the title say it all . we live in Alaska , we have 4 boy and a long-haired dog , and this vacuum keep up with all of it . Consumer Reports say this vacuum be they ` best buy ' and I 'll add my vote to that . it be a awesome vacuum . I be so thrill to have it ! pro \* hepa filter \* bag -lrb- I may have to buy refill , but they be so much less messy than my bagless dustbuster ... and amazon have the bag so I just order a package with the vacuum . -rrb- \* 12 amp engine ' \* it suck like no vacuum I have ever use -- not my mom 's , not my mother-in-law 's , not my father-in-law 's shop vac , not the industrial one we use when clean the church ... I be use the hose to clean up my sewing area the other day and it pick up thread jumble and fair-sized fabric scrap without hesitation . I have warn the boy that if they do not pick up they lego or marble they will undoubtedly be eat by the vacuum ... if the intake be large enough , I think it might suck up whole article of clothing or possibly small child . \* it work beautifully on we tall carpet , short carpet , and bare floor . I do not see any dog hair leave behind , and especially the first time I use it I could hear the dirt woosh up the tube . it be quite satisfying actually . we -lrb- far-from-new rental-apartment -rrb- carpet look plusher and feel softer than it do when we move in . I would not hesitate to believe that this vacuum can extend the life of we carpeting . \* the `` power paw '' -lrb- a hose attachment with a rolling brush like the main vacuum -rrb- take all the hair off my dog 's bed . I have vacuum over that bed so many time , run the cover through the wash machine , and even just take the whole thing out and beat it ... I be fairly certain it have not be this clean since the day we bring it home . I think the paw be mean to be use on couch and upholstery , but we dog stay off the furniture so I have not test that application yet . \* this may seem silly , but I really like that the handle be a loop rather than a stick ... it make it easy to pull around -lrb- since I do not want to lift it -rrb- and it be easier to hold for the back and forth motion of vacuum ... I have have a vacuum fly right out of my hand on the forward motion before -lrb- please tell I I be not the only one who be do that ! -rrb- but that can not happen with the loop handle . con \* Yep , it be heavy . I would not want to haul it up and down stair on a regular basis . SO , if I ever have a house with stair , I will probably just buy a second smartboss for the other floor . \* the location of the power switch be a bit inconvenient for regular vacuuming . -lrb- it be down on the top part of the body , rather than up on the handle . -rrb- it mean I can not switch it on with the same hand I be ` drive ' with ... it be not a issue when use the hose , but it be sortof a hassle . this be the one thing that actually do bug I about this machine . \* as for the noise question ? well , I have definitely hear louder ... but the very first time I use it I be excitedly vacuum away in the bedroom and when I come out I find that my toddler have fall asleep on the couch ... so it must not be that loud !!