Miele - Triflex HX3 Plus Aqua

I recommend them, but not for whole-house cleaning. However, they’re incredibly handy for spot cleaning. My two favorites are the Miele Triflex HX2, and the Dyson V15 Detect. The HX2 is sturdier, with tighter tolerances, and its airflow on max speed rivals the V15 and Gen5 Detect. The V15’s laser floor head is amazing, and I’ve grown to love it. I bought the extension hose for it, and use it frequently for touch-up work after detailing a car for brief attachment use. However, it’s also worn down considerably and I don’t see it lasting for much longer, maybe another year or two before needing a new battery. The paint has worn off around the cyclone. I am considering buying an HX2 as a replacement when the time comes, but both are good machines. I think the HX3 is a much better deal when getting a discount on a holiday sale day. I prefer the filtration specs, quality feel, and versatility. It has more airflow than the HX1, which I also have. The HX2 is likely better at carpet cleaning and hard flooring while the Dysons are better with tools. You can get a heavy Dyson discount buying a “Dyson Remanufactured” unit from the Dyson Outlet online. The Miele is significantly easier to disassemble for repairs and service, while the Dyson is much more complex with a ton of screws and cheaply fitting trim.

I see the appeal of a stick. I have a V15. It’s about 3 yrs old. It’s primary role is for in-between cleans, small messes. Touch-ups. But, if I am going to vac our main living areas or the entire house, I can get the job done a lot faster with my Miele. If I am going to deep clean the carpet, I don’t pre-vac with my V15. I use my Kirby. If I am going to detail a vehicle, Miele. If I am going to use attachments for deep cleaning, Miele.

Miele Guard S1 (or maybe S1 Junior) is the smallest Miele, which would fit almost all your descriptions. I would recommend the Triflex battery-powered one, though, as it's quite silent and lasts quite a while.

For the most part yes. In my opinion the only two decent cordless vacs are the Miele Triflex and the Riccar one (can’t remember name). Even then, I would recommend a corded canister or even corded upright before I’d recommend a stick vac. In my experience most stick vacs are not made to last longer than a year or maybe two. Just by nature of having a battery they are disposable, and they tend to be cheaply made. You also don’t get the benefits of a bag

The miele / Riccar stick vacs are definitely a step up but still not what i’d consider BIFL. Just the nature of taking batteries kind of limits their lifespan. You can get replacements, but they cost money and aren’t covered under warranty after a period (which is when they die, lol)

If you’re spending 800 on a Dyson just spend that on a Sebo or Miele and you’re good for 10+ years lol

Top contenders: Henry Quick, Miele Duoflex or Triflex, Samsung Jet Bespoke AI, 85 or 75. LG A9 Cord Zero, Shark PowerDetect, Shark Vertex Pro. The Henry, Samsung Bespoke AI and Cord Zero A9 all feature a bagged mechanism of some kind which make them hygienically a step above the rest. The Henry is the only cordless that actually has a bag which is unique to this category.

I love my Miele triflex cats and dog

Vorwerk also has a good cordless one. I had the Miele Triflex before and the Vorwerk tops it for me. But it is also even more pricey.

First a not on self empty systems. They are sort of a gimmick. Firstly, they usually can do a basic empty of the container but they are not effective at cleaning the internal filters of the stick vac, that still has to be done really regularly yourself. And many self empty systems are themselves bagless, which means you have an additional 2 or 3 filters to clean. Bringing the total maintainence burden up to 2 dust containers, 2 mesh screens, and up to 5 or 6 filters you have to clean every couple weeks yourself! In other words, they're often more trouble than they are worth. Secondly, no cordless vac is going to match the suction and durability of a corded vac. With that in mind, and if you're good with it lasting about 5ish years, here's what I'd look at. Models from LG, including their own self empty model which at least uses bags, so there's nothing to clean on the station. Dyson have a pretty poor reputation for reliability now, but if you can tolerate very poor customer support, models like the v11 are still decent. V8 is a good more budget end choice. Miele duoflex or triflex models are great choices too, better quality than the others I think with good performance, but pricy and with fairly small bin capacity. Avoid no-name or bizzarely named models on Amazon, avoid bissell, hoover, dirt devil, shark, tineco, etc.

The mieles have small capacity, you'll be emptying them absolutely constantly. Plus it'll need regular filter cleaning. Otherwise the duoflex is pretty good ive heard, of those issue aren't deal breakers. Any long hair in the house? The Henry quick brushbar wraps hair readily and will need regular cleaning. It's bagged which is good, no filters to clean. You should look at the pet model though if you want extra tools. More budget cordless models are not sufficient as someone's only cleaner, especially not with carpets and pets.

The airstorm, while good, is no better than a miele or sebo. I wouldn't pay the premium. Mieles and sebos are also sealed to trap dust. They are also more modern in design and easier to use (they have cord rewind while the air storm does not). There's nothing really bespoke about the airstorm. Underneath the top shell, the power nozzle is the same as ones avaliable for Miele models. The hose and other tools are generic off-the-shelf supplies etc. While it would probably last you a long time and do a good job, you might resent using it. I'd strongly suggest you try one in person before choosing, and frankly I'd save money and go with a nicer to use miele/sebo.

Miele Triflex. H had a Dyson, and the Miele is FAR better.

Not sure about deals, and definitely not at Costco. We bought one after our Dyson died, night and day difference.

This. I have C3 for full-on big job clean when necessary and the Miele triflex stick for spot cleaning in between.

99% of all vacuum advice questions especially in this sub will lead back to “Get a Miele or Sebo.” In your case I would look at Miele in particular as they have their own line of cordless vacuums which I feel you could really enjoy, even if others may not recommend them, (if you go this route get a Triflex not a Duoflex). As well as their more budget friendly canisters are incredible for hard floors, a Classic C1 Pure Suction or Turbo Team, or C3 Calima (depending on budget and preference) would all be excellent and enjoyable options.