Kenmore 600 Series Pet PowerMate Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product Kenmore 600 Series Pet PowerMate | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall | ||||
Price | $350 List $349.99 at Amazon | $80 List $71.22 at Amazon | $83 List $72.99 at Amazon | $400 List $399.99 at Amazon | $80 List $79.00 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Difficult maneuverability and poor cleaning are a bad combination for keeping your home neat and tidy | The perfect solution for those who want a good vacuum for very little money | We think this canister vacuum is one of the best options if you are shopping on a slim budget | Though it has great handling and multiple adjustable features, this expensive vacuum doesn't work as well as we'd hoped | This inexpensive and lightweight vacuum can handle small messes but easily gets overwhelmed |
Rating Categories | Kenmore 600 Series... | Eureka WhirlWind | Eureka Mighty Mite | Kenmore Elite Pet F... | Bissell Zing Bagles... |
Carpet Cleaning (35%) | |||||
Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
Handling (20%) | |||||
Hard Surface (10%) | |||||
Pet Hair (10%) | |||||
Specs | Kenmore 600 Series... | Eureka WhirlWind | Eureka Mighty Mite | Kenmore Elite Pet F... | Bissell Zing Bagles... |
Measured Weight | 22.8 lbs | 11.0 lbs | 9.3 lbs | 24.5 lbs | 9.2 lbs |
Measured Maximum Reach | 40' 6" | 26' 10" | 31' 10" | 37' 4" | 26' 6" |
Manufacturer Capacity | 2.1 L | 3.0 L | 2.8 L | 2.1 L | 2.0 L |
Measured Noise Level | 73 dBA | 68 dBA | 72 dBA | 72 dBA | 72 dBA |
Measured Head Width | 14.25'' | 10.5'' | 10.5'' | 14.75'' | 10.0" |
Measured Hose Suction Power | 74'' | 60'' | 90'' | 74'' | 64'' |
Measured Power Cord Length | 28' | 16' 6" | 19' 6" | 26' | 16' 6" |
Model Number | 81614 | NEN110B | 3670G | 81714 | 2156A |
Dirt Collection | Bag | Bagless | Bag | Bag | Bagless |
HEPA Filter | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Measured Brush Width | 13'' | N/A | N/A | 14'' | N/A |
Variable Suction Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Brush On/Off Switch | Yes | N/A | N/A | Yes | N/A |
Automatic Cord Rewind | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
What sets the Kenmore 600 Series Pet PowerMate apart from other canister vacuums is its incredibly long reach. Its 28-foot cord should also be enough to get you up or down the stairs without having to unplug. This model comes with an adjustable head with which you could change the suction, brush speed, and head height simply by using a slide on the handle. We also enjoyed how this vacuum managed to inhale pet hair, but we had difficulty finding other things to like about this product.
Performance Comparison
Carpet Cleaning
The Kenmore 600 Series Pet PowerMate was, unfortunately, a disappointment when we put it to the test. We rated the 600 Series on how it swept up dry rice, flour, oatmeal, and Cheerios on low and medium-pile carpeting.
When we vacuumed the rice and Cheerios, the debris flung to the sides. No matter what type of carpeting we tested, this vacuum chucked more debris than it picked up. Oatmeal was better, meaning that the Kenmore 600 actually picked up more than half of what we had placed. Of course, it took a few passes to get all the bits and pieces, but it eventually got most of it. This vacuum also left behind lots of flour.
Ease of Use
For this metric, we tested edging, reach, and surface transition. When we attempted to vacuum debris against the edges of the room, the Kenmore 600 Series Pet PowerMate continued to fling debris against the wall. To say that this vacuum failed the edging tests would be an understatement.
The Kenmore 600 Series Pet PowerMate did, however, perform its best in two tests: reach and surface transition. This vacuum stretches out to just over 40 feet. It also has adjustments for height, suction, and an on/off switch for the brush roller, allowing it to easily transition to hard surface cleaning.
Handling
There are three tests in this category: maneuverability, pushing and pulling effort, and stairs. Overall, the maneuverability of the Kenmore 600 Series Pet PowerMate was poor. The swivel head doesn't turn easily — you have to move your whole body around in a circular fashion to make the adjustments, which defeats the purpose of having a swivel head.
Stairs were also difficult. While it's true that this machine has a great ability to reach, the overall weight of 22.8 pounds means that hauling this canister up and down gives you a total body workout.
Hard Surface
Just like our carpet tests, we vacuumed up pounds of rice, cereal, oatmeal, and flour — this time on wooden floorboards. The Kenmore 600 Series Pet PowerMate had an OK performance overall in this metric. This machine did a good job getting all the rice and oatmeal on the hard floors. But, it suffered a bit at picking up Cheerios and flour, as did most other canisters.
If you want a canister vacuum for hard floors, this isn't the worst one out there, but it certainly isn't the best.
Pet Hair
For our pet hair tests, we weighed 50 grams of Fluffy's hair and spread it around on the carpet and flooring. We then made four passes and weighed the amount left over to find the percentage picked up.
The Kenmore 600 Series Pet PowerMate lives up to its name as one of the best canister vacuums for picking up pet hair. It gathered a spectacular 90.60% of pet hair. Since this canister vacuum's head has its own brush roller, it makes picking up pet hair much easier.
Should you buy the Kenmore 600 Series Pet PowerMate?
The Kenmore 600 Series Pet PowerMate has subpar carpet cleaning and lousy handling. If it doesn't clean your carpets well and is clunky to move around, that decreases its worth significantly. But, it does redeem itself somewhat with its stellar pet hair performance. We are stunned by the price of this model compared to its disappointing overall performance. We don't feel that this vacuum has enough redeeming qualities for us to recommend it.
What Other Canister Vacuum Should You Consider?
The Kenmore 600 Series Pet PowerMate excels in picking up pet hair and is relatively easy to use. It has some good qualities, but not many. There are other top canister vacuums in our lineup worth checking out that perform better at a more reasonable price point, such as the Eureka Whirlwind. But, if pet hair is your main concern, the Dyson Big Ball Multi Floor is your vacuum.