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Pro Tool Reviews
protoolreviews.com › home › best shop vac and wet-dry vacuums: expert picks
Best Shop Vac and Wet-Dry Vacuums: Expert Picks - Pro Tool Reviews
June 30, 2025 - Stihl launched a couple of new cordless vacs, and the SEA 100 on the AP battery system has the performance to be a replacement for your corded unit. Its relatively small size and low weight (20.5 pounds with an AP 300 battery) make it a great ...
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The Spruce
thespruce.com › best-shop-vacs-4151284
We Tested 25 Shop Vacs, and These Are the Best for Quick Cleanup
August 13, 2025 - This battery-powered wet/dry vacuum is our best portable shop vac recommendation because it's lightweight but more than powerful enough to tackle messes on various surfaces around our home.
People also ask

What's the difference between a shop vac and a vacuum cleaner?

Shop vacs provide more cleaning power and are often sturdier than typical vacuum cleaners. That’s because they’re typically used for bigger, more serious messes. A shop vac is great for cleaning up emergency leaks in your home or large quantities of dirt and debris.

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cnn.com
cnn.com › reviews
The best shop vacs in 2026, tried and tested | CNN Underscored
How do I use a shop vac for water?

Vacuuming water is a strength of shop vacs, and it can often be cleaned up with other solid debris. However, most shop vacs require you to remove the filter when suctioning large amounts of liquid. If the filter does become wet, remove it when your job is complete to let it dry properly.

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cnn.com
cnn.com › reviews
The best shop vacs in 2026, tried and tested | CNN Underscored
What does CFM mean?

CFM stands for cubic feet per minute. It’s a measurement of airflow and one of the most important factors in how effectively a vacuum can clean — though it’s not the only factor. Our top pick, for example, measures at 144 CFM. That’s quite powerful. Our favorite cordless model doesn’t pack the same punch at 87 CPM.

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cnn.com
cnn.com › reviews
The best shop vacs in 2026, tried and tested | CNN Underscored
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CNN
cnn.com › reviews
The best shop vacs in 2026, tried and tested | CNN Underscored
2 weeks ago - We tested 25 top shop vacs to see how they fared with wet and dry messes and evaluated their suction power, portability and ease of use. Three came out as the best.
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Bob Vila
bobvila.com › reviews › cleaning supplies › the best shop vacuums tested by our experts
The Best Shop Vacuums Tested by Our Experts
September 10, 2025 - That depends on several factors, including quality, how they’re used, and how often you use them. We’ve had shop-type vacuums that lasted 10 years, but we’ve also had a couple that didn’t last a year. Look closely at consumer ratings for a good idea of how long a specific model will last.
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NYTimes
nytimes.com › home › garage › the best shop vacs (or wet dry vacs)
The Best 5 Shop Vacs (or Wet Dry Vacs) of 2026 | Reviews by Wirecutter
July 16, 2025 - ... The Ridgid HD1200 is capable, powerful, and well reviewed. For the size, this vac is easy to lug around, and it comes with a great selection of attachments. ... This wet/dry vac (aka “shop vac”1) has a large capacity and a powerful motor ...
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TechGearLab
techgearlab.com › floor cleaning › vacuum cleaner reviews
Best Shop Vacs of 2026 | Lab Tested & Ranked
Craftsman 16-Gallon
We tested the highest performing shop vacs from popular brands like Craftsman, Ridgid, Dewalt, Vacmaster, and more to bring you the best products for your... Tired of your regular vacuum choking on sawdust, screws, or big messes? A shop vac gives you serious power and durability to tackle heavy-duty cleanups...
Rating: 4.8 ​
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Vacuum Wars
vacuumwars.com › best-shop-vac-6-5-hp
Best Shop Vac: 6.5 HP Wet/Dry Models Tested | Vacuum Wars
July 2, 2024 - For this review, we bought five of the most popular and powerful (6.5 peak horsepower) wet-dry vacuums and put them through all kinds of tests to identify top picks in two categories: best overall and best value. Interestingly, when all the test scores were in, the wet/dry vac that won best shop vac overall took the best value position as well.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/tools › mid-sized - wet/ dry vaccum - what would you recommend?
r/Tools on Reddit: Mid-sized - Wet/ Dry Vaccum - What would you recommend?
March 15, 2024 -

Trying to decide on a decent mid-sized wet/ dry vacuum for the garage mostly and occasional home use. I don't care much about the peak HP, as long as it's got good suction and is durable. Primary use: DIY/ home improvement projects mostly - so think ...drywall dust, sawdust from a sander, miter saw, workshop cleanup, etc. Budget: Ideally 60 -75$

Here are the options I'm considering, what do you guys recommend?

  • CraftsmanCMEVXA18115/ 5 Gal / Stainless Steel / 3 yr limited warranty/ 60$

  • Stanley SL18415-6B / 6 Gal / Stainless Steel /1-year warranty/ 60$

Additional Questions :

  • I'm a bit unsure about the durability of stainless steel, some reviews have mentioned it rusts (which makes no sense tho)

  • Does the 3-year limited warranty with Craftsman make it better than Stanley - 1 year? both these look and work the same from what I observed. ( except Stanley is slightly lower db).

Update: The suction, the steel drum, and durability were my main concerns with what I thought was a fairly good deal otherwise. I'd picked up the Stanley to test it out, but now that's a return. The more I read and talk to people --> I hear good things about Rigid and DeWalt. Also, looks like they do get discounted.. so I can wait.

Find elsewhere
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Consumer Reports
consumerreports.org › appliances › laundry & cleaning › vacuum cleaners › shop-vac 5430034
Shop-Vac 5430034 Vacuum Cleaner Review - Consumer Reports
September 24, 2025 - We've tested and reviewed products since 1936. Read CR's review of the Shop-Vac 5430034 vacuum cleaner to find out if it's worth it.
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Top Ten Reviews
toptenreviews.com › home & garden › vacuums
Best shop vacuums 2026: take care of tough cleaning jobs once and for all
July 16, 2024 - ❌ Mixed performance: The Shop-Vac 9653610 had mixed results in terms of performance, struggling with larger debris. ❌ Noisy: Some users have reported noisy operation and flimsy attachments.
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Good Housekeeping
goodhousekeeping.com › home appliances › vacuum cleaner reviews › the best shop vacs of 2024, tested by experts
The Best Shop Vacs of 2024, Tested & Reviewed by Experts
June 7, 2024 - We tested the top-performing wet dry vacuums including cordless and small shop vacs for both wet and dry messes from brands like Ridgid, Craftsman and DeWalt.
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Popular Mechanics
popularmechanics.com › home › product reviews › the 6 best small shop vacs for cleaning up major messes, from hurricane floodwater to diy dust
The 6 Best Small Shop Vacs of 2025 - Best Wet/Dry Vacuums
August 14, 2025 - Milwaukee’s M12 Fuel shop vac is portable and powerful. When I tested it for our guide to the best shop vacs (of any size), I found its compact, cordless design was incredibly convenient for cleaning things quickly.
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This Old House
thisoldhouse.com › this old house › tools
Best Shop Vacs
June 19, 2025 - Those who left satisfactory reviews for the DEWALT Portable Shop Vac are pleased with its simple setup and the excellent suction power this shop vac offers for its size. Others are impressed with its lightweight design.
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Woodsmith
woodsmith.com › woodsmith reviews › woodshop › best shop vacs for heavy-duty cleaning
Best Shop Vacs for 2024 (Our Review)
April 26, 2024 - We asked our tool junky, Deven, to compare his beloved 16-gallon RIGID NXT shop vac with a handful of others and report back with his analysis. Each vacuum was reviewed with candid commentary and his likes and dislikes.
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Car and Driver
caranddriver.com › home › parts, gear, tools, and accessories › tested: the best shop vacs you can buy
Best Shop Vacs for 2025, Tested - Car and Driver
March 27, 2024 - While we're not quite sure this qualifies as your traditional "shop vac," it is indeed a wet dry vac. As far as portability is concerned, this DeWalt vacuum is the top dog. The cordless design makes this a do-it-all vacuum for small spills.
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Consumer Reports
consumerreports.org › appliances › laundry & cleaning › vacuum cleaners › best vacuums of 2026, lab-tested and reviewed
Best Vacuums of 2026, Lab-Tested and Reviewed - Consumer Reports
2 weeks ago - We review the best vacuums you can buy right now—upright, canister, stick, robotic, and handheld—based on our tough lab tests.
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Autopia
autopia.org › car detailing & finish care › car detailing product discussion
Consumer Reports Review on Wet/Dry Vacs | Autopia Forum-Auto Detailing & Car Care Discussion Forum
February 1, 2007 - The March of 07 issue of Consumer Reports has a review of Wet/Dry vacs, I recommend that all who are interested in purchasing a wet/dry vac read this article. They rank the Craftsman 17762 as the #1, and the Ridgid Pro Utility Vac at #2. I think ...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/harborfreight › let's talk shop vacs
r/harborfreight on Reddit: Let's talk shop vacs
January 5, 2025 -

Alright, so I've been in the market for a new shop vac. I've Been eyeballing the DeWalt stealth sonic for quite a bit. The 6 Gallon is normally 80 and the 9 gallon is always on sale for 90. Recently, I've been looking into the Bauer shop vac. The 6 Gallon is on sale for a little under $60 with ITC. Some of the reviews say they are stronger and quieter than DeWalt and Rigid.

I'm no professional so this will see general household use. Vacuuming cars and garage clean ups. Probably the occasional liquid clean up as well.

What's everyone's thoughts on the Bauer vacs compared to other options?

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Powertoolbuzz
powertoolbuzz.com › home › powertools › shop vac › best shop vac in 2024 reviews
Best Shop Vac In 2025 Reviews – Powertoolbuzz
December 28, 2024 - The DCV581H cordless wet dry vacuum is smaller, curvier and lighter as compared to Milwaukee and other handheld shop vacs. It was a major plus for us, and helped us to recommend this unit to people who are leaning on a portable hassle free product ...
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BobIsTheOilGuy
bobistheoilguy.com › home › forums › lubrication and general automotive › tool time
Wet/dry vacuum review. Ridgid, Shop Vac, Craftsman | BobIsTheOilGuy
December 5, 2013 - In your case, the vacuums in question break down like this: Shop Vac: 390 CFM Ridgid WD1450: 167 CFM Ridgid WD1851: 203 CFM Craftsman: Not Rate by Sears Based solely on cleaning capability, I would go with the Shop Vac based on these numbers.