Vacuum is as vacuum does So this model has a very simple and inexpensive design rugged but a trip down a flight of stairs may surely damage the product yet the unit is made to have cheap replacement parts. As with more expensive brands the parts are costly and not as economical to repair. I find that the motorized head is light weight durable and easy on the effort and as opposed to other more heavy attachment, this unit is easier to manuver around. The absents of a swivel hose both at wand and canister puts stress on the hose but tis cheap enough to replace.
Outstanding, quiet, we bought two! My DH did a lot of research on vacuums, looking at the Dysons, the consumer reports best buys (Kenmores), uprights vs. canister to replace our trusted top of the line Hoover bagless upright vacuum.
We don't have pets but do have two asthma sufferers in the household so a good vacuum is important to us. We also wanted something stylish enough that it is nice to look at even when left out in our 130 year old home -- we have an infant who tends to be quite messy so do vacuum around his high chair daily.
The Oxygen 3 is an amazing vacuum. It is very quiet, very light (half the weight of the comparable Consumer Reports best buys, a useful feature for stairs) and extremely stylish. The air that comes out is incredibly clean.
We have a three story house so decided to go with two vacuums, one for the first floor, one for the upper floors. If you do the math, you'll find that a three year supply of bags and filters cost in a busy household cost approximately the same as one new vacuum, so getting a couple of vacuums in which to place all those bags was a smart choice to DH (...).
The vacuum is very sophisticated... it has electronic controls in the handle which make it easy to turn off and on, a blue light in the main foot to show its getting power, and automatic sensors that tell you its working optimally. The results are impressive... deep cleaning of carpets, clean floors, and a dust-free environment. The cord rewind is very smooth, activated simply by putting the handle away. The tools snap neatly into the main arm for easy access.
Its so quiet that the baby thinks its his new toy and loves it when we use it. DH loves it because I used to make him do the vacuuming due to my asthma, but now I can do it myself as well.
The bags and HEPA filter are more expensive compared to the bagless models, but the reality is changing them is a much less messy process and contributes to much cleaner household air. It uses a standard clinic S-bag common to all Electrolux models in recent years so finding replacements is easy (ditto for the W13 Hepa filter, again an Electrolux standard).
The only difference between this model and the Ultra is the foot attachment, and since this one is powered as well and works on all surfaces it was hard for us to justify the extra $100, especially given how light this one is.
Finally, I should add that every other week I have a professional housekeeper come in. She was so impressed with the vacuum she is going to order one herself.
Please note this item also appears here as "Electrolux EL 7000A Oxy3 Canister Vacuum"... searching on Oxy3 instead of Oxygen 3 may get you a better deal direct from Amazon instead of its partners
Great for quick pickups My dog sheds a ton every day and the hair collects in certain corners. I use the 2-in-1 to pick it up without having to haul out the larger vacuum cleaner daily. This product does not pick up solid items, but it is great for dust and pet hair. It has surprisingly powerful suction. The dust cup is a little too small. You have to empty it after one or two uses, but it isn't hard to empty and if you want to, you can use another vacuum to clean it out. Great product overall.
Great Value A really good basic vacuum for a reasonable price. I got tired of replacing my expensive vacuums every year or so, and I decided to buy something less expensive. This one's great. The main downside is that it's a bit loud, but it works very well. The large wheels make it easy to maneuver too.