Growing up, we had this absolute beast of a vacuum. It went through three generations and still could inhale a quarter within 3". Downsides: probably weighed 300lbs (per my recollection of trying to vacuum the stairs as a 10 year old), would try to eat its own cord if you weren't careful, and once it ripped the curtains down - rod and all. Every vacuum I have ever used gets mentally compared against this machine and always fall flat.
After a bit of internet searching, I'm pretty sure it was a Kirby Classic III (now running $140 to $300).
The Kirby Legend II ($100 - $350) and Kirby Heritage II Legend ($100 - $350) are generally comparable.
Newer Kirby models (lighter, have push assist, shampooing, easy to find parts) that hold their own:
Sentria - pure sucking power ($100-$350)
Sentria II - improved 4-position pivot ($150-$325)
Avalier - peak Kirby engineering & multi-surface shampooing ($150-$300)
Avalier II - minor ergonomic tweaks ($200-$400)
Note that pricing runs all over the place, but this is "sweet spot" pricing with lower end being private seller with perhaps not all the attachments and high end being professionally refurbished with warranty.
Growing up, we had this absolute beast of a vacuum. It went through three generations and still could inhale a quarter within 3". Downsides: probably weighed 300lbs (per my recollection of trying to vacuum the stairs as a 10 year old), would try to eat its own cord if you weren't careful, and once it ripped the curtains down - rod and all. Every vacuum I have ever used gets mentally compared against this machine and always fall flat.
After a bit of internet searching, I'm pretty sure it was a Kirby Classic III (now running $140 to $300).
The Kirby Legend II ($100 - $350) and Kirby Heritage II Legend ($100 - $350) are generally comparable.
Newer Kirby models (lighter, have push assist, shampooing, easy to find parts) that hold their own:
Sentria - pure sucking power ($100-$350)
Sentria II - improved 4-position pivot ($150-$325)
Avalier - peak Kirby engineering & multi-surface shampooing ($150-$300)
Avalier II - minor ergonomic tweaks ($200-$400)
Note that pricing runs all over the place, but this is "sweet spot" pricing with lower end being private seller with perhaps not all the attachments and high end being professionally refurbished with warranty.
Whilst I love my shark it’s crap on carpets. Didn’t lift my of my pet hair. I have a 1980s Kirby for that which literally lifts the carpet at the same time
I haven't used it in a while because it's just more of a hassle, but my Kirby is made pretty much of the same stuff as the bumper off an early 80s car. Thick chrome metal and Lexan. It has a bag though, and the new ones with a can are so much lighter and easier to use that I bought a Hoover. That Kirby will outlive me though. I sold it to my grandma when that was my job for like 2 weeks back in the 90s. She passed and left it to me (warranty is still good after that btw). It will probably still be in the closet when it's my time.
For sheer durability it can't be beat, but it's not the best vacuum.
Buy a used Kirby vacuum on FB marketplace. Go for a Heritage 2 or later G series Kirby vacuum and you'll be quite satisfied. With the G series, Sentria, or Avalir models, you can find a lot of attatchments for them. They made the same basic vacuum and attatchemts for 30+ years so they are interchangeable. You can still get parts for all of them. The Heritage 2 and older ones are great vacuums but parts and attatchments for them aren't as easy to find. They're still out there though on ebay a lot. Any vacuum store is more likely to carry parts for the newer ones. These Kirby vacuums are a bit heavy and bulky but they have so many uses and last forever. I have one from the 1950s that still works great! You can't buy a better vacuum for longevity.
Top Vacuum Cleaners on Reddit
1
SEBO
AIRBELT E3 Premium
88% positive of 202 users
Ultra-durable, 10-year warranty, but expensive with short cord.
At0m1cCowboy
