We never imagined we'd use the words "sporty" and "vacuum" in the same sentence, but the Bissell Zing Portable Canister Vacuum 7100 is certainly an exception. It has a compact, space-saving design that is chicly outfitted in a cherry red, and it's so good looking that we're tempted to leave it in the middle of the living room instead of hiding it in a storage closet.

This canister-style vacuum has a 6-foot hose that provides adequate reach. When the vacuum needs to be moved, it is pleasantly lightweight and equipped with two large rear wheels to make rolling easy. The wide head on the hose attachment offers plenty of coverage, and during our testing we discovered that the Bissell Zing performed well on a variety of carpet styles. It successfully pulled dust and dirt particles out of carpets, but struggled with removing pet hair. The Bissell Zing comes with the usual attachments, including a combination crevice tool and dusting brush attachment and a telescoping wand. Perhaps the best feature is the Bissell Zing's price. It is an affordable canister vacuum that performs well as a lightweight, upright vacuum. Plus, it has a few nice touches, such as a 15-foot cord with automatic rewind and an indicator light to let one know when the bag is full. The initial purchase includes six replacement bags. While one should plan to budget a few extra dollars for vacuum bags, that's not the case when it comes to the vacuum's filters. The Bissell Zing comes with five reusable filters that can be washed every few months, or as needed.

While the Bissell Zing Portable Canister Vacuum is a solid performer, it probably isn't the best choice if you need a heavy-duty vacuum that can handle big messes or pet hair. However, if you need a lightweight, inexpensive, portable vacuum, the Bissell Zing is a safe bet.


Pros: Full bag indicator light, reusable filters, price
Cons: Doesn't pick up pet hair very well

Warranty
1 year, limited