Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaners

Pros: Quiet motor, cord rewind, powerful suction, brush-bar shut-off.
Cons: Small dirt cup, messier to empty than a bagged vacuum, heavy.

The Bottom Line: This is the best value in cyclone vacuums, with all the typical benefits and drawbacks of that design type, plus a few special features--like the cord rewind and brush-bar shut-off.

Full Review
The Hoover Windtunnel Cyclonic is the same machine as the Hoover Mach 5, which is sold exclusively at Walmart for about $20 less. The only differences are that Mach 5 is bright orange and chrome, whereas the Windtunnel Cyclonic is a much more "normal" looking vacuum.

The Hoover Mach 5 (and Mach 3) are replacements for the Fusion. The Fusion did poorly in Consumer Reports testing because of dust in its emissions. The new models attempt to rectify that problem with better filters. The Mach 3 has electrostatic filters for the pre-motor and final stage filter. The Mach 5 caught my attention because it has an electrostatic pre-motor filter and a HEPA final stage filter, both of which are cleanable and thus never need replacing. I had intended to wait until CR could test these new models, but went ahead and bought a Mach 5 when I saw one brand new and unopened on Craigslist for $100 ($75 below retail after taxes).

As my friends and I used the machine several times in the course of moving out of our apartment, several strengths and weaknesses became apparent: First, the strengths are all those advertised--cord rewind, quiet motor, powerful suction, no loss of suction, easy to use tools, brush-bar shut-off. All those operate as advertised and the construction of the machine is by and large high quality, with only a few cheap-feeling things here and there. Fit and finish is good as well. And there is no problem with emissions. The motor is quiet (as far as vacuums go) and makes a lower-pitch noise than most. The brush-bar automatically shuts off when the machine is put in the upright position, and it may be shut-off manually using the foot-lever. It is a bit top-heavy, but not so much as to make it hard to maneuver, and the handle adjusts for height. It's really very easy to use and effective at cleaning.

However, there are a few draw-backs. (1) The brush-bar is very aggressive. On our old and poor quality carpet, setting it to anything lower than the middle setting resulted in large quantities of carpet fuzz being generated and sucked into the vacuum. The carpet height adjustment for our medium-low height carpet ended up being set to a medium-high height setting to alleviate the problem. (2) The first issue aggravates the second, which is that the dust bin is small and fills up quickly. Despite the large clear bin, there is actually a "full" line marked near the bottom quarter of the bin and it must be emptied once the bin reaches this mark or you will begin to lose suction as the high-speed cyclone is unable to work properly. (3) Emptying the dust bin is a relatively easy task, however, some dust clings to the cyclone assembly and must be brushed off with the brush tool. While it does detach nicely from the bin to allow for easy cleaning, it is still a messy process compared to removing and replacing a bag. And there is a tip at the end of the cyclone that requires cleaning to make sure it remains clear of debris, since this is the exit for the high-speed cyclone and if it clogs the cyclone will not work properly.

Owners of cyclone vacuums often think that their machines do not need to have filters serviced. This is not true. Even Dysons have to have their pre-motor and HEPA filters cleaned from time to time (this is the leading cause of loss of suction for Dysons, and often is not made clear to Dyson owners). So too with the Mach 5. The pre-motor filter is located above the dust bin and is a washable electro-static filter (let it dry 24 hours before reinstalling). The HEPA filter is in a tray marked "HEPA" below the dust bin. That may be cleaned but not washed. These filters should be cleaned about once every couple months or so, depending on how often you vacuum.

So in summary, this is a good vacuum cleaner for the money. As with all vacuums, it is not perfect. It suffers some of the common drawbacks of bagless vacuums (namely the messier dust-emptying) while solving the problem of loss of suction. I would like to have a larger dust bin, but once the carpet height is set correctly, even the small one that it has is sufficient for a day's worth of cleaning. I recommend it, especially if you can find a good coupon for Walmart (the only place it is available retail) or other good deal (such as I did on Craigslist).

The Hoover U5780-900 Windtunnel Cyclonic Bagless Upright has a lot going for it. I wanted something with suction as close to Dyson as I could get. At the same time I didn't want to spend Dyson prices on a vacuum or settle for a used one to save money. It won't satisfy everybody but review your options. Depending on your needs this may be a strong contender for you.

I have used many vacuums, including the usual suspects (Hoover, Bissel, Eureka, Oreck, Kenmore, etc) and newer models like the Dyson. I will openly admit I tend to clean a lot and I am perhaps more demanding on a vacuum than the casual user. Overall, I am willing to accept the shortcomings of this vacuum because it performs good enough for the money.

Pros
+ The vacuum does capture plenty of dirt and will perform well with regular emptying, cleaning and maintenance
+ Even though it is made of plastic, it feels more solid than the Dyson DC07; perhaps it is stronger plastic or includes more heavy internals to hold it together
+ The cord has a nice rewind button to tuck it away when not in use
+ The cord also has a cool hook near the handle to keep it out of the way when pulling it in reverse during use
+ The price is relatively less than similar performing vacuums, including every Dyson model except for some low-end refurbished units, making this Hoover a better value
+ The colors of the unit are more conservative than many bright models being sold today
+ The motor is less noisy than many other vacuums I have tried, despite the strong suction
+ The power button is located conveniently on the handle, unlike some older Hoovers
+ The included accessories allow you to detail around edges and furniture, although you must handle with care for the vacuum's stability

Cons
- Has a small bin and the aggressive brush, so you will have to empty the bin frequently
- Emptying the dust bin is messy and will require you to get your hands dirty to clean the bottom of the bin
- Cleaning the inside of the bin is also messy and requires partial disassembly; people with OCD will DEFINITELY be a little frustrated by those hard to reach areas :)
- The wheels and base are designed like an old-fashioned vacuum, so it won't turn as easily as newer units like the Dyson ball models
- The vacuum may feel heavy to some people and can be a slight workout when moving in tight spaces; Self propelled versions are easier to move around
- The vacuum will capture tons of carpet fibers, especially on the lowest setting; this is a minor con that will diminish over time with use
- Even the internal HEPA filters and gaskets will require maintenance and cleaning to keep this at top performance (not so much a negative as it is a consideration)


No it is not perfect. Like all bag-less vacuums, it is messier to empty and will require some cleaning and maintenance. Yes, the internal filters need to be periodically rinsed and dried, and the HEPA filter needs to be surface cleaned at least 3 times a year.

It also may be too heavy and hard to maneuver for some people. This vacuum does perform pretty well for those who don't mind the old-fashioned style maneuvering of a traditional wheel base and the heavy lifting that comes along with a unit that isn't *self-propelled*. While the price isn't a steal, all decent units are expensive these days and this is relatively better value than many other competing models.

Those who want to turn on a dime may want to look at the newer Dyson ball models, and those who want effortless maneuvering may want to test the self-propelled models. However, if you are price-sensitive you may still opt to put up with the small shortcomings of this unit to save a few bucks.

Enjoy.