- Continuous suction – the helix system protects the motor while extending filter life for longer lasting performance
- Helix dirt separation system – captures dirt and debris while extending filter life for long lasting performance
- Dual edge cleaning – provides surround suction to clean hard to reach places like baseboards and around furniture
- Automatic cord rewind – easy and convenient storage of the 25-foot power cord
- Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
The Bissell Rewind PowerHelix and its unique Helix Dirt Separation System captures dirt and other debris for even greater performance, whether you’re cleaning carpets or bare floors. It does this by using the internal ribs incorporated into the Easy Empty Dirt Container to force large dirt particles, dust and other debris down to the bottom of the tank, where they belong. This helps to protect the motor and extends life of filters so the vacuum works more effectively, longer. The Helix System, combined with the auto cord rewind for easy storage, makes for powerful and convenient cleaning.
Great vacuum, but not the best bang-for-your-buck. Side-by-side comparison: Bissell, Dyson, Hoover, Eureka, Oreck, & Dirt Devil,
We tested *most* of the top-selling vacuums on Amazon, in side-by-side tests. First, two observations:
(1) Dyson is not the “best” vacuum ever made, but they do have the best marketing. If you’re looking for the “best” vacuum, let’s reframe the question a little bit – perhaps what’s the best vacuum under $500 or under $1000? If you’re looking for the “best”, be prepared to spend a minimum of $2,000-$3,000 for a commercial upright or whole-house system.
(2) About rating sytems – only side-by-side comparisons make sense to us. I have a neighbor who has a Ferrari, and complains all the time about expensive tune-ups. He would give his Ferrari 3 stars on a bad day, 4 stars on a good day. My dad really likes his Hyundai, and would give it 5 stars. Does that make Hyundai better than Ferrari? We believe only in comparing apples to apples.
Different Models Reviewed:
BISSELL POWER HELIX:
We had no complaints about this vacuum, a great buy especially if you’re a dedicated Bissell fan. Our only real complaint is the outdated color (teal). You basically can’t go wrong with this model – easy assembly, great suction, nice attachments, etc. In terms of performance, this is performs just slightly below the Dyson DC33 (at 1/3rd the price). However, the current Amazon price is $118, and you can get better suction at a lower price with Eureka Airspeed or Hoover WindTunnel. Read on…
DYSON:
The least expensive Dyson is the (Dyson DC33 Multi-Floor Upright) currently selling on Amazon for $299. If you absolutely need a Dyson to impress the neighbors, this is the best bang for your buck.
However, after testing over a dozen different models, we discovered you don’t have to spend $300 to get a top-of-the-line vacuum, that there are several brands offering models right around $100 that perform just as well. Does the Dyson live up to its marketing claims? Yes it does, fantastic quality and lossless suction.
Here’s an interesting experiment – look for Dyson on craigslist from just about any major city. You’ll find dozens of people with buyer’s remorse, who paid full price for a Dyson, realized that much less expensive models perform just as well, and are trying to sell their barely used Dysons in an attempt to recoup their investment. (We checked this morning, and found about 30 such listings in my town).
HOOVER WINDTUNNEL:
These are fantastic vacuums, nearly on par with the Dyson, and currently the #1 selling upright vacuum on Amazon. They have near-lossless suction, lots of attachments, & bagless. We would put them as almost exactly on par with the Bissell Helix, but currently the the (Hoover WindTunnel) is currently only $99 on Amazon.
The auto-rewind cord is a commonly reported malfunction (the one we tested started to lose its spring after about 20 minutes, like an old set of window shades) and both the brush & belts tend to fail early as well. But all vacuums have drawbacks and design quirks. A huge perk is that the WindTunnel has a rinsable filter. Based on bang-for-your-buck, this is our top recommendation along with the Eureka Airspeed. You can’t go wrong with it.
EUREKA AIRSPEED:
There are several different Airspeed models – Amazon currently sells the (Eureka AirSpeed Gold) for $110. There are three different models at Walmart ranging from $98 to $135, with slightly different features – bagged vs. bagless, see-through brushroll, etc.
In our tests, all of these models performed on par with the Dyson. The Airspeed had slightly better sustained suction than the Hoover WindTunnel, with only a few drawbacks (HEPA filter requires frequent changing). Nonetheless, this is our top recommendation, along with the Hoover WindTunnel. For right around $100, these two models can hold their own against just about any other vacuum in the under $1,000 price point.
SHARK:
Shark has done a major turnaround in recent years, with extremely respectable upright vacuums with impressive suction. The 2 popular models are the (Navigator Upright) currently selling for $150 on Amazon, and the (Shark…
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|My Dad Calls it “Our Little Green Tiger”,
Every household, I suppose, has its own vacuum challenge, be it pets, kids, mud trackers, grape juice enthusiasts, whatever. Ours is hair. The women in my house are legendary for their hair: Blonde, brunette, raven black and all of it long, strong and absolutely everywhere. Hair is the bane of my poor Dad’s existence, because we ladies clog his sinks, drains, and most especially, the vacuums. How does the BISSELL 84G Rewind PowerHelix stand up against the House of Rapunzels?
Really, really well.
First, the suction. After a few passes across the carpet, not only did the BISSELL pick up a mess of hair, dirt, crumbs, and fuzzy I don’t want to know, it also picked up a strange powder that after examination proved to be soap residue from the last time we deep cleaned the carpets with a shampooer. This is the best vacuum we’ve ever owned, in terms of what it picked up, and thus far is surviving the hair death traps with flying colors.
Assembly was easy, cleaning and emptying of dirt canister also very easy. We replaced our Dirt Devil with this vacuum (the Dirt Devil kept clogging) and my Dad was worried that the BISSELL would be a lot heavier. However, the competence of the design and the balance on the handle makes the vacuum carry like a machine half its weight. The brush tool is great and simple to use, and my family LOVED the light at the front of the machine (Dad happily vacuums in the dark now. One of the pleasures of retirement is vacuuming at 2 a.m., apparently.) Unlike some other reviewers, we felt the retractable cord was plenty long enough, but of course that depends on your space needs (our biggest room is 10′ x 10′).
Our family has used Dirt Devil, Oreck, Eureka and Hoover brands for our cleaning needs (everything but Shark, really), and thus far we like BISSELL as a brand and the PowerHelix in particular best. Definitely tops for the under $300 price class, well-worth the sensible price, and kinda pretty (those Orecks have to be the ugliest vacuums on the market). No down-side for what we needed, and rating:
GRADE: A
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