Hoover WindTunnel Cord Rewind Pro Upright vs Shark Rotator Lift-Away NV501

Both are corded bagless uprights with HEPA filtration and no loss of suction, and both are rated 4.6. The Hoover WindTunnel Cord Rewind Pro is the better carpet cleaner: its 13.5-inch cleaning width, 5-level height adjustment and three-channel WindTunnel suction cover a room faster, and the cord rewind pedal is a real convenience. The Shark NV501 is lighter, swivels, and its pod lifts off so you can carry it up stairs and along furniture. Owners of the Shark report strong pet-hair pickup but a small dust cup that fills fast; Hoover owners like the suction but note the 17.8 lb weight.

• Choose the Hoover WindTunnel Cord Rewind Pro if most of your floor is carpet and you want a wide, height-adjustable cleaning path with a cord that retracts at the touch of a pedal.
• Choose the Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away NV501 if you have stairs, upholstery and a mix of hard floors and carpet, and you want a lighter vacuum whose pod detaches for above-floor work.