Which Is the Best Upright Vacuum?

Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900

• Dance to a new cleaning rhythm with Hoover's Tempo, which earned praise from "Consumer Reports." They liked that it offers a high level of cleaning performance in a relatively light weight. Additional features include an extra-wide 15-inch cleaning width. The manufacturer also includes two different nozzles -- one for crevices and one for your furniture -- and two extension wands.

Eureka Boss SmartVac Pet Lover 4870SZ

• Man's best friend can also be your carpet's worst enemy, leaving pet hair everywhere and -- if you allow Fido outdoors -- tracking in more dirt and dust. Eureka's upright pet vacuum was named an "ultra-cleaning" device by "Good Housekeeping" magazine's research institute. The institute praised its high performance, and also liked that users could easily switch the appliance's mode to clean both carpets and hard floors.

Swiffer SweeperVac

• If you want to quickly zap away dirt on your hard surfaces, Swiffer's vacuum is "devilish," declares "Wired" magazine. It combines a traditional vacuum's sucking power with an electrostatic cloth that grabs away hair and dust, all while weighing less than 4 pounds. Plus, the magazine noted that it's easy to empty its dispenser -- an oft-overlooked feature in vacuum cleaners.

Electrolux Oxygen3 Ultra with Quiet Clean

• Electrolux's vacuum cleaner is "exceptionally" quiet, reports the "Wall Street Journal." In a relatively unscientific test, the newspaper's tester turned the vacuum on and then called a friend to see if the other person could hear the vacuum -- "she could barely hear it," was the conclusion. The vacuum also has an HEPA filter. Whereas some vacuums leak dust and dirt back into the air while in operation, this model's HEPA filter traps even the finest airborne particles.