Oreck Vacuums

David Oreck started the company in 1963 to build a light upright for hotel housekeepers, and home sales came later, when those housekeepers asked to buy one. That brief still defines the line. Oreck is now part of Techtronic Floor Care, its main manufacturing has been in Cookeville, Tennessee, and both Elevate models listed here are bagged uprights Oreck says weigh under 10 pounds, with no hose and no onboard tools.

The Elevate Command ($500) and Elevate Conquer ($600) differ in three ways. The Conquer adds swivel steering where the Command has a fixed handle, a 35-foot cord instead of 30, and a HEPA media filter Oreck rates at 99.97 percent where the Command's SELECT system is rated at 99 percent of allergen matter at 5.0 microns. The motor warranty also steps from 5 years to 7. Both have Oreck's two-speed 360 SpinBrush, LED headlights and the SaniSeal bag that closes as it is removed.

Owners of both models keep coming back to the weight: people with back or joint trouble say these are the uprights they can still carry upstairs. Conquer owners report strong carpet pickup and long service lives, while noting that hair wraps the brushroll and that bath mats and light runners get pulled up. The complaint shared across both is that stairs, upholstery and curtains need a second machine. If allergies are the reason for buying, the filtration gap matters more than the steering, so the Conquer is the one to price.

When checked, oreck.com showed both models as sold out, so confirm a dealer has stock and bags before settling on either.