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Ultra Lightweight Cordless Vacuum Showdown: Kenmore DS1030 vs. Bissell Featherweight

If you’re in the market for a cordless vacuum that’s not only lightweight but also performs excellently on both hard floors and carpets, you might be considering the Kenmore DS1030 and the Bissell 3061 Featherweight. We bought both of these budget-friendly, bestselling cordless vacuums and put them through various evaluations to determine which one is better and in this review we will go over our results.

The Basics At-A-Glance

When it comes to lightweight vacuums, this particular style is the way to go, in our opinion. Not only is the overall weight lighter than most cordless stick vacuums, but unlike models such as Dyson’s, where all of their weight is in the handle, these two are styled more like an upright vacuum with their weight distributed evenly. This significantly reduces the actual weight on your arm when pushing.

Dyson vacuums lined up side by side contrasted to two stick vacuums to show the differences in how weight is distributed.
Dyson cordless vacuums carry their weight up high, compared to the Kenmore and Bissel with their weight more evenly distributed. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

Both models also feature a handheld vacuum that can easily be removed from the base for above-floor cleaning jobs and come with attachments for this purpose as well.

Best Lightweight
Kenmore DS1030
$119.99 $107.96

The Kenmore DS1030 is a top pick for anyone seeking a powerful yet lightweight cordless vacuum. This model excels with its dual power settings, allowing you to toggle between low and max power modes, which not only enhances its efficiency on various surfaces but also boosts its deep-cleaning capabilities, particularly on carpets. In our tests, it consistently outperformed its competitors in suction power and battery life within its price range, offering up to 45 minutes of runtime on its low setting. Additionally, its innovative Easy Cut nozzle is a standout feature, adeptly handling hair tangles with ease. The added convenience of LED lights on the floorhead improves visibility in low-light conditions. Overall, the Kenmore DS1030 combines functionality, power, and thoughtful design, making it a superior choice in the budget-friendly segment of cordless stick vacuums.

Pros:
  • Lightweight
  • Versatile floor-to-handheld
  • Active hair removal
  • Effective on various surfaces
  • Long runtime
  • LED lights
  • Affordable
Cons:
  • Basic features
  • Basic filtration
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11/01/2024 08:20 pm GMT
Great for Compact Spaces
Bissell Featherweight
$128.74

The Bissell FeatherWeight Cordless Stick Vacuum 3061 emerges as an exceptional choice for anyone looking for the best stick vacuum for small spaces. This cordless cleaner is not just lightweight and easy to store, but it also performs impressively on both hard floors and carpets, ensuring a thorough clean regardless of surface type. Its unique handle design folds down for easy storage, which is invaluable in space-constrained settings. Moreover, the Bissell Featherweight is versatile enough to switch from floor vacuum to a handheld device, enhancing its utility for above-floor cleaning. Its capability to pick up large debris on hard floors and carpets, thanks to the spinning brush roll, truly sets it apart from other models in its category. For those prioritizing a mix of affordability, convenience, and effective cleaning in a vacuum cleaner, the Bissell FeatherWeight Cordless offers an unbeatable solution in the budget-friendly segment.

Pros:
  • Lightweight, easy storage
  • Versatile floor-to-handheld
  • Effective on various surfaces
  • Affordable
  • Foldable handle design
Cons:
  • Short battery life
  • Long charge time
  • Basic filtration
  • Cumbersome dustbin management
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11/01/2024 08:20 pm GMT

Power and Performance

Starting with the power, the Kenmore has two power settingsโ€”low and max powerโ€”while the Bissell only has one power setting. In our airflow and sealed suction tests, the Kenmore was quite a bit more powerful than the Bissell in both cases. This was also true in the more practical power tests like the unsealed suction test, where the Kenmore again performed significantly better than the Bissell.

Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum Airflow and Suction

In our testing, the Kenmore DS1030 showcased its superior power with two settingsโ€”low and maxโ€”providing robust suction that outperformed the Bissell, which operates with a single power mode. This was evident in our sealed suction and unsealed suction tests, where Kenmore consistently led. Both vacuums performed admirably in carpet deep clean tests, with Kenmore slightly edging out Bissell, making it a strong candidate for the best stick vacuum in terms of raw power.

In the carpet deep clean test, which determines how good they are at picking up deeply embedded debris like sand in carpets, both vacuums performed admirably, with Kenmore slightly edging out Bissell, making it a strong candidate for the best stick vacuum in terms of raw power.

Debris Pickup

A critical aspect of any vacuum cleaner review is its ability to handle various debris types. Both vacuums excelled on carpets, handling everything from fine to extra-large debris effortlessly. On hard floors, while both were effective at collecting fine and medium debris, the Bissellโ€™s design allowed it to pick up larger debris like Cheeriosโ€”a task where the Kenmore faltered due to its shallower gates, which are optimized for carpet performance.

The Bissell featherweight and Kenmore DS1030 cordless stick vacuums picking up debris on hard floor and carpet.
The Bissell Featherweight and Kenmore DS1030 cordless stick vacuums picking up debris on hard floor and carpet. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

Battery Life and Filtration

Battery performance is key in cordless vacuum comparisons. The Kenmore offers up to 45 minutes of cleaning in its low power setting and 15-20 minutes in max power, surpassing the Bissellโ€™s 20 minutes of runtime. Neither model features sealed HEPA filtration, but Kenmore’s superior performance in our fog tests gave it an edge in overall air quality management.

Observing filtration effectiveness of the Kenmore DS1030 and Bissell Featherweight cordless stick vacuums.
We observed that the Kenmore DS1030 had better filtration than the Bissell Featherweight cordless stick vacuum. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

Features and Attachments

Regarding special features and attachments, each vacuum has its perks. The Bissell Featherweight boasts a pivoting wand for easy under-furniture cleaning and compact storage. Meanwhile, Kenmore introduces an innovative Easy Cut nozzle for hassle-free hair removal from the brush roll and includes LED lights for better visibility, making it the more feature-rich option.

The Bissell Featherweight folds for usabillity and storage, and the Kenmore DS1030 cuts hair from the brushroll.
We like how the Bissell featherweight folds and the Kenmore DS1030 lets the user cut hair away from the brushroll. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

Quick Features at a Glance

Kenmore DS1030Bissell Featherweight
Run timeUp to 45 minUp to 20 Min
Storage Storage BaseFolds Compact
Folding HandleNoYes
Handheld ModeYesYes
Hair RemovalYesNo
AttachmentsCrevice tool, dusting brush, a 2-in-1 combination toolCrevice tool, upholstery, turbo brush
LED HeadlightsYesNo

Conclusion

After thorough testing and evaluation, the Kenmore DS1030 emerges as the slightly better choice in this ultra-lightweight vacuum showdown, thanks to its superior power, better filtration, and more versatile features. It offers great value for anyone prioritizing lightweight and ease of use in a vacuum cleaner.

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Home โ€ข Bissell Reviews โ€ข Ultra Lightweight Cordless Vacuum Showdown: Kenmore DS1030 vs. Bissell Featherweight

Christopher White

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Christopher White CEO
Christopher White is the CEO of Vacuum Wars, the premier YouTube channel dedicated to vacuum cleaner reviews. Over the past eight years, Vacuum Wars has become a trusted resource, meticulously reviewing hundreds of robot vacuums, cordless vacuums, carpet cleaners, and various floor care products. Known for their comprehensive in-house testing, Vacuum Wars has built one of the most extensive databases of vacuum cleaner metrics available. Under Christopherโ€™s leadership, the channel has maintained a strict no-sponsorship policy, ensuring that all reviews remain unbiased and trustworthy. This dedication to integrity has garnered a loyal following of over 300,000 subscribers who rely on their expert advice. Christopher is also a recognized authority on robot vacuums, boasting one of the largest private collections of these devices worldwide. Learn more.

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