Please weigh in. The ultimate vacuum cleaner? Yet another comment from visiting family about our shedding rugs... Experiences/opinions gladly sought!

[Rainbunny]

I'm fed up with my cheap duo vacuum cleaner/floor steamer (they perform 50% of the time on both tasks) and I have concluded that I'd be happier with a seriously hardcore vacuum cleaner that can handle the constant onslaught of fuzz from our rugs and then I could buy a separate floor steamer. We have a mix of hardwood floors, rugs and carpeted floors. I would love to hear from anyone who has good recommendations. I'm overseas so Dyson is the only "British" brand that I can get. Is Dyson worth it, does that brand live up expectations?

Our repair man said don't touch Dysons - made with the cheapest of the cheap components. He recommends Sebo as well, if you can find them, otherwise you won't go wrong with a Miele.

I love my Henry - he may be a little bulky, and not so streamlined but in the 18 years I've had him chugging along reliably dealing with the output from 3 hairy dogs my mum has gone through 2 Dysons and several other cheaper makes!
I'm just about to buy another Henry!

I have had a wide range of vacuums from Dyson to cheap hovers nothing has been built for the job. I have just bought a Henry and will never go back to a cyclone - I absolutely love me Henry it is quiet, powerful, indestructible and just seems strong and we'll designed. It was £ 87 !!!

We binned our pet hair model Dyson in favour of a Henry. Haven't looked back. Fecking things fall over all the time but the cord is super long which is great.

Yes the cord is incredible!

I have a roomba because I'm too posh to push(or fucking lazy). I love it, I just need to empty it and clean the rollers and let it do its thing. It copes moving between tiled floors, rugs and carpets.

I've had Miele, 2xDyson and used Henrys and by far, the best vacuum we've ever had is the Shark. It is wonderful. So practical, powerful and well thought out. I love it.

Miele Cat and Dog. Looks bog-standard, but it's fantastic.

I finally persuaded dh to let me buy a robot vacuum cleaner this weekend (it's a Pifco), and it's currently shut in the dining room and front room, beavering away to pick up the shed fur from two big dogs and one bastard cat (CatBastard is so nicknamed because of his habit of biting you if he thinks you have stroked him too much/not enough/the wrong way). I will report back on its efficiency - but I like it already, because I am at the PC, MNing and FBing, whilst the robot does the work!

I love my miele but I think I need a robot vacuum in my life.

I have had to go and rescue him three times so far - he got stuck under the tv unit, in the corner between the dining chair and a cabinet, and against the conservatory door. He does seem to be picking up the pet hair, though.

Henry is cheap, large, and has a super long cord, but all the brush/ nozzle attachments are rubbish and fall off.
I swear by my Miele. We bought the cheaper bog standard one and 15 years later it still eats up the dirt. It copes with cat hair, my hair, and can be used on the settees, rugs, tiles, light fittings, anything. You can adjust the suction and the nozzles and brushes store inside the lid.

There was a thread, recently, about things MNers hated - and Henry came in for a disproportionately large amount of the hate!

Sebo. German. Mine's 13 years old and still going strong.

I had a Henry for a while

It worked well but drove me mad. Kept falling over, getting caught on door frames, the metal tube fell off, all the nozzle bits fell off.

I really want a Roomba

Thanks for the feedback everyone! So an informal majority recommend Miele vacuums. That's great information! I'm in the USA and according to Amazon the Miele cat and dog vacuum is $950 dollars! They have other models around the $400-$500 mark as well. Well the reviews posted here are good enough that I can see investing in a Miele might be worth it but I must admit the price tag is a bit of a shock!

I detested my Miele and regularly kicked it. I stroke the Shark in a slightly weird, loving way.

Miele

Over the years we've had Dyson, Vax, Henry and even Hotpoint vacuum cleaners and none of them compare to Miele. Ours is about 3yrs old and is still as good as on the first day.

I have a Miele, it's brilliant.

Henry.

Without a bag (Rock an' roll! )

Seriously, the most powerful suck you'll get is a Henry without a bag in it. I've used loads of different vacum cleaners.

There's still the fabric filter between the motor and the plastic body where the muck gathers so i don't see the point of the bag anyway. Yes he rolls dramatically over if you pull him too hard, and yes he's not the most space saving article - but by god he does the job. Plus i've had mine 10 years plus (dogs cats in the house) with no issue.

I've actually hoover outside the house with him too.

I recently switched from a dyson to a miele c3 cat and dog, it's amazing. So powerful it actually lifts the carpet. I have to turn the power right down otherwise I can't push it across the floor.

Henry Hoover

My last Miele didn't last as long as the previous one. Sebo is very effective, robust, has a nice long cord and big bags so you're not having to replace them too often.

I think you have to factor price into buying a vacuum! Henry is £87. A Miele might be good but it is very expensive.