After our picks, keep reading to learn more details about how we test, what to look for when shopping for a stick vacuum and why you should trust our reviews. And if you’re looking for more vacuums and floor cleaners, consult our round-ups of the best vacuum cleaners on Walmart, the best mops for cleaning any floor and the best vacuum cleaners for hardwood floors. In contrast to our pick from Dyson, this Ryobi model has a headlight on its single cleaner head, with shark pet vacuum a plush roll in the front for bare floors and a stiff-bristled brush in the back for rugs. Unlike with the V12 Detect Slim, you don’t have to swap between cleaner heads to optimize this vacuum’s cleaning performance. In our tests, it was equally effective at picking up Cheerios on slippery tiles and pet fur on a medium-pile rug. It uses an a1900 mAh battery, rather than the higher-capacity 2450 mAh unit used in pricier models like the Shark Stratos Cordless.
With its powerful battery and sealed HEPA system, the Dyson Humdinger operates more like the top half of a Dyson stick vacuum than a traditional handheld vacuum. While we haven’t tested this specific model, we’ve tested Dyson’s previous Car & Boat handheld vacuum along with enough Dyson stick vacuums to know how well they clean and how easy they are to use and maintain. Great suction along with its innovative hair-grabbing tool make it especially effective at removing pet hair from upholstery and other fabrics, though its overall size and shape may make maneuvering into tight spaces tricky. At their best, cordless stick vacuums are versatile, shape-shifting creatures that transform into different configurations with the help of useful attachments. Most cordless models are lithe and comfortable to use, even in cramped spaces or on stairs.
An LCD screen displays the run-time countdown to the second, as well as the power mode and maintenance alerts. Dyson’s de-tangling Motorbar™ cleaner head deep cleans carpets and hard floors with hair removal vanes that clear long hair and pet hair from the brush bar as you clean. The innovative Hair screw tool with a conical brush bar is perfect for cleaning upholstery and pet beds.
In order to assess overall performance, we opted to test a handful of different debris. These include cornflakes, glitter and real human hair (yes—really!). We tested each on tile, high- and low-pile carpet (aside from hair, which was only tested on carpet).
A corded vacuum offers an unlimited run time and is a good choice for whole-house cleaning. Pay attention to the length of the cord to minimize how often you’ll need to stop and switch outlets, though. For context, our best overall pick, the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum, has a 25-foot cord, and our best upright, the Shark AZ1002 Apex Powered Lift-Away Upright shark handheld vacuum Vacuum, has a 30-foot cord. The Shark AZ1002 Apex not only performs well as a traditional upright vacuum, but has the lift-away canister of one of our other favorite picks (best overall) so you can convert it to other modes in seconds. This versatility means that I’m never more than a few clicks away from a canister-style mode (my personal favorite for stairs), or a handheld mode.