Dyson DC21 Stowaway: First Look

This compact canister vacuum excels at cleaning bare floors

Price we paid: $500

Date of Consumer Reports full report: March 2008

What it is. The DC21 is a new canister vacuum from Dyson, a company best known for its upright vacuums. This bagless model uses the same Root Cyclone technology as Dyson’s uprights and features a very compact design: The bin is smaller than that on the upright models and mounted 45 degrees to vertical on large wheels.

What we liked. As the name implies, the Stowaway is designed to take up minimal storage space. To store it, you detach the power head and mount it in a holder, coil the hose twice around the canister dirt bin, and place the wand end in a slot on the side. It takes a while to master coiling the hose, but once you do, you’ve got a very svelte unit—folded up it measures about 14 x 11 x 17½ inches, according to the manufacturer. All of the tools, except the bare-floor attachment, store on the unit, and you can even stand the vacuum upright.

In our initial tests, the Stowaway did an excellent job of cleaning bare floors, and its sustained airflow lends itself well to cleaning with the tools. Its emission levels have been extremely low when vacuuming, and this cleaner does not redistribute any dust it collects back into the air. It also comes with a lifetime, maintenance-free HEPA filter.

What we didn’t like. At 23 pounds, the Stowaway is heavy, especially for its small size. The beefy, gunlike grip and telescoping shaft make the wand heavy even without the power head, so using the tool can be fatiguing. Early tests show that its ability to clean carpets is only mediocre.

Our initial take. The DC21 is a worthy choice if storage space is a premium, but if you want a vacuum with outstanding cleaning power, there are better, less-expensive choices.

Essential information: Look for our full report on vacuums in the March 2008 issue of Consumer Reports. Visit our vacuum page, read our free buying advice, and watch our video shopping guide. And celebrate the 100th anniversary of the vacuum cleaner by reading "A Century of Doing America’s Dirty Work."