Plenty of research on what consumers will buy went into the design of the Optima 431A upright vacuum from Eureka. The Optima 431A is light in weight and bagless, with a brushroll on/off switch, a low price and a novel selling point -- a soft gripped loop handle. This telescopic handle looks like a large "O" and can be adjusted to 13 different positions to accommodate the height and comfort of the user.

Good looking and trendy, the Optima is an inexpensive machine appropriate for a dorm room or a first apartment. It's durable enough for only light vacuuming and is not likely to stand up to the heavy-duty requirements of a family or a large home. The Optima 431A offers a fairly large diameter hose that resists clogging. It detaches from the body of the machine for use with the onboard tools. And while the Optima isn't likely to tip over when using the tools, it's reach with tools is limited by its short hose.

The 431A's cord length of 20 feet is appropriate for this type of lightweight vacuum and should prove adequate for small- to moderate-size rooms. The Optima's price is extremely attractive, making it a likely gift for graduates and bridal showers. While not the best long-term investment, we anticipate lots of these eye-catching models will be sold.


Pros: Bagless with on/off brushroll switch, telescopic handle, inexpensive
Cons: Only for light vacuuming, short reach

Warranty
1 year