Shark Upright Vacuum

It depends on who's pushing it. The ZU503AMZ weighs 15 lb, and opinions split: some find it light and easy on the back, while smaller users often find it on the heavy side, especially when lifting it. The Lift-Away pod helps on stairs, since you carry the pod rather than the whole upright.

Well. The ZU503AMZ pulls dog and cat hair, scattered cat litter and other debris off carpet and tile in one pass, and the upholstery tool takes hair off couches. Homes with shedding pets are where this upright earns its keep.

Pet hair mostly doesn't, long hair can. The self-cleaning brushroll on the ZU503AMZ keeps most dog and cat hair from winding around it, but long human hair and string can still wrap. Check the roll every so often if anyone in the house has long hair.

Awkward for the first few cleans, then easy. The swivel steering on the ZU503AMZ takes a little getting used to, and after that it turns easily into corners and around chair and table legs. It's the main reason this upright doesn't feel clumsy around furniture.

For average rooms, yes. In a large room the ZU503AMZ's cord can come up short, so you'll switch outlets partway through, while in a normal-sized room it reaches into the next one. Plan your plug points if you have a big open-plan space.

An upholstery tool and a pet crevice tool. The Lift-Away pod detaches from the upright for stairs, furniture and cleaning under low pieces, and a HEPA filter works with the sealed system to keep dust inside the vacuum.