This vacuum really sucks (I mean that in a good way)

Author's Rating:

Pros: Inexpensive, good suction, headlight, retractable cord.

Cons: Cord too short, hose too short, feels heavy/unbalanced, a little flimsy feeling.

The Bottom Line: 
We're pleasantly surprised w/the suction & ease of use from this inexpensive machine. Might not last a lifetime, but for $100 you could buy 5 and still come out ahead

Author's Review
We had trouble with two Dysons, both purchased at Costco last year, and decided to try something else this time around. When my wife came home with the Hoover Elite Rewind, which cost under $100, I must admit I was very skeptical. So far, after 2 months of use, I am pleasantly surprised.

This vacuum comes with the usual attachments (the usual short brush and the long tubular wand that both connect to the hose) and the instructions for assembly (which I did not really need) were clearly marked and easy to follow.

The other epinions reviews are pretty thorough, and I don't know that I can add anything "new" to the mix, but here is what we like and dislike about this vacuum. Although I like the vacuum and would recommend it, I'll start with our dislikes so that if they are your biggest concerns, you'll know not to bother reading the entire review:

Don't Like:
* The 24 foot cord because it's about 12 shorter than other vacuums we've used. We cannot pick a central location to plug it in on each floor, and we must plug & unplug several times per vacuuming session.

* The weight/balance. At 18 pounds, it's actually about a pound less than the Dyson we had last, but something about the way the weight is distributed makes it feel heavier.

* The dirt compartment feels a little flimsy when you take it off to empty it. Also, the mechanism to open and close the trap door (to release dirt) feels flimsy.

* The extension tool keeps falling off it's mount. It will not stay in place while you vacuum.

* It's noisier than other vacuums we've used, and on carpets it makes some rattling that was hard to get used to.

* The hose reach is only 9 feet and is about half of what we're used to. You cannot leave it at the bottom of the stairs while vacuuming the entire staircase.

Likes:

* The vacuum works well. It picks up as much dust and dirt as the Dyson did. The nose end is narrow and reaches under a couple of our cabinets that other vacuums did not reach. The dust compartment fills quickly so you can see it's working well.

* The HEPA filter is "lifetime" and can be cleaned and put back in without having to be replace (nothing else to buy)

* The headlight, which I thought was silly at first, actually helps navigate through the dirt (especially in tight corners, near furniture) when you're vacuuming.

* The head easily changes, with the turn of a switch, from low (hard floors) to high (tall carpet) and everywhere in between.

* It's easy to remove sections of the dust compartment, hose, and head when you want to deep clean it or if something were to get stuck in there. Most pieces either twist & lock or press & snap into place, and nothing is difficult to figure out.

* The wand, when used with the hose, is good for hard-to-reach places, like under and around the refrigerator, couches, etc.

* Retractable cord. At the press of a button the cord gets pulled back into the unit.