this particular model.

Our Sources

1. Amazon.com

The tiny 1.5-gallon Shop-Vac All-Around 971-02-00 receives around 20 owner-written reviews at Amazon.com. Most compare it favorably with larger shop vacs, praising its light weight and ultra-portability. Suction and noise level get mixed reviews, but owners say it's relatively quiet and performs most cleaning tasks just fine.

Review: Shop-Vac 1-1/2-Gallon 2 HP Wet/Dry Vacuum #971-02-00 Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com

2. Amazon.com

The tiny, 1.5-gallon Shop-Vac All-Around 971-02-00 receives 20 owner-written reviews at Amazon.com. Most owners compare it favorably with larger shop vacs, praising its light weight and ultra-portability. Suction and noise level get mixed reviews, but owners say it's relatively quiet and performs most cleaning tasks just fine.

Review: Shop-Vac All-Around 971-02-00 Review s, Contributors to Amazon.com

3. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Consumer Reports includes a similar Shop-Vac All-Around in its review of 23 consumer-brand shop vacs, comparing it primarily with five other ultra-portable consumer models. Each shop vac is ranked based on objective tests, with separate ratings for wet pickup, dry pickup, ease of use and emissions.

Review: Wet/Dry Vacuums, Editors of Consumer Reports, Mar. 2007

4. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Review: Wet/Dry Vacuums: Reviews and Prices, Editors of Consumer Reports, Mar. 2007

5. Epinions.com

Several owners review an earlier, even smaller and less powerful Shop-Vac model here, giving it a near-perfect average rating. Owners love the light weight and portability, and say it has good suction for its size. There are some complaints about the short power cord, but the newer model has an 18-foot cord.

Review: Shop-Vac 1x1 Reviews, Contributors to Epinions.com

6. Epinions.com

About a dozen owners review an earlier, even smaller and less powerful portable Shop-Vac model here, giving it a near-perfect average rating. Owners love the light-weight portability of these tiny shop vacs, and say they have good suction for their size.

Review: Shop-Vac 1x1, Contributors to Epinions.com

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