i am a proud owner of an Oreck! I bought it in 2003 and loved it from the moment I brought it home!!! I tell everyone to buy an Oreck. The suction is great & and Love the lightness of it. One of the reason I decided on the Oreck. I didn't want to have to buy 2 vaccummes because a traditional is too heavy to carry up and down the stairs. I don't think twice about carrying it upstairs or even vacumming the stairs with it.
the canister is great. Has a handy strap on it and easy to carry around with you. The suction is wonderful as well.
Another thing that I love about it is that I have Oreck stores to go to if there is a problem. Mine has a 10 year warrently, bumper to bumper and came with 10 years of free service as far as a yearly cleaning and belt changes. Every january, I walk it into an Oreck store for its' cleaning. They in return loan me a loaner Oreck so I don't go without a vacuum. 2 days later they call and it's ready for pick up.
I have been very pleased with the service I've received at the various stores I have used in the past.
I tested a lot of vacuumes in the stores and when I went to an oreck and tried it out. I knew right then and there that was the one for me.
Stop by a store and see for yourself!
Tammy