To find the best backpack vacuum cleaner, you’ll need to determine the features that are right for you and your home. We recommend that you favor vacuums with high-grade motors that excel on hardwood floors, carpeting, and other surface types. Make sure to also consider hospital-grade bags that trap potentially harmful particles that also feature excellent filtration systems, often with the use of a genuine HEPA filter. When buying a backpack vacuum cleaner always look for a powerful motor, light and portable form factor, and a fantastic filtration system.
The best backpack vacuum cleaner you can buy today is the Hoover Commercial C2401. This high-quality cleaner boasts a wearable harness that was designed by chiropractors and a whole-machine filtration system that includes a high-grade HEPA filter. Keep reading to learn more about other great backpack vacuum cleaners available for purchase as well as the best vacuum cleaners on the market.
Top 10 Best Backpack Vacuums
#1 Hoover Commercial C2401 Backpack Vacuum Cleaner
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Best commercial backpack vacuum with a host of high-end features, including a wearable harness designed by chiropractors, to reduce strain, and a whole-machine filtration system with a HEPA filter.
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- Chiropractor-designed harness
- HEPA filter included
- Locked suction hose stays put during use
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- Not cordless, though power cord is lengthy
- Does not excel on thick carpeting
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The Hoover Commercial C2401 is the best backpack vacuum available for purchase, thanks to a high-grade motor that offers plenty of suction power and a lightweight form factor (9lb) that is easy to wear for long cleaning sessions. The wearable harness was designed by a team of chiropractors and the whole-machine filtration system includes a genuine HEPA filter. We also loved the locked suction hose, which stays put during rigorous cleaning-centric activities. This is a feature all lightweight vacuums should have, like the one you’ll learn about in our ProTeam ProVac FS6 review.
Related: Compare this unit with the best water filtration vacuum cleaners.
This is not a cordless backpack vacuum cleaner, however, though the integrated power cable is rather lengthy at 45 feet long. Additionally, this vacuum is designed to excel on hardwood floors, furniture, linoleum, and tiles, but it doesn’t do a fantastic job with high pile carpeting, though there are attachments available for purchase for this task. You can also consider some of the best cordless vacuums if you need something easy that works great on carpets.
#2 Koblenz BP-1400 Backpack Vacuum Cleaner
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Extremely powerful backpack vac with an 11.5 amp motor and a design that emphasizes noise reduction, making for quiet operation even when operating at the higher settings. Could it possibly be one of the best commercial backpack vacuums?
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- Powerful 11.5 amp motor
- Quiet operation, even on higher settings
- Ships with multitude of tools and attachments
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- On the pricier side
- Slightly heavy, at 11 lb
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The Koblenz BP-1400 is a backpack vacuum with some serious get-up-and-go, thanks to an extremely powerful 11.5 amp motor. We loved the ultra-quiet operation, which stays whisper-quiet even while using the higher speed and power settings, and the fact that it ships with a multitude of useful tools and attachments that include a crevice nozzle, a lengthy hose, and a four-stage filtration system. It could be one of the best quiet vacuums to have.
This is a slightly heavier-than-average backpack vacuum, clocking in at eleven pounds, though the integrated harness and shoulder pads are designed to alleviate tension during use. This is also a relatively expensive model, which is likely due to the high-grade motor. The best bagged vacuums can also get the job done without the heavy bulk if you’d like additional options.
#3 ProTeam ProVac Backpack Vacuum Cleaner
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: High-quality backpack vacuum with a robust feature set that includes a powerful 11.5 amp motor, a four-stage filtration system, and an adjustable harness that helps reduce tension and discomfort.
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- Adjustable FlexFit harness for comfort
- Durable 11.5 amp motor
- Four-tier filtration with HEPA filter
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- Not cordless design
- Ships with attachments, but no power nozzle
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This ProTeam backpack vacuum is a stunning piece of craftsmanship, with an ultra-powerful 11.5 amp motor that excels with commercial-grade messes, thanks to the ability to clean up to 159 CFM. We loved the adjustable FlexFit harness, which includes shoulder pads, for the purposes of reducing discomfort and tension during use. This backpack vac also includes a four-stage filtration system complete with a genuine HEPA filter. If you’re a cleaning business owner, this can be a great option like the best heavy duty commercial vacuum.
This is not a cordless backpack vacuum, though the power cable is lengthy at around 50 feet. Additionally, this vacuum lacks a power nozzle for thorough carpet cleaning, despite shipping with a multitude of other useful attachments, such as extension wands and crevice tools. However, if you’re looking for the best vacuums for laminate floors, it’s a solid option.
#4 Bissell BigGreen BG1001 Backpack Vacuum Cleaner
Award: BEST COMFORT
WHY WE LIKE IT: Design that maximizes comfort, with a light form factor, an adjustable shoulder strap, and a padded waist belt, with a powerful 1,375w motor that can handle extreme messes.
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- Twist-off lid for easy emptying
- Powerful 1375w motor with integrated heat sensor
- Extra-large 10-quart capacity
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- Corded design, though lengthy power cable
- HEPA filtration bags not included
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The Bissell BigGreen BG1001 is built from the ground up to provide as much comfort as possible for lengthy cleaning sessions, with a light form factor, a highly adjustable and padded shoulder strap, and a padded waist belt. We loved the powerful 1,375-watt motor that includes an integrated heat sensor that will automatically power down the motor if the debris canister becomes full. To that end, this model ships with an extra-large ten-quart debris bin, so you likely won’t have to empty it after every use. Although, for a smaller cleaner that you don’t need to carry on your back, you’ll want to check out our Metro vacuum MDV 1BA DataVac pro review.
This is a corded design, however, though the included power cable is lengthy at nearly 50 feet long. Additionally, the bags that ship with this vacuum do not feature genuine HEPA filtration, though HEPA bags are available for purchase. Use it with the best floor cleaner to help keep your floors healthy.
#5 ProTeam Super CoachVac Backpack Vacuum Cleaner
Award: BEST ACCESSORIES
WHY WE LIKE IT: Ships with a bevy of useful attachments and accessories, including a crevice tool, a telescoping wand, a multi-surface floor tool, a dusting brush, and an upholstery tool.
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- Large capacity great for big jobs
- 4 levels of HEPA filtration
- Relatively quiet during use at 66dB
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- Not recommended for high pile carpets
- Not cordless, though power cable is lengthy
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The ProTeam Super CoachVac comes with a bunch of highly useful attachments and accessories, including a crevice tool, a dust brush, a multi-surface floor tool, a telescoping wand, and an upholstery tool, among others. This backpack vacuum offers a generous 10-quart dustbin capacity and a motor that operates quietly during use, at just 66dB. We also loved the multi-level filtration on offer with this model, which does include a genuine HEPA filter for the purposes of eliminating potentially harmful particles. Users of a backpack vacuum will appreciate how much easier it is to move around the house using attachment tools versus using the tools while lugging around an upright vacuum.
Though this vacuum does a great job on both hard and soft surface types, the motor isn’t truly designed for high pile carpets, so take that into consideration. Also, this is a corded design, which does impede portability somewhat, though the power cable is on the lengthy side. Still, it’s a good option if you’re looking for the best vacuums for tile floors.
#6 Prolux 2.0 Backpack Vacuum Cleaner
Award: BEST CORDLESS DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: Impressive cordless design with a pair of integrated lithium batteries that allow for a full hour of use per charge, with a clear dustbin that helps prevent overfilling, thus protecting the motor.
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- Clear dustbin prevents overfilling
- Lightweight design with padded harness
- Self-cleaning HEPA filter
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- Dustbin on smaller side
- 75 CFM on weaker side
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The Prolux 2.0 ships with a pair of high-grade lithium-ion batteries that combine to allow an hour of cleaning per charge. We loved the safety features here as well, with a clear dustbin to prevent overfilling and a thermal bypass valve that further protects the motor if it does become overfilled. This is also a lightweight backpack vacuum cleaner, at around 11 pounds, and comes attached to a comfortable and padded harness.
This may not be a good choice for commercial or industrial-grade applications, however, as the motor only allows for 75 CFM. Additionally, the integrated dustbin is relatively small, at 1.5 liters, though it is large enough to get through extensive cleaning jobs without needing to be emptied. If you’re looking for the best kitchen vacuums to get inside hard-to-reach cabinets and corners, it’s a good option.
#7 Makita XCV10ZX Backpack Vacuum Cleaner
Award: BEST HIGH-TECH
WHY WE LIKE IT: Includes several high-tech innovations, including the ability to auto-start wirelessly via Bluetooth, with a snazzy aqua blue design and an efficient two-stage HEPA filtration system.
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- Aesthetically pleasing retro design
- Dual-stage HEPA filtration system
- Cordless operation
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- On the pricier side
- Lithium batteries not included
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The Makita XCV10ZX is packed with high-tech features, such as a Bluetooth transmitter for wireless functionality. We loved the aesthetically pleasing retro aqua blue design and the dual-stage HEPA filtration system, which works to eliminate 99.97 percent of potentially harmful bacteria and allergens, down to 0.3 microns in size. This backpack vacuum can also operate without the need for a power cord, which significantly increases its portability factor.
Though this best HEPA vacuum can operate without the need for a power cable, it does not actually come with any batteries, so you’ll have to purchase a pair to insert into the model. Also, the high-tech feature set comes at a literal cost, as this is a pricey vacuum. For something with steaming power, our best wet and dry vacuum cleaners buying guide has some great options.
#8 Powr-Flite BP6S Backpack Vacuum Cleaner
Award: BEST VALUE
WHY WE LIKE IT: Value-friendly backpack vac with plenty of innovative features, including a 5-stage HEPA filtration system and a comfortable ergonomically designed shoulder harness.
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- Ergonomic shoulder harness
- Waist belt with integrated storage for accessories
- 5-stage HEPA filtration system
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- Corded design
- Not certified for lead removal
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The Powr-Flite BP6S comes in at a price that should satisfy value-conscious consumers while still retaining a number of fantastic features, such as an ergonomically designed and padded shoulder harness, for comfort, and a waist belt complete with integrated storage pockets for attachments and accessories. We loved the five-stage HEPA filtration system, which works to eliminate 99.97 percent of potentially harmful contaminants.
Though the integrated motor is powerful, with plenty of suction, this commercial backpack vacuum cleaner has not been certified for lead removal, so take that into consideration if you work in an industrial setting. Additionally, this is a corded backpack vacuum cleaner, which may slightly impact portability and transport. You’ll also want the best cleaning cloths to complete the job.
#9 Atrix VACBP1 Backpack Vacuum Cleaner
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: Budget-conscious vac with some robust features, such as a lightweight design and the ability to easily transform into a blower, shipping with a set of three blower nozzles.
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- Lightweight design, at just 10lb
- Belt loop features integrated storage for accessories
- Easily converts into a blower
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- Corded design and power cord is short
- Not rated for harmful materials, such as lead paint
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The Atrix VACBP1 comes in at a budget-friendly price while offering features in line with more expensive competitors, including a lightweight and comfortable design and a handy belt loop that features integrated compartments for the storage of accessories and attachments. To that end, this vacuum does ship with a bevy of useful attachments which include a trio of blower nozzles, for the purposes of transforming this vacuum into an adequate blower.
This is a corded design, which would not be an issue if not for the shorter-than-average power cable length, at just several feet. In other words, invest in an extension cable or two if you are going to be purchasing this vacuum. This model also can serve as a blower for leaves outside. And on the topic of outdoor vacuums and you might have a pond, there are vacuums dedicated to cleaning ponds or you can even create your own pond vacuum DIY.
#10 Dustless Technologies HEPA Backpack Vacuum Cleaner
Award: BEST FILTRATION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Ships with a best-in-class filtration system that includes a true HEPA filter and adhesive sealing bags, making this a great choice for the removal of potentially harmful substances, such as lead paint and silica.
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- Ships with multiple attachments
- Pistol-grip handle for suction control
- Comfortable five-point harness system
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- Corded design
- On the heavier side, at over 20lb
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The Dustless Technologies HEPA Backpack Vacuum Cleaner is designed from the ground up for superior filtration, thanks to adhesive sealing bags, a genuine HEPA filter, and a design that allows consumers to clean the internal components of the vacuum without actually opening it, thanks to an agitator rod. We loved the pistol-grip handle, allowing for maximum control over suction, and the five-point harness system, which is designed for maximum comfort.
Though the harness system will work to reduce discomfort due to prolonged use, this is a heavy backpack vacuum, clocking in at over 20 pounds. Also, this is a corded vacuum, though the power cord is around 50 feet in length. For more HEPA filtration, check out our best air purifier for allergies and dust buying guide.
How We Decided
To help narrow down to the above list, we thoroughly researched backpack vacuum cleaners to ensure they offered plenty of suction power while still remaining comfortable to wear, even during lengthy cleaning sessions. To that end, we preferred vacuums that came with integrated harnesses designed specifically to increase comfort, often featuring padded shoulder straps and waist belts.
We liked backpack vacuum cleaners that were relatively light and easy to transport from room to room and those with innovative safety features, such as clear debris canisters and circuit breakers that automatically power down when the bin becomes too full of trash and debris. We also preferred vacuums with cordless designs, though the corded models are generally more powerful. If a vacuum was corded, we made sure the cable length was long enough to clean multiple rooms in a home without having to switch to a different power outlet.
Filtration was a prime concern as we went about researching these backpack vacuum cleaners. We liked vacuum cleaners with high-grade whole-machine filtration systems, with bonus points awarded if the model featured a genuine HEPA filter. Finally, we liked vacuum cleaners that shipped with a multitude of useful attachments and accessories, including crevice tools, lengthy hoses, dust brushes, extension wands, and more. It’s got great functionality if you need one of the best home appliances products that can take on big jobs.
Best Backpack Vacuum Cleaner Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Comfort and Weight
These are intended as wearable vacuum cleaners, so you are going to want to make sure the form factor is comfortable enough for long cleaning sessions. Look for backpack vacuum cleaners that are lightweight and those that feature integrated harnesses that maximize comfort. These harnesses are often padded, with multiple stress and pressure points to alleviate discomfort. - Motor and Suction
Like vacuum cleaners of all types, the motor is an extremely important consideration. Look for a high-grade motor that offers plenty of suction power across multiple surface types. These vacuum cleaners should be able to excel on hardwood floors, carpeting, rugs, linoleum, and tiles, among other flooring types. Many vacuum cleaners offer the ability to switch up speed and power on the fly, for the purposes of suiting different surfaces. - Additional Features
Modern vacuum cleaners ship with all manner of useful accessories, attachments, and tools. Look for backpack vacuum cleaners that ship with crevice tools, lengthy hoses, dust brushes, extension wands, and much more. Also, you will want to ensure that the vacuum cleaner comes integrated with a multi-stage filtration system, for the purposes of eradicating potentially harmful particles.
