Nothing cordless is going to be BIFL. We however just picked up a Shark Pro from Target on sale from $399 to $249. Big fans so far.

I got a Dyson (battery isn't removable) cheap and it's needed a replacement battery after a few years. The machine itself is great. Anything cordless will have a battery that doesn't last for life.

I don't think cordless (and/or bagless) have BIFL potential. Also the right vacuum depends on your floor type(s) and budget. We have a two-story 2000 sq ft house with soft wood floors and a lot of low-pile rugs, and 5 cats + two dogs, all indoor. We got a Sebo E2 canister vac and it was life changing. We had a Shark bagless upright before and it was night and day. It's easy to get around, quiet, the cord retracts automatically, and it's easy to change out heads when switching from wood to rug to upholstery.

After a ton of research, we were looking for either a Sebo or Miele, and got lucky to find the Sebo used for a steal (heads up, they're not cheap). Super happy with it and expect it to outlive us.

I currently have two cordless Dysons - one of which I got cheap because it needed a new battery, the other I bought new and had to replace the battery charger after 3-4 years. Previously had a wired one for 10+ years which still worked perfectly when I sold it on and replaced.

Sure the batteries won’t last forever but they’re not crazy expensive to replace (both of mine can be removed with only a screwdriver).

Say whatever you like about Dyson, the guy and his ethics etc but my experience with their products has been exceptional. I’d recommend Dyson vacuums as BIFL for sure.

No disagreement. Thought it worth noting about the battery. We bought a new battery and swapped it out

Yeah. I think most people seem to get rid of them when something goes wrong with it. They’re always selling for cheap either without a charger or dead batteries on local Facebook groups etc.

The motor and the actual machine though, I have direct experience now of 5 Dysons and they’ve all been absolute top tier pieces of equipment.

Dyson from Costco. Warranted for life.

The only BIFL brand of vacuums I know of is Miele. And not the low-end ones.

Will you please read rule 1 and stop with the ignorant talk of nothing with a battery is BIFL? Seriously. Cordless stuff in the 90s really sucked. Cordless stuff today is legit badass. Do batteries die? Yep. And we buy new ones and life goes on. The L in BIFL is not literal, please get onboard with that.

1. This is BIFL. This is not the "good" subreddit.
2. https://www.youtube.com/c/VacuumWars/videos is where you want to be to find "good"

Dyson from Costco, replace for free whenever you want.

No I won’t stop lol. If you want something that will last for more than 10 years and is mechanical, you need to be able to service it. Modern battery powered tools are not serviceable.

After talking to some folks who are also dust-sensitive and had similar requirements we did (cordless, lightweight, etc) we settled on a Tineco A10. Available at Walmart and with a price tag around $100, we’ve really been impressed so far. We considered getting one of the higher end models, but this fit our current needs best. (Their website is a bit clunky if you go looking there, but it’s functional.)

I'd suggest to check /r/VacuumCleaners before buying a cordless. They're pretty convinced to buy/suggest to buy (bagged)canister type vacuum cleaners. From a BIFL point of view it would be the way to go IMHO.

Can you be specific with application? How large of an area are you vacuuming? Whole house? What type of flooring? Pets? Is hair typically an issue? Do you have stairs that require vacuuming? What’s good and what’s good for you can produce different answers.

I am totally onboard with reducing battery powered tools as much as possible.

But there is no principal difference between changing a bearing and changing a battery. Every tool has parts which wear and need to be replaced eventually.

Nice of you to make a blanket assessment considering you have never held 70% of battery powered tools on the planet. Again...this sub is not literal, now if you want to be knowingly irrational about it...of that I can't help.

I’ve loved all 6 of my sharks…right up until they die and the repair shop guy laughs at how notoriously unrepairable these things are.

But that suction and attachments. Definitely not a BIFL though…sadly

Miele everything is BIFL.

Yep. They’re one of the things I will happily replace for the extra immediate return. 4 cats and a dog require a strong ass vacuum.

Similar situation as you, but I went with the Aerus Lux Legacy (the cheaper Classic model is also great, but shorter warranty and fewer included accessories). If you know the brand history going back to the original real Electrolux brand of bagged canister vacuums, it’s hard to find anything close aside from a high end Miele or Sebo.

Right, until the manufacturer moves on to a different design in a few years and those batteries are not available anymore.

I looked hard at the Samsung cordless vac. Expensive but rated extremely well. Tried to look up battery replacements thinking of the future and had a way more difficult time finding one even if I bought them today, much less a few years from now.

There is a whole subreddit dedicated to vacuums, and even though I love my Miele, there are lots of other quality brands out there!

Sebo and Henry come to mind.

Cool, thanks!

I'm currently in a small apartment but have been looking into moving into a house soon. I have two cats but they don't shed that much. I brush them regularly. I just wanted something that i was going to be able to use for a long time. Even if it meant spending a little bit more money.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I ended up buying the Dyson V8 directly from Dyson on sale for 249$. I looked into Costco but they only had higher price tags for higher end models. I originally was looking at the V15 but I feel like the V8 was going to be enough for myself and my two kitties. I took into consideration what was said about batteries and when my battery finally gives out i will definitely replace the battery versus buying a new one.

Heck I'm still using my Kenmore canister vac with bags from the early 2000's. Recently tore the head apart and thoroughly cleaned it out... My GF swears by Hoover and I find it comical because she's on her third one and I've only known her for about 10 years.

Got a newer Dyson and incredibly happy. They also have really good attachments, for stairs, pet hair etc.