Rocket TruePet Ultra-Light Upright (HV322)

I’ve had the Shark TruePet since 2020, and it’s still holding up great. I do have to cut long hair out of the rollers every few months (three daughters in the house), but it’s been solid on both carpet and hardwood. I think I paid around $250 for it at the time. That said, I’m actually shopping again because my youngest has allergies, and I was told that a bagged vacuum with HEPA filtration can make a big difference. Those three things together (corded + bagged + HEPA) do push the price up, but I’ve seen a couple of Hoover models that land closer to your budget. If you’re still looking, definitely check out the [Vacuum comparison sheet](https://www.reddit.com/user/lacking_foyer48/comments/1lj76h3/vacuum_cleaners_compared_comprehensive_datasheet/) that I saw on another subreddit. It compares all the models and brands side by side. I’m using it right now to shop, and it really helps narrow things down no matter what your priorities are.

I prefer a corded vacuum in this line of work - making sure to have enough charged batteries every day sounds like too much of a hassle to me. My favorite vacuum is the Shark True Pet. It has a great lift away function so you can easily vacuum underneath furniture. It is also user friendly enough that I can handle any maintenance issues.

I have been using [this](https://www.reddit.com/user/Icy_Current9623/comments/1qksa5n/shark_hv_322/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) from shark , it fits your perfect scenario. It folds in half for surprisingly compact storage and has a motorized pet tool. It's less convenient than cordless and not as "premium" looking, but it's a proven performer for the price.

I agree with Miele! My Shark (TruePet) was also just not cutting it for the hardwoods, and the turbo brush attachment was actually scratching it (though I’ll chalk that up to user error, I shouldn’t have tried it).  I second Miele! I did a ton of my own research trying to figure out the best brands, but then I came across [this vacuum comparison spreadsheet ](https://www.reddit.com/user/lacking_foyer48/comments/1lj76h3/vacuum_cleaners_compared_comprehensive_datasheet/)on another subreddit and it made things so much easier. I can’t take credit, but after comparing the Miele models, I went with a C2 because it has a really wide hardwood attachment. 

I’ve actually been using the [Shark HV322 Rocket Deluxe Pro](https://amzn.to/46UkAL4) for a while now, and it’s been a great fit for a similar setup. It’s super lightweight, which really helps if you’ve got back issues, and it still has strong suction for picking up cat hair and litter on carpet. I’ve got pets too, and it handles the fur and debris way better than the older Bissell I used to have. It converts easily to a hand vac for quick cleanups and the LED headlights actually help spot hair on darker carpet. Definitely worth checking out, especially since it’s often under $200 when on sale.

I love the rocket but the tank size is way too small for what we do. I have several monthly clients that all have large long hair dogs. In one house I have to empty my full size canister twice per room, it would be triple that with a rocket. For my home though rocket is the best. It’s also great for stairs because you can detach the center rod from both ends and attach just the head to the motor. Probably my favorite vacuum.

Very long answer: Every vacuum has their pros and cons, it’s really about your personal preference and needs. These are my opinions- please don’t come at me with pitchforks. Miele- I have never owned one but I have used them at clients homes. Pros- they last an incredibly long time. If you like bagged vacuums they have some pretty hefty bags that really trap fine dust. Very long cord, some models even have a retractable cord that winds up with a button, which is insanely helpful. Cons- they are expensive but if you’re having to replace vacuums often then it can pay for itself after a few years. It’s a bagged vacuum, the canister size and bag capacity couldn’t hold up to some of the houses I do. I have one client that I have to empty my canister vacuum twice in every room. You have to either manually empty the bags or replace them- which is an added expense. Look at the style, it’s not an upright vacuum, it’s a separate canister vacuum. I personally despise this style of vacuum, yes they have uprights but they are battery powered with a run time of about 60-90 minutes. Canister vacs like these are very difficult to maneuver, you have to pull it around like a resistant dog on a leash or if you are vacuuming out of a room you have to kick it behind you. It’s very difficult to do large sections of carpet, especially if you are trying to leave nice carpet tracks, because you have to deal with the vacuum head and the canister separately. Rainbow- they are very similar to the Miele. Pros- no bags. Its uses a canister of water for filtration which in principle I love. I think it has the absolute best filtration method of any vacuum. Cons- all of the cons I listed with Miele. However you don’t have to replace the bags, but you do have to empty, clean and refill the water reservoir constantly, usually after every room. I really don’t recommend using them for a house with stairs- huge pain. Kirby- Pros- ? Um great warranty? Good if you skip the gym and need to do some strength training? Really good sales people/ pitch. I was almost tempted to get one even though I can’t stand them. Cons- expensive, heavy, loud. No attached hose. You have to use it like a transformer toy every time you want to use the attachments. Belt driven, and the belts are a pain to change. Dyson- Pros- They last a decent amount of time, not too heavy or bulky. No bags. Pretty good filtration. Have all of the attachments on the vacuum. Most vacuum repair shops will work on them and they have a decent warranty. Personally I really like the older dc models without the ball, but they are hard to find. Cons- expensive. The newer models have a very wide vac head track. It can be a good thing if you are doing a large open area, but it’s way too wide to get into tight spaces. The suction. It has very strong suction which should be a good thing but on the newer models you can’t adjust it. You need 2 people to move it across high pile carpet. I consider myself to be decently strong and it really hurts to use it because of the suction, unless I’m only using it on hard surfaces. Sharks- Pros- large variety of styles. Good suction, but it can lose suction if you don’t change the filters often. Prices range from $150-400. The lift away models are great for stairs and getting to very high up areas. Lightweight. Not very loud until they start to get older. Ok warranty 2-5 years. Overall not a bad vacuum if you take care of it. Cons- I’ve never used a warranty on them because they usually die at the end of it. However I am using them on 2-3+ houses a day, 5-6 days a week. I really run them into the ground. Like everything they are being built with cheaper and cheaper materials. I really wish they would stop trying to come out with new features and just stick with a good solid design. Over the years there have models that I loved but then they discontinued them. Nobody will work on them, and if you find someone who will, it’s usually cheaper to just buy a new one. Oreck- Pros- variety of styles including canister style like Miele. Super suction- the commercial that showed it picking up a bowling ball is no joke. But because of the suction they can be very difficult on high pile carpet. Decent price. The uprights are pretty light. Good warranty and every vacuum repair shop will fix them. Because they are very light they are actually ok on stairs. Cons- I’m not a fan of bagged vacuums. The uprights don’t have a hose. It’s belt driven and the belts break often. Hoovers and Bissell- Pros- inexpensive. Been around for a long time, so people must like them? Cons- they are just kind of meh. Poor suction. I’ve cleaned clients carpet with them and then vacuumed again with my shark and can pick up a whole canister of dirt and hair. Hair wrap. Every vacuum has the problem no matter what they try to do but Hoovers and Bissels are the worst. Loud, bulky and clunky. Difficult to get into tight spaces, forget trying to use them on stairs. Sorry for the long response and hopefully this helps.

We have bought the Shark pet hair (the larger one). I had the use of Henry whilst waiting - unfortunately it didn’t suit me as I kept banging it on the skirtings and corners. The Shark (with the very long) cord is absolutely brilliant - as we have 2 dogs. The suction is so strong, it’s like a workout for your arm - however, you can decrease the suction with an easy button. Prior to this we had the Shark cordless one - which was great but not nearly as powerful!