Kirby Sentria is one of the most versatile vacuums we've tested. It can work as an upright vacuum, canister vacuum, bare floor cleaner, carpet shampooer, pet cleaner and floor buffer. Most of these functions can be accomplished with the included accessories, although you'll need to buy additional tools to do them all.

The Sentria is an upright vacuum that uses a HEPA filtration bag system, and it works on carpets and bare floors. Unfortunately, it does not have automatic height adjustment, so you must manually set the vacuum to operate on various carpet piles or bare floors. It performs well, thanks to powerful suction that easily clears dust, debris, pet hair and other particles.

It has a surprising number of attachments, including two extension wands, a dusting brush, crevice tool with detachable brush, upholstery nozzle, wall/ceiling brush and attachment hose. There is a handle that can be attached to the vacuum to make it easily portable and a floor brush that allows the vacuum to convert from an upright model to a canister model. One quirky feature that pet enthusiasts may like (although it's yet to be determined how their pets will feel about it) is the massage attachment that allows one to vacuum a pet.

In addition to use as a vacuum, the Kirby Sentria converts to a carpet shampooer. It uses a separate canister for water, as well as a dry shampoo formula that is sprinkled on carpets. There is a shampooer attachment to shampoo stairs and furniture.

The Kirby Sentria is extremely user friendly. It is self-propelled, making it nearly effortless to push. The vacuum bags are easy to remove and replace. Unfortunately, the attachments require diligence to use. They must be stored separately, and then one must learn how to use each one because they aren't intuitive like most simple vacuum attachments. Still, if you're looking for a vacuum that does it all, the Kirby Sentria is a safe bet. It has a longer warranty than most and is constructed of durable materials meant to last for years. We love its powerful suction and it does a great job cleaning floors. If you want a vacuum to do everything from shampooing your car's upholstery to blowing leaves off your lawn to grooming your pet, the Kirby Sentria is worth the price.


Pros: Use on bare floors and carpets, shampoo and buff floors with optional tools
Cons: Price, heavy, lots of attachments to store

Warranty
3 years