The Best Shop Vacs

HOW TO CHOOSE = Here are a few things to think about when shopping for the best shop vacs. Consider your needs – if you do large jobs often, look for a tank of 16 to 20 gallons.

For most households, the smaller 10 to 14 gallon tanks have enough capacity and are easier to store. For cleaning a house or car, 5 gallon tanks are even easier to transport, and the 1.5 to 2 gallon models are the post portable.

The best hose size depends on the jobs you want to perform. I would just go with the larger hoses, in case you need to pick up big chips on occasion. Unless you go with an extra large hose, you shouldn’t feel any diminished suction power.

Look for easy access to the filters in order to facilitate cleaning. Also consider noise levels. These can be noisy – some noisier than others. Listen to them before buying. If the noise is great, but it’s the model you want, think about wearing ear plugs.

Drain valves or spouts make most shop vacs easy to empty, and a pump is even easier to use. In the budget models, you will have to take the lid off and tilt it.

Other conveniences include cord wraps and onboard attachment storage. Shop vacs that double as leaf blowers are not recommended because they are noisy and tend to exhaust more dust while you’re trying to vacuum.

THE REVIEW = Best Shop Vac for all around use is the Ridgid 962-16, which is good for both dry debris and liquids. The 16 gallon tank seems to be a good size for both big and small jobs.

The hose locks in place to make movement easier, and the filter is washable. A drain makes emptying liquids easy, and it comes with a lifetime warranty once registered. This unit has a list price of $140.

Other top performers include:

Best Workshop Vacuum = Bosch AirSweep 3931A @ $400.

Best Budget/Portable Shop Vac = ShopVac AllAround 971-02-00 for $55.

Best price =
Home Depot was close, so you might want to check there as well.

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