Best Backpack Vacuum Cleaner For Home Owner (2019)

Vacuuming the floors is a chore most people simply dread.

So what can make it easier? Well, having the right equipment definitely helps in mitigating the pain of having to do a chore. Sometimes, when the equipment is so good, it makes the chore pleasant to do. How do you know what to look for in a product when you're purchasing a backpack vacuum cleaner? There's several things. That's why we decided to review several products and highlight what they can offer so that you can compare them. We have also provided detailed information of what a backpack vacuum product is and how it works, as well as how it benefits you.

It doesn’t matter if you’re cleaning the floors in your own home or tidying up a large industrial space, no matter what type of flooring is used, it’s crucial to keep it clean.

Generally, when people think of vacuums they think of the traditional upright or canister models. These variants are typically enough for homeowners but will be almost useless in a larger setting.

One alternative that is often overlooked is a backpack vacuum…

Backpack vacuums are most often used in commercial settings but they can be pressed into commission in the home as well. There are many benefits to rolling with a backpack vacuum instead of a more popular canister or upright model, and today we will be discussing some of these along with reviewing some of the best models available.

First thing’s first, then…

What is a backpack vacuum?

What Is A Backpack Vacuum?

A backpack vacuum is basically a canister vacuum that you wear on your back as opposed to pulling around the floor on wheels.

These vacuums have been engineered to be extremely lightweight and ultra-portable. Most of the backpack vacuums available will come with back supports and ergonomic pads, allowing you to comfortably clean for a longer period of time without feeling the strain.

Just like a regular backpack, this style of vacuum is worn on the body with a harness that is connected to the machine. This harness goes over your shoulders allowing you to keep the vacuum right with you as you clean but without the hassle of dragging around a clunky traditional vacuum.

Why Should You Use A Backpack Vacuum?

Traditional upright and canister vacuums can be cumbersome. They are heavy and not at all easy to maneuver. It can be difficult to get under furniture or into tight areas that need to be cleaned. And don’t even think about all the time you’ll spend being wrapped up in the power cord, a cord that’s often cut too close for comfort anyway and completely restrictive.

Using a backpack vacuum will help you or your staff to clean more efficiently whatever the application. Since hands are not required to move the vacuum around the area being cleaned, you’ll be able to push furniture out of the way, wield the vacuum wand or make sure things don’t get tangled in the power cord.

Some of these backpack vacuum cleaner models have the ability to be changed from a vacuum cleaner into a blower instead. This is a smart approach for anyone who needs both tools but is operating on a tighter budget.

Most of the time, backpack vacuum cleaners are used in commercial areas. Whether it’s cleaning offices, restaurants, hotels, warehouses or schools, these nifty vacs take some beating.

When cleaning such an enormous amount of space, using a traditional vacuum is impractical. If you opt for a backpack vacuum, it’s much more convenient, you can maneuver it far more easily, it’s highly versatile and, generally, very lightweight into the bargain. This style of vacuum is an across-the-board winner when it comes to heavy-duty projects.

That being said, don’t think that there’s no place for a backpack vacuum in the typical home…

If you choose this style of vacuum to use in your house, you’ll enjoy all the cleaning power you need and then some. Whether it be tile, laminate, carpet or wood, all flooring needs to be vacuumed to remove dust and debris and this adaptable cleaning solution should not be overlooked.

What to Look for When Buying the Best Backpack Vacuum

As with any large purchase, you should always carry out plenty of research into different products to make sure you are getting the best option to meet your needs.

We’re here to help you and take the sting out of that research.

Some things you should take into consideration when choosing a backpack vacuum are budget, brand preferences, the weight of the vacuum, how much power the vacuum has, the cord, the suction hose and the overall ergonomics.

 We’ll break those down in a little more detail right now…

• Budget: While most people have a fixed budget and few are averse to saving a few bucks, make sure that price is not your main deciding element when choosing a backpack vacuum. There is truth to that old saying “You get what you pay for”. Backpack vacuums are a solid investment and you certainly don’t want to be shelling out a lot of money for repairs (or even worse, purchasing a new vacuum) after a matter of months. Price is a factor but should not be the determining factor

• Brand: There are many brands selling backpack vacuums and many people are loyal to brands they know and trust. You certainly want to buy from a reputable with a solid reputation and excellent customer service. Also, make sure you look at the company’s warranty as an indication of how they stand behind their products

• Weight: Most backpack vacuums will be much lighter that traditional vacuums but they’re still large pieces of machinery. Make sure the one you purchase is comfortable to wear and use and not too bulky for your requirements

• Power: Because of the way these vacuums are made, they tend to be far more efficient than traditional vacuums. To achieve this added grunt, they need powerful motors. Also, the stronger the motor on your vacuum is, the better the suction power will be. If this vacuum is being purchased for use in a commercial application, you want to be sure you buy one with plenty of oomph so you can get more work done in less time
• Cord: To make sure the backpack vacuum will be as portable as possible, make sure you purchase one with a cord sufficiently lengthy for your needs. Most vacuum cords are far too short to finish the job is one sweep. This forces you to stop, unplug and plug the cord back in too often.  There is nothing efficient about that tiresome process. Check the cord length on the vacuums as well to ensure you get one that’s man for the job at hand

• Hose: This model of vacuum does not roll along the floor suctioning up all the dirt and debris. Backpack vacuums use hoses to get the job done instead. Look for a hose long enough to reach the floor. This will prevent you from getting fatigued or strained tire as you won’t need to continually bend down to clean the floors. Make certain you purchase a vacuum that has a suitably long hose or consider buying extensions to enhance its functionality

• Filter: Since the filter is what keeps the debris that’s been vacuumed from pouring back out into the room, these are a key component. Some vacuums use bag filters while others pack cartridge filters. Make sure the vacuum you choose has a strong filter and, depending on the job you are using the vacuum for, make sure the filter is good for clearing allergens. The very best filters are HEPA-rated and wick away 99.97% of all airborne contaminants and pollutants

• Ergonomics: Your back can easily become injured so you must take very good care of it. Strapping a large piece of machinery to your back and carrying it around for long periods of time can quickly cause damage if you aren’t extremely careful. Consider taking into account how comfortable you or your workers are using the vacuum. You will want one with cushioned shoulder straps so they don’t dig in and cause discomfort. Look for supports on the back to alleviate some of the stress to your muscles. Make sure the cord and hose are of an ample length

What Can Backpack Vacuums Do?

As previously stated, backpack vacuums are generally used for large industrial style jobs like construction or other commercial cleaning projects.

However, they can also function well in the home.

For cleaning up after construction jobs, the best backpack vacuum for construction is the Electrolux Commercial Backpack Vacuum. We’ll review that for you shortly.

If you have pets, you know only too well how quickly their shedding can get out of hand. To clean up all the mess, hair and pet dander left behind, the best backpack vacuum for pet hair is the ProTeam Super CoachVac.

If you’re looking for the best backpack vacuum for home use rather than in a commercial setting, look no further than the GV 8QT HEPA Backpack Vacuum or the more affordable Atrix VACBP1.

The ProTeam Super CoachVac is going to come into play again here as the best backpack vacuum for hardwood floors. Hardwoods are easy to keep clean as long as you keep on top of them by cleaning frequently. Using a backpack vacuum is one of the most efficient ways to do that.

When it comes to the best backpack vacuum for commercial use, almost all models work well a good choice but our pick is the Prolux 2.0 Bagless Backpack Vacuum.

The Powr-Flite BP6S Backpack Vacuum is a sure bet as the best backpack vacuum for carpet cleaning.

Now that you know the fundamentals of backpack vacuums, what they are, their benefits, and what they can do, let’s take a look at our top 5 picks for the best backpack vacuum overall.

Read on to make your buying decision a walk in the park…

Top 5 Best Backpack Vacuums and Reviews

The backpack vacuums themselves are fantastic but a plain suction hose will only get you so far.

What do you do if you need more maneuverability or you need to get into corners? How about blitzing the ceiling fans or under the furniture? And what if the hose just isn’t long enough for you to get the job done right?

Luckily, the manufacturers of these vacuums took all of these factors into account and they make plenty accessories to complement the backpack vacs.

Some vacuums with come with accessories included while others need to be purchased separately.

Let’s take a look now at some of these excellent little tools and find out how they will benefit you…

• Telescopic Wand: A telescopic handle will come in handy when the wand you have is just too short. It will also be good for extending to reach those places that are too high to get to without it, air vents on ceilings for example. This type of handle can be locked in place at a shorter length or it can be extended to a much longer length depending on your precise needs
• Dusting Brush: A dusting brush is useful for cleaning hardwoods or dusting shelves and ceiling fan blades
• Upholstery Brush: If you need to clean a piece of furniture to get dirt or pet hair removed, you will want a dedicated brush for the job. Make sure you have an upholstery brush in your tool kit so you aren’t frustrated by the mediocre job other brushes do
• Carpet Tool: Carpets need different tools to properly clean than hardwoods or other hard flooring. Look for a tool with a scalloped edge and make sure the bumper is nicely rounded to protect the furniture and walls
• Floor Brush: While vacuums will come with a hose supplied, that hose is not ideal when it comes to cleaning floors. This is where a special brush comes to the fore.  These brushes have bristles that will help to gather all dirt and debris from the floors without causing any damage in the process
• Squeegee Tool: If you are using a wet-dry vacuum to clean up spills, make sure you have a squeegee tool to clean up properly

Don’t forget to purchase additional filters and vacuum bags.

Double-check all tools and accessories to make sure they fit your specific model of backpack vacuum.

Best Backpack Vacuum Brands

As with any product on the market, there are some brands that dominate the space. Some of the manufacturers on our list may not be well-known to you, but that doesn’t mean they are not making quality products for this particular market. It’s not a space where Dyson or Shark dip their toes.

• Prolux is an innovator and brought the first bagless backpack vacuum to market and they offer an exceptional 5-year warranty on their products.
• ProTeam was one of the first manufacturers of backpack vacuums and they have been around for a long time. They know what they’re doing and it shows with a very contented customer base.
• Powr-Flite makes the best harness there is placing comfort at a premium and making sure you’ll be able to clean for lengthy spells without straining yourself. They also offer a sound 2-year limited warranty.
• Atrix makes inexpensive models that are great for home use and they also offer a decent warranty.
• Electrolux specialized in a wet-dry backpack vacuum which is not at all common. They take care of their customers and they also offer a 2-year limited warranty showing the confidence they place in their products.

We work hard to bring you reviews of the best available products, period. We have no affiliation to any particular brand, no vested interest.

We understand, though, that some people are simply loyal to brands they know and trust…

If this is you, rest assured knowing that most well-known vacuum manufacturers also produce backpack vacuums.  You can find offerings from Hoover, Shop-Vac, Oreck, Bissell and many more. Al of these are quality products but they just didn’t make our top 5 list.

Wearing Your Backpack Vacuum

To avoid injury or pain, you want to be sure you’re wearing your backpack vacuum correctly.  Back injury is bad news when you need to be working.

To properly wear the backpack vacuum cleaner you have purchased, you should slip it on with great care…

First, slide your arms through the straps. Lift the backpack with your dominant hand to ensure you have perfect control of the weight and to reduce strain at the same time.

Once the machine is on your back, lift it so it sits on your hips. Then, hook the waist strap and adjust it to fit.

 Ensure the shoulder straps are tight but comfortable but, to allow for ease of use.

We have included several options that you can choose when purchasing a backpack vacuum. Our comprehensive review has provided you with detailed information about each product and has also educated you on what a backpack vacuum is and how it can benefit you.

With all this information, you should be in a position to determine which backpack vacuum will suit your needs.