Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

(Disclaimer: I really like vacuums. I don't really know why, and no I don't have a weird or inappropriate obsession, I just find vacuums fun). Holy guacamole! This vacuum is AWESOME. I bought this vacuum to use as part of a small cleaning operation I have going on the weekends. It has satisfied my expectations and then some. PROS: -This vacuum is powerful. I spent a good amount of time talking with one of the custodians at work about the pros and cons of different backpack vacuums. I landed on this one for its performance/price. This is not one of the high-priced commercial backpack vacuums but I feel confident that I am getting the same (if not better, in some instances) power and effectiveness out of this vacuum for ~60% of the price. -The vacuum is versatile. The many attachments, the length of the extensions, the way the head swivels, all combine to provide an incredibly easy and thorough vacuuming experience. It is just as easy to vacuum ceilings and vents as it is to vacuum hard floors. One of my favorite applications is as a duster. This vacuum makes dusting certain areas incredibly easy (and I hate dusting). It obviously does not work well for dusting shelves full of objects, but the following areas are great examples: blinds and the part that holds the blinds (don't know what it's called haha), molding, vents, certain light fixtures, under and above cabinets, on and around washer/dryer, etc. -This vacuum has changed my opinion about vacuuming stairs. Vacuuming stairs used to be a tedious, difficult, and frankly annoying job. This vacuum has taken what used to be a 10-20 minute job (depending on the staircase) and turned it into a 2 minute job. -The vacuum design is actually a rather simple one, and as such cleaning it and keeping it clean are very easy. There are no difficult nooks or crannies to work with, and most parts seemed designed to last a long time. -When worn properly, this vacuum is comfortable. CONS: -The vacuum takes some getting used to. Trying to get the vacuum on and comfortable takes time. I figure it's a matter of trial and error. For someone not familiar with using backpack vacuums, it can definitely take some time to learn to navigate smaller areas differently. After a few minutes, especially if you're wearing the vacuum correctly, you can forget that there is a relatively large object attached to your back. I have bumped into a few things this way (not a major deal, just something to think bout). -This vacuum is not designed to clean carpets, and that is obvious. It is awesome at cleaning super-low pile carpets (like those in schools and offices), but anything above that is out of the question. Carpeted applications really require a beater brush and something with wheels, which this vacuum obviously does not have. -This vacuum is NOT a wet vacuum. It is absolutely not designed to pick up liquids and they should definitely be avoided. (As a tip: the custodian I have become friends with has mentioned that pouring baking soda on liquids and then vacuuming up the baking soda works extremely well and helps to navigate around this issue). Overall, the vacuum is amazing for doing what it's intended to do! If you're looking for something to make vacuuming hard floors even easier (whether it's a commercial application or even a household application) then this is the vacuum for you. The fact that it is designed for commercial use means you can feel comfortable using it "outside" on porches, decks, garages, etc.