I have be want to buy a backpack vacuum for a few year now . so this year , I decide to give it a try . we house it 90 % hardwood so a backpack vacuum make a lot of sense . unfortunately , in actual use , it be not as nice as I have hope . pro - not have to drag anything around on the floor be very nice . - the hose hang down from you back so when you let go of the wand -lrb- e.g. while move furniture -rrb- , it be easy to pick the wand back up . - the curved plastic piece at the end of the hose be handy -lrb- e.g. for clean the top of baseboard -rrb- . - long extension cord . con - awkward to put on & wear . of course , put it on only take a few seconds , but you still have to deal with backpack strap and a tight waist band while you be move around . - weight : 10 lb do not seem like a lot , but it be too unwieldy for my wife and kid to use for more than a few minute . - heat : I try it out in the winter and it get fairly hot . I think it would be pretty uncomfortable during hot summer . - emptying : this model can be use with a reusable bag for bag-less operation . however , empty the bag be a fairly unpleasant experience . I be a long time user of Dyson vacuum and find they very easy to empty because there be no filter\/bag involve . with the Hoover , dust & dirt inevitably build up in the reusable back so to really empty it -lrb- to maintain optimum suction -rrb- , you have to really shake the cloth bag and dust fly everywhere -lrb- and you end up breathe a lot -rrb- . you can use it with disposable bag , but I decide year ago that I do not want to pay for disposable bag -lrb- which , for this model , run about $ 1 per bag -rrb- . so in the end , I decide that a backpack vacuum be not for I . perhaps if I be clean a office building , I would feel differently . but for a residential house -- no. . note : there be actually two Hoover backpack model : - c2401-010 -lrb- this model -rrb- be design more for residential use . it include a 1.25 '' hose and straight wand that fit `` regular '' vacuum attachment -lrb- I be able to use my Dyson attachment -rrb- . - c2401 -lrb- also available on Amazon -rrb- be design more for commercial use . it include a larger 1.5 '' hose and curved wand that do not work with other residential vacuum attachment . the wand & attachment be more suitable for a commercial environment .