The Bissell Lift Off is by far the best vacuum cleaner I have ever purchased. I have gone through well known makes and none of them come close. After 2 years the suction is just as good as it was the first time I used it. There are the usual height settings ie thick pile to laminate flooring, seven height adjustmens in total. There is also a button to drop the brush for more intense cleaning. The cylinder "lifts off" enabling you to clean stairs, curtains, suites etc. It is light and easy to manage, just press the button to release the cylinder-which has its own carrying handle. It's very easy to empty too, just slide the dial to one side and the container is released for you to tip into the bin. The Bissell Lift Off has duel edge cleaning and a wide cleaning path plus a hepa media filter. I have 4 cats and a dog so I need a vacuum that can cope with daily use and lots of hair ! the Bissell does the job for me !