Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum vs Kenmore BC4002 Canister Vacuum

The Shark Stratos is the better pick for most homes with carpet and pets: it is an upright with DuoClean PowerFins, a self-cleaning brushroll, a powered lift-away pod for stairs and upholstery, and an odor neutralizer. The Kenmore BC4002 is a bagged canister with a 24 ft cord, a 9 ft hose, a 14-inch cleaning width and a telescopic tube, so it suits people who want long reach, sealed HEPA bags and above-floor cleaning without carrying the machine. The Shark weighs about 17 lbs and the Kenmore about 19.5 lbs, but the Kenmore's canister is dragged behind you. Owners praise the Shark's pickup and the Kenmore's reach and bag hygiene; the Shark needs more emptying and the Kenmore is bulkier to store.

• Choose the Shark Stratos if you have mostly carpet, pets or long hair, and want one upright that self-cleans its brushroll and converts to a powered lift-away for stairs.
• Choose the Kenmore BC4002 if you want a bagged canister with a long cord and hose for hard floors, high shelves and above-floor cleaning, and you prefer emptying a sealed bag to a bin.