What machines have given you good experiences?

Can something decent be had for about $300?

They don't seem to last very long around my house, so I'm not convinced a bucks-deluxe machine would fare any better than an economy model.

What are your thoughts on these machines?

Thank you all for your insights.

Dyson, hands down winner, we have the Dyson Ball, large upright, and a Dyson Animal Handheld and truth be told the handheld gets 90% of the action.

It's powerful, light, lots of attachments.

You can get them at Costco brand new for a decent price, or on Woot they come up all the time.

The Handheld sold out $210 each, but the Ball model is there refurbished for $200. I've bought the refurb before and it works well, no issues,

BTW if you have dogs then I'd highly suggest a robotic vacuum, They have several there, you'd have to find the one you like but they get into the hard to reach places under furniture and do the work well picking up pet hair and lint, it's a great combination to use with a Handheld model.

Like I said we rarely get the big Dyson out anymore, but we are 100% hardwood with area rugs...

Link Woot Vacuums

Had Orecks for years, light, powerful, long lasting, and can be serviced/maintained if you have an Oreck location near you. Good stuff.

HK Ag

Extremely pleased with Shark purchased at Costco.

I've been using a Shark Vertex battery-powered upright for several years and have been quite happy with it. It came with two batteries so you can have one topped off and ready to go when the other one dies. It's very easy to maneuver around and folds over for storage. Easy to empty and clean.

We have the Dyson and Sharks

We prefer the Sharks. With three long haired ladies in the house I have to clean the brush every couple of months though

My Shark from 2008 or so is still dutifully cleaning up after me, my wife, and our 5 furballs. I don't have much experience with anything else because that's the first real vacuum I ever owned, and it still works great today. I've never found myself wanting more vacuum.

My wife loves, loves the Dyson V8 Animal. At our rental house I bought her a V10, even better. She has two Miele canisters, they hardly get used since we have the Dyson stick vac.

They all suck.

Our Miele was $900 15 years ago. Haven’t needed to replace it yet.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
My wife loves, loves the Dyson V8 Animal. At our rental house I bought her a V10, even better.

Agree 100% with Doc - Dyson V10 when $100 off at Costco.

I have a Dyson ball and it's been great for many years.

Had a Dyson Ball Animal, the top of their line for about three years when a plastic housing part broke, couldn't buy a new part or even get Dyson to repair it, "discontinued model" they said. The guy at the repair shop offered to "dispose" of it for us, didn't even bother to try to conceal the lie, it was obvious they were going to refurb. and resell it, in fact they had the identical model exhibited on their display floor with a "factory-refreshed, like new" sticker on it. Based on their deceptive business practices, I will never consider Dyson again.

Replaced it last month with a Shark upright/canister/hand-held. They have a clever design where the power unit easily detaches from the chassis (multiple chassis types) and can be used as a hand-held stairway, closet, workbench, etc. vac. Half the weight/price of the Dyson, and much better suction. I especially like that there is no "vacuum smell" while using it, something that seems to suggest that the filters work well, and you are not just spreading the micro-particles around.

Oreck upright coupled with Oreck XL canister. Mine are 20 years old and still going strong. If they crapped out, I would buy them again. I take them apart and blow them out with a compressor every other year or so and change the belts maybe once a year or year and a half.

More than $300, but we're happy with our Miele also.

Have a Dyson as well. Nothing picks up pet hair better, but damn this thing is really picky about how it goes together. If not done just so the beater bar stops working. Haven't figured out what the trick is yet.

Shark, many promotions buying direct.

Another vote for Shark. I have never bought their top of the line or newest model and have still been impressed.

Thanks everyone. I'll run these by the one who'll be the primary abuser.

Shark does well.

Shark.....