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BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister Vacuum Review

Tested using Methodology v1.1
Reviewed Oct 19, 2020 at 08:57 am
Latest change: Retest Sep 27, 2022 at 04:00 pm
BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister Picture
7.1
Bare Floor
7.5
Low-Pile Carpet
7.3
High-Pile Carpet
6.5
Pets
7.5
Stairs
7.7
Cars
5.4
Workshop

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum is a basic model best suited for clearing small debris. It has a compact, lightweight body, a relatively simple design that's easy to take apart and reassemble, and great overall performance on carpeted floors. That said, it has a narrow head that allows large debris to get stuck, which has a serious impact on overall performance. Its short power cord can also be annoying if you're planning on cleaning large or cluttered rooms. Also, its disposable filters are recurring costs that can add up over time. Still, if you're searching for a budget-friendly canister model and don't plan on dealing with large debris, this is an alright option.

Our Verdict

7.1 Bare Floor

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum is decent for bare floors. While it's decently easy to maintain and has a lightweight, maneuverable design as well as a relatively large dirt compartment, it struggles quite a bit when it comes to picking up larger debris. Material like cereal can get stuck in the head, preventing it from sucking up anything else. However, it does a good job of cleaning pet hair as well as small debris, such as rice.

Pros
  • Lightweight, maneuverable design.
  • Decently easy to maintain.
Cons
  • Large debris can get stuck inside vacuum head.
  • Short power cord.
  • Recurring costs can add up over time.
7.5 Low-Pile Carpet

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum is good for low-pile carpet. It clears pet hair and sucks up coarse and fine material, such as sand or baking soda, without much of an issue. However, large debris can get trapped in the narrow head. It also has somewhat high recurring costs and a very short range.

Pros
  • Clears coarse and fine debris on carpeted floors relatively well.
  • Sucks up pet hair easily on most surfaces.
  • Lightweight, maneuverable design.
  • Decently easy to maintain.
Cons
  • Large debris can get stuck inside vacuum head.
  • Short power cord.
  • Recurring costs can add up over time.
7.3 High-Pile Carpet

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum is a decent choice for high-pile carpet. It sucks up pet hair easily and does a relatively good job of clearing coarse and fine debris. Unfortunately, large debris can get trapped in its narrow head, while its short power cord means that you may need to switch outlets when cleaning large or cluttered rooms.

Pros
  • Clears coarse and fine debris on carpeted floors relatively well.
  • Sucks up pet hair easily on most surfaces.
  • Lightweight, maneuverable design.
  • Decently easy to maintain.
Cons
  • Large debris can get stuck inside vacuum head.
  • Short power cord.
  • Recurring costs can add up over time.
6.5 Pets

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum is okay for pets. It does an outstanding job of cleaning pet hair on most surfaces, though be warned that performance can drop drastically if you end up sucking up any large debris, which blocks the head. The vacuum itself is decently easy to maintain, but recurring costs are a little high and it doesn't have a HEPA filter to trap allergens from pet hair as you clean.

Pros
  • Sucks up pet hair easily on most surfaces.
  • Decently easy to maintain.
Cons
  • No HEPA filter.
  • Recurring costs can add up over time.
7.5 Stairs

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum is good for stairs. Its lightweight design and integrated carrying handle make it easy to move around while its relatively compact body can be placed on a single step as you clean. Unfortunately, it struggles with clearing large debris and has a short power cord that can make it difficult to clean long staircases without changing outlets.

Pros
  • Lightweight, maneuverable design.
  • Decently easy to maintain.
  • Compact body.
Cons
  • Large debris can get stuck inside vacuum head.
  • Short power cord.
7.7 Cars

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum is a good option for cars. While you need to work from a nearby outlet due to its short power cord, its lightweight design and included extension wand and crevice cleaner should allow you to clean tight spaces in your car.

Pros
  • Lightweight, maneuverable design.
  • Decently easy to maintain.
  • Extension wand lets you clean tight spaces.
  • Compact body.
Cons
  • Short power cord.
5.4 Workshop

Pros
  • Decently easy to maintain.
Cons
  • 7.1 Bare Floor
  • 7.5 Low-Pile Carpet
  • 7.3 High-Pile Carpet
  • 6.5 Pets
  • 7.5 Stairs
  • 7.7 Cars
  • 5.4 Workshop
  1. Updated Sep 27, 2022: This vacuum's suction force has been retested with a more accurate manometer. The test results for the 'Maximum Suction' and 'Normal Suction' fields have been updated. All relevant scores and text have been updated.
  2. Updated Aug 05, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  3. Updated Jun 06, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  4. Updated Oct 19, 2020: Review published.
  5. Updated Oct 14, 2020: Early access published.
  6. Updated Sep 30, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  7. Updated Sep 30, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  8. Updated Sep 27, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the bagless variant of the BISSELL Zing canister, which uses the model code 2156A. You can see its label here. Another variant of the BISSELL Zing Canister is currently available with a drastically different bagged design, referred to as the 2154A variant. The 2154A bagged variant has a functionally larger dirt compartment, a lighter design, and a simpler two-stage filtration system. Due to these differences, we can't say if they perform similarly.

If anyone comes across a model that's differently equipped from the variants listed above, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.

Compared To Other Vacuums

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum is a lightweight bagless canister model with few features. It does a great job of dealing with coarse and fine debris on carpeted floors, has a lightweight design that can easily be carried around, and is somewhat easy to maintain. That said, it struggles to clear large debris with its vacuum head and has fairly high recurring costs. For more options, take a look at our list of recommendations of the best hardwood vacuums, the best bagless vacuums, and the best lightweight vacuums.

Eureka Mighty Mite

The Eureka Mighty Mite and the BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister have different strengths. The Eureka is a bagged canister vacuum with better bare floor performance, less demanding maintenance requirements, fewer recurring costs, and slightly lighter construction. The bagless BISSELL feels slightly sturdier and does a better job on both low- and high-pile carpets.

BISSELL Zing Bagged Canister

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister and BISSELL Zing Bagged Canister have slightly different advantages, and one may suit you better depending on your needs. The Zing Bagged is easier to maintain, has an effectively larger dirt compartment, and performs a little better on bare floors. That said, the Zing Bagless is a little lighter, more maneuverable, incurs fewer recurring costs, and performs better on low and high-pile carpet.

Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister

The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is a better bagless canister vacuum than the BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister. The Eureka is easier to maintain, incurs practically no recurring costs, and doesn't struggle nearly as much with large cereal-like debris. Conversely, the BISSELL is a little lighter, has a larger dirt compartment that requires less frequent emptying, and performs better overall on high-pile carpet.

Miele Classic C1

The Miele Classic C1 is a much better vacuum overall than the BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister. The bagged Miele is much better built, is easier to maintain, maneuvers more effectively in tight areas, and delivers significantly better performance on all surface types. Meanwhile, the BISSELL is much cheaper, has a lighter design, and has slightly fewer recurring costs.

Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal [Animal Pro, Multi Floor]

The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal is better for pet owners than the BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister. The Dyson has an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, is easier to maintain, incurs practically no recurring costs, has a longer power cord, and comes with a much wider assortment of tools and brushes. However, the budget-friendly BISSELL weighs almost half as much, feels slightly better built, and clears coarse debris on high-pile carpets far more effectively.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
6.5
Design
Build Quality
Vacuum Type
Canister

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum is reasonably well-built. It's made entirely of plastic that doesn't look especially premium, but it does feel surprisingly solid. That said, its dirt compartment and wheels are made of a flimsier material and feel like potential weak points in its construction. Its design is quite intuitive and can be put together without too much of a struggle.

7.5
Design
User Maintenance

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum is decently easy to maintain.

  • Dirt compartment:The dirt compartment can be detached and emptied once it reaches max capacity via a release button on its side.
  • Dust cup filter: The dust cup filter and lint screen are located inside the dirt compartment. They can be cleaned with warm water when necessary, as no precise maintenance interval is specified.
  • Pre-motor filter: The pre-motor filter is located under the dirt compartment and can be washed with warm water only regularly, depending on your usage and if you notice a decline in performance. While the user manual doesn't specify a precise maintenance interval, the product description for the pre-motor filter recommends cleaning it regularly throughout its 3-6 month service life.
  • Post-motor filter: The post-motor filter can be accessed by removing the cover from the back of the main body of the vacuum. It can be washed with warm water whenever you notice a drop in suction performance. While the user manual does not specify a precise maintenance interval, the product description for the post-motor filter recommends cleaning it regularly throughout its 3-6 month service life.

You must air dry any part that's washed with water for 24 hours before using it again.

6.5
Design
Recurring Cost
Bag Part Number No bag
Filter Part Number 1613056/1613054/1613055
HEPA Filter Part Number No HEPA Filter

This vacuum has a couple of recurring costs. Its dust cup, pre-motor, and post-motor filters need to be replaced every three to six months, depending on your usage. However, unlike the BISSELL Zing Bagged Canister, it doesn't use a dirtbag, so recurring costs are slightly lower. All these parts are available for purchase on BISSELL's website.

These replacement intervals are found in the individual product descriptions of the filters, not in the user manual.

5.9
Design
Storing
Height
48.23" (122.5 cm)
Width
10.63" (27.0 cm)
Depth
25.59" (65.0 cm)
Cord Storing
Automatic
On-Board Tool Storage
No
Vacuum Rack/Station
No

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister has middling storage capabilities. While the vacuum's body is quite compact and features a retractable power cord, it lacks any sort of rack station or on-board tool storage. Its wand is also fairly tall.

7.7
Design
Dirt Compartment
Bagless
Yes
Volume
0.22 gal (0.85 L)
Full Indicator
Yes
Bag Included
No Bag Needed

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum's dirt compartment is decent. It holds more debris than that of the Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister and has a max fill line to show you that it's full.

Design
In The Box

  • Vacuum body
  • Vacuum head
  • Dirt compartment
  • Wand (two pieces)
  • Hose
  • Crevice tool
  • Hard bristle brush
  • Dirt cup filter with lint screen
  • User guide

5.1
Design
Range
Cordless
No
Cord Length
13.98 ft (4.3 m)
Hose Length
4.99 ft (1.52 m)
Minimum Wand Length
2.03 ft (0.62 m)
Maximum Wand Length
3.35 ft (1.02 m)
Total Range
22.31 ft (6.80 m)

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum has a poor range. Its power cord is quite short, so you may need to switch outlets frequently when cleaning big areas. Its hose is also quite short, which can be annoying when trying to clean hard-to-reach spots like shelves.

8.4
Design
Portability
Total Weight
9.26 lbs (4.20 kg)
Weight In Hand
0.86 lbs (0.39 kg)
Carrying handle
Yes

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum has great portability. It's lighter than canister alternatives like the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball and has a carrying handle to make it easier to move from room to room.

0
Design
Battery
Minimum Battery Life
N/A
Maximum Battery Life
N/A
Recharge Time
N/A
Recharge Dock
No
Battery Life Indicator
No
Removable Batteries
No

This is a corded vacuum that doesn't have a battery.

Design
Quality Of Life Features
Rotating Head
Yes
Power Adjustment
Yes
Self-Propelled
No
Headlights
No
Easy On/Off
Yes
Head Surface Type Adjustment
Manual

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum doesn't come with a lot of extra features. There's a small opening on the wand/handle that allows you to change suction mode. The main head also has a foot pedal that allows you to retract or extend its bristles to suit either carpets or bare floors, respectively.

Design
Tools And Brushes
Brushroll
No
Brushroll On/Off
No
Removable Brushroll
No
Turbo Brush
No
Crevice Tool
No
Upholstery Tool
No
Soft Bristle Brush
No
Hard Bristle Brush
Yes
Extension Wand
Yes
Ceiling Fan Tool
No
Pet Grooming Tool
No

This vacuum comes with two tools. There's a crevice tool to help you clean tight spots as well as a hard bristle brush that's well-suited for tackling stuck-on debris like mud or dirt. Its handle/wand comes in two pieces, allowing you to change its length to suit your needs.

Design
Alternative Configuration
Blower Mode
No

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum can be used in another configuration by removing its main head and wand and attaching one of the two included tools to its handle.

Performance
5.2
Performance
Bare Floor Performance (Hardwood, Laminate, Tiles)
Setting Used Default, Head Position "bristle extended"
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 7%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 6%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) 2%
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 99%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 100%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) 100%
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

This vacuum has poor performance on bare floors. While it clears small debris, such as rice, without an issue, bulkier material can be more challenging to clean. Debris like cereal pieces can get stuck at the entry head, since it's very narrow, and can prevent it from sucking up anything else. Pet hair can also get stuck in the head on this surface.

8.3
Performance
Low-Pile Carpet Performance
Setting Used Default, Head Position "bristle retracted" ( Suction Control "opened")
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 88%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 87%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) 86%
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 76%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 76%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) 74%
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum delivers excellent performance on low-pile carpet. It clears pet hair without an issue and struggles very little when it comes to sucking up coarse debris like sand. While it doesn't do quite as well with fine material, such as baking soda, it shouldn't take too many extra passes to fully suck it up either.

7.7
Performance
High-Pile Carpet Performance
Setting Used Default, Head Position "bristle retracted" ( Suction Control "opened")
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 66%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 66%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) 65%
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 61%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 62%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) 62%
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum performs impressively well on high-pile carpet. It clears pet hair easily, but it may take some time to fully remove coarse and fine debris like sand or baking soda from this surface. That said, performance remains consistent as its dirt compartment fills up, which is great.

5.9
Performance
Pet Hair Floor Performance
Bare Floor
33%
Low-Pile Carpet
100%
High-Pile Carpet
98%
8.0
Performance
Suction
Maximum Suction
9.8 inHâ‚‚O (2.45 kPa)
Setting Used For Maximum Default, Head Position "bristle extended" (Suction Control closed)
Normal Suction
9.8 inHâ‚‚O (2.45 kPa)
Setting Used For Normal Default, Head Position "bristle extended" (Suction Control closed)
Hose Diameter
1.2" (3.0 cm)
7.6
Performance
Noise
Bare Floor
79.4 dBA
Low-Pile Carpet
78.7 dBA
7.5
Performance
Maneuverability

This vacuum has good maneuverability. While its wheels can sometimes get stuck on the sides of furniture, its lightweight design makes it easy to move. Its controls for switching floor modes are also easily accessible. Unfortunately, you need to crouch to thoroughly clean under furniture or couches, and rug tassels can get stuck in the head. Its short power cord is also a bit of a nuisance when trying to navigate cluttered rooms.

7.5
Performance
Pet Hair Furniture Performance
Sofa Pickup Post Test
Performance
Air Quality
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
No
9.0
Performance
Cracks
Wood Cracks Post Test
1.0
Performance
Stains
Stain Pickup Post Test
0
Performance
Water
Wet Compatible
No
Water Pickup Post Test
Automation
0
Automation
Physical Automation
Automatic Recharging
No
Automatic Bag Emptying
No
Pathing Algorithm
No Pathing Algorithm
Physical Boundary Markers
No
Scheduled Start Buttons
No
Cycle Control Buttons
No
Navigation Control Buttons
No

The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister vacuum has no automation features.

0
Automation
Companion App Automation
App Name
No App
iOS Availability
No
Android Availability
No
Software Boundary Markers (No Go Zones)
No
App Scheduled Start
No
App Cycle Control
No
Navigation Control within App
No