Very Good Vacuum! Highly Recommended!

The Hoover WindTunnel vacuum cleaner is a great value and performed above our expectations! We bought this vacuum to replace our old Oreck XL. The Hoover is a significant step up in power and features, including:

* Light weight design
* "Dirt Finder" works very well, giving an indication when the carpet is clean
* Good selection of included attachments
* Very powerful suction

My only minor complaint is that the included hose is fairly short and rigid, so when using the attachments the light weight of the vacuum cleaner tends to make it want to tip over. Not a problem if you are aware of the issue and we will be buying the Hoover 40200024 WindTunnel 20-Foot Deluxe Stretch Hose in the near future.

All in all, we are very pleased with this Hoover Vacuum Cleaner! Highly recommended!

I love this vacuum!

I must have gone through ten vacuum cleaners. This is the first one I really like!
1. The attachments are in a spot that makes them easy to remove and replace
2. It really "sucks" hard!
3. I love the little red light that shows me if the floor needs a little more TLC. I noticed that it is really accurate. When I pay attention to it, the dust in my bedroom doesn't seem to accumulate as rapidly.

There are a couple of features I don't like, but I can live with because I like the rest of the vacuum so much:
1. The hose extenders don't "click" into place, so sometimes it falls apart when I'm vacuuming
2. It is a little awkward to take up and down stairs. It isn't light, but it sure is powerful!

Embeded dirt finder is the coolest thing ever in a vacuum

We bought this vacuum based on the good reviews but I just had to write another one after using it. When I started using the vacuum I thought the "embeded dirtfinder technology" was the biggest gimmick there was. After using the vacuum for a few minutes I realized that it actually works. There two lights (one red and one green) on the lower left corner of the vacuum and they switch from red to green when the carpet is actually clean. I thought to myself "yeah right" but when using it, the light stayed red for a long time in high traffic areas of my house but in the spare bedroom where no one ever walks it was green almost right away. I really worked harder on those high traffic areas to get that solid green light and I really feel like my carpet is clean now. Give it a try - it makes vacuuming much more entertaining.

satisfied

Cleaning staff find the Hoover vacuum easy to manage and light weight. Suction capability is very good. So far we are happy.

Love my Hoover!

I was still using my Decade 80 Upright Hoover (28 years now) and decided to buy a new Hoover. I am very pleased that I like this new one as much as I did my old one. I shopped around everywhere and could not beat the price on Amazon and then the free shipping. The only complaint I would have is the short attachment hose. My old Hoover still works but has been retired to the basement. Very happy with my Hoover!

Great Vacuum for the Price

Shopped for a replacement for my ancient Hoover Self-propelled vacuum
This one has a number of great features I was looking for:

Easy to carry; It has handholds at the top and the bottom of the handle that make it easy to carry from room to room, as well as helping to vacuum stairs

Easy to use tools: The tools are stored at the top, and the access door flips down and away from you, allowing easy access. The hose is short, but allows me to easily snap on an attachment for cleaning off the furniture, and carpet edges. A longer hose is available as an option. I have not tried it.

Good suction thru the hose and at the powerhead.

Effective cleaning; the dirt finder light does seem to work. It stays red until is senses no particles are being pulled up.

Light weight; at least 5 lbs lighter than the self propelled version. Much easier to carry up and down the steps.
Simpler construction should last much longer than the self-propelled mechanism, too.

Easy assembly; took a whole 5 minutes.

Noise; not the quietest, but not as loud as my old Hoover

Bagged; I tried a bagless unit once... what a mess every time you have to dump the dust can. This one comes with a hepa material replaceable bag. Fill it up, dump the whole thing. No muss, no fuss...

All said, a great unit for a great price.

Hoover Vacuum

Hoover is always a reliable vacuum. I purchased this for my mother and she is very happy with it.

Don't buy from Sears

It's a good vacuum. Better to not bother with the self propelled unless you feel you really need it.
Don't go to Sears. I ordered online for a store pickup. The website assured that there would be an email within 2 hours. Never came. The website also said that they had it in stock. They didn't. Get this - the guy at the store told me it is Sears policy to claim they have one in stock, but that when they say "one", they are talking about the floor model! They are just trying to get you into the store to try to sell you something else. Hmmm....what do you call that? Oh yeah, "bait and switch". There was NO WAY I was going to buying from Sears after this experience. I never received an email confirming the order OR the cancelation though I actually SPOKE to someone both days who assured me they were sending an email.

Love it but you'll want the longer hose

I love this vacuum so far but it definitely needs the longer hose which I noticed is for sale separately.

Preety good for the money

have a 3k sq ft house. Does a pretty good job. Note I don't have pets or very small kids so limited dirt.
Worth the money.

hoover is still good

I ordered this vacuum to replace a 18 year old hoover that was still working but not at full capacity. The new hoover is easier to work with and a little less noisy.I am pleased with all facets of buying from Amazon.

Good with some problems

I have had this vacuum for about 2 months and I am surprised how much suction it has. I typically vacuum for an hour a week. I doubt if it will last for 5 years but so far I have a worn cord and a broken belt. The unit is light and the parts are pretty cheaply made. I have 2 dogs and a cat and I am satisfied on its ability to pick up hair. Ditto on comments on the short accessory hose and I have ad good success with the generic bags sold on Amazon. Is it as good as a Dyson, I don't think thats a fair comparison for what the units cost and it has a bag. For what it cost me and the performance thus far I would rate it well but I am skeptical on how long it will last.

This vacuum is awesome!

The first time I used this vacuum I was embarrassed by how much dirt my old one had been missing. I agree with a previous review, you might as well get the optional 20 foot hose, especially if you have stairs. The downsides? It is heavier than my old vacuum and awkward to carry upstairs. Even though the extra long cord can be a plus when sweeping multiple rooms, I find it gets in the way much of the time. I like to keep the longer hose attached because I use it a lot, but it doesn't stay on the holder as well as the shorter hose does, keeps falling off & getting in the way. I really love the dirt inditcator, head lamp and on board tools.

Good Value

Easy to assemble. Effective cleaning. Quieter than my previous vacuum cleaner. The tension in the hose makes it a bit difficult to use with accessories. The power cord is shorter than my previous vacuum cleaner, which makes it less convenient to use.

Like it so far

Haven't had the vacuum for too long, but like it so far. It's so easy to push I don't see how the self-propelled model could be much easier. It's not too loud and the suction seems great. It doesn't have an option to turn off the roller, which I thought it would since it can be used on bare floors. And, since you can't turn off the roller, I'm not quite sure what you're supposed to do when you're using the hose. It is ok to leave the vacuum in one spot on carpet with the roller moving? Speaking of the hose, I find it quite inadequate. The hose itself isn't very long and doesn't stretch easily, so I'm often tipping the vacuum over when trying to use the hose. I'm not sure about the 'dirt indicator'. It seems to be red a lot which either means my carpets are really filthy or the indicator isn't that useful. All, in all, I would recommend it. I purchased this in place of a bagless vacuum cleaner that I can't stand, so I'm glad Hoover offers a bagged vacuum!

great all around household vacuum

this vacuum is great for everyday house cleaning. we have a dog and it picks up dog hair just fine. the pile adjustment is handy - we have short berber carpet and on lowest pile adjustment it almost propels itself - really strong bristles/spinning.

kinda loud, but nice and light. tools are also very handy and easy to use and switch around.

Nice Vacuum!

The Hoover Windtunnel has an awesome suction for a value-priced unit. I bought the vacuum for use in a 1400 sqft condo, and it's the perfect size. It works very well on carpet, and fairly well on tile or hardwood floors. The only concern that I have so far is that the belt broke after only about 2 hours of total use. However, I think that it was caused by a small area rug getting caught in the agitator brush within the first hour of use. The motor drive is only a thin rod that the belt sits on, so anything that stops the brush can result in belt damage. I've been carefull not to let that happen again, and haven't had to replace another belt yet. The dirt indicator light works well, because it shows dirt in high traffic areas, but very little in low use areas. The model I bought isn't self-propelled, but the agitator brush pulls it forward on carpet making it easy to handle, and the vacuum rolls easily on bare floors. I don't think that the self-propelled feature is needed. I'm impressed so far, it's a great value for the price.

Can't beat it for the price!

What a great vacuum for the money! It's light in weight, easy to assemble, and easy to manuever. The dirt sensor is a real working feature and not a gimmick. I thought my old Kenmore was doing a fine job with carpet but after using this vacuum I didn't realize just how much dirt was left behind. I also use this vacuum on my hardwood and tile floors without any dirt scatter. The trick is to not have the brush down to where it's touching the floor. Just keep it off the tile or hardwood and let the suction pull the dirt and hair into it. I got the 20' stretch hose for the floors too and a wide floor brush which you can find after market. This will work the best of course but beware that the stretch hose does not connect to the shorter hose that comes with the vacuum itself. You must remove the short hose first and then install the stretch hose which is a little inconvenient. But for the money you can't beat this vacuum!

Powerful

For the money, this is a great vacuum. It has plenty of power & really cleans my carpets. The dirt finder feature is useless in my opinion. The red light never seems to go off, even when the area I'm vacuuming has been gone over a multitude of times. So I just ignore it. The bag filled up very quickly, which makes me think my previous vacuum did a terrible job. Hopefully it won't fill up as quickly next time. As I said above, for the money, this vacuum is a winner. I only gave it 4 stars because the plastic parts seem to be less durable than the more expensive competition, but so far so good.

It works very well

I've had this vacuum for about a month now and I'm happy with it, I guess. It does have a lot of power, it picks up well, and it's easy to use. My only complaint is that it is a bit loud and that you are never sure when the bag is really in place. Oh, and the "Bag Full" light doesn't work anymore. I had a Hooover Bagless TwinChamber 20.0 before for over 5 years and I still like the old one better, I must say.

Good value, Good performance

It's hard to evaluate a vacuum cleaner because as a man I barely know what its even used for- haha but more seriously few people really get the chance to compare other vacuums and it's hard to realistically compare dirt levels in a newly-vacuumed carpet.

But I can say that after 6 months of almost weekly use I'm very pleased with the performance of
my 'Hoover Windtunnel bagged Upright'.

I like the following:
* Great suction
* Effective - the carpet looks clean and almost new again after use. (Isn't
that the more important measure of a cleaner)?
* Light but not overly so (good, heavy components)
* Easy to carry up stairs, not too hard to use on the stairs
-- With one hand grab the 'handle' on the upper front section and let it ride across 3/4 of the stair
.... to the edge (skip the opposite edge). Lift down/up to the next stair. repeat.
-- Once you reach the last step, face the cleaner the other way and redo each step.
-- I will probably buy a stair-specific vacuum that isn't as heavy since we have quite a few stairs
.... and they get dirty faster than other carpet.
* Although it's mostly plastic and the on/off slider button appears destined
to break over time, the cleaner overall looks and feels solidly built.
* Near the quality of a Dyson but half the cost.

I don't like the following:
* Some small difficulty in adjusting the beater bar height. I can't just flick it with my toe to adjust.
* Almost every time I vacuum, I bump a tool off the back.
* The small cover for tools marked 'easily removable' in the manual is anything but..
* I cannot find cloth bags like the one that came with the cleaner. Wish I could. It works great!

I did a fair amount of research including consumer report and hundreds of reviewer comments before buying.
I am confident that I got the one of the best cleaners for under two hundred. I hope you'll feel the same.

Hoover U5269-900 EmPower Bagless Upright Vacuum

Product Description

Hoover EmPower Bagless Upright that puts you in control. The EmPower is quiet when you want it to be and has extra power when you need it.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #668 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Calypso Green
• Brand: Hoover
• Model: U5269-900
• Released on: 2005-06-15
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 31.00 pounds

Features

• Bagless upright vacuum with 15-inch cleaning path from Hoover; hush mode available for quiet cleaning
• Teflon-coated HEPA filtration cartridge removes air impurities and allergens; debris collects in removable double-chamber dust cup
• 12-amp motor features push-button power surge for heavy-duty dirt extraction; 5 height settings available for various carpets and floors
• Onboard accessories include hand-held power tool for pet hair and vertical cleaning; with a 31-foot power cord and fold-down handle
• Vacuum weighs 21 pounds upon shipping; 1-year warranty

Amazon.com Review
With a custom power boost function for serious matting and soiling, Hoover offers their EmPower bagless vacuum for household cleaning needs. The upright 12-amp vacuum offers two power settings and five height levels to accommodate a wide variety of floor and carpet types, while eradicating both deeply embedded debris and light layers of dust. With a long-lasting HEPA cartridge filter, the vacuum also improves an environment's air quality, stripping away dust mites, ragweed, and most grass pollen. In removing and containing these allergens, the newly vacuumed room provides relief for sufferers of seasonal allergies like hay fever and helps minimize the discomfort for individuals with cat or dog allergies.

To ensure a clean carpet, the 15-inch wide vacuum head features a helpful headlight to illuminate soiled patches. The agitation from the vacuum's brush roll uproots dirt from even the plushest carpet, with the option of the push button power boost for heavy-duty cleaning. To accommodate households with sleeping babies, children at study, or other volume sensitive inhabitants, the EmPower model is endowed with a Hush mode, operating on lower power for quieter maintenance. Debris travels through a Teflon-coated HEPA cartridge filter into a sealed dual-chamber dust cup. The chambers are transparent to allow easy monitoring of the dust cup's fullness. The dust cup detaches from the vacuum body for easy emptying. Vacuum tools and accessories include a powered hand tool for pet hair and stair step cleaning, extension wand, upholstery nozzle, crevice wand, and an extra-reach hose. The vacuum handle folds down for compact storage. The power cord on this vacuum spans 31 feet in distance. For the best results, the HEPA filter should be replaced every three years and should never be washed. Hoover offers a one-year warranty for this item. The pre-assembled vacuum weighs 21 pounds upon shipping. --Jessica Reuling

Customer Reviews

Pleasantly Surprised
I was a bit worried when I first bought this, since the box didn't list any specifics about the power level of the cleaner. I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. If you want a great vacuum but don't want to spend the equivalent of a car payment on a Dyson, buy the EmPower. It's pretty powerful, and the pet attachment does exactly what it's supposed to do. I was kind of freaked out with all the dirt, dust and pet hair that ended up in the cannister, but seeing all that plus a clean carpet gives you a pretty good feeling of satisfaction. The cord is extra loooong, which makes going from room to room easier, and the brushes on the bottom of the vacuum really work the nap of the carpet to make it look brand new when you're done. The rotating brushes also create a traction feature, like a lawnmower, that makes it glide across the carpet surface - since I'm so used to pushing crummy cleaners, it almost flew out of my hand the first time I used it. I agree about the "hush" mode feature, however - sounds like a regular vacuum to me. But since I didn't buy it for that feature (who looks for a quiet vacuum?), I don't care that it's really a non-feature.

I suspect Hoover is phasing this model out, since it's on sale practically everwhere I see it (I got mine at Home Depot), but as long as they continue to sell the filters, this is going to be my primary vac for a long time to come. It's a great buy at this price and higher.

I Love It!
I am so glad that I bought this vacuum. I have grown up using vacuums with bags, and I simply prefer the bagless vacuums more. They may not necessarily pick up any better then a bagged vacuum, but bagless vacs are just much easier to deal with, especially this one. There is no getting your fingers inside the vacuum just to empty it. You just simply pop out the canister and you're ready to go. I tried out many vacuums before I bought this, trying to decide on features that I wanted and needed.

What I like about the EmPower:
* It's easy to pick up and carry in a multi-level home, it's light, and the carry handle is a great feature!
* The carpet height dial is easy to turn, not stiff like many other vacuums. This is great for a home like mine with a mix of carpets, hardwood, and area Rugs. I don't have to deal with sore fingers from trying to change the carpet height constantly.
* The canister is easy to remove, clean, and replace. Many bagless vacs that I tried were quite difficult, they may as well have been vacs with bags.
* Having a handle that folds down is a decent space saver in a house with horrible storage
* It keeps it's suction better than any vacuum I have ever used
* It's sturdy and good looking
* The attachments are easy to get to and use

What I don't like about the EmPower
* I wish the canister was bigger and could hold more

Some tips on using a bagless
* empty the canister after two uses...I have to do this because my dog sheds horribly
* empty the canister outside, I usually do this the day before my trash gets picked up. This way, all of the dust that escapes is not escaping into your house, and is going straight to the dumpster.
* I keep an old utility brush right by my garbage can outside so that I can brush off the filter, this keeps it very clean.

This vacuum is a great buy, I have no doubt. If you are on the fence on this decision, you cannot lose with this product.

It really sucks! (in a good way)
This vac sucks up more cat hair than any vac I have ever used! I collected the equivalent of three cats when I did my whole house after I got this machine. I had to empty it three times in one day because it had collected so much hair. It did so much better a job than the old wind tunnel, that the carpets had returned to a color much closer to the original.

The attachments all come along with you although I am not crazy about the hose connection. You must disconnect one end of the hose to use the attachments. This works OK, but then when you're done, you have to reconnect it. This doesn't work as well as I would like. I have to admit that I have arthritis in my hands, so that may be the reason I have trouble.

Also the hose is not long enough to do stairs etc. You can buy a hose extender according to the book, but I found that the hose extender that came with the old wind tunnel works with this machine, so if you have one of those, you've already got one!

Despite the minor complaints, I am very happy with the job this machine does and would highly recommend it.

Hoover UH30010COM Platinum Lightweight Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner with Canister

Product Description

The Hoover Platinum lightweight upright removes more dirt in one pass than other uprights. The lightweight design (less than 12 lbs) is easy to maneuver and transport up stairs and room to room. With direct air flow technology and Hoover's patented Windtunnel Technology, it makes it easy to remove even the hidden dirt. The HEPA bag traps 99.97% of dirt, dust and pollens for better indoor air quality. There is even a bag check indicator to tell you when to change the bag. The quick release self-sealing bag prevents dirt puffs from escaping when changing the bag. It comes with illuminated In-Handle controls which allows you to control the on/off power switch and the ability to switch between high and low speeds. The upright comes with a portable canister and tools. The canister has a detachable shoulder strap, dusting/furniture brush, crevice tool, and bare floor brush. Best-In-Class six year warranty.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #829 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Hoover
• Model: UH30010COM
• Released on: 2009-02-22
• Dimensions: 38.25" h x 13.00" w x 15.50" l, 5.50 pounds

Features

• Lightweight bagged upright vacuum cleaner with powerful 12 amp motor
• Direct air-flow technology and Windtunnel Technology for fast, efficient results
• Illuminated fingertip controls; 2 speeds; self-sealing HEPA bag; check-bag indicator
• Includes canister vacuum, bare-floor brush, dusting brush, crevice tool, and telescoping wand
• Measures approximately 15-1/2 by 13 by 45 inches; 6-year limited warranty

Amazon.com Product Description
Removing more dirt in a single pass than other lightweight bagged uprights, this powerful vacuum cleaner combines direct air-flow technology with patented Windtunnel Technology for fast, efficient results. Weighing less than 12 pounds, the cleaner moves effortlessly from room to room and up and down stairs. It also provides illuminated fingertip controls for easily turning the power on and off or switching between high and low speeds. The upright vacuum cleaner uses a dust bag with a HEPA filter, which traps 99.97 percent of dirt, dust, and pollens down to 0.3 microns for better indoor air quality. The quick-release, self-sealing bag prevents dirt puffs from escaping, and the cleaner's check-bag indicator illuminates when the bag needs to be changed.

Other highlights include a 12 amp motor, a 14-inch-wide nozzle, automatic height adjustment, and edge-cleaning brushes, as well as a lifetime LED headlight, a comfortable D-shaped handle, and a 35-foot power cord. Even more, the unit comes with a canister vacuum for above-the-floor cleaning and for bare-floor surfaces. Simply attach the included bare-floor brush, dusting/furniture brush, or crevice tool to the end of the telescoping extension wand for thorough, detailed cleaning throughout the house. A detachable shoulder strap for conveniently transporting the canister vacuum comes included, along with a Type Q upright HEPA bag, a Type I portable canister HEPA bag, and a user manual for both the upright and the canister. The upright vacuum cleaner measures approximately 15-1/2 by 13 by 45 inches and carries a six-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

Terrific product! (3/14/09)
Hoover Platinum Lightweight Bagged Upright with Canister (UH30010COM) (3/14/09)

Overall, this is a terrific vacuum. The person who will be happiest with this combination is the person who: (1) wants a lightweight vacuum, (2) has mostly carpet in their home, (3) has carpeted stairs, and (4) uses attachments.

I liked my old vacuum, so using the LBU has been an eye-opening experience for me: I didn't realize how much effort I was exerting with my old upright with attachments - not only heavier, but so much bending and stooping to change settings or get tools.

At 11 pounds, the LBU is 2 to 3 pounds heavier- but less expensive - than competing models. Bonuses: it has a longer cord and a stair cleaning handle.

Competing models -
Hoover LBU, 11 lbs list $300/retail $300 (includes canister), 6 yr warranty
Riccar RSL5; 8 lbs list $710/ retail $500 (without canister), 3 yr warranty
Oreck XL Gold: 9 lbs list $600/ retail $500 (includes canister), 5/10 warranty
Oreck XL Platinum: 9 lbs list $800/ retail $600 (includes canister), 10 yr warranty

All of these uprights (including the LBU) are similar to commercial models, but you don't get the same auto carpet height adjustment, lifetime belt, HEPA filtration, and warranty on commercial models.

The supplementary canister has a strap and a 25 food cord. I didn't like it the first time I tried it, but the second time I adjusted the strap to fit me (DUH!), and then I LOVED it! The canister carries the crevice and brush attachments on board, so switching is easy, and the wand is extendable. (I don't use the floor tool, because I use a stick vac on my hardwoods.)

If you want details about specific features, read on:

PROS

FINGERTIP CONTROLS - Wonderful. Many models have this type of control now, and now that I have used it I wouldn't buy one that didn't have it.

HEPA SYSTEM - Remarkable. My old vacuum was a HEPA model with HEPA bags, but there is no comparison to this model. The air on this vacuum comes out smelling fabulous. I bought and returned a top rated Kenmore canister that had the exact same amazingly clean exhaust (turns out I don't like using a canister), so I think this is the new hallmark of quality vacuums.

AUTO CARPET HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT - Works beautifully. I used to have to stoop down to change the carpet height adjustment on different rugs, but the LBU self-adjustment really works - no problem pushing vacuum over even the thickest pile.

CORD PLACEMENT - Smart! It comes out the behind the top of the bag rather than the bottom. This means I have even more useable cord, because I don't have to hold part of the cord up to avoid running over it.

CLEANING ABILITY - VERY effective carpet cleaner, my 15 year-old carpets look & feel (to bare feet) remarkably cleaner, and even look & feel newer. Excellent at removing pet hair from carpet. The upright is 5.5 amps with direct air flow, like the Riccar & Oreck models listed. The canister is 7 amps. (The combined total is listed in the product description - very confusing. I suppose that Hoover thought consumers want a 12 amp machine, but amps are like gas mileage; if you get more suction for less amperage it's like getting better mileage. That's good, not bad. Plus you won't blow your fuses!)

EASILY MANEUVERABLE - One expects this of a lightweight model, and all the models I tried turned easily and so forth, but the Riccar & Orecks I tried had to be kicked or tipped up over the edge of an area rug placed onto another carpet. In my home I have area rugs in several rooms on top of the wall-to-wall carpeting, and the LBU moves seamlessly over the edges (even on my thickest area rug) without needing a kick or an extra hard push.

LIFETIME LED HEADLIGHT - Brilliant! (Literally!) It is brighter than any other light I have ever had on a vacuum, and is it actually aimed at the carpet! I think having the LEDs has allowed them to aim the light better than with a standard bulb. I am sure other LED equipped models are comparable, so look for this feature,

LIFETIME BELT - YES! I've replaced SO many belts over the years and I won't have to do THAT anymore, thank goodness.

STAIR-CLEANING HANDLE - Finally. It is comfortably shaped & works well. To use competitors' models on stairs, you have to hold them by the back tube, which I've tried, and it isn't nearly as easy as using the handle. However, see cons below.

CORD RELEASE - (6/9/09 edit) I thought it didn't have one until another Amazon customer posted a commment to me (see comments) that it most certainly does; then I tried it again and VOILA! it does. Because I couldn't figure it out before, I got into the habit of just winding up the 35' cord on my arm and plopping it into the top cord holder. The LBU doesn't threaten to tip over at all when I do this, so it works just great and saves me yet another bend and stoop - but it's a good feature to have, so I'm glad the engineers didn't leave it out.

CONS

STAIR-CLEANING HANDLE - Good grief! I assume it really WAS necessary to vent the motor exhaust toward the stair-cleaning handle (!), so rather than curse the engineers, hold the handle on the right-hand side. It's big enough to do that, thank goodness. Or vacuum the stairs first, before the motor gets warm.

NO BRUSH ROLL ON/OFF - Hmmm. This is in the description (and competitors' models are the same), so it means that the vacuum is intended ONLY for people with mostly carpet. I have about 80/20 carpet/bare floor, so it works for me. I use a stick vac on my hardwood, and the other person I talked to that has hardwood floors and this vacuum says she doesn't care because her hardwood floors aren't new anyway. But if you have brand-spankin'-new hardwood floors, will you really want to use a brush-roll on them?

EXPENSIVE BAGS - Really, $5 each? But they are huge, and they are the very high quality type with fabric-like paper, so we'll see. I used to have to change my old ones ($3) fairly often, so maybe this will work out the same or even cheaper.

CARRY-STRAP FOR CANISTER - Not padded. Anyone know where I can buy a pad for a 1 ½ inch strap?

This review is longer than I would like, but since there are so few reviews out there as yet, I wanted to be thorough. Sorry for the length but hope this helps!

(7/19/2009 edit) By the way, the original price on this was $400 and now it has dropped to under $300! This is a terrific value at this price!

Finally ... a Vacuum Cleaning System Worth the Money
First, a disclaimer of sorts .... I'm a long-term, died-in-the-wool Hoover evangelist. No, I don't work for Hoover, but I've always used them religiously for over 30 years. I've tried switching off to other top-of-the-line brands (Oreck, Eureka, Kenmore, etc.), but I always return to Hoover for their unsurpassed cleaning power and reliability.

That does not, however, mean they were perfect.

* The Hoover WindTunnel U6439 bagged upright that I've had for the last several years would suck up a Buick. Unfortunately, it also rivaled a Buick in the weight category. Although it's supposedly a "self-propelled" model, I felt like I had to go into training in order to vacuum my house. It became something I would put off because I wasn't sure I had the strength to wrestle this bulky beast all over my house.

* The WindTunnel controls which allow you to change the brush height from carpet to floor were manual, hard-to-move levers on the brush housing which required you to shut the machine off in order to properly manipulate them.

* The HEPA filter on my old WindTunnel seemed to work only for the first few months. After that, all manner of airborne particles would fly around as I vacuumed, even after I cleaned/replaced the filters.

* Lastly, noise of my previous WindTunnel was something akin to a jet taking off.

When I saw a TV commercial for the Hoover Platinum series machines, I was definitely intrigued. I loved the idea of getting two separate vacuums together for one price (brilliant marketing idea there, Hoover). But I was skeptical; could the power of a Hoover truly be housed in something that weighs only 11 pounds? I'd tried other lightweight vacuums in the past and their suction was dubious at best.
I made a beeline for the Internet to start researching. Over a couple of days of intensive reading (yes, I'm very thorough), I decided to continue my trust in Hoover and took the plunge. I bought the entire two-machine system online (eBay) for a total price of $379 (no tax and free shipping).

Both machines come packaged together in a single tall box which was waiting for me on my front porch when I got home from work. The first thing I noticed was that I could actually lift the entire box into the house without grunting like a Sumo wrestler... that was promising. After removing everything, I was stunned at the weight ... or lack thereof ... for both machines.

The physical appearance is very appealing; the upright is sleek and slim with a 35' long cord, and the canister has tools-on-board, along with an ingenious shoulder strap so you can "wear it" while you vacuum. You will be stunned by how little these machines weigh ... a child could easily lift them both. But could they clean?

When I fired up the Platinum upright, the word that kept coming out of my mouth was WOW. First off, no more jets taking off in my living room ... just a pleasing HUM. Second, this impossibly lightweight wonder gives a whole new meaning to the term self-propelled. It seemingly FLOATED over my carpeting all on its own, while still having the suck-up-a-Buick power I expected from a Hoover. It cleaned better in one pass than its older U6439 WindTunnel behemoth cousin did in several passes. I was picking up stuff I didn't even know was there. How about making a pass underneath your bed, or behind your dresser that you haven't moved since you moved in 15 years ago? It was astonishing how well this machine worked in just one pass.

I have a rather large, bulky throw rug in my kitchen that I had been preparing to replace because it had become so un-vacuum-able in recent weeks. The Platinum upright made it look brand new. And hallelujah for a TRUE edge cleaner! Everyone claims to have edge cleaning ability on their uprights, but this one truly delivers on the promise. Think about those sneaky areas in your house where all sorts of stuff lingers ... like that dead zone along the baseboards tucked up under the bottom of your kitchen cabinets where they meet the kitchen floor. This Platinum upright sucked up all that debris immediately ... right to the edge.

The maneuverability of the Platinum upright is astonishing. It truly is as light as Hoover claims and it moves as easily as a Dyson. The upright portion of the machine lowers completely parallel to the floor so it really can move under coffee tables with ease. It also moves from carpeting to floors effortlessly with an intelligent, lighted, fingertip control right up there on the handle.

The HEPA filtration is light-years ahead of my previous WindTunnel ... think HEPA with a Hemi under the hood. Yes, I know that bags are expensive, but you can find discounts if you search online and buy in bulk. Plus, I don't mind paying for a product that truly works ... these bags, and this new Platinum HEPA filtration system, truly work. No dust or other airborne nasties were visible anywhere.

The Platinum canister has a carrying strap, which makes so much sense. The maintenance crew who cleans my office building uses strap-on canister vacuums and I always thought that was such an intelligent design ... now, I've got my own. And all the tools are right there attached to the unit, ready and waiting for you. I toted that canister all over the house, cleaning window sills, ceiling corners, air conditioning vents, everything! Then I walked into the garage and started cleaning the inside of my SUV. It's quiet, powerful and incredibly portable ... the best "canister" I've ever used.

In my first test run of this Hoover Platinum "vacuum system," I found myself LOOKING for stuff to clean; I couldn't get enough of it. The Hoover UH30010COM Platinum is, quite simply, the best vacuum PERIOD I've ever owned. I absolutely LOVE this machine ... and to get 2 vacuums - an upright and a canister - for the same price just makes terrific economic sense. It has extraordinary power in a relatively quiet, sleek, lightweight package that doesn't leave me feeling deaf, sore and exhausted. Bravo, Hoover!

Run, don't walk, to get the Hoover UH30010COM Platinum vacuuming system ... you will not be disappointed.

This is the vacuum I have always dreamed of having! 100 Stars!
I would truly give this vacuum 100 stars if I could. Do you know what it is like to receive something that exceeds your expectations 10-fold? This was not an impulsive or inexpensive purchase, but it was worth every cent to have everything I have wished I could have in a vacuum. I have had an Oreck for the last 7 years and knew I could never use a non-lightweight vac again. I was thinking I would "have to" buy another Oreck, then saw a commercial for this Hoover. After doing some research, I ordered one, never thinking it would be THIS good. It says it is a couple pounds heavier than an Oreck, but it feels lighter to me, and handles more easily. It is beautifully constructed, and has an exceptionally long cord. The handle is honestly comfortable to hold, and the vac easy to lift and use on stairs - especially with the special handles. But the AMAZING thing about this vac is it seems to propel itself effortlessly back and forth!!!! The Oreck was difficult to push on my dense, low carpets, but this machine feels like it does the work for you. The controls are conveniently placed, and the two speeds very useful. I have never been so excited over an appliance in my life. The portable canister & attachments it comes with are actaully pretty nice, too, although I didn't buy it for those. I will be telling everyone I know about this vacuum and highly recommend it.

Hoover U6485900 Windtunnel Anniversary Self-Propelled Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Product Description

Windtunnel anniversary self propelled bagged upright with an ergonomic D-grip handle.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #811 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Blue
• Brand: Hoover
• Model: U6485900
• Dimensions: 8.75" h x 16.50" w x 39.70" l, 30.75 pounds

Features

• Bagged upright vacuum cleaner with patented WindTunnel technology
• Self propelled for easy maneuverability; embedded DirtFinder system
• HEPA media bag; stretch hose; on-board tools; pet-hair tool with rotating brushes
• Non-marring wheels; ergonomic D-grip handle; 5-position height adjustment
• Measures 13 by 15 by 43 inches; 3-year limited warranty

Amazon.com Product Description
Equipped with patented WindTunnel technology, this bagged upright vacuum delivers powerful, deep-down cleaning performance. The self-propelled unit offers nearly effortless maneuverability in both forward and reverse, while three distinct air channels lift and trap dirt, keeping it from scattering back into the carpet, so dirt ends up in the cleaner not on the floor. With red and green lights, its embedded DirtFinder system indicates areas that may need more cleaning attention. The green "clean" light remains on while vacuuming except when the detector senses a larger amount of dirt; then the red "dirty" light will illuminate to suggest additional vacuuming in the area until the light changes back to green. The unit also traps 99.97-percent of dust and pollens down to 0.3 microns in size thanks to its HEPA media bag. Even more, it provides a deluxe stretch hose, a complete on-board tool set for above-floor cleaning, and a pet-hair tool with rotating brushes that effectively removes stubborn pet hair and dirt from upholstery and carpeted stairs. Other thoughtful details include non-marring wheels with bearings for lower push effort on carpet and safe use on bare floors, custom cleaning controls for moving from carpet to bare floors with ease, and an ergonomic D-grip handle for added comfort and control. The cleaner also comes with fingertip on/off power control, five-position height adjustment, edge-cleaning bristles, a headlight, and a 31-foot power cord. The vacuum cleaner measures 13 by 15 by 43 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

LOVE this vacuum!
I purchased this vacuum from Amazon after I had just gotten a Bissell Momentum. I thought I would like the Bissell because it was bagless, but I soon discovered what a mess it would make every time I had to empty the canister. I finally got tired of getting fine particles of dirt all over the place and decided to go back to a bagged vacuum. I chose this vacuum based on the Consumer Reports review. I did about 3 weeks worth of research prior to deciding on this particular model. I also looked at the other two Hoovers (bagged models) recommended by Consumer Reports -- the Tempo Widepath U5140-900 and the cheaper WindTunnel Anniversary U5491-900. I came very close to getting the cheaper WindTunnel when I downloaded the user's manual from Hoover and discovered the placement of the hose relative to the cord hooks. It appears as though the cord has to be wound from a high point on the handle of the vacuum to a low point at the base of the vacuum at a diagonal angle. Additionally, the cord is situated so that it crosses over the hose, which looked like an entanglement problem waiting to happen. And I did recall another reviewer having this same problem and also mentioning the awkward placement of the tools on the back of the vacuum. So, I decided to take a look at the Tempo, which has hundreds of awesome reviews. I almost went with it, except for the fact that it lacked some of the features I wanted, like a bag-full indicator light, edge cleaning, and non-marring wheels. I also discovered that the Tempo appears to be a discontinued model which even Hoover is selling at a discounted price. I didn't want to risk the potential for needing a part that might not be manufactured anymore. So I decided to go with the U6485-900 model and here is what I've found:

PROS: The hose is placed at the side of the vacuum, so there's no struggling with trying to get it back in place after removing it for cleaning;

The power cord hooks are situated in the back of the vacuum at a reasonable distance from each other, so you don't have to bend down really low to wrap the cord;

The power cord and the hose are distinctly separated from each other, so there are no entanglement issues;

The cleaning tools are perfectly placed so that they're easy to get to and do not interfere with the power cord or hose;

When the vacuum is on and locked in an upright position, the brush roll automatically stops rotating. This is such a handy feature because I'll often leave the vacuum running and propped up to go retrieve something in another room, or to use the tools to vacuum something up high. This prevents the brush roll from needlessly rotating and damaging the carpet;

The self-propel feature is awesome! I didn't purchase the vacuum for this particular feature, but I have found that I really like it! It can be turned on or off, and it feels as though the vacuum is 10 lbs. lighter when pushing it forward or pulling it backwards;

The bag-full indicator light takes the guessing out of when to change the bag. I was also surprised at the high quality of the bag -- it almost feels like thick cloth;

The vacuum came entirely assembled with the exception of the handle, which just required two screws. All of the accessory parts and bag/filters were installed, so there was no guesswork about where the cleaning tools are supposed to be stored;

Lastly, it performs fantastically! The suction power is great and the brush roll spins so fast, that I had to look twice to see if it was even moving (there's a small clear window where you can actually see the brush roll).

CONS: The way it was shipped was not typical of Amazon. There was a big gash in the side of the box and I was concerned that something could have been damaged in the shipping process. However, as long as it works, I could care less about the appearance of the box;

The self-propel feature is a little jerky. It could be that I'm not used to it yet, but it seemed to suddenly jerk backwards as you're pulling the vacuum toward your body;

This vacuum is a little heavier than I would prefer, approximately 21 lbs. However, the self-propel feature seems to negate the weight while vacuuming and you can always remove some of the onboard tools;

The hose is indeed short. I noticed that other reviewers had mentioned the same thing, but I didn't pay much attention to it, since it appears that an extension hose is available for purchase. But it does seem shorter than most other upright vacuums.

Overall, this is a great vacuum. I had done several weeks of research prior to settling on this vacuum, particularly with regards to finding a good price. I looked at all of the online retailers and only found 1 that was selling it for $10 cheaper than Amazon. However, when you tack on the cost of sales tax and shipping, it was actually cheaper to purchase this vacuum through Amazon. And Amazon has always been really great about returns, so I didn't hesitate on purchasing this product through them. You can always return it if it's not what you wanted. But I have been very satisfied with it and would purchase it again. I will post a future update should anything unexpected occur with this vacuum, though I have been very pleased with it so far. Just a word of caution -- I have seen a couple of reviewers on Amazon that have posted the same negative review for multiple Hoover products. In one instance, someone had posted the same critical review for 11 different Hoover vacuums. Don't get discouraged by this; do your own research and you should be able to determine the phony reviews from the valid reviews.

Nice vacuum!
Bought this vacuum to replace two Dirt Devils that seemed to always be in the repair shop. So, after taking them to the repair shop, I saw this vacuum for sale. The vacuum repairman said this was an excellent model. I was doubtful as he's a salesman. But, he did have Miele, Rainbow, Dyson and all other common models on the floor but recommended this one and it was priced at $169 - much lower than most others! So, I brought it home on a 3-day tryout and am very happy with it! We have three sons under the age of 8, so the amount of dropped food, papers, etc on our carpet is astounding. And, the main great room carpet is dark green (to be changed at some point in the near future) and our MBR carpet is a light cream color. So, ANYTHING laying on the carpet shows and looks awful. This Hoover pulled everything up with one sweep! I continued to vacuum as I was interested to see if the red "dirt detector" light would ever go green. It didn't even after many, many sweeps across the carpet. So, not sure if my carpet is just nasty or the light is unreliable. Either way, the carpet looked great. It works great on upholstery, stairs(w/ the hose) and mostly everything else. NOt so good on bare floors but most uprights can't handle that anyway. I had looked at Dyson and just couldn't bring myself to pay $500 for a vacuum. I have no regrets!
This vacuum gets it done!

Hoover S3765-040 WindTunnel Electronic Bagless Canister Vacuum

Product Description

WindTunnel Technology uses computer designed air ducts to provide a powerful dual air stream to enhance dirt pick up capabilities. The WindTunnel design also reduces the scattering of debris, common to many ordinary canisters. The WindTunnel Bagless Power Nozzle Canister with Electronic finger-touch variable speed control, remote fingertip power on/off and remote fingertip brush roll on/off, picks up more dirt than any other canister...period!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #122 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Champagne Gold
• Brand: Hoover
• Model: S3765-040
• Released on: 2003-03-17
• Dimensions: 13.50" h x 15.70" w x 28.10" l, 29.50 pounds

Features

• Bagless cansister vacuum with WindTunnel technology
• 15 Power Nozzle styling has a low profile design for cleaning tough-to-get-at places
• Deluxe Pump Handle design allows for near effortless control and operation
• Finger-Touch Variable Speed Control provides flexibility in varying suction
• Includes HEPA filter and 1-year warranty

Amazon.com Review
Hoover’s latest canister stands out for its design-savvy looks, not to mention the fact that it cleans with powerful WindTunnel technology. Dirt particles are cleverly ducted away from the spinning agitators to ensure they’re captured in the bagless dirt cup and not sent back out onto the carpet. The HEPA filter traps minute allergen particles and conveniently removes for cleaning. Large, soft wheels allow the compact 12-amp vacuum--which looks like it could play a robot extra in Star Wars--to maneuver easily. Best of all, the handgrip features electronic control buttons for power on and off, variable suction (allowing smooth transition from wood floors to area rugs), and agitator action speed for carpets. Tools are easily attached to the telescoping wand, making it a snap to switch from cleaning floors to using drape and upholstery tools. A one-year warranty covers this unique vacuum against defects.

Customer Reviews

A Super Sucker with ony minor drawbacks
I have never done a review of an item before but but I spent so much time researching this vacuum cleaner purchase that I decided to. The other reviews were very helpful so I wanted to give something back. Please understand this review covers the machines ergonomics and functional aspects. Since the machine is new in our home I can not address how well the vacuum will perform after extended periods. First let me say that this purchase came after a lot of research. I compared most brands on the market and and narrowed the field to the hoover and the Dyson. After a trip to the local store I ruled out the Dyson due to its cumbersome design, high price and the series of steps necessary to use the wand and accessories. What a pain!. In addition the beater brush area is very high on Dyson the and would be very difficult to get under furniture and cabinets. Now that said, let it be know that my wife if a vacaholic. The vacuum runs every day in this house. For the last several years we have used a $400 Panasonic machine and we thought it was doing a good job. We were wrong! A first cleaning with this new hoover has returned several cups of dust and dirt from EACH room!!. Really!.This hoover finds dirt that the Panasonic didn't know existed!. The beater bar is very aggressive it will actually pull the head along if you don't restrain it. At this point I think I will just list the pros and cons as that is easier for the reader. The Pros far out weigh the cons on this machine and I think with a few simple changes hover will have the ultimate machine in this line. We are very pleased.

Pros:
-Incredible suction and very aggressive beater bar.
-Excellent design with a all the controls at your fingers.
-Easy and quick access to wand and tools.
-Automatic cord recoil
-hand held suction powered beater brush
-No bags
-Ease of use
-Nice flexible hose
-convinient handle for carry.
-easy to empty dust bin
-Nice looking machine
-Good value for the price.

Cons:
-Not all the tools store on the unit.
-No electronic dirt sensor.
-brush and wand attachments are small are poorly designed.
-Brush has very short stiff bristle that not serve well on blinds, ceiling fans. etc
-The cord is bit stiff and doesn't seem to match the quality of the rest of the vacuum.
-Dust bin has to be emptied some what frequently.

Cleans like a mini-tornado
This vacuum cleaner looks a tad like an offshoot of Artoo-Detoo, but it gets the job done in a jiffy. I put it together fairly easily, plugged it in, hit the button and took it for a test-drive. It cleaned my wall-to-wall carpeting in no time at all and left it looking like new. There's a foot pedal to wind the cord, and the cord is 22 feet long so that one plug-in should take care of a good-size room. And the best thing is there is no yucky bag to change (the worst thing about regular vacuum cleaners). The plastic dirt container needs emptying every three or four weeks (I vacuum three rooms of wall-to-wall carpeting once a week) but it couldn't be simpler -- push the release button, lift the container out, dump the dirt into the garbage can, rinse out the container, dry it and pop it back in. There are a several attachments to clean the stairs, the blinds, and the furniture that work well. This is a great mid-price canister vac that is a good value for the money.

Hoover S2220 Flair Bagless Upright Stick Vacuum with Power Nozzle

Product Description

Lightweight, maneuverable, free standing stick vacuum with power nozzle. With its sleek European styling, complimented by a premium painted high gloss finish, the Flair Free Standing Stick Cleaner with Power Nozzle from Hoover is the new standard for lightweight, maneuverable cleaning.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #57 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Metallic Red
• Brand: Hoover
• Model: S2220
• Dimensions: 7.68" h x 9.65" w x 28.27" l, 10.10 pounds

Features

• Lightweight, maneuverable, upright stick vacuum with 7-2/5 amp motor
• Power nozzle with additional motor for effective carpet and rug cleaning
• Washable, transparent, EZ Empty dirt cup; multi-stage filtration system
• 20-foot power cord with wrap hooks; large rear wheels; swivel floor nozzle
• Measures approximately 45-1/2 by 9 inches; full 1-year warranty

Customer Reviews

Love this little vac!
This is a fantastic little vac. It isn't as loud as my last stick vac and it doesn't scratch my wood floors. The first day I bought it I really put it through the paces. I was impressed with how well it cleans floors, carpets and rugs with fringe. I love the fact that you can turn off the roller to do the fringed rugs and floors. It picked up popcorn and screws easily. Sand and gravel from the kids shoes, no problem. After a rain, the floor got a little muddy from all the kids going in and out so I just turned on the brush and VOILA, the dried mud went right up.
It really does stand on it's own, even on a soft cushy carpet.
The only changes left to make is to lengthen the cord a bit and put a small pull-out nozzle high up on the side so I can use it for practically everything, such as dusting windowsills. I won't let my wish list ruin the review though. 5 stars for the best little vac I've had yet.

The guy review of a bagless vacuum-UPDATE
I went out looking for a small vacuum WITH a bag, trying to avoid the bagless (didn't want to deal with the dust), but changed my mind when I found this one.

Excellent and no-nonsense. I can whip this baby out and have it running in 3 seconds. This thing is great for quick clean ups, like the kitchen, although I have used it for a complete downstairs vacuuming

Good points: two modes--carpet and floor. Works both surfaces great. The carpet-mode simply powers up the power head roller.

The low-profile, swivel head means I can get under everything, everywhere, even couches, which means less furniture to move.
Quick-release power cord hook, so I'm not spending five minutes unraveling the reasonably-long cord.

See-thru "unbag" so you know when it's getting full.

It is small enough to store anywhere, even has a hole in the top of the handle to hang in a closet.

Bad points: I'm thinking hard on this one. OK, the power switch is too low (see the picture). It is also bagless, which I found is actually GOOD point as it keeps this vacuum light and small. The "bag" is very easy to pull out and empty. With no bags to buy, the price makes this an excellent choice.

It's also great for chasing cats around the house.

UPDATE: The handle needs some kind of rubber coating to prevent it from falling when leaned against a wall or counter; managed to break the lower cord catch due to repeated falls. Naturally, I immediately bought another (from Amazon, of course).

Hoover U5786900 Windtunnel Anniversary Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Product Description

Windtunnel anniversary bagless upright with an ergonomic D-grip handle.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #155 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Hoover
• Model: U5786900
• Dimensions: 10.25" h x 16.50" w x 39.50" l, 26.00 pounds

Features

• Bagless upright vacuum cleaner with patented WindTunnel technology
• Embedded DirtFinder system; HEPA filter; bottom-empty dirt container
• Deluxe stretch hose; on-board tool set; pet-hair tool for cleaning upholstery
• Non-marring wheels; ergonomic D-grip handle; 5-position height adjustment
• Measures 13 by 15 by 45 inches; 3-year limited warranty

Amazon.com Product Description
Equipped with patented WindTunnel technology, this bagless upright vacuum delivers powerful, deep-down cleaning performance. It uses three distinct air channels to lift and trap dirt, keeping it from scattering back into the carpet, so dirt ends up in the cleaner not on the floor. With red and green lights, its embedded DirtFinder system indicates areas that may need more cleaning attention. The green "clean" light remains on while vacuuming except when the detector senses a larger amount of dirt; then the red "dirty" light will illuminate to suggest additional vacuuming in the area until the light changes back to green. The unit also traps 99.97-percent of dust and pollens down to 0.3 microns in size thanks to its HEPA filter. Even more, it provides a deluxe stretch hose, a complete on-board tool set for above-floor cleaning, and a pet-hair tool with rotating brushes that effectively removes stubborn pet hair and dirt from upholstery and carpeted stairs. Other thoughtful details include non-marring wheels with bearings for lower push effort on carpet and safe use on bare floors, an ergonomic D-grip handle for added comfort and control, and a bottom-empty dirt container that helps keep hands clean. The unit also comes with fingertip on/off power control, five-position height adjustment, edge-cleaning bristles, and a no-touch filter-cleaning system for enhanced performance, as well as a headlight and a 31-foot power cord. The vacuum cleaner measures 13 by 15 by 45 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

Outstanding vacuum, outstanding value
I highly recommend this vacuum. I received it two weeks ago after purchasing on Amazon and it is hands down the most superior vacuum I have ever owned, and definitely outperforms other vacuums I have paid a lot more for.

I always shop the field and do fairly extensive research for all consumer purchases. We consulted Consumer Reports and this model ranked fairly high in overall performance yet had a reasonable price tag. We have about 1800 square feet of carpet, most of it medium-pile. We have one australian shepard, three manx cats, and a two-year-old child, so pet hair and dander pick-up were important to us, as well as filtering.

This model comes in a bagged version, the bagless version (the one I bought), and a bagless self-propelled version. I found the bagged version in some local stores, but I am not interested in a bagged vacuum. My local Costco carried the self-propelled version, but it was very very heavy and besides I just don't understand why the self-propelled feature even exists.

This vacuum is very quiet for it's power. It has exceedingly powerful suction. The dirt sensor has two modes - normal and sensitive. The sensitive setting is truly microscopically sensitive. The vacuum is relatively light weight for its size. Either way, this feature works and it is helpful in high-traffic areas.

Best Feature #1: The canister is almost "self-cleaning". You have to see it to understand, but there are two chambers...the first chamber contains the primary filter, and then all the medium and course particulate and hair and whatnot fill the second chamber. To empty, you just drop the bottom like most canisters, but the difference is that there is nothing in the second chamber for the course matter to get caught up on so it just empties right out without your having to fuss with it, and then the filter (this is genius) rotates via an exterior handle that unfolds from the canister. You spin the filter, and it spins against a plastic tab inside the canister, causing all the fine particulate to just drop out the bottom. When you are done you canister is almost brand new again, and you are dust-free and NOT breathing a bunch of crap!

Best Feature #2: I don't know how this is happening, but this vacuum rolls so easily it FEELS like it is self-propelled. Only it's not. I think it must have exceedingly high quality wheels.

Our house smells better after running this vacuum. We breath easier. This vacuum is so good I would by it new every six months if I had to. We paid about $180 with shipping, an absolute bargain given its performance and features. Oh yeah, the detachable pet hair attachment actually works!

Great suction and Price!!
Prior to purchasing my new Hoover, I read a lot of reviews on all the leading vacuums, i.e, Dyson, Hoover, Oreck, etc. And for the price and powerful suction, I went with the Hoover. Owned a Oreck previously becasue I wanted something that was more light weight to manuever, but it just didn't have the suction power, especially with pet hair.
My only complaint about the Hoover is emptying the canister, which is messy. But, knowing and seeing what it picked up makes me feel confident that it works!!

wow!
I went and got this vacuum from bi-mart today to clean out the germs, dust, and other filth that has been getting me and my room mates sick all winter. I ran it through my living room once and it sucked up a dust ball the size of my cat. I don't know how I ever lived without this vacuum cleaner.

Hoover U5491900 Windtunnel Anniversary Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Product Description

Windtunnel anniversary bagged upright with an ergonomic D-grip handle.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #429 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Blue
• Brand: Hoover
• Model: U5491900
• Dimensions: 9.75" h x 17.00" w x 33.00" l, 22.00 pounds

Features

• Bagged upright vacuum cleaner with patented WindTunnel technology
• Embedded DirtFinder system indicates clean and dirty areas
• HEPA media bag; non-marring wheels; D-grip handle; bag-check indicator
• 5-position height adjustment; deluxe stretch hose; on-board tool set
• Measures 13 by 15 by 43 inches; 3-year limited warranty

Amazon.com Product Description
Equipped with a 12 amp motor and patented WindTunnel technology, this bagged upright vacuum delivers powerful, deep-down cleaning performance. It uses three distinct air channels to lift and trap dirt, keeping it from scattering back into the carpet, so dirt ends up in the cleaner not on the floor. With red and green lights, its embedded DirtFinder system indicates areas that may need more cleaning attention. The green "clean" light remains on while vacuuming except when the detector senses a larger amount of dirt; then the red "dirty" light will illuminate to suggest additional vacuuming in the area until the light changes back to green. The unit also traps 99.97-percent of dust and pollens down to 0.3 microns in size thanks to its HEPA media bag. Other thoughtful details include non-marring wheels with bearings for lower push effort on carpet and safe use on bare floors, an ergonomic D-grip handle for added comfort and control, and a bag-check indicator so there's no need to guess when the bag needs changing. The cleaner also comes with fingertip on/off power control, five-position height adjustment, edge-cleaning bristles, and a headlight, as well as a deluxe stretch hose, a complete on-board tool set for above-floor cleaning, and a 31-foot power cord. The vacuum cleaner measures 13 by 15 by 43 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

Great Vacuum for the Price
Shopped for a replacement for my ancient Hoover Self-propelled vacuum
This one has a number of great features I was looking for:

Easy to carry; It has handholds at the top and the bottom of the handle that make it easy to carry from room to room, as well as helping to vacuum stairs

Easy to use tools: The tools are stored at the top, and the access door flips down and away from you, allowing easy access. The hose is short, but allows me to easily snap on an attachment for cleaning off the furniture, and carpet edges. A longer hose is available as an option. I have not tried it.

Good suction thru the hose and at the powerhead.

Effective cleaning; the dirt finder light does seem to work. It stays red until is senses no particles are being pulled up.

Light weight; at least 5 lbs lighter than the self propelled version. Much easier to carry up and down the steps.
Simpler construction should last much longer than the self-propelled mechanism, too.

Easy assembly; took a whole 5 minutes.

Noise; not the quietest, but not as loud as my old Hoover

Bagged; I tried a bagless unit once... what a mess every time you have to dump the dust can. This one comes with a hepa material replaceable bag. Fill it up, dump the whole thing. No muss, no fuss...

All said, a great unit for a great price.

Love my Hoover!
I was still using my Decade 80 Upright Hoover (28 years now) and decided to buy a new Hoover. I am very pleased that I like this new one as much as I did my old one. I shopped around everywhere and could not beat the price on Amazon and then the free shipping. The only complaint I would have is the short attachment hose. My old Hoover still works but has been retired to the basement. Very happy with my Hoover!

satisfied
Cleaning staff find the Hoover vacuum easy to manage and light weight. Suction capability is very good. So far we are happy.

Hoover 5507-900 Elite Auto-Rewind Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Product Description

The Hoover Elite Rewind Bagless upright comes fully featured with a powerful 12 AMP Motor for excellent cleaning performance. A cord reel with a 24 foot cord makes cord management easy. It automatically rewinds with a push of a button for quick effortless storage. The bottom dump dirt cup with lid allows the user to never touch the dirt when dumping the contents. A wide 14.5 inch cleaning path for faster cleaning of your carpet. Comes with a lifetime Hepa Filter. Never need to buy or replace filters, ever.Also, the Air Flow indicator alerts the user to clean the filter to maintain peak performance.The deluxe stretch Hose with a full complement of tools including a Powered Pet Hair Cleaning Tool gives the user over 10 feet of reach.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Hoover
• Model: U5507900
• Dimensions: 22.30 pounds

Features

• Bagless upright vacuum cleaner with powerful 12 amp motor
• 14-1/2-inch-wide cleaning path; 7 height settings; air-flow indicator; HEPA filter
• Headlight; 24-foot auto-rewind cord; stretch hose for extended reach
• Crevice wand, dusting brush/upholstery tool, and pet-hair tool included
• Measures 13 by 15 by 44 inches; 1-year warranty

Amazon.com Product Description
Equipped with a powerful 12 amp motor, this bagless upright vacuum cleaner takes the hassle out of cleaning carpets, bare floors, stairs, and more. The unit features a 14-1/2-inch-wide cleaning path and seven height adjustments to meet the needs of different floor types. It also provides an air-flow indicator to signal when the dust cup needs emptying and the filter needs cleaning in order to maintain peak performance. The E-Z Empty dirt cup empties from the bottom, keeping hands away from the dirt, and the lifetime HEPA air filter means no filters to replace, ever. For convenient above-floor cleaning, the vacuum comes with a deluxe stretch hose and a full assortment of tools to provide over 9 feet of extended reach. On-board tools include a long crevice wand, a combination dusting brush and upholstery tool, and a pet-hair cleaning tool that removes pet hair and dirt from stairs and upholstery. Other thoughtful details include a brilliant headlight to illuminate the cleaning path, a deluxe furniture guard that protects baseboards and furniture from bumps and dents, and a 24-foot retractable cord that rewinds automatically at the push of a button. The vacuum cleaner measures 13 by 15 by 44 inches and carries a one-year warranty.

Customer Reviews

we don't need no stinking wands!
This vacuum is great. yes, the rewind feature is awesome but also the sheer sucking power of this vac will have you wonder why you ever sat on your carpet without cleaning it with this sucker fist.

Great features:
clear canister so all the dirt-a-phobes can see all the filth they are sucking up
canister has a thumb release so your hands don't have to get near the dust
super easy assebly
on off power switch at the base of the vac so you can turn it on with a toe
lightweight for a strong vac
snappy red color
no bags and a lifetime hepa filter(easy to wash)
3 levels of adjustment for bare floors, burbers and longer thick carpets

Oh yeah and it doesn't cost a lot and you do get an attachment for pet hair that works great on just about anything..lampshades etc.

Update: 2009 and I still have mine going strong despite a nicked cord (my fault) and babysitting the hairiest dog on the planet. The giant hair balls clogged the intake hose but I just had to detach it and take the garden hose and blast out the clog. New rule to live by: Don't let a dog into your house who's coat is in the "blow" stage.

So far it's great
I researched tons of vacuums before purchasing this one. I wanted the best I could get for around $100. This is the first time I've owned a bagless vacuum and I was a bit concerned that it would be messy to empty it. Turns out not to be a problem. Everything detaches easily. If you were to open it over the garbage and shake it out, then some of the dust will fly around cause of the shaking. I just set it in a plastic bag, open, and lift it up and everything comes out mess free in the bag. The automatic cord rewind thing was not a selling point for me when I purchased it, but now I don't ever want to own a vacuum without it - it's so convenient. I gave it four stars only because it is a little bit heavy, but not too much to be a problem for me.

Superb Performance
Having two different Eureka Optima's break within a six month period, I figured it was a sign to maybe try a different make and model. Then I saw this Hoover and figured I'd give it a try. I'll admit I was a little unsure at first because it was a little too big, especially for my apartment. But wow, was I surprised by it's performance and features. Setup was a breeze, took five minutes and a phillips screwdriver. The retractable cord is an awesome feature, but by far my favorite feature has to be how you release the dust cup. It's just common sense, but took forever for someone to realize "Hmmm, let's make it easy and prevent dirt going everywhere by having the cup release from the BOTTOM!" And you can do so one handed, with the flick of your thumb. Storage is the same as my old Optima, it's just a little taller, but I can tell this badboy is going to be around for a long long time. Five stars all the ways!