I tested a whole bunch of vacuums, and these are the best lightweight options

Date:
Thu, 27 Nov 2025 21:12:10 +0000

Description:
If you're seeking cleaning that isn't a workout, step this way.

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If you're cleaning in nooks and crannies or up and down stairs, you'll appreciate a lightweight vacuum that's easy to maneuver. I'm TechRadar's
Homes Editor for floorcare, and I've tested vacuum cleaners of all shapes, sizes, and weights, including a recent mega group test to find the best cordless vacuum on the market.

Based on my experiences, my #1 lightweight vacuum recommendation is the Shark Detect Pro . This vac is almost absurdly light and very compact in handheld mode it's teeny-tiny. Unfortunately, Shark rather unhelpfully seems to be discontinuing it, so it's hard to get hold of, although I have found one listing in the US . (Note, too: Shark has lots of similarly-named vacuums, so beware impostors.)

Which brings me to my second lightweight recommendation: Dreame R20 . It's a smidge heavier than the Detect Pro but still impressively light thanks in part to a featherweight carbon fiber wand. It's also extremely nimble and
easy to maneuver, and delivers better cleaning than the Detect Pro, too.

Before I get into more detail about these two lightweight vacuums, a quick note about buying. We're in the midst of the Black Friday sales, and there
are especially strong vacuum deals. Take a look at the best prices below. Today's best deals

For more bargains, head to my round-up of the best Black Friday vacuum deals
.

There's over $150 off the Dreame R20 in the US, which is a 51% mark-down on sticker price, and a new lowest-ever price for this vacuum. The R20 is an excellent all-rounder that'll suit most people's needs it's lightweight and nimble, with useful automatic suction adjustment and plenty of well-designed detail tools. View Deal

There's over 50 off the R20 cordless, which takes it to a new lowest-ever price. This vacuums is lightweight and comfortable to use, with effective cleaning and useful extra features, such as automatic suction adjustment. A very impressive all-rounder, for a very affordable price. View Deal

There's $66 off the Detect Pro at Walmart, which is a very decent discount.
It looks like Shark might be discontinuing the Detect Pro, because I can't find it available anywhere else so it might be worth snapping it up while
you can. View Deal Shark Detect Pro and Dreame R20: what you need to know

The Detect Pro is extremely lightweight and svelte, even for a cordless stick vacuum. It's also very comfortable to use, thanks to a rubberized grip and shaping on the handle. With the wands and main floorheads attached, the
Detect Pro and R20 are a very similar weight, but in handheld mode the Detect Pro is much lighter. That's partly due to a smaller dust cup (beware: it really is rather small, and will need regular emptying).

You'll switch the Shark Detect Pro on and off using a one-press button on the main part of the machine it's not reachable from the handle, so you'll have to have your other hand free at all times, which can be a little annoying.

This vacuum achieved decent scores in my cleaning tests on medium-pile carpet and hard floors, although it struggled with pet hair and deep-pile carpet. As a very general rule of thumb, the heavier the vacuum, the more suction it tends to have, and I wouldn't recommend either of these lightweight vacs to homes with tough cleaning challenges my best vacuum ranking has plenty of alternatives. (Image credit: Future)

Moving on to the Dreame R20. This vacuum earned the best overall score in my group test, and is a very strong all-rounder. It lacks the padding and
shaping that made the Detect Pro such a dream (no pun intended) to use, but
on the plus side you won't need to keep a hand free to turn it on and off, because there's a trigger. Dreame has also added a button to lock the machine for continual running when needed.

The cleaning performance was good too, earning decent scores across the board in my suction tests. I was especially impressed with how well the mini motorized tool cleared pet hair from a velvet cushion. A potential bonus is the addition of a second, soft head that'll buff and clean hard flooring without risking potential scratches. (Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro

Dreame R20

Weight (w/ wand and main floorhead):

6 lbs / 2.72kg

6.04 lbs / 2.74kg

Weight (no attachments):

2.82 lbs / 1.28kg

3.84 lbs / 1.74kg

Main floorhead width:

10.43 in / 26.5cm

10.16 in / 25.8cm

Bin capacity:

0.4L

0.6 L



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/home/vacuums/i-tested-a-whole-bunch-of-vacuums-and-t hese-are-the-best-lightweight-options


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