Hoover WindTunnel All-Terrain vs Hoover WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Pet
Quick take: The Hoover WindTunnel All-Terrain costs $18 less.
Which one to buy
Hoover's newer upright is also its cheaper one here. The WindTunnel All-Terrain costs $18 less than the WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Pet and adds the two things the older design is criticized for: a second, front brushroll that owners say finally fixes WindTunnel's fine-debris problem on hard floors, and swivel steering they praise around furniture. It also weighs 16 lbs to the Max Pet's 18 and carries a 5-year warranty against 3.
The Max Pet still has a case for one kind of home. Owners and testers rate its carpet suction well above typical budget uprights, and its HEPA media is paired with a carbon layer that they single out for pet odor. Pet tools come in the box. Its weak spots are hard floors, which are only adequate, a short 27-foot cord, a dated design, and filters that aren't washable and need replacing every 3-6 months in pet-heavy homes.
The All-Terrain's caveat is reliability. Owners describe plastics that feel cheap for a flagship and some failures within months, one unit blowing air out and another tripping a breaker, which is where the longer warranty earns its keep. Neither has a lift-away pod, so stairs are awkward on both, and the All-Terrain isn't a fully sealed system.
Buy the All-Terrain unless pet odor on carpet is the main complaint in your house. In that case the Max Pet's carbon filter is worth the extra $18 and the filter budget.
Hoover WindTunnel All-Terrain
Made for a mix of carpet and hard floor, swivel steering and the 5-year warranty, all for $18 less.
Hoover WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Pet
Worth it if your home is mostly carpet, pet odor is the main problem, and you'll replace its filters every few months.
| Spec | Hoover WindTunnel All-Terrain | Hoover WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Pet |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$181 | ~$199 |
| Type | Upright | Upright |
| Suction | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Battery | Corded | Corded |
| Navigation | — | — |
| Filtration | HEPA media filter (99.95% to 0.3 microns) | HEPA media filter + carbon layer |
| Cordless | No | No |
| Bagged | No | No |
| Noise | — | — |
| Dustbin | 1.5 L | 1.5 qt |
| Water tank | — | — |
| Self-empty dock | No | No |
| Auto mop washing | No | No |
| Hot water washing | No | No |
| Obstacle avoidance | No | No |
| Carpet detection | No | No |
| Auto mop lifting | No | No |
| Multi-floor mapping | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Dimensions | — | — |
| Weight | 16 lbs | 18 lbs |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
Pros & cons
Hoover WindTunnel All-Terrain
- ✓Dual brushroll system finally makes a WindTunnel good on hard floors
- ✓Costs $100-150 less than comparable Shark and Dyson uprights
- ✓Two-speed brushroll and strong direct suction on carpet
- ✓30 ft cord and 7 ft hose give big cleaning reach
- ✓LED headlights and 1.5 L easy-empty dirt cup
- ✓5-year limited warranty
- ✗No lift-away pod — stairs mean carrying the whole 16 lb machine
- ✗Not a fully sealed HEPA system like Shark's Anti-Allergen uprights
- ✗Filter is a 12-month replaceable, not lifetime washable
- ✗No automatic floor-type sensing
- ✗Bulky to store
Hoover WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Pet
- ✓Strong pet-hair pickup on carpet for the price
- ✓13-cyclone system maintains suction as the cup fills
- ✓HEPA + carbon filtration helps with pet dander and odor
- ✓Bottom-release dirt cup for cleaner emptying
- ✓Comes with pet turbo tool, wand, and crevice tool
- ✓5-year motor warranty, longer than most sub-$200 uprights
- ✗No published suction figure (Hoover doesn't disclose AW or similar for this model)
- ✗Weaker on hardwood than on carpet in hands-on testing
- ✗No confirmed swivel steering — maneuvering around furniture is average at best
- ✗18 lbs is heavy for a bagless upright in this price class
- ✗1.5 qt dirt cup needs frequent emptying in a shedding household
Hoover WindTunnel All-Terrain vs Hoover WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Pet: common questions
Is the WindTunnel All-Terrain better than the WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Pet on hardwood?▾
Yes, by owner accounts. The All-Terrain's front roller is credited with fixing the fine-debris scatter older WindTunnels had on hard floors, while owners and testers describe the Max Pet as adequate on hard floors and tuned for carpet.
Does the All-Terrain control pet odor like the Max Pet's carbon filter?▾
The All-Terrain uses a HEPA media filter rated at 99.95% with no carbon layer listed. The Max Pet's carbon layer is the feature its owners single out for odor, so it remains the better choice when smell is the problem.
Which one costs more to keep running?▾
The Max Pet. Owners say its HEPA and carbon filters need replacing every 3-6 months in pet-heavy homes, while the All-Terrain's HEPA filter is a roughly 12-month replacement and its pre-motor filter rinses clean.