Bissell Featherweight 2033

Should you buy the Bissell Featherweight 2033?

The Bissell Featherweight 2033 is the $39.98 corded stick for someone who wants a quick-grab electric broom for hard floors, crumbs, and stairs, and does not want a battery to manage. It weighs under 3 lb, converts to a handheld, and has no motorized brushroll, so it is not a carpet cleaner. It replaces the discontinued 3190A. If you need real carpet performance, the Shark IX141 at $169 is the next step up; for a hard-floor apartment, this is hard to argue with.

Where it earns its score

• Reliability is the standout at 92. The highest Reliability score in the category; a corded motor with almost nothing to wear out.
• Value of 90. Nearly the best Value score among stick vacuums, and by far the cheapest way to get one.
• Under 3 lb. Light enough to carry up stairs in one hand.
• No battery to die. Corded means full power every time, for as many years as the motor lasts.

What to know first

• Features score is 50. The lowest in the category; no brushroll, no headlights, no cordless freedom.
• Not for carpet. Without a motorized brushroll, it only skims the surface of rugs.
• Quality is 70. Lightweight plastics and a small dirt cup match the price.
• The cord limits reach. You will be swapping outlets in a larger home.

Questions buyers ask