What's the best vacuum cleaner? Conor Pope finds out.

Dyson DC08 Allergy €329

Highs: Having done the seemingly impossible in making something as dull as a vacuum cleaner an object of desire, Dyson continues to innovate with this brilliantly designed, sleek model. It needs neither filters nor bags and will, the manufacturers promise, never lose its powerful suction as long as it's washed every six months. It is comfortable, lightweight, easy to manoeuvre and it clips together nattily for easy storage.

Lows: "Congratulations on buying a new Dyson," the guarantee says. "We know you're keen to get cleaning . . ." Sorry, what? No matter how cool it looks, it's never going to make PriceWatch keen to get cleaning. More seriously, it only has one power setting and the hose seemed prone to developing kinks.

Verdict: The vainest of vacuums

Star rating: ****

Miele Cat and Dog 2200 €299

Highs: The suction on this traditional looking cleaner is little short of amazing. It is almost strong enough to lift a fairly big rug clean off the floor and was the only cleaner that could pick up the PriceWatch door mat. It has a natty and unobtrusive compartment for storing all the attachments you never use and is the most easy to manouvere around tricky corners thanks to its swivelling wheels. The one-touch cord retraction system is so good it's a wonder the plug didn't get whiplash.

Lows: This is the only model to have a bag that needs emptying which, in these bagless times, some might consider a real disadvantage. Others might be less than impressed by its mundane appearance.

Verdict: Looks dull, works brilliantly

Star rating: *****

Philips Marathon Bagless Vacuum Cleaner €279

Highs: This bagless model is weirdly friendly-looking, thanks perhaps to its bright colours and Fisher-Price style function buttons. The sturdy brushes on the sides of the arrow-shaped head were effective in removing stubborn dirt and less stubborn carpet fluff alike while the "super parquet nozzle" attachment with velcroed-on pads for polishing hard floors is an excellent idea. The variable settings are very good, the suction is hard to fault and it's cheaper than its main rivals.

Lows: It is heavier and bigger than the Dyson (from which it clearly takes a great deal of design inspiration) and is slightly less manoeuvrable. The cord retraction was a bit disappointing - the flex had to be almost fed back into the machine.

Verdict: Funky and functional

Star rating: ****

Bush Cylinder Cleaner €59.99

Highs: This is compact and lightweight and very easy to assemble. If you're stuck for space at home then this might well be the option to go for as it'll sit snugly into the smallest of bedsits. From a design perspective, it is surprisingly good given its comparatively low cost. The accessories are easily attached to the handle and when it is turned up to the maximum power it does get the job done.

Lows: Eventually. Compared to the more powerful (and, to be fair, considerably more pricey) models the suction isn't great. It has two separate filters which need replacing every six months. Some of the plastic attachments also seemed ever-so-slightly flimsy and they took to falling out of the handle with alarming alacrity.

Verdict: Cheap and challenging

Star rating: **

Pro-Action Bagless compact €44.95

Highs: This is the cheapest of the cleaners tried and, while you won't clean a castle or a D4 mansion with it, it should be perfectly fine for a smaller house. When turned up to full power the suction is surprisingly strong (although you'd struggle to clean a doll's house at the reduced power). It is also bagless and has washable filters which should save you the trouble of searching for replacements. The cord retracts at lightning speed so make sure there are no small children or pets around when you press the button.

Lows: The parts are made of cheap-looking plastic and you'd have to fear for its longevity. And it was hard to tell if its tendency to split into two pieces was a design flaw or something stupid PriceWatch was doing in the assemblage.

Verdict: Low cost but not low quality

Star rating: ***