Head-to-head · Best Canister Vacuums

Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Ultra Plush Canister Vacuum vs SEBO Airbelt K3 Premium Canister Vacuum

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Ultra Plush Canister Vacuum comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.4 vs 4.1). Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Ultra Plush Canister Vacuum is best for: Single-level homes with thick or high-pile carpet. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Canister Vacuums

Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Ultra Plush Canister Vacuum

4.4

1 source$379.99as of Nov 8

TechGearLab scored the Kenmore Elite 81714 highest of the nine canisters it bought and tested, and named it the best for carpet: it was the only one that handled high-pile carpet well (69% pickup) and it cleaned 99.3% of a hardwood mess with the bare-floor tool. Despite the name, it was mediocre on pet hair, which wrapped around the brush roll, and at 25.3 pounds measured it was the heaviest model and a pain on stairs. It suits single-level homes with a lot of thick carpet.

Strengths

— Only canister in TechGearLab's lineup to handle high-pile carpet well: 68.7% pickup, plus 91.3% on low pile
— 99.3% pickup on hardwood with the bare-floor tool in TechGearLab's test
— The powered brush roll pulls the head forward so the heavy canister follows easily, per TechGearLab's lead tester

Watch-outs

— Heaviest in TechGearLab's test at 25.3 lb; a tester called it a pain to carry up and down stairs
— Pet hair results were weak for a 'Pet Friendly' model: 68% on low pile, with long hair wrapped around the brush roll
— The bag-full light does not warn of a missing bag and the vacuum runs without one, which caused a mess in TechGearLab's test

$379.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Canister Vacuums

SEBO Airbelt K3 Premium Canister Vacuum

4.1

2 sources

TechGearLab found the SEBO Airbelt K3 Premium one of the best canisters on low-pile carpet (90% pickup) with some of the best filtration it measured, but it was disappointed on hardwood, where the parquet brush picked up 89% against roughly 99% for most rivals, and long pet hair wrapped around the brush roll. In a video review, owner Zimra Fingerle praised four years of reliable use, low noise and adjustable carpet height. It suits carpet-heavy homes with allergy concerns and few pets, at a high price.

Strengths

— TechGearLab measured 90% pickup on low-pile carpet with the ET-1 power head
— Excellent filtration in TechGearLab's particle test (8.3 of 10)
— Moves like a much lighter vacuum, with an easy swivel head, per TechGearLab; 12.7 lb measured

Watch-outs

— Disappointing on hardwood: the parquet brush cleared 89% and had to be lifted over Cheerios in TechGearLab's test
— Long pet hair wrapped around the brush roll; 68% pet-hair pickup on low pile (TechGearLab)
— Upholstery tool attaches to the end of the crevice tool and was awkward and not very effective (TechGearLab)

Buy at acevacuums.com Full review →

How they stack up

Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Ultra Plush Canister Vacuum

TechGearLab scored it 79 against 78 for the Miele Classic C1: the Kenmore led on high-pile carpet (69% vs 53%) while the Classic C1 cleaned more pet hair (90% vs 68% on low pile) and weighs about half as much (13.1 lb vs 25.3 lb). It has a HEPA filter, which the Classic C1 and Eureka Mighty Mite lack.

SEBO Airbelt K3 Premium Canister Vacuum

TechGearLab scored it 70, the same as the Eureka Mighty Mite and below the Miele Classic C1 (78), which TechGearLab says beat it on hardwood and pet hair at about half the price. Its filtration rating (8.3 of 10) was higher than the Classic C1's 7.3 and the Kenmore Elite 81714's 6.8.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Ultra Plush Canister Vacuum	SEBO Airbelt K3 Premium Canister Vacuum
Weight	22 lb (Kenmore); 25.3 lb measured by TechGearLab	12.7 lb (measured by TechGearLab)
Cord Length	26 ft (retractable)	25 ft (37 ft operating radius)
Bag/Dustbin Capacity	2.8 L bag	0.8 gal (about 3 L) bag
Filtration Type	HEPA (three filters, HEPA media)	S-class: pre-motor microfilter, three-layer bag, exhaust filter
Motor Power	12 amp, 2-motor system	1250 W suction motor + 175 W brush motor

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