My previous vacuum was a Hoover windtunnel (bagged and self propelled) from 15 years ago. I loved that vacuum. It was old and the beater thing was ready to be replaced again. So I thought I would follow Consumer Reports again, and go with #2 Allergy rated Windtunnel 2. I bought here on Amazon. I used it 4 times. Not self-propelled, so it felt like a ton to push around. The extender wand tool on the hose has poor suction. And with only one bag and no filter, the exhaust smells dusty. NOOOOO comparison to my old beat up Hoover which was self propelled and tons of suction. And the extender wand seems nice, but its heavy and holding it above your head, and replacing it into hole is hard to do. Kills your shoulders. If you have a large first floor with lots of carpet, and a strong back and shoulders, I still would not recommend it. I wish I could find an identical replacement to my old Windtunnel.

While I agree that the unit is heavy, overall it does a better than average cleaning job. The main issue I have is not with the unit, rather it is with the W2 bags. They are a bit pricey as mentioned in other reviews, but my problem is that the bag separates from the green mounting flange that slides into the holder on the vacuum. I called Hoover on a non toll free number and after an hour finally reached someone who agreed to send some free replacement bags. The same thing happened. I'll be vacuuming and then start to "smell" dust. I open up the unit and the bag and the green mounting flange have come apart. I don't know if this occurs when the bags even if not full has to much back pressure due to dust buildup inside the bag. Just my thoughts and wonder if anyone else has had the same problems with the bags?

Vacuum was easy to assemble and quickly ready for use. Did a good job on carpets, even though it is a little heavy and difficult at times to maneuver. The cord is a good length and the cord reel is the feature I like the most. Great vacuum and a great deal at Amazon's sale price.

I love the look and style. The attachments work wonderfully and I really do get full extention out of the expandable hose. The automatic recoil in the cord works like a champ. The green and red light dirt indicator is accurate. (I did a controlled test). I have both wood and carpet and I feel so much better after I have cleaned. It does a good job. The only reason I did not give this product a 5 star is simply because it is heavy. I am a slight individual and it is a bit cumbersome. The good news is I live on one floor. No hefting this beast up stairs. One more side note - the weight of this vacuum is comparable to almost all other vacuums with similar features. Plus it was ranked number 2 in Consumer Reports for the price. (I found mine for $175).

Prior to this vacuum, I had a Sanyo, which I considered expensive ($400), for 8-10 years. I'm not especially gentle with my vacuums, but I do take them in for regular tune up cleanings. I was happy with the Sanyo until we added a long-haired dog to the mix. I bought the Hoover at Costco so I could easily take it back if needed. I tried Hoover's Windtunnel bagless version first and it was just too messy for me when it came to emptying the canister and I wasn't impressed with the suction.

Anyway, as my test, I vacuumed with the Sanyo and then followed up with this, the bagged Hoover. When I was still sucking up a considerable amount of dirt, I was sold.

Since then we've gained two cats (and kitty litter), and I've had the Hoover for a year. We have a two bed, two bath with tile and low-pile sisal and indoor-outdoor rugs. I only vacuum once a week and I pretty much use the vacuum in place of a broom. Because of habit and our tile and low-pile rugs, I always keep it on the lowest setting. When I'm finished, my floors pass the barefoot test. And when we mop right after, I'm really only pulling particle dirt from under cabinets and other places I was too lazy to use the vacuum tube.

Features I like:
*telescoping tube and on-board tools
*auto cord rewind
*dirt finder red/green light system. If was skeptical of this feature initially, but I'm a believer now.
*how much the bags hold, how easy they are to put in and put out--and zero dust leakage!

Features that need improvement:
*plastic connecting parts. I haven't broken anything, but the reviews that mention cheap materials are right
*length of the telescoping tube. I'm 5'5" and it's a stretch for me to reach our 8-ft. ceilings. I think they should offer a tube extender
*cost and availability of the bags
*no "bag full" indicator light. Suction does change when it's full, but still.
*pet hair attachment is great as long as it keeps spinning. Mine needs a jiggle from time to time to keep it going
*a lower profile head. I can't get it under all of my cabinets or chairs