Hoover WindTunnel Max Bagged Vacuum Cleaner, Corded Upright Vac, HEPA Media Filtration, Multi Floor Adjustment, Corded Vacuum Cleaners for Home Use

Our Eureka "Boss" SmartVac was just not doing very well anymore after 6 years of faithful service. I don't know what would make a vacuum not work as well as it once did, but even after thorough dis-assembly and cleaning it just wouldn't pick things up like it should.After careful research here and in Consumer Reports, we decided to find a bagged vacuum under $200. In that price category, this Hoover is a great buy based on our first experiences with it. Despite being similar in specs (both 12-amp, bagged, etc.) the difference between the Hoover and our old vacuum made both my wife and I laugh out loud when we first tried the new one. It is astonishing how poorly our old one was performing. Hopefully this one will stay strong and problem-free over time. I will report back if anything bad happens.Thus far we have used the new vac to clean the whole house a couple times, including stairs and attachment use. My time is valuable and limited, so making the effort to leave this review says that I'm pretty pleased with my purchase.PRO - very strong suction, spinning brush head on hose attachment (works by air-power--better than expected), feels light when in use, power button is easy to reach with thumb. The on/off for the brush bar works great. We ordered extra belts to have on hand. They are actual rubber belts as compared to the weird ribbon belt that the Eureka uses. The bag comes out attached to the front panel of the vac, which you can then carry serving tray style to the trash bin--no trying not to squeeze the bag while removing it for fear of dust billowing out. Also, the wheels are rubber and there is a good rubber strip around the edge of the vacuum head to protect furniture.CON - no review should be totally without some criticism. The hose extension wand is a two-piece affair that can be extended and turn-locked. The locking mechanism is a friction design and is pretty weak, even when new, and tends to allow the wand to collapse if you push too hard against something when using the crevice tool or other attachment. It isn't as good as two connecting wand parts that cannot collapse. It isn't a terrible problem, but if you do a *ton* of hose/wand work, you may want to try before you buy. That is the only thing our old Eureka did better than this Hoover.We have newer carpet that has been vacuumed many times with our old vac. After using the new one, I couldn't believe how much carpet fiber was picked up that the old machine left behind. I went through two bags the first time I used it, so it doesn't just seem to be more powerful, it really is.I added a product image showing old and new.--Update 7 months after purchase: Still going strong, and I like it enough to take the time to return for an update. The front collector tends to clog a bit with carpet fibers and such, but there are three easy clips to remove the bottom plate, allowing for easy clean-out using the attachment hose. Also, the front is clear so you can easily see if this maintenance is needed. We're still very happy with this upright vacuum cleaner.I wish vacuums were made with a larger bag and/or a bag compartment that allowed use of the whole bag. This seems to be common among all cleaners, so it's either a design requirement or a way to sell more bags, I'm not sure. Maybe a weight concern? Regardless, more bag capacity one way or another would be nice.

This vacuum has a good level adjustment, it's easy to change bags and they last about 6 months. It's very durable and well designed. A vacuum cleaner tech guy on Youtube recommended it.

Great vacuum, awesome suction, excellent air flow. Attachments were just good, but that’s only because the extension wand was sub par.The roller brush was louder than I expected and it required frequent belt changes in spot of not being a non-stretch belt.That said, I wish Hoover still made this vacuum because I’d definitely order another one!

This vacuum cleaner arrived today. This is an initial impression. It's very good.Assembly wasn't hard at all. Tools required are a #2 Phillips head screwdriver and the user manual. If all else fails, follow instructions.This machine replaced a 25-year-old Oreck on which the handle literally broke a few days ago and, of course, the part to fix it is no longer manufactured. I use the heavy appliances around the house because The Bride isn't physically able to handle the weight of a vacuum cleaner. This machine is a bit heavy but the weight isn't a problem for me when using it. The suction powered brush tends to pull it forward so heavy pushing isn't necessary. Pulling back isn't hard either since it rolls easily. The foot pads to stop the roller and release the handle work the way they're supposed to. The push-push power switch on the handle likewise is easy to use. Bending over to change the ride height isn't the bother some make it out to be.I used the Oreck on the carpets about a week ago before it broke. This machine pulled a LOT of dirt and debris out of them. I wonder if it will suck the dawn back below the eastern horizon. Yeah, it pulls that well.The hose is supple and has a release button that lets you pull it off the power head for hand accessory use. The hand held furniture attachment has a suction powered brush that spins well unless I push down on it, which makes it stop rotating. Letting up on the attachment lets it rotate again. The dusting brush and the furniture attachment push easily onto the end of the hose and are easy to pull of of it. Somebody mentioned in another review that the hose and attachments didn't want to stay in place when stowed but I don't see a problem.Some more observations: This machine was well rated by Consumer Reports, losing points mainly because of noise. True, it makes a lot of racket, so using hearing protection, such as ear plugs, is highly suggested. The exhaust air comes out the left side of the bag housing and is quite warm because it also cools the motor. That motor pulls 12 amps, which explains the suction and the heat generated. This is why it's a good idea to make sure the bag and HEPA filters are kept changed. The motor needs plenty of air flow if it's to last, so don't cheap out on bags and filters. They cost less than a new vacuum.A couple of days after I put this item on my general wish list, Amazon dropped the price by $30 so I got this machine and a pack of bags for a little over $100. It's hard to beat that.Overall it looks like a good purchase. We'll see how things are a few months from now but it's great so far..