Kenmore - KW3010 Bagged Canister Vacuum

If you are used to cordless fitting into small spaces and being lighter in the hand, you will probably prefer a canister over an upright. They do have the canister itself you have to pull behind you, but with wheels and modern lightweight materials, it's not a big deal, just something to get used to so you aren't wacking into the edges of walls or running over the cat, lol. You're going to want bagged for continued performance. Bagless are good, while they are good. But as you've seen, it doesn't last. Filters clog, cyclones clog, dust gets into the motor and slows it down, it's a whole mess. They require frequent emptying and regular maintenance for continued performance, and even then you are slowing the downhill slide, not stopping it. Bagged vacuums, you replace the bag a couple times a year, cut thread or hair off the brushroll as needed, maybe replace a belt once a year, that's all. Currently Kenmore are generally your best bet for a canister on a budget, they have a range of models with similar performance, and a good assortment of prices, generally based on various features like hose length, cord length, included attachments, onboard attachment storage, etc, not based on one performing better or worse than the other. Their standard models with powerheads range from around 200 to around 500 dollars, depending on the features you are looking for. We currently have the lowest of the low in their model line, not even one of the standard models, the KW3010, it's straight suction only, no powerhead, manual cordwinder, as basic a vacuum as you can get, currently around 65 dollars on Amazon. But it has amazing suction, does great for bare floors and above floor cleaning, large bags, long cord, and it does a decent job on carpet with the included nozzle, though a bit better with the Wessell Werk tk286 turbo nozzle we bought to use with it. (Personally I feel like the standard nozzle does better for deep down dust and grit, and the turbo does better for pet hair, surface dirt, and carpet grooming, so we alternate which one we use, sometimes one, sometimes the other).

Well. There's the filtration, the cord length (plus the handy cord winder), the tools and wands (most shop vacs have a straight wand at the end of the hose,instead of a curved one, very awkward to use with a floor tool, and they generally don't include a proper floor tool), the shape/size (most are big, tall and top-heavy), and the noise, shop vacs are LOUD. However, Numatics are terribly overpriced in the US for what they are, but there are more affordable options. I got the Kenmore kw3010, made by Cleva/Vacmaster, for about 60 dollars on Amazon( it's on sale right now, normal price is a bit higher, about 80, but still much cheaper than a Henry). It's made specifically to compete with Henry, has the same cordwinder, similar size and design, and can even use Henry bags. Absolutely love it. My only complaints are the hose is a bit stiff, but not terribly so, and it doesn't include an upholstery tool. I ordered an upholstery tool and a better dusting brush (it includes one, but with rather stiff bristles), for about 7 dollars each, and that solved that. It does well with a Wessell Werk turbo brush, if you feel you will need one for carpets or rugs also. We have 4 shedding dogs, and lots of carpet. The included Wessell Werk combo floor tool is one of their economy versions done in all plastic, but it does a fine job for us, better than some generic ones that use metal. We got the Wessel Werk turbo brush for around 50 dollars online, but only use it about once a week, just to give the couple of plush carpets a bit of a fluff, and get any stray hairs the regular tool may have missed. Even with the extra bits we purchased it was a fraction of the price we would have paid for a Henry. Link to the Kenmore we bought https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.amazon.com/Kenmore-KW3010-Lightweight-Efficient-Household/dp/B0BSBVSNCM&ved=2ahUKEwiDpv_Vo_aLAxXXk4kEHVQ6NToQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1lJ7hsrGpyG86Wp48_VvmT

Just don't by a stick one - useless. Get either an upright or a canister corded one - maximum real suction power. I have 2 canister corded vacuums, Kenmore and Panasonic, one for each floor level of our home. Work perfect for hardwood and carpeted.

Just get a regular canister Kenmore or Panasonic vacuum. All those stick and battery vacuums are gimmicks. $300-$500 dollars, will last you forever. Maximum suction, 30' retracting cord, HEPA bag - hose arm and head will go under furniture. I have 2 story home with hardwood and cat. Amazing how much dander a single cat can generate in a day. I vacuum every couple days when I see that thin layer on the floor. Cat's 7 years old, vacuum is 22 years old.

I have a Kenmore canister and the Panasonic equivalent both for 25+ years running fine. Nothing has every broken so parts are no concern. Just replaced the filters every 10 years or when my brain reminds me :D.

Kenmore canister-- affordable and a BEAST

I’ve been using a Kenmore canister vacuum for over 18 years now and it’s great with hardwood, rugs, and pet hair.

What I was just going to suggest. It's a huge part of the reason I love them.

A canister with hepa filtration, long hose, and all of the attachments. My parents had a kenmore canister that was great for many years.

Just realized she had carpet. My bad, the shopvacs don't have a roller brush, so that probably won't work. Maybe consider a Kenmore canister vac from the recommended list on the automod. I unclog a lot of different vacuums but not many kenmores. Slightly larger hose diameter, plus a ton of suction and a straighter airpath than an upright vac lessen the likelihood of a blockage. They should also be well within budget

We have a shark at work that my boss is obsessed with even though it can’t clean for crap…. To show her I brought in my old Kenmore canister and filled the bag full in one pass of our building. I’ve tried all of them and a nice garage sale or curb side Kenmore canister has always been the best bang for the buck 😂

I have a Kenmore canister from Amazon! On sale it was 450 Canadian

You might like a Kenmore canister vac, the power head is super light and they have wands so you can reach places more easily. Also changing the bag is really easy, and you are only moving the hose around not the weight of the whole machine. Figuring out where to place the canister might be tricky, probably beside your chair on dominant side is best, and you can pull it behind you through doorways. The newer models, the handle is a loop, so you don't have to grip it all that well to use it, and they are strong and quiet. My grandma used a wheelchair a lot in her older years because she fell so frequently, and she had one. Worked pretty good for her because with the hose she could sweep a pretty good sized area without navigating the chair too much. She would stick the canister under the chair and put her foot on it so as she moved the chair, it moved with her. They go under tables and stuff really easily too, and you can actually stick your foot in that loop handle to get under low beds and furniture so you don't have to bend and risk tipping the chair.

You're welcome! They're not really all that expensive, and I think you would really like it. They used to come with separate hard floor brushes which are really nice for pet hair/food/accidental broken glass, etc. I haven't seen one in a store for years, but when we had a sears/Kmart in my town people bought those ALL the time. My mom still has her original one, from 1982 😂. It's absolutely had a hard life and seen better days, it's delegated to their finished basement these days, but surprisingly it still works pretty damn good!

Least favorite: Bissell uprights. Every one I've ever used, the end caps for the brush roll has melted. I also find the suction power really lackluster and feel like they scatter more dirt and dust than they actually collect. Rainbow - gigantic pain to use, too high maintenance, and the water is gross AF and messy to deal with Cordless sticks - not powerful enough for my liking, multiple passes to pick everything up and they die too fast. Favorite: Windsor Versamatic, Old school style Electrolux and Kenmore canisters, old school style Hoover uprights, Windsor XP-12. Just good, sturdy, effective machines.