4 Best Commercial Backpack Vacuum Cleaners – Review & Buying Guide

Vacuums are a critical part of the facility maintenance program. On average, a commercial cleaning worker uses a vacuum for 1-3 hours daily. While different types of vacuum cleaners are available in the market, backpack vacuum cleaners are extremely popular in commercial applications. As per research, using a backpack vacuum in place of an upright cleaner can improve the cleaning staff’s productivity by as much as 230%.

Backpack vacuums are designed by keeping operator comfort in mind. These machines sit comfortably on the back of a user and distribute the weight evenly against the hips and shoulders, qualifying unrestricted movement in congested areas. Backpack vacs are equipped with shoulder and waist straps to hold the vacuum, while the motor is located at the bottom of the machine, ensuring proper balance and stability. Since backpack vacs are fitted tightly to the operator body, they are equipped with sound dampening and cooling elements for added safety and comfort.

See also:

• Best Commercial Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Best Commercial Vacuum Cleaners
• Best Commercial Steam Cleaners For Floors

Backpack vacuums are well suited for various commercial and industrial cleaning applications, from hard to reach areas to extensive usage. Backpack vacuum cleaners are ideal for cleaning congested areas, stairs, aisles, seats, shelving. They are also an excellent choice for carpeted or hard floor surfaces, rugs, attics, etc.

Advantages of Backpack Vacuum Cleaners

• Backpack vacuum cleaners are ultra-portable, lightweight, and easy to maneuver in challenging to reach areas.  
• Backpack vacs are designed ergonomically that help in reducing user fatigue and improving productivity and efficiency.
• Backpack vacuums have long cords, providing more freedom of movement to the operator than other types of vacs.
• The user is standing upright while operating the Backpack vacuum cleaner and doesn’t have to worry about back pain from longer cleaning hours.

Things to Consider While Buying a Backpack Vacuum Cleaner

Weight: It is essential to consider the weight of the vac if it needs to be carried around for long hours. Lightweight vacuums generally weigh between 10 to 15 pounds and enable work for longer hours without getting fatigued.

Power Cord Length: Commercial Backpack vacuum cleaners are generally equipped with lengthy cords making them easier to navigate. Most backpack vacs have a power cord ranging from 35 to 50 inches allowing for plenty of movement without changing outlets.

Suction power: Commercial backpack vacuums are designed for heavy use; many models provide a strong suction power; however, this generally means higher decibels and energy consumption.

Durability: Commercial backpack vacuum cleaners are subjected to abuse on almost a daily basis; hence they are made of quality body parts to make them last longer. A good way of checking out for the durability is to consider the warranty.

Capacity: The cleaning capacity refers to the amount of dirt the filter bag can store before clearing it. The larger the filter bag, the longer it will take to fill, and longer, the staff can continue working without changing the bag(s).

Cleaning Path: The larger the cleaning path, the more area the backpack vacuum would be able to cover.

Static Lift: Static lift measures the amount of dirt or soil the vacuum can pull from the surface. The higher the stationary lift, the more dirt and debris the vacuum will remove. Static lift generally ranges between 60 and 100 inches.

Airflow: Commonly listed as CFM or cubic feet per minute, airflow measures the amount of air the vacuum can take through the hose per minute. Airflow generally ranges between 95 and 150 CFM.

Noise Level: Some vacuum cleaners are very loud, which may impact the operators’ health and make it challenging to clean facilities with heavy traffic during business hours. Machines with a 70dB or lower decibel rating are less noisy and unlikely to cause much discomfort and can be operated without disturbing others.

Accessories: If you are using the backpack vac for performing basic tasks, it can be easily done with the standalone machine. However, if you want your device to be a one-stop-shop for all cleaning requirements, a unit with the right accessories and attachments would be ideal.

Air Filtration: Many vacuum manufacturers offer High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration either as a standard type or an upgraded filter. Hepa filters can remove 99.7% of particulates that are larger than 0.3 microns, and significantly improve indoor air quality. However, they require regular replacement.

Cleaning Surface: The nature of the job and the cleaning surfaces also play a significant role in choosing the vacuum cleaner type.

Comfort: A backpack vacuum should rest on the hips and not the lower back. This fit ensures the safety and maximum comfort while cleaning. The harness should be fitted as per the torso’s length, while the should strap should be kept a little loose.

Cord or Cordless: Having to unplug and replug the vacuum cleaner can be tedious and time-consuming. This reduces productivity and also limits the option if there are no outlets in less reached areas. 

Cordless, battery-powered backpack vacuums offer more freedom by eliminating dependence on outlets.  A full charge battery can give 45 to 60 minutes of vacuuming time.

Bagless or Bagged: Bagged vacuums come with a dust container that stores the debris. The bag can be later emptied, cleaned, and reused. However, they carry the risk of transferring dust and allergens back into the air while emptying the bin. Vacuum cleaners with self-sealing filter bags are better at containing all the accumulated debris and dust. The down-side here is that the replacement bags are expensive.

While using disposable vacuum bags is expensive, bagless units have additional filters that require cleaning and regular replacement. Also, emptying a bagless vacuum cleaner may impact workers with existing allergies or asthma conditions.

Reliability: select a machine that has been tested and proved to be robust and effective. The Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Seal of Approval® certified devices had been independently verified to ensure the machine’s effectiveness and environmental safety. 

Best Backpack Vacuum Cleaner (With Reviews)

1. Hoover Commercial Lightweight Backpack Vacuum C2401

The Hoover Commercial Vac combines powerful performance with lightweight convenience. Weighing just 9.2 pounds, the C2401 allows for superior mobility while its compact size enables cleaning out narrow passageways, small spaces, and large areas with ease and comfort.

The Hoover Commercial Shoulder Vac Back Pack comes with a chiropractor-designed harness that reduces user fatigue and increases productivity. The C2401 stores the collected dust in a backpack canister and can carry up to 6.4 quarts of dirt and debris. The handy vacuum cleaner comes with a clear dome lid that allows you to monitor the dust capacity, so it is easy to know when to empty its collection bag. The C2401 can be used with a shakeout cloth liner or with a disposable paper bag insert.

The Hoover Commercial Shoulder Vac Back Pack provides quiet operation at 66dBA, allowing you to clean without disrupting the surroundings. The C2401 comes with an extra-long 48 feet 3-wire quick change power cord that allows longer operation time without switching outlets. The device also features a Hypercone Filter made with HEPA Media, eliminating up to 99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns or smaller. The Backpack Vac comes with a cleaning accessory pack providing detailed cleaning. It also comes with additional accessories, including a 60-inch positive locking hose that stays locked during use, 38 inches two-piece straight metal wands, a 6-inch crevice tool, an 11-inch turbo floor tool, a 2-inch dusting brush, and a 4-inch upholstery tool.

Pros

• Large bag capacity
• Lightweight
• Long extension cord
• Two-year commercial warranty

Cons

• The vacuum’s straps are not flexible or versatile
• Slightly expensive

Why Buy: The lightweight commercial vacuum cleaner blends convenience and power and is ideal for cleaning shelves, displays, and furniture. The versatile vacuum comes with many attachments, features that provide an incredibly easy and thorough vacuuming experience.

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2. ProTeam Super CoachVac Commercial Backpack Vacuum Cleaner 107119

The Super CoachVac backpack features a powerful, 1188-watt motor that generates 150 CFM airflow and 100-inch static lift. Equipped with a commercial tool kit, the powerful, high filtration unit is ideal for cleaning high square-footage areas such as colleges, offices, meeting halls, and convention centers. At only 66 dBA, the ProTeam backpack cleaner is one of the quietest machines in its category.

The Super CoachVac 107119 features an ergonomic, adjustable harness designed to distribute the weight evenly for better balance and comfort. When worn correctly, the harness fits the user’s body closely, responding to body motion and reducing accidental contact with walls and furniture. The device comes with an integrated tool belt that keeps the accessories close at hand while you’re vacuuming. The extra-long 50-foot power cord enables cleaning larger areas without unplugging.

The Super CoachVac backpack features ProLevel Filtration with a HEPA media filter that is up to 99.67% efficient in capturing dust mites, pollen, and other particles measuring 0.3 microns or larger per ASTM F3150. The device comes with a 10-quart capacity bag, three times the capacity of a standard upright, allowing you to capture more dust and debris in more extensive areas without changing bags frequently. Weighing just 11 pounds, the Super CoachVac backpack vacuum is light enough to use for long hours without compromising productivity.

The versatile Super CoachVac 107119 features a 14-inch Xover multi-surface floor tool that easily moves across various hard surfaces and low-pile rugs and lets you clean above-the-floor areas such as stairs, furniture, vents, and light fixtures. The Super CoachVac comes loaded with accessories for detail cleaning, including a 17-inch crevice tool, a 3-inch dust brush, a 5-inch upholstery tool, a 1-1/2-inch diameter static-dissipating vacuum hose, a 1-1/2-inch telescoping wand, and 2 Intercept Micro Filter bags. The Super CoachVac vacuum backpack is Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Approved and Gold Certified. Moreover, ProTeam vacuums qualify for US Green Building Council LEED. The Super CoachVac 107119 is covered with a 3-year warranty on parts, labor, and motor and a lifetime warranty on molded body parts.

Pros

• Lightweight and convenient
• Powerful and feature-loaded
• large dust bag provides extended cleaning capacity
• Multi-surface cleaning
• Long Warranty
• CRI certified

Cons

• Need to Purchase Fitting Bags
• Rather Expensive

Why Buy: The ProTeam Super CoachVac backpack vac is built from quality materials and is renowned for its low maintenance, long-lasting durability, and excellent cleaning capability. Definitely worth considering.

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3. Makita XCV05ZX 8V X2 LXT Brushless Cordless Backpack Dry Vacuum

The Makita XCV05ZX Brushless cordless backpack dry vacuum is a robust and portable dust extraction solution.  The device comes with a powerful motor that generates 53 CFM of suction power and 28.5″ of water Lift for fast clean-ups and improved dust extraction.

Two 18V Lithium-Ion batteries power the Makita XCV05ZX for power and performance. The device features an efficient BL Brushless motor that is electronically controlled to optimize battery energy for up to 50% longer run-time per charge. The Brushless Cordless Backpack Dry Vacuum bridges the gap between low-capacity cleaning solutions and larger capacity but less portable wheeled canister job site vacuums. The XCV05ZX is ideal for cleaning crews and construction applications used as part of a dust extraction system and features three adapters for increased versatility.

The Makita XCV05ZX delivers up to 90 minutes of continuous operation on low setting and 60 minutes on the high setting when using two 18V 5.0Ah batteries. As per the company, Makita 18V Lithium-Ion batteries have the fastest charge times in their categories. The cordless vacuum is equipped with a HEPA filter combined with the filter bag that captures large, small, and micro dust particulates. It includes a half-gallon dust collection container that can be easily removed for dust disposal. 

The Makita XCV05ZX only 9.4 lbs and has padded shoulder straps and a waist belt with multiple adjustments for added comfort. The device comes with a push-button power selection controller that attaches to the harness’s waist belt for convenient operation. Also, it features a 39-inch flexible hose with a telescoping extension wand for additional reach. The cordless vacuum provides a quiet operating sound level of 70 dB(A).

Pros

• Batteries last an hour plus on High
• Cordless hassle-free cleaning
• Lightweight

Cons

• Low suction power
• Low build quality harness
• Poor design of the waistband

Why Buy: If you don’t want to waste time plugging the vacuum, unplug it, and guide the cord to make sure it does not get tangled, then the Makita XCV05ZX   is an excellent a cordless solution.

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4. Powr-Flite BP10S ComfortPro Standard Backpack Vacuum

The Powr-Flite BP10S ComfortPro features a 1200 watt / 10amp powerful motor with 130 CFM and 110 inches water lift capacity. The backpack vacuum comes with a 10-quart tank that optimizes efficiency by allowing you to clean longer before needing to change bags. The device comes with a superior 62 dBA rating generating low sound during operation.

The American engineered Powr-Flite BP10S ComfortPro comes with a Deuter Aircomfort harness that reduces perspiration by 25%. It also features a Variquick system with seven adjustment points for a custom fit, height adjustment, and the state-of-the-art load stabilizers that transfer the vacuum weight from your back and shoulders to your core. The device boasts a five-stage filtration system, featuring a HEPA filter bag, SMS Shake-Out bag, pre-motor filter, post-motor filter, and exhaust filter. Moreover, the backpack vacuum is also Gold certified from CRI. The Powr-Flite BP10S ComfortPro comes loaded with accessories including a 17-inch crevice tool, a 5-inch upholstery tool, a 3-inch dusting tool, a 14-inch Powr-Glide Carpet Tool, Carpet Tool, and Hard Floor Tool, and a 4 feet Crush Proof Hose and Double-bend Wand. The device comes with a one-year warranty on workmanship, motor, and parts.

Pros

• 4-stage filtration when using HEPA bag
• Ergonomic shoulder harness
• Ultra-quiet operation meets LEED requirements
• CRI Gold Certified

Cons

• Some users have complained about wrong Vac bags.
• Low warranty

Why Buy:  The Powr-Flite BP10S ComfortPro delivers an unparalleled level of operator comfort, plus improved cleaning performance and productivity.

Buy it on Amazon