Are bagless uprights any good?

[BWVDenise]

Since search has been disabled, I couldn't see if this has been a recent topic or not. I need a new vacuum. I could read the reviews on amazon.com all day but there is always somebody who doesn't like something for some reason!
I don't know if I should look at the bagless or not. Some of them seem to be difficult to empty. I need the Hepa filter b/c of ds's asthma.
Any suggestions?

 

[caitycaity]

we have a hoover bagless upright with hepa filter (not sure of the exact name off the top of my head). it seems to work well for us.

 

[RUDisney]

We kill vacuums pretty quick with 2 pugs that leave their body weight in hair around the house pretty much daily. We have had great luck with our Hoover Windtunnel bagless. It has lasted longer than the others, is easy to unload, and has good sucking power. Now, I've probably jinxed myself in praising that vacuum.

 

[Michelle]

Consumer Reports says the bagless ones are NOT as good as the vacuums with bags; I'm in the market for a new vacuum myself. I don't know that there is a huge difference but they definitely say:

Be wary of bagless vacs. Models that trade a bag for a bin are growing in sales. Instead of replacing bags, you empty plastic bins. But that multistep operation can release enough dust to warrant your using a dust mask. That can be especially disconcerting on vacuums with HEPA filters, which are aimed at dust-conscious consumers. And because bagless vacs tend to hold less than models with bags, you’ll have to empty them more often.

 

[BWVDenise]

Hmmm... thanks, Michelle. My dh was wondering about the dust-factor when emptying the container. I guess not having to buy bags has a trade-off! (Doesn't everything?)

 

[TerriP]

We have a Hoover Windtunnel and I LOVE it!! It's the best vac. I've ever used. We have a yellow Labrador and a Beagle and they shed more than I could have ever imagined. We bought the bagless because I was buying bags *every* week for our old vac and it was dying a very quick death due to all the fur.

We've had this vac for two years and it's still going strong. It has better suction than our old one BY FAR. I empty our containter typically three times when cleaning our whole house (1400 square feet). I have never had much dust fly about when emptying it...I do clean the filter with our air pressure thingy every week though, just to keep it clean. That does seem to help with the dust...

 

[RUDisney]

Hmm, that's interesting, Michelle. I never considered the dust factor myself, as I'm not allergic. I like being able to see when the canister is full. With the bags, I know that I was always using them to the max, and they aren't too easy to change, either. Like I said, with my 2 pugs, it could run into alot of money for the bags.

This is our second bagless. The first was by Eureka and lasted all of about a year to 15 months.

 

[Wendy]

I have a bagless upright with the HEPA filter. I find it much easier to empty the canister than change the bag on my old vacuum. Plus, I can see it so it doesn't get overfilled. I would always forget to change the bag on our old one or forget to buy new ones. I don't think I'll ever buy another vacuum that requires a bag.

It did take a while for me to figure out how to empty it without stirring up a lot of dust, but I have my technique down now. I take the canister, put it inside a plastic trash bag, hold the top of the bag closed, and dump it out with the whole canister enclosed in the bag. Sounds weird, I know, but it does keep the dust from flying up when I dump it.

 

[BWVDenise]

Does anybody have a Fantom Twister? I saw it on HSN and it says that the "sealed dust canister provides more hygienic emptying..." I'm wondering how that works?

 

[Saffron]

I love ours! It works like a dream and it's very light weight! I also like the fact that I can see the container and empty it before it gets full. I love it! Ours is a Hoover.

 

[Cricket2]

1 word:

Shop-Vac

 

[Cricket2]

...or is that 2 words?

Whatever!

JC

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I have a Fantom vacuum and I love it! I have the Fury which, I think, was the medium size one when I bought it. I love having the hose in the handle! So convenient.

I bought mine at Kohl's on sale. I don't know if they carry them any more though.

Someone on this board told me they dicontinued making Fantoms. I guess not!

 

[faith]

My Mom's bagless is very heavy and hard to move . I don't live close by, so with her bad back she has to have someone else run it for her. If you buy one, give it a "test run" at the store if possible.