Product Description

Get the power of an upright in a lightweight and versatile vacuum! The Optima Lightweight Upright features the exclusive Power Paw¿ with Riser Visor® to efficiently clean stairs and upholstery. The comfort grip looped handle has 13 adjustable positions for a sure and comfortable grip. You'll enjoy cleaner indoor air with the HEPA filtration system that captures over 99.9% of dust and allergens.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1418 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Red
• Brand: Eureka
• Model: 437AZ
• Dimensions: 44.00" h x 13.00" w x 15.00" l, 11.40 pounds

Features

• Measures 13 by 15 by 44-1/2-inch; weighs 11-4/5-pound; limited 1-year warranty.
• Includes stretch hose, dusting brush, crevice wand, and power paw attachment for cleaning stairs, upholstery, and vertical surfaces
• 12-Amp motor; rotating motorized brushroll cleans rugs, then switches off to gently vacuum hardwoods
• Hepa filter captures more than 99.9-percent of dust mites, pollen, ragweed, and other allergens
• Lightweight and versatile bagless vacuum combines the performance of an upright with the convenience of a stick

Amazon.com Review
Eliminating the need for two separate vacuums--one for thorough cleaning and one for quick-and-easy touchups--the Eureka Optima has all the power, features, and performance of a conventional upright coupled with the light weight and convenience of a stick. Where the Optima doesn't cut corners is suction: at just under 12 pounds, this machine can out-draw units twice its weight, and its HEPA filter captures more than 99.9% of dust mites, pollen, and other allergens for cleaner indoor air. Its 12-amp dual- motor system devotes one motor to suction and another to turning the rotating brushroll, which can be switched all the way off for gentle cleaning of hardwoods and other delicate surfaces. The unit's bagless construction eliminates the hassle and expense of disposable vacuum cleaner bags, and its comfort-grip looped handle has 13 different adjustable positions customizable to all users in the family, from the shortest to the tallest.

Surprisingly versatile for such an inexpensive machine, the Optima also comes with a decent selection of onboard tools, including a dusting brush and crevice wand as well as Eureka's unique Power Paw. This handheld attachment features a powerful brushroll to remove ground-in dirt and pet hair; its "Riser Visor" shield flips up and down to convert from vertical to horizontal cleaning on surfaces from stairs to upholstery. Suction control allows users to direct power from the floor nozzle to the hose, resulting in a stronger, dedicated airflow in both modes. The Optima isn't perfect: it's a tad loud and the filter does need cleaning, but it represents a unique blend of power, ergonomics, and ease of use at a reasonable price point. And while the unit is rather narrow, its excellent maneuverability and small footprint when stored more than make up for the reduced cleaning path. The Optima comes fully assembled; it measures 13 inches wide by 15 inches long and stands 44-1/2 inches tall and is backed by a one-year parts-and-labor warranty. --Mary Park

Customer Reviews

Excellent vac: mostly pros, with few cons
We have four vacuum cleaners, and it's not because we're neat freaks. It's exactly the opposite. We keep hoping for the one vacuum that will clean our house with the least effort. Each succession of vacuum cleaner gets smaller and smaller, especially after we discovered we can pay our 5-year old 50 cents to clean the carpet. Between this and the Eureka "The Boss Superlite", they're our favorites. Here are some of the real pluses of the system, followed by the negatives:

PROS:
Great suction, especially on fine dust
Very lightweight, our kid (5 years old) can operate it
Retractable handle makes it easy to carry around (we're short people)
Retractable handle makes it easy to store
Inexpensive

CONS:
The HEPA filter attracts dust very quickly and needs to be cleaned each time (is this a plus or a minus?) Anyhow, it's a messy job.
The front face could be a fraction smaller to get under furniture better

Great for In-Between Fast Clean Ups
Overall, it's a really good vac. I wouldn't use this for a whole house, but for a small upstairs or downstairs, or a two bedroom (or smaller) apartment.

The narrow cleaning path is great for going in between tight spaces w/o moving everything around. The 12 amp motor is powerful and has great suction for under $100.

It is constructed pretty well, except for the cheap plastic wheels that feel flimsy and squeak right out of the box.

As with ANY bagless vac, to keep suction strong at all times, you have to clean the filter every single time you use it (especially with pets). If you don't want to be bothered cleaning it every time, then be fair, dont buy this machine and don't give it poor ratings. Get a bagged vac ... or a maid.

For those reviewers who say it died 3 or 4 times - it is not dieing. It is overheating because the filter is not clean. The filter needs to be cleaned every one or two uses, not when the dust bin fills up to the max. The reason it works again is because the motor cooled down.

PROS:
Powerful suction in Floor or Hose mode
Easy to clean
Long stretch hose
Will not tip over when hose is stretched too far
Replacement parts available on Eureka web-site
Filter cleaning every 2 or 3 uses if secondary vac

CONS:
Hose feels flimsy when stretched to full-length
Cleaning the filter is messy - do it outside
Filter must be cleaned frequently if used as primary vac
Front exhaust blows debris in front of cleaner - tilt down

Actually, this is the best vac among 3 vacuums I have.
Pros: Saction power, light weight, good performance on different surfaces (hardwood, tile, carpet, carpetted stair), great value!
Cons: Dirty and cumbersome to clean the filter, noisy

I have 3 vacuum cleaners--large and heavy upright for carpet, cordless stick vac for picker-upper, and Eureka Optima for all-round cleaning. This has the best saction and versatility among all, and for the first time, I feel I can stop my pursuit of a good vac cleaner.

After trying so many cleaners, I now have realistic expectation. Even a good vac has some shorcomings, and you need to know what your priority is. In this case, cleaning the waste bin and filter is very messy and cumbersome. Because Eureka Optima has very good saction, the filter catches so much fine dust very quickly. I need to dust if off almost everytime I vacuum, and it is not fun. However, for me, can-vacuum-anywhere versatility and light weight make up for it.

I recommend Eureka Optima even if this dies on me within one year (which it does not yet). This is not a perfect cleaner, and there is not a perfect cleaner, but a great value for solid performance.