The best vacuum cleaners

Reviewed by Kulwinder Rai

Less versatile than some of the other uprights we’ve tested, this vacuum is happiest on hard floors. The floor head is relatively narrow at just 23cm across, so it’s easy to clean right up to the edge of the skirting boards. It also converts into a handheld, so you can clean blinds and shutters, kitchen worktops, inside drawers and under furniture more easily.

There are no rotating brushes in the floor head, so you’re reliant on suction to agitate dust and dirt. That should be sufficient for short-pile carpets and runners, but you’d struggle to dig up dirt from anything with a deep pile.

I have a suggestion should Bissell ever redesign the Featherweight: I’d reposition the button on top of the vacuum that opens the first container. It’s too easy to access, meaning I inadvertently pressed it on several occasions, depositing piles of fine, filtered dust onto my just-cleaned floors. If the button lived elsewhere, or just had a bit more resistance, then that would make a difference.

Still, you have to consider the performance of the vacuum against the price. With an RRP of £50 (although often found cheaper) this combined upright and handheld model is shockingly affordable. If your home has a lot of hard floors, and you’re willing to sacrifice some power on carpets, then you won’t get any better for less.

Key specifications

• Power: 450W
• Weight: 2.05kg
• Cord length: 5m
• Bin capacity: 0.5L
• Bagless: Yes
• Attachments: Crevice tool, standard floor head