Is the Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush good for heavy-shedding pets?

Yes, this is its strongest selling point in owner discussion - multiple owners with heavy-shedding breeds like Malamutes and Maine Coons report the large bag handles months of fur before needing to be changed, far outperforming bagless bins on capacity.

How does it compare to a Miele canister?

Owners position it as a solid budget alternative - not quite matching Miele's build refinement, but delivering comparable cleaning performance and durability, with some units reported running 10 or more years, at a meaningfully lower price.

Is it hard to maneuver around the house?

Some long-term owners find canister-style maneuvering less convenient than an upright or cordless stick - managing the separate hose and body takes more effort, which is the main tradeoff owners weigh against its superior cleaning power.

Does the Ultra Plush nozzle really help on thick carpet?

Yes - owners specifically praise it for preventing the brushroll stall that generic nozzles experience on high-pile plush carpet, leaving carpet looking evenly fluffed rather than matted in spots.

How often do you need to change the bag?

Less often than most competitors according to owners - even in multi-pet households, owners report going many months between bag changes thanks to the large bag capacity, though heavy shedders should still check periodically.

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Canister

~$400

Kenmore

Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 700 Series Canister Vacuum

Name: Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 700 Series Canister Vacuum
Brand: Kenmore
Price: 400 USD
Availability: InStock

This is the Elite trim above the 600 Series canister already in the catalog — same two-motor, sealed-HEPA, motorized Pet PowerMate formula, but with a larger 2.8-liter bag and a retractable 26-foot cord that the 600 Series doesn't offer. The Pet PowerMate is the reason to spend more than a bagless canister here: it's an electrically driven brush, not an air-driven turbine, so it digs embedded pet hair out of carpet the way a real powered nozzle does rather than the way a spinning-off-airflow turbo tool does. Sealed HEPA filtration at 99.97% down to 0.3 microns keeps the allergy case intact, and the four-position height adjustment covers everything from bare floors to thicker rugs. The gaps are the same ones that show up across Kenmore's canister line: only a 1-year warranty, a short-ish included hose relative to a European canister's reach, and proprietary bags as a forever cost. It's also worth knowing this one is best bought direct from Kenmore — Amazon listings for it were inconsistent on price and stock at the time of writing, so the manufacturer's own site is the more reliable place to buy.

Approx. price

~$400

Filtration

Sealed HEPA (99.97% to 0.3 microns)

Best For

Pet owners who want Kenmore's powered-head canister formula with a bit more bag capacity than the 600 Series

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Specifications

Not disclosed

Corded

Sealed HEPA (99.97% to 0.3 microns)

Bagged

Yes

Type

Canister

Dustbin Capacity

2.8 L

App Control

Warranty

1 year

Model

81714

Highlights

Motorized Pet PowerMate — real powered brush, not a turbineSealed HEPA to 0.3 microns2.8 L bag, retractable 26 ft cord

Pros

✓Electrically driven Pet PowerMate digs pet hair out of carpet like a premium powered nozzle
✓Sealed HEPA filtration to 0.3 microns
✓2.8 L bag — larger than the 600 Series canister already in the catalog
✓Retractable 26 ft cord
✓Four height adjustment levels for different floor types
✓Costs a fraction of European powered-head canisters

Cons

✗Only a 1-year warranty
✗Proprietary bags and filters are a recurring cost
✗Amazon listings for this model showed inconsistent pricing and stock status — buy direct from Kenmore instead
✗No published suction figure
✗Canister-drag ergonomics aren't for everyone

Owner Insights(70 discussions)

The Elite Ultra Plush 700 Series is Kenmore's pet-focused, high-pile-carpet canister, and owner sentiment runs strongly positive - roughly 83% favorable in aggregated discussion - almost entirely driven by how well it copes with serious pet shedding. It's positioned as a value alternative to premium European canister brands like Miele, aimed at households that want that level of cleaning without the price tag.

The standout theme across owner reports is bag capacity combined with genuine suction on heavy-shedding pets - Malamute and Maine Coon owners specifically describe bags that fill overwhelmingly with hair rather than needing frequent emptying, a meaningful advantage over bagless bins that clog fast with fur. The Ultra Plush nozzle earns its name, handling thick carpet pile without stalling the brushroll the way generic nozzles do. Where the experience gets more mixed is day-to-day convenience: canister vacuums require managing a separate hose and body, and at least one long-term owner admits reaching for a lighter cordless vacuum more often simply because it's easier to grab, even while rating the Kenmore's actual cleaning performance higher.

It's the right pick for households with serious pet shedding and thick carpet who do full-home cleaning sessions rather than quick touch-ups, and who want Miele-adjacent performance without the price. Buyers who prioritize quick, frequent, grab-and-go cleaning over deep carpet performance should consider a cordless stick instead, even if it means emptying a smaller bin more often.

Pros

+Heavy-shedding pet households are the loudest fans - one owner with a Malamute reported the bag still wasn't full mid-shedding-season, and another with Maine Coon cats found the bag was roughly 80% pet hair after eight months before it needed changing
+Bag capacity is repeatedly called out as far better than bagless uprights for pet owners, meaning fewer mid-clean interruptions to empty a bin
+The Ultra Plush nozzle is specifically designed for high-pile carpet, and owners report fluffy, evenly cleaned carpet without the brushroll stalling that happens on plush pile with lesser nozzles
+The dual-motor system delivers strong, consistent suction across carpet, hard floors, and upholstery
+Owners position it as a genuine value alternative to premium German canisters like Miele, citing comparable durability and performance for less money - some owners report units lasting 10+ years
+HEPA filtration and a fully sealed system are praised by allergy-conscious owners

Cons

−Maneuverability is a recurring complaint - one long-term owner specifically called it 'soooo hard to maneuver' despite loving the cleaning results, eventually reaching for a cordless stick more often out of convenience
−As a canister with a separate hose and body, it's less grab-and-go than an upright or cordless stick, which matters for owners who vacuum in short frequent bursts rather than full-house sessions
−Being a heavier, more deliberate machine, some owners note it sees less regular use than more convenient cordless vacuums, even when they acknowledge its superior cleaning power
−Bag replacement costs are an ongoing expense that bagless competitors don't have, though pet owners note the tradeoff is worth it for capacity