Black and Decker Cyclonic HEPA DustBuster vs Euro-Pro's Shark Cordless Hand Vac

When it comes to cordless hand vacs, the Black and Decker Dustbuster is a household name. But is their best offering, the Black and Decker Cyclonic HEPA Dustbuster really the best hand vac for the money? Selling for about $40 retail, Euro-Pro’s Shark Cordless Hand Vac is giving the slightly more expensive Black and Decker’s Dustbuster a real challenge. Here's why.

The similarities.
Both the Shark Cordless Hand Vac and the Black and Decker Cyclonic Dustbuster have roughly the same voltage, and as a result, both have superior suction. This isn’t your grandmother’s dustbuster; you’re not going to struggle to suck up the cheerios with either of these handheld vacuums, they’re both pretty powerful. Both cordless hand vacs offer a translucent bowl so that you can see when it’s time to empty the canister. Both products also have brushes and edging tools for those difficult-to-reach corners. They even share a negative trait—both the Black and Decker Cyclonic Dustbuster and the Shark Cordless Hand Vac are heavier than other handheld vacuums of the same type. You can still sling them around easier than you can dig out your upright vacuum, but if you’re vacuuming your furniture, both handheld vacs will give your wrist a workout.

The advantages of the Black and Decker Cyclonic HEPA Dustbuster.
Black and Decker’s Dustbuster is the first hand vac to feature an authentic HEPA filter. It also gives consumers the option of swapping out the battery if they need more vacuum time than a single charge would otherwise allow. The battery life does last at least 15 minutes, which should be long enough to deal with most spills and cleaning jobs. The Black and Decker Cyclonic HEPA Dustbuster also has one unique and handy feature—a filter cleaning wheel that helps improve suction by 80 percent when you’re in the middle of vacuuming and don’t have the time to replace the filter.