Stick vacuums are popular for those looking for a lightweight and versatile home cleaning solution. Unlike standard vacuums, they are efficient, easy to carry, and best suited for small and medium-sized vacuuming tasks.
To make your hunting process easier, we conducted extensive research to shortlist the best in New Zealand and provide a buying guide to help you make the best decision. Ready? Read on to learn more.
Our Top Picks
If you need to make a quick purchase, here are our top three picks:
Dyson V15 Absolute Detect
Best stick vacuum with 12 kPa (230 AW) maximum suction power, HEPA filter, useful accessories, and excellent battery life for most people.
Samsung Bespoke Jet
Best stick vacuum for allergies with a five-stage air filtration system, True HEPA filter, and useful attachments to eliminate allergens.
Tineco Pure One S12
Best smart stick vacuum with LED display, smart filter, battery and noise optimisation, and app connectivity for real-time reports.
Top 5 Stick Vacuums for New Zealanders
Our in-depth product reviews assess the qualities and features of each of our shortlisted stick vacuum options to help you find which best suits your unique needs.
1. Dyson V15 Detect Absolute
Best Stick Vacuum for Most People
Suction power: 12 kPa
Battery life & recharge time: 70 min, 4.5 hours
Dirt capacity: 0.757 L
Warranty: 5 years
The Dyson V15 Detect Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum is the best overall stick vacuum in New Zealand. As a cordless vacuum, it is portable and can easily be moved from room to room.
It features a powerful motor with a suction power of 12 kPa (230 AW) to tackle various cleaning tasks. It also has two interchangeable cleaner heads: the high torque cleaner head for carpets and the soft roller cleaner head for hard floors, making it ideal for vacuuming various surfaces.
Dyson's stick vacuum provides a conical turbo brush to clean your car's upholstery and a crevice tool to clean corners. Its self-adjusting cleaner head maintains optimal performance regardless of the surface. On the flip side, the device is not wet-compatible and cannot scrub stains on bare floors. For floor-mopping ability, get the Samsung Jet 90 Complete.
The Dyson V15 vacuum has an excellent battery life with up to 70 minutes of runtime on a single charge, so you don't have to worry about running out of juice while cleaning. It is also equipped with several other features like a HEPA filter that helps trap allergens like pet dander, anti-tangle technology, and a built-in LCD that provides real-time feedback on performance. The 3.1 kg stick vacuum comes with a 2-year warranty, three power modes: eco, auto, and boost modes, and includes all essential tools on purchase.
Due to the high suction power, the stick vacuum could displace shag-pile carpets or smaller rugs from their place. It tends to stick to the rugs and makes it difficult to manoeuvre. Besides sucking the dirt and debris, it does a superb job of pet hair suction on a variety of surfaces.
Pros
- Bagless vacuum
- Excellent cleaning abilities
- Lightweight from plastic construction
- Anti-allergy filter (HEPA)
- Dirt sensor to measure debris collected
- No recurring cost
Cons
- Needs periodic cleaning
- Feel fragile in some places
- Not for wet surfaces
2. Samsung Bespoke Jet Elite
Best Stick Vacuum for Allergies
Suction power: 10.9 kPa
Battery life & recharge time: 120 mins, 3.5 hours
Dirt capacity: 0.5 L
Warranty: 1 year
If you are an allergy sufferer, the Samsung Bespoke Jet Cordless Stick Vacuum is your best stick vacuum. It has an advanced five-stage air filtration system that eliminates up to 99.7% of allergens from your home. It uses a True HEPA filter and additional layers like a microfilter to capture and trap microscopic particles such as pet dander, pollen, dust mites, and more. Its miniature turbo brush has a brush roll with cleaning bristles and silicone fins for pet hair.
With a battery life of up to 120 minutes (60 minutes per battery), you can get your home clean in one go. This is ahead of Tineco's 100-minute battery life (also dual battery) and Dyson's 70-minute battery life. The cordless vacuum offers impressive suction power for deep cleaning carpets, rugs, and hard floors. Samsung's Bespoke Jet performs better on high-pile carpets than the Dyson V15. It also beats the latter with its mopping functionality.
On purchase, the device ships with several attachments, including a crevice tool, a dusting brush, and an upholstery brush. The flexible crevice tool, for example, helps you reach hard-to-reach areas like corners or ceiling fans. Its swivel head allows you to manoeuvre into tight corners easily and is equipped with LED lights. Like the Eufy HomeVac H11, the handle of the Bespoke Jet is also ergonomically designed for comfort and convenience.
Samsung's Bespoke is compatible with other useful attachments, which you can purchase separately. These include a slim-action single-brush roll floorhead, a spray-spinning sweeper, a pair of rotating mop pads (either disposable or washable), and a floorhead with a detergent dispersal nozzle.
Pros
- Handy suction
- Multi-stage filtration with 5 filters
- Cleaning station to empty the dustbin
- Jet dual brush-roll floorhead
- Includes a HEPA filter
- Compatible with other attachments
Cons
- Small debris capacity
- Only one year warranty
3. Eufy HomeVac H11 Pure
Best Stick Vacuum for Pet Hair
Suction power: 5.5 kPa
Battery life & recharge time: 13 min, 3.5 hours
Dirt capacity: 0.9 L
Warranty: 1 year
The Eufy HomeVac Cordless is designed for pet hair. It has a specialised brush roll, a strong suction power of 5.5 kPa, and a 2-in-1 crevice tool to clean every corner and soft surface and remove pet dander. The stick vacuum's brush roll effectively picks up pet fur, and its dustbin can hold more pet hair than many cordless vacuums on the market. HomeVac's 0.9-litre dirt capacity is the largest on our list, followed by the Dyson V15's 0.757-litre dirt capacity.
The Eufy HomeVac H11 also has an ozone (O3) purification system that removes odours. For safety reasons, be sure no person or pets are in the immediate vicinity when you use the Ozone purification function. After 15 minutes of deodorising the air, the cleaner will close automatically. You cannot use the ozone purification function and vacuum mode simultaneously.
Eufy's stick vacuum is easy to maintain and clean because its high-efficiency filters are washable. Its 13-minute battery life and lightweight design (0.6 kg) also make it easy to manoeuvre around the house. We found its non-slip ergonomic handle one of the easiest to work with.
Pros
- Easy storage
- Ultra-lightweight and compact
- Dust devouring suction
- Ergonomic design for non-slip handling
- Ozone purification function
- 2-in-1 crevice tool
Cons
- Short battery life
- Average suction power
- No smart functionality
4. Tineco Pure One S12
Best Smart Stick Vacuum
Suction power: 7.8 kPa
Battery life & recharge time: 100 mins, 3.25 hours
Dirt capacity: 0.6 L
Warranty: 2 years
The Tineco Pure One S12 is the best smart stick vacuum available in New Zealand. Its intelligent features and above-average suction power make it perfect for quick clean-ups and deep cleaning jobs on hard floors, carpets, upholstery, stairs, or tiles. The cleaning device has five brush rolls and two crevice tools for manoeuvring around furniture and tight spaces.
The S12 Platinum has automatic and adjustable power settings and runs for up to 100 minutes with dual batteries. You can do more with its long battery life and easy storage capabilities. The S12 Platinum also includes a HEPA filter and an efficient filtration system that traps dust and allergens. The four-stage filtration system captures particles down to 0.3 microns.
Tineco's Platinum cordless vacuum also has a detachable handheld unit and special attachments for car interiors and upholstery, making it easy to clean hard-to-reach areas.
Pros
- LED display
- Lightweight and compact
- Smart rinse-free filter self-cleaning tool
- Smart battery management and noise optimisation
- App connectivity for real-time reports
- Dual charging wall mount
Cons
- Small bin capacity
- No wet compatibility
5. Bissell Featherweight
Best Budget Stick Vacuum (Corded)
Power rating: 2 Amp
Dirt capacity: 0.5 L
Warranty: 1 year
The Bissell Featherweight Corded Stick Vacuum is best for budget-conscious households in New Zealand. This lightweight, corded stick vacuum offers impressive cleaning performance at an unbeatable price.
It offers convenient and effective cleaning for low-pile carpets, stairs, bare floors, countertops, upholstery, and sealed hard floors. Bissell's stick vacuum has a powerful 2A motor capable of tackling dirt or debris on hard floors and carpets. However, its cord is up to 15 feet, so you may need an extension. It's the only corded stick vacuum on our list.
The affordable cleaner also includes a crevice tool and brushes to reach difficult spots and pick up pet hair. Its 2-in-1 design allows it to be converted into a hand vacuum by removing the floor nozzle.
Pros
- Bagless and compact
- Lightweight and easily manoeuvrable
- Excellent pet-hair cleaning ability
- Only a few parts need regular maintenance
- Virtually free of recurring cost
- Easy to maintain
- Affordable
Cons
- No Anti-Allergen (HEPA) filter
- No wet compatibility
- Short power cord (4.5 m)
- Trouble picking up large debris
Types of Stick Vacuums
When shopping for a stick vacuum, you must decide between a corded and cordless version. Each has its pros and cons.
Corded Stick Vacuum
A corded vacuum uses your house’s electricity to operate directly. These vacuums have higher suction power than their counterparts. No need to worry about the battery charging or battery life.
They are much heavier and somewhat difficult to manoeuvre. Unlike small dustbins of cordless vacuums, these vacuums hold around 2 to 3 litres, and you don’t have to empty the trash more often.
Reasons to buy
- Runs on electricity with plenty of cleaning time
- High suction power
- Better filtration systems
- More dust capacity
- Great for homes with allergies
Reasons to avoid
- Need power extension to reach areas that aren’t close to an electrical outlet
- Cords can become tangled making it inconvenient to use
- Heavier than cordless vacuums
- Not as portable as cordless vacuums
- More expensive than cordless vacuums
Cordless Stick Vacuums
Cordless vacuums offer more flexibility in terms of portability and are perfect for quick clean-ups or for cleaning small spaces. Cordless vacuums have a rechargeable battery that you must charge to operate.
Battery life varies from model to model, so check the manufacturer’s specifications before purchasing. Cordless stick vacuums have become increasingly popular in recent years for their portability, convenience, and cost savings.
Reasons to buy
- Lighter and more compact
- Hassle-free cleaning experience
- Ability to move around quickly and easily
- Can reach tight spaces and narrow crevices
- Eliminates the need to keep untangling and manoeuvring around cords
Reasons to avoid
- Can be noisy
- Shorter vacuuming duration
- Battery life gets affected if not used quite often
- Needs regular maintenance
- Most are not wet compatible
Overall Verdict: Corded or Cordless?
Corded vacuums are more powerful but limited in mobility due to the need for an electrical outlet. A corded stick vacuum is the best option for a powerful vacuum with good filtration. However, if portability and ease of use are your priorities, a cordless vacuum is the better choice.
How to Choose the Best Stick Vacuum?
Regardless of the brand and model of the stick vacuum you choose, here are some essential factors to consider before making your purchase. The guide below can also help you evaluate your stick vacuum choice.
#1- Suction Power
Vacuum cleaners with strong suction power are better at removing dirt and debris from carpets and floors. When looking for a stick vacuum, consider the suction power. Look for a high kilo Pascal (kPa) vacuum rating to ensure it can effectively pick up dirt and debris.
Generally, cordless vacuums have less suction power than corded vacuums, but some newer cordless models can offer enough to handle most vacuuming needs.
#2 - Power Operation or Battery Life
Power operation or battery life is an essential factor to consider when selecting a stick vacuum. Some cordless vacuums have a battery life of up to 40 minutes, sufficient for most vacuuming tasks.
While some brands offer long-lasting batteries that last up to two hours, if you plan on using your cordless vacuums for extended periods, invest in one with a long-lasting battery.
#3 - Weight and Manoeuvrability
Consider the vacuum's weight and manoeuvrability. A lightweight and easy-to-handle vacuum will make cleaning less of a chore. The lighter the model, the easier it is to move around and carry upstairs.
Cordless vacuums are usually lighter than their corded counterparts, making them an excellent option for cleaning multiple floors. They also offer greater portability and flexibility since they don’t have a power cord.
#4 - Brush Rolls
If you have pets or a home with many carpets, consider a vacuum with a specialised brush roll designed to effectively remove pet hair and deep-seated dirt.
The brush rolls of some stick vacuums are specifically designed to pick up dirt, pet hair, and other debris from hard floors and carpets. Most models come with an adjustable brush roll that can be raised or lowered to suit different types of surfaces
#5 - Dust bin capacity
Dust bin capacity is another essential factor when buying a stick vacuum. The larger the dustbin, the fewer times you will have to stop and empty it.
Cordless models typically have smaller dust bins than corded models, so you may need to empty them more often. However, this depends on the size of your home and how you usually use your vacuum.
#6 - Price
Cordless vacuums tend to be pricier than their corded counterparts, so if you're on a tight budget, you may want to consider more corded options. Due to their convenience and advanced features, cordless vacuums are more expensive.
However, plenty of affordable options are still available, so you don’t need to break the bank if you’re on a tight budget. Before purchasing, research online and compare prices at different stores to get the best deal possible.
#7 - Additional features
When choosing a cordless vacuum, you should also consider additional features that can make cleaning easier. For example, some cordless vacuums have an LED headlight to help you see better in dark areas. Others have sensors that detect the amount of dust and dirt in the air, allowing you to adjust the suction accordingly.
Some also have HEPA filters, which are great for those with allergies or asthma. They trap particles in the air that would otherwise be released back into the environment. Lastly, specific models have pet-friendly attachments, making cleaning up after your furry friends easier.
Mark Thompson
Wrapping Up
When choosing the best stick vacuum for your home, there are many factors to consider. Considering the suction power, battery life, weight and manoeuvrability, specialised brush rolls, and additional features, you can find a vacuum that will effectively clean your home and make cleaning less of a chore.
For Kiwis looking for the best stick vacuum, we recommend the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute. If that doesn't meet your needs, consider the other options we reviewed. You can't go wrong with any of them.
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