Sebo9687AM AIRBELT K3 Premium Canister Vacuum Cleaner with 7-Year Motor Warranty, Comes with Powerful ET-1 Powerhead for Pets and Carpeting + Parquet Brush, 37-Foot Operating Radius, Made in Germany

We had a Kenmore Elite canister vacuum that was highly recommended by a leading consumer publication (the one famous for not accepting advertising). It had excellent suction, but the powerhead kept pulling annoyingly to one side, the canister had poor wheel control, and the bare floor nozzle was simply too small. We had it for about six years when the handle broke, and that repair was going to cost us nearly half the price of the entire vac. Ridiculous! Between the original cost and the repair, we realized that a high-end brand was what we ultimately needed. We narrowed our choices to the Sebo Airbelt K3 and the Miele C1 Cat & Dog. The Sebo was a bit more expensive, especially after also ordering a Turbo Brush attachment tool, but we truly feel like we made the right decision by selecting the Sebo.We decided on the Sebo because it has the following advantages:- 25 ft cord and 37 ft radius vs. the Miele's 18 ft cord and 29.5 ft radius (this was a major reason)- The powerhead has a removable brush roller that requires NO TOOLS!! (another major reason)- Dual-handle controls are easier to use than controls that are mounted on the canister (another major reason)- The handle's hose swivels, so it is much easier to use and is more durable (another major reason)- The canister has a bumper all around the canister that keeps it from marking walls and furniture (another major reason)- The bags are slightly less expensive (minor reason because they are close in price)- Better filtration (minor reason since both are excellent)Both are terrific machines with plenty of power, both are very quiet, and both have tank-like build quality. However, the Sebo wins for the reasons above. It's one of the few appliances that I consider an "investment" instead of a mere "purchase." We are extremely pleased with the Sebo and feel that it is definitely worth price.

This is a very very high end product. Beautifully designed. Well worth the money. I owned a Miele before. This is a step above that because the motor head is way better designed. Lighter, quieter, more ergonomic and easier to maintain. I chose this over the E3 because the K3 is a smaller and that is a huge consideration in my small apartment where every inch counts. I don't like a lot of buttons so the tug and retract chord is preferable. There is also less plastic in the bag on the K3 compared to the E3. And the filtration seems better. Very maneuverable with a thinner hose than the E3. Love it.

Sleek and nimble, this vacuum effortlessly glides under beds and squeezes into those tricky spots between the toilet and the wall. Whether you're tackling plush carpets or shiny wood floors, it delivers outstanding performance on every surface. Say goodbye to dirt and hello to a cleaner home!

I am going to compare this machine to my 1998 Hoover Wind Tunnel upright vacuum cleaner. The Hoover needed a repair for the second time and I decided to retire it instead. Fourteen years is enough! This is when my troubles began. I read the customer reviews of Hoover vacuums here on Amazon, and on the Consumers Reports web site as well. I learned that Hoover vacuums had descended to the level of absolute junk. Use it a few times, and it breaks. I researched the other brands that I know: Kenmore, Electrolux, and Panasonic. Also junk! I eventually selected the SEBO K3.The Hoover has much more suction than the SEBO K3. In fact, it is wonderfully powerful. It is also hugely, ridiculously loud. Unlike the SEBO K3, the Hoover is an upright vacuum. Ultimately, the choice between an upright and a canister vacuum is a matter of taste. But consider that the Hoover is self-propelled. It really is easy to use. The Hoover has a headlight. It also has a light that goes out when the section of carpet you are pummeling is clean. I really like that. These are features that the SEBO K3 lacks. Finally, the Hoover power cord is about twice as long as the SEBO K3.The SEBO K3 is wonderfully quiet. The exhaust air passes through what looks like a cushy bumper around the perimeter of the canister. Hence, the name "Airbelt." This excellent design helps account for the quiet operation of the machine. This vacuum has a fingertip control right on the handle of the wand. This control allows infinite control over motor speed and hence suction. This control also allows you to turn the vacuum completely off. This is really nice: you don't have to bend over to turn the vacuum on and off. Finally, the SEBO has a very nice floor brush, and the Hoover has a bad one. You can buy a nice one for the Hoover though. Not expensive at all.Finally, there is the issue of cost. For the price of the SEBO K3, you could buy somewhere between two and three top-of-the-line Hoover Wind Tunnels! Don't laugh, I'm making a serious comparison. You could buy two Hoovers, and keep one in storage. When your Hoover breaks, you send it in for repairs and switch over to the spare vacuum. Depending on the cost of the repairs, you might save some money versus buying the SEBO K3.I actually thought about buying a RAIH (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Hoovers) but I found the idea repulsive. The next time you buy a vacuum cleaner, you will face the same dilemma that I did. Is it better to buy a moderately priced piece of junk, or a hugely expensive machine that is not junk?

It’s a great vacuum, for the money it should be! It has help make my carpets look new again and it excels where my Dyson failed, it’s gets ALL the pet hair up off my short pile carpet, the speed control on the handle is nice as is the ability to turn on/off the motorized brush, the tug to rewind cord works better than expected and is long enough to do my apartment without switching outlets. It’s comically quiet, I used to have to wear ear protection but the air belt makes this enjoyably quiet. The bags may appear smallish but hold a lot and no more dust storm when changing them. The on board tool storage is ok but could use a redesign, having to insert the crevice tool into the upholstery tool is not horrible but was annoying so I purchased a regular upholstery tool even though there is no where to store it. Cleaning and dusting with this vacuum is a joy!

Lightweight, agile, and can easily get underneath a bed or between the toilet and the wall. Works as good on carpets as it does on wood floors.