This Bissell Vacuum Is Not Awesome, But Adequate By neonola on Dec 18, 2007 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

I live in an apartment with very little tile, but lots of stairs. A stick vac was just what I needed to clean up small areas where a larger vacuum wouldn't work. Since we're only renting this place for a limited time, I didn't want to spend a lot of money on an appliance I might not need at our next home.

The Bissell 3 Way Bagless stick vacuum is a classic case of getting what you pay for. At just under $20, I had low expectations. This product lived up to them, just.

There are some good things about this vacuum, aside from the super low price. It's lightweight, at just 4 pounds, which is great for cleaning stairs. It converts easily from a stick to handheld to a 'dustbuster' style vacuum..

I have a few problems with this product. The cord is too short. It measures just 15 feet long, too short to make vacuuming stairs easy without using an extension cord. This length is perfect for the bathroom or the kitchen tile, so if those are the types of areas you need a vacuum for, then this is still a good choice.

I have had trouble finding the filters for it. Most just end up cleaning and re-cleaning the original filter. If hand sifting through your vacuumed debris bothers you, either hoard the filters for this model when you find some or skip this product.

The filter hassle makes me think twice when choosing between a broom and dustpan or the Bissell 3 Way Bagless. There are some messes I'd rather not handle, thank you.

Overall, I was left lukewarm about this product. With a slightly higher price to cover improved features, this item would have been a much better product.