If you need a vacuum cleaner, a skinny, brightly colored cordless stick vac should be the last type you consider. I should know: I tested more than 100 vacuums for Wirecutter from 2013 through 2021 (and still dabble whenever something truly novel or ridiculous comes out).
I’m not saying it’s always a bad idea to buy a stick vacuum, just like it’s not always a bad idea to pay for an Uber when you could take the train or ride a bike. But I worry that too many people end up stretching their budgets or getting stuck with a lousy cleaner because they don’t pause to really consider their options.
Yes, vacuuming is much easier, and maybe even fun, without the burden of wrangling a 20-foot cord. But indolence has a price.
Our testing has identified solid cordless stick options, but we’ve also found that cordless vacs consistently cost two to three times as much as plug-in machines with comparable cleaning chops, and even top performers can struggle with shaggy rugs. Sticks also only last about half as long as typical uprights and canisters. And unlike a robot vac, you still have to push around a stick vacuum.
Originally published on Source.
