Your search for the best backpack vacuum cleaner ends here
Is dragging your upright vacuum around giving you back pain? Is a canister vacuum too heavy for you to carry up and down the stairs? A backpack vacuum is just what you need to eliminate the toil that comes with bending, dragging, and carrying.
Although mainly popular for industrial use, backpack vacs can also be used for home cleaning. Being portable, they go everywhere with you, allowing convenient cleaning.
Most backpack models have a lightweight design and a strap to hold the main unit in place. Since they aren’t as common as other cleaning appliances, homeowners are often confused about their purchase.
In this guide, I’ll resolve this confusion by discussing the best backpack vacuum cleaners and a buyer’s guide to help you find the right model.
Regarded as the highest-rated backpack vacuum, this Hoover commercial vac is a powerful appliance that cleans up larger messes with ease. Since it has a lightweight design – weighing less than ten pounds – mobility is not a problem.
Whether you want to clean the living room or the stairs, you can count on this backpack vacuum to not give you any trouble. In fact, the harness has been designed by a chiropractor to reduce strain on the user.
Despite being a powerful vacuum cleaner, the Hoover Commercial is relatively quieter. You can clean the whole home without waking up the family or giving your pet a scare.
Plus, it has a 48-foot long power cord that reduces the frequency of changing outlets as you clean. The three-wire Quick Change Power Cord makes it easier for you to clean bigger spaces without limitation of movement.
Even better, it’s a HEPA backpack vacuum, considering the cartridge filters are designed to provide ample airflow and high-performance filtration without reducing the suction power. Meanwhile, the HEPA filtration removes contaminants and allergens from the air in your home.
Reviewers rate it as a high-quality backpack vacuum, with most of them saying that it is powerful enough to clean pet hair and other messes. Moreover, it has plenty of attachments, including a ceviche tool, a turbo floor tool, and a dusting brush. These tools increase versatility, making the vac suitable for multiple cleaning jobs around the home.
Being an ergonomic backpack vacuum, the Atrix VACBP1 weighs only 10.3 lbs and has a standard size. To make your cleaning job even more comfortable, the belt loop has storage for tools. Thus, you can easily access the floor attachment or crevice tool as needed.
Despite being a cost-effective vacuuming solution, this cheap vacuum is suitable for industrial and residential use. On the one hand, you can use it to remove hair, pet dander, and debris from your home. On the other, it will serve as a valuable addition to your cleaning supplies in the workplace.
One of the most notable things about this affordable backpack vacuum is the HEPA Filtration. It has 8-quarts HEPA bags that capture allergens and dust mites from the air to keep your home environment clean. Moreover, the HEPA filtration system is designed to remove 99.9% of particles bigger than 0.3 microns in the air.
The cleaning accessory pack includes a hose, blower adapter, extension wand, shake out bag, and a filter set. However, it’s hard to rejoice over the number of attachments because reviewers report poor build.
Most users said the attachments started breaking in just a few weeks of use. Since they’re made of poor plastic, the accessories aren’t meant to last long. Apart from that, people didn’t have concerns regarding suction power and were satisfied with the performance.
When you buy an inexpensive option, you have to compromise on a few things. In this case, it’s the attachments. But everything else about the vac is pretty impressive.
Backpack vacuums are already easy to carry, but you can amp up the portability by investing in a cordless design. The Milwaukee backpack vacuum has a three-in-one design that offers unmatched versatility and performance.
Featuring an expert-designed harness, the vacuum can be carried or hung. The harness is removable – with a quick-release function – and has an integrated hook. Thus, you can either wear or hang it, as per your preference.
Another aspect in which the vacuum stuns is noise level. It stands at 76 decibels, being three times less noisy than other worksite backpack vacuums.
When run in a low mode, this cordless backpack vacuum can last up to 40 minutes. That’s an ample amount of time to clean the entire home. However, if you use it in high demand, the vacuum will last for about 25 minutes. Again, the duration is quite convenient for a small to moderate-sized home.
Additionally, the vacuum offers a hands-free cleaning experience. Once the dust bag is full, you simply have to press a button to release it and empty the components without touching them.
Reviewers were ecstatic about the larger battery as most of them said it’s one of the longest-lasting backpack vacuums they’ve come across. Plus, this battery-powered backpack vacuum is comfortable to wear and has great suction.
If you’re looking for a backpack vacuum for commercial use, the Proteam super Coachvac should be on your list. Designed for commercial use and professional workers, this vacuum can tackle the toughest messes on a variety of floor types. But that’s not it.
It also comes with multiple accessories to clean everything from the hard floors to pile carpets. Even though it’s a commercial backpack vacuum, the Proteam super Coachvac does not cause a nuisance for your ears. It operates at 65.8 decibels, which is lower than some residential backpack vacuums.
Admittedly, the best thing about this vacuum is the HEPA filtration systems with four levels. While the HEPA filter captures 99.97% of the minuscule particles and allergens, the multi-level filtration ensures that nothing gets left behind.
As a result, the air quality in your home increases significantly. Moreover, the Proteam super Coachvac has a 50-foot long power cord that lets you clean large areas without unplugging the device. Also, the commercial backpack vacuum offers ease of maneuverability around the furniture.
Made especially for professional cleaners, the FlexFit-designed harness has sufficient padding to keep the wearer comfortable even during extended use. Besides, the open-weave fabric imparts breathability to the harness, ensuring that sweat does not build up during cleaning.
As for accessories, the Proteam super Coachvac has everything you need. You can clean low pile carpets, ceiling fans, furniture, light fixtures, floor lamps, upholstery, and the stairs with ultimate ease.
Reviewers regard it as a professional-grade vacuum for its high suction power and low noise level. However, most people said it’s not a reliable commercial unit if you want to get things done quickly.
Here’s the thing: every cleaning attachment has a separate wand and hose. Thus, you have to attach everything individually for each accessory. That’s bound to become a hassle very soon.
Every once in a while, your carpets need the kind of deep cleaning that your regular vac can’t provide. That’s when the ProTeam Commercial Backpack vacuum comes in handy.
It’s designed to deep clean your carpet without disturbing or fraying the fibers. However, that’s not all it does. You can also use it to clean ceiling fans, upholstery, stairs, and different floor types.
Since it has a 10-quart HEPA filter bag, the vacuum can handle plenty of debris. You can approximately clean three times more area than you can with an average vac. That means you’ll have to replace the HEPA filter bag less often.
Plus, the four-level HEPA filtration cleanses the air inside the home, making it safe for the whole family. While the floor tool removes debris and dirt, the HEPA filter captures them all. It does not let the waste escape, ensuring that the dirt doesn’t contaminate the air again.
Furthermore, the Rug Institute Certification proves that this backpack vacuum is excellent for cleaning carpets. The multi-surface floor tool is suitable for cleaning low pile carpet, while the two-piece double bend extension wand lets you make your high pile carpet spotless.
Reviewers have mixed opinions about this backpack vacuum for carpet. While some say that it works great, others complain about the hose. Although the power nozzle and HEPA bags function fine, the hose itself keeps breaking off.
Plus, some users mentioned that it does not suck up dust mites and pet dander. That’s something to be wary of.
Here’s a vacuum for home use that you can rely on since it features HEPA filtration, has a solid build, and is easy to use. First off, the Prolux 10 backpack vacuum cleaner weighs eleven pounds, which may seem a bit heavy, but is much lighter than upright vacs.
Secondly, it has HEPA filters that remove 99.9% of the allergens, making your home safe for allergy-sufferers and kids. The three-stage HEPA filtration systems are responsible for keeping your home’s air clean.
Additionally, the vacuum comes with six HEPA filter bags to contain as much dust as your home has to offer. Owing to the accompanying HEPA filter bags, you don’t have to spend money on new ones for months to come.
Moreover, the vacuum comes with premium cleaning tools, including a dusting brush, hard floor tool, upholstery tool, and multi-surface floor tool. All these tools collectively offer ease of cleaning and can be stored conveniently with the vacuum cleaner.
Plus, it has sufficient suction power for cleaning your house. Luckily, the high-power performance doesn’t translate to loud noise production.
Reviewers hail this as the best backpack vacuum for home use. Most people say that its ease of portability and multiple cleaning tools make it ideal for use in the home.
Since this model is a bit heavier than other backpack vacuums, I’d suggest cleaning in smaller batches to do your back a favor.
Heavy backpack vacs are a pain to work with. So, it’s relatable that most homeowners want a lightweight option. The GV 8-quart lightweight backpack vacuum cleaner is the most dependable option in this category.
Along with having a reliable performance, it also features a flexible power nozzle that easily gets into the corners of your home. Plus, the 25-foot power cord allows mobility. Take it from someone who has cleaned hotel rooms: this power cord size is suitable for cleaning a mid-sized room.
Since it’s lightweight, the vacuum cleaner is easily portable and maneuverable. Therefore, you can use it to clean hard to reach spots such as around the furniture legs and the stairs.
You get six tools with this vacuum cleaner that function effectively to keep your home squeaky clean. While the floor attachment can clean multiple surfaces, the dusting brush lets you clean daily messes without whipping out an upright vacuum.
The ergonomic design of the GV 8-quart backpack vacuum is highlighted by the extendable wand and improved flexibility. You can attach the hose to the exhaust port to use as an inflator or blower.
More importantly, the HEPA filtration technology keeps your home free of contaminants. The HEPA bags do not let the dirt escape, while the HEPA filter captures almost all particles greater than 0.3 microns.
Most reviewers say that ‘vacuuming is much easier now’ that they have bought this handy device to clean their homes. Being the best lightweight backpack for home use, the device is easy to handle and comes with a two-year warranty and an appreciable cleaning accessory pack.
If you have wood floors in your home, the power nozzle of the Powr Flite Comfort Pro vacuum will remove even the stickiest dirt from the surface. Among all other backpack vacs in this list, the Powr Flite has the most advanced HEPA filtration.
It has a five-stage filtration system that removes pretty much every kind of mess from wood floors. Plus, the nozzle head isn’t too harsh on the surface, preventing damage.
Even with such impressive performance and high amp motor, the vacuum cleaner only produces 62 decibels of sound. Plus, there’s a waist tool belt to keep all your cleaning accessories. It also makes cord management easy since you can wrap the cord around yourself.
Additionally, the 110″ water lift makes the vac useful in cleaning hard floors. Don’t worry about getting tired because the vacuum has an ergonomic shoulder strap to keep you comfortable during longer use.
Since hardwood floors cover a vast surface, the vac is designed to be quick. Approximately, it can clean two times faster than your regular vacuum. Once you’re done with the floors, you can also use it to clean above-floor areas.
Reviewers had plenty of good things to say about this backpack vacuum for hardwood floors. While some appreciated the suction and price tag of this hard floor vacuum, others praised the dust bags and the bin capacity.
However, some people noted that the vacuum hose is a bit stiff. It shouldn’t be much of a problem unless you’re moving the vac around a lot. Apart from this, the vac is perfect to clean your hardwood floors.
Since most backpack vacuums cost well above $100, you’d want to make an informed decision about the purchase. You can find backpack vacuums in different shapes, functionalities, and sizes. Now, you need to keep the following things in mind when finding the best vacuum for yourself.
However, you should not get a tall vacuum if the ceilings in your house are low. The cleaning tool will keep getting stuck in odd places, making the process frustrating.
Also, it’s easier to carry a vacuum that’s larger sideways rather than in height. It doesn’t take long to lose balance when bending with a tall vacuum on your back.
In contrast, a wider vacuum will sit comfortably on your back. Plus, it won’t throw you off balance.
Sure enough, you’ll have to bear a certain amount of weight on your back anyway. But isn’t it better to carry 10 pounds than 15? That’s why you must go for a lightweight vacuum.
Moreover, it should have an adjustable harness. In that way, you’ll be able to move the backpack canister around as you feel best.
Backpack vacuums also come with a belt to hold the tools. The belt should sit on your midsection and not the lower back. A belt that goes on your lower back will give you back pain and risk your health in the long run.
Secondly, they do not make a lot of noise. Compared to the noise production of a corded vacuum, cordless vacs are relatively noiseless.
Also, they take less time to clean. Here’s the thing: corded vacuums are definitely stronger but imagine having to unplug and replug the vacuum after covering a small surface. Quite time consuming, right?
Luckily, most modern vacuums have longer power cords, ranging from 25 to 40 feet. Thus, they don’t pose a hindrance in terms of mobility. However, you have to manage the wire while cleaning.
Alternatively, you can buy a corded vacuum. It will be easier to use, but corded vacuums have weaker motors. Thus, they may not be so suitable for high-traffic areas.
Most vacuums on my list have a multi-level filtration system. The dust goes through these systems and is later removed from the vacuum.
These layers are responsible for capturing particles of different sizes. For example, one layer may catch dander while the other captures microbes. The lower layers work similar to an exhaust filter, removing dirt and debris.
If you want maximum suction, you should opt for commercial vacs as they’re made for cleaning office buildings and different floor surfaces. Keep in mind that a higher suction means a more powerful and noisier motor.
Here are some frequently asked questions that may answer the questions running through your head.
If you want to use your vacuum on thick carpets, make sure you use the right power setting and cleaning tool. For instance, roller brushes attach to the bottom of the vac’s head. When they come in contact with the carpets, they release the dust embedded in the fibers.
Remember: most backpack models don’t have a pet hairbrush, but you can use the upholstery tool to remove hair and dander from your couch.
If you’re a smart shopper, you can find a regular vac for a little above $50. However, backpack versions can range up to $300.
Keep your budget in mind and only buy a machine whose features you actually need. However, if you direly need a particular feature, such as multi-step filtration, don’t hesitate to invest a little in your family’s health.
When uncared for, the human body tends to slow down and fall sick. You shouldn’t have to suffer from back pain just because you like your house to be clean. That’s why backpack cleaners are an excellent alternative to standard vacuums.
In this guide, I’ve discussed the eight best backpack vacuums that you can check out today. If you’re confused about choosing one, go through the buyer’s guide for help. Now, it’s time for you to perch a cleaner on your back and let me know:
Share with me in the comments below.
About the Author
Jeneva has over years of passion for home decorating and cleaning. She is the founder and CEO of thehousewire.com where she provides honest and objective reviews on home and cleaning products.
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