Hoover - WindTunnel T-Series Tempo Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner UH30301

That depends. If the machine in question must be as it was then I would bring back the Hoover tempo uprights they were a basic windtunnel. They were a great value for the price and these days I don't really see any particularly good budget bagged machines.  If the machine can be modified. The dirt devil ultra MVP upright. They have the most airflow of any bypass upright I've measured. But their weakness was the belt or brush roll motor. It just doesn't strong enough to handle the massive power and would cause the brush roll to stall. With a better setup they really could have been amazing.

I trust vacuum recommendations on the internet (and Reddit) as much as I do mattress recommendations. The Carpet and Rug Institute, whose board includes members from companies like Shaw and Mohawk who manufacture carpet (https://carpet-rug.org/about-us/board-of-directors/), maintains a certified list of vacuums (https://carpet-rug.org/soa-vacuums/). You can filter by residential and commercial. Of course there are good vacuums that aren't certified. I have no affiliation with them but do happen to own a bagged Hoover WindTunnel (2006), two Riccar uprights (\~2017, one was a gift), and a Sebo canister vac. I can get the Riccar and Sebo serviced nearby and I stock some spare parts, for example the Riccar brush roll has replaceable brush strips.

Co-sign. We got a Hoover in 2010 (I think it's a bagged WindTunnel) and it's still goin' strong. Vacuum shops will service them and give them tune-ups. When we took ours in to be serviced (it was something really minor), the guy literally said, "They don't make them like this anymore" and that this would outlast all the sharks and dysons etc. they are selling these days.

(Cat tax so you know what I'm fighting against) https://i.imgur.com/63nMIQd.png I know everyone loves stick vacs, so I can say the RYOBI Advanced Stick Vacuum is my favorite with an excellent dual-brush system, great suction and filtering, and it uses the RYOBI One+ battery system that their tools use so spare batteries are plentiful and relatively inexpensive compared to other non-tool battery systems. https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/33287218516 BUT!!! Not even my RYOBI can beat the pure furbusting power of my 22-year old Hoover Windtunnel Cyclonic. No stick vacuum can TRULY compete with a GOOD fullsize vacuuming job by a machine that has enough weight and force to properly agitate the carpet fibers and break loose dirt and hair. Plus they have MUCH larger capacity for hair and dirt storage, which you emphasized.

I got the Hoover wind tunnel from advice on this sub. Cost me $250. Works great for my old shag carpet.

I have 2 Hoover Windtunnels. Work great very old. I have 3 working Shark Robot vacs. Oldest is 12 yrs old. Still using all 3 on each level of house.

We have hard surfaces on 1st & 2nd floors, Our Dyson stick V8 & V10 (one per floor, oldest is like 8 years?) is great for those; but I'd never rely on it for carpets. For that I have a 25 year old Hoover Windyunnel bagged that is repairable and running well.

I still have a Hoover Windtunnel from 2001 or 2002 I think. I haven’t been using it much because I need to replace some bearings. Those things were incredible, and this is coming from a guy who never thought he’d be the least bit interested or excited about a vacuum cleaner.