Vacuums: our tests show several standouts and some big names to skip.(LAB TESTS)(Product/service evaluation)

UPRIGHT VACUUMS might clean up in sales, but the latest canisters are rivaling them in performance. Youll also find good smaller vacs for smaller messes. But some versions of Dirt Devils handheld Kone make some everyday cleaning risky, and weve judged them Not Acceptable as a result.

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Our latest tests show that Kenmores new Intuition 28014 has edged out the Electrolux Oxygen EL6988 as our top-scoring canister. Impressive carpet cleaning and the ability to simply lift the wand out of the power head for bare floors helped it clinch the top spot in our Ratings. A cage that keeps the bag from blocking the exhaust port is also a plus. But at $600 and 26 pounds, its pricey and heavy.

Stick vacs, sweepers, and handheld models oer easier carrying and storage for less money. Most we tested weigh under 5 pounds and cost less than $100. Sweepers, which use motorized brushes without suction, and handheld vacuums were also relatively good at whisking away cereal and other spills too small to warrant hauling out your full-sized vac. But most flubbed at least one of our rigorous tests.

Our tests found problems with some versions of Dirt Devils best-selling hand-held Kone M0213, $45, and the similar Kone M0212, $43. Test samples spewed sand and broken glass out of their exhaust ports and toward the faces and eyes of our testers. (See Safety Alert on facing page.)

Some upright and canister brands are touting easier handling and versatility. Youll also find robotic vacs that promise to do your cleaning for you, along with models aimed specifically at bare floors or pet hair. But our tests of more than 80 models sucked the air out of some of those promises. Here are the details:

Designs that trump performance. Dysons DC24 upright, $400, is a smaller update of its swiveling-ball design. Twisting the handle steers the ball-mounted power head for easy maneuvering. But carpet cleaning was mediocre, and airflow for tools proved meager. Eurekas Capture+ upright, $170, has a brush that extends to the sides for cleaning edges, though it didnt stand out on bare floors. And while Bissels Pet Hair Eraser upright, $150, delivers the pet-hair pickup it suggests, it was less impressive at other tasks.