Vacmaster Professional Beast Series VFB511H 0201 5-Gal 5.5 PHP Wet/Dry Vac

Why it's worth it

The Vacmaster Beast VFB511H packs a 5.5 peak-HP motor and 320 air watts into a 5-gallon body that weighs about 15 pounds. The cartridge filter catches particles down to 1 micron, and the hose and cord together give you about 25 feet of reach.

It punches well above its size. Owners repeatedly report more suction from this 5-gallon unit than from larger vacs they already owned, including bigger-drum competitors. The motor is rated at 320 air watts and 20 kPa, and unlike peak horsepower, air watts actually correlate with how fast debris comes off a floor. For renovation work — broken tile, mortar, joint compound — that matters more than drum size.

The included filter is better than what usually ships at this price. Most budget vacs come with a foam sleeve that passes fine dust straight through the exhaust and back into the room you're standing in. This one includes a high-efficiency cartridge filter and a dust bag rated to catch down to 1 micron. That's not HEPA, and it's not enough for silica, but it's a real step up for sawdust and general grit.

From our review of 8 wet/dry shop vacuums, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +It punches well above its size
• +The included filter is better than what usually ships at this price
• +Twenty-five feet of reach covers a two-car garage without moving the vac
• +It's small enough to actually keep out

What to know

• –Five gallons fills fast
• –No blower port and no auto filter cleaning
• –Customer service comes up as a sore spot