As the proud owner of two Golden Retrievers, I can tell you that my home is in a perpetual state of “shedding season.” It’s a constant, almost Sisyphean task. Tumbleweeds of golden fur gather in corners, weave themselves into the very fabric of our carpets, and cling defiantly to every piece of upholstery. For years, I cycled through standard vacuum cleaners, each promising the world but ultimately choking on the sheer volume of hair. They would lose suction halfway through a room, their roller brushes would become hopelessly tangled, and they would leave behind that faint, tell-tale scent of “wet dog.” The frustration was immense; it felt like I was just moving dirt around, not actually cleaning. This experience taught me a critical lesson: for a home with pets, an ordinary vacuum isn’t just inefficient, it’s a surrender. You need a dedicated, powerful machine engineered specifically to win the war against pet hair, and that’s precisely the territory the Dyson DC27 Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner was designed to conquer.
- Auto height adjustment – cleaner head automatically adjusts to each floor for effective cleaning of different surfaces
- Patented Root Cyclone technology for no loss of suction
What to Consider Before Buying an Upright Vacuum Cleaner
An upright vacuum is more than just a cleaning appliance; it’s a key solution for maintaining a healthy and pristine living environment, especially in larger homes with extensive carpeted areas. These machines are engineered for deep cleaning, leveraging powerful motors and robust brush bars to agitate and extract deeply embedded dirt, dust, and allergens that canister or stick vacuums might miss. Their all-in-one design offers convenience and substantial capacity, reducing the frequency of emptying the bin. The primary benefit lies in their sheer, uncompromising power, making them the go-to choice for tackling high-traffic zones and, most importantly, the relentless challenge of pet hair.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing significant cleaning challenges: homeowners with large, carpeted spaces, families with multiple pets, or allergy sufferers who need superior filtration and deep-cleaning capabilities. If your primary concern is raw power and you’re willing to handle a heavier, more substantial machine, an upright is likely your best bet. However, it might not be suitable for those who live in small apartments with limited storage space, individuals with mobility issues who would struggle with a heavier unit, or those who primarily have hard floors and need a lighter, more nimble tool for quick clean-ups. For those users, a lightweight stick vacuum or a compact canister model might be a more practical alternative.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Upright vacuums are, by nature, larger than their stick or canister counterparts. Consider the machine’s height and weight (the Dyson DC27 is a hefty 8.5 kg). You need to be comfortable maneuvering it around your home and have adequate closet or utility room space to store it when not in use. A bulky vacuum can become a cumbersome obstacle in a compact living space.
- Capacity/Performance: This is where uprights excel. Look at the bin capacity—a larger bin, like the 2.03-litre one on the Dyson DC27 Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner, means less frequent emptying during big cleaning sessions. Performance is also about suction power (measured in Air Watts or motor Wattage) and the technology used. Patented systems like Dyson’s Root Cyclone technology are designed to prevent the loss of suction as the bin fills, which is a critical feature for consistent performance.
- Materials & Durability: A vacuum cleaner is a long-term investment. Examine the build quality. Heavy-duty ABS and polycarbonate plastics, like those typically used by Dyson, are chosen for their resilience and impact resistance. Cheaper models might use more brittle plastics that can crack or break over time, so assess the sturdiness of the handle, wheels, and cleaner head.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: Consider the day-to-day experience. Is the cord long enough for your rooms? How easy is it to switch between floor cleaning and using the attachments? Long-term care is also vital. Models with washable filters, like the Dyson DC27 Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner, save you money on replacements and are better for the environment. Check how simple it is to empty the dustbin and access the brush bar for cleaning out tangled hair.
Understanding these factors will ensure you choose a machine that not only cleans effectively but also fits seamlessly into your home and lifestyle.
While the Dyson DC27 Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner is an excellent choice for power-focused cleaning, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- HIGH PERFORMANCE, PORTABLE CORDED UPRIGHT VACUUM CLEANER - Multi-cyclonic performance with lightweight design to easily clean around the home
- 【600W/60Kpa Powerful Suction】This corded vacuum cleaner features a 600W motor, delivering strong suction power up to 60Kpa. It effectively removes dust, dirt, and debris from various surfaces,...
- Lightweight & Compact Design: Designed for effortless maneuverability, this upright vacuum cleaner makes cleaning stairs and navigating tight or large spaces a breeze. Its compact, upright build...
First Impressions: A Heavyweight Contender Built to Last
Unboxing the Dyson DC27 Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner is an experience in itself. There’s no mistaking the signature Dyson engineering. The immediate impression is one of substance and industrial-grade quality. Finished in a serious Gun Metal grey with purple accents, it looks less like a domestic appliance and more like a professional piece of cleaning equipment. Assembly was straightforward, with major components clicking together satisfyingly, requiring no tools. At 8.5 kilograms, it’s immediately apparent this is not a lightweight, nimble machine; it feels solid, robust, and planted. This weight, while a potential drawback for some, also speaks to the powerful 1400-watt motor housed within and the durable materials used in its construction. Holding the handle, you feel a direct connection to a machine built for one purpose: deep, powerful cleaning. The Quick-draw Telescope Reach wand retracts and extends with a solid, reassuring action, and the included Mini turbine head tool feels like a purposeful, well-engineered accessory, not a flimsy afterthought. It’s clear from the start that this machine prioritizes power and durability over featherlight convenience, a design choice you can explore further by checking its full specifications.
What We Like
- Incredibly powerful suction that doesn’t fade thanks to Root Cyclone technology.
- Specialised Mini turbine head is exceptionally effective on pet hair on upholstery and stairs.
- Automatic height adjustment creates a perfect seal on both carpets and hard floors.
- Large 2.03-litre bin capacity and a washable HEPA filter reduce long-term costs.
Drawbacks
- Very heavy at 8.5 kg, making it physically demanding to manoeuvre and carry upstairs.
- Design feels dated and clumsy, especially around furniture and in tight corners.
Performance Deep Dive: Power, Precision, and Practicality
A vacuum cleaner’s true worth is revealed not on a spec sheet, but on a debris-strewn floor. Over weeks of intensive testing in a home actively challenged by pets and children, we pushed the Dyson DC27 Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner to its limits. We evaluated it on everything from deep-pile carpets laden with dog hair to hardwood floors scattered with spilled cereal. This is a machine of stark contrasts: it delivers truly phenomenal cleaning power but demands a certain level of physical effort from its operator. It’s a workhorse, not a show pony, and its performance reflects that single-minded focus.
Unrelenting Suction: The Root Cyclone Power Core
The heart of this machine is Dyson’s patented Root Cyclone technology, powered by a formidable 1400-watt motor. This isn’t just marketing jargon; the “no loss of suction” claim holds up remarkably well in real-world use. We started with our most challenging test: a high-traffic living room rug that hadn’t been deep-cleaned in a week. With most vacuums, you can feel the suction diminish as the bin fills with pet hair and dust. Not so with the DC27. The first pass was visually shocking. The machine pulled up an astonishing amount of deeply embedded fur and fine dust that our previous vacuum had clearly been missing. The transparent bin, which went from empty to half-full in a single room, was a testament to its raw power. The suction remained consistently strong and relentless, right up until the bin hit the ‘max’ line. This consistent performance is a feature that really sets it apart from bag-based or less advanced cyclonic models. Furthermore, the automatic height adjustment of the cleaner head is brilliant. Moving from the deep-pile rug to the adjacent hardwood floor, we could hear and feel the head lower itself, creating a tight seal to ensure no debris was scattered or left behind. It seamlessly transitioned between surfaces without ever needing a manual switch or dial, ensuring optimal cleaning pressure at all times.
The Pet Hair Annihilator: A Specialist’s Toolkit
The “Animal” designation isn’t just for show; this vacuum is armed for battle against fur. The star of the show is the Mini turbine head tool. We tested it on a fabric sofa that our dogs have claimed as their own, and the results were spectacular. The air-driven, rotating brushes vigorously agitated the fabric, pulling up stubborn, woven-in hairs with ease. It made short work of carpeted stairs, a notoriously difficult area to clean, and was equally effective in the car, lifting dirt and hair from floor mats and seats. The Quick-draw Telescope Reach wand is another major asset. With one smooth action, the hose and wand extend, giving you significant reach for cleaning cobwebs from ceilings, dusting curtain rods, or reaching behind heavy furniture without moving it. However, this power comes with a maintenance caveat. As one user noted, hair can and does get tangled around the main brush bar. We found this to be true; after several deep-cleaning sessions, we had to spend a few minutes with a pair of scissors cutting away the wrapped hair. This is a common issue for vacuums of this era that lack modern anti-hair-wrap technology, but it’s a small price to pay for the deep-cleaning results the powerful brush delivers. For those battling extreme pet hair, the effectiveness of the toolkit makes the Dyson DC27 Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner a top-tier contender.
Ergonomics and Handling: A Tale of Two Vacuums
This is where the user experience becomes polarised. The immense power of the Dyson DC27 Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner is packaged in a chassis that feels like it belongs to a previous generation of design. At 8.5 kg, it is undeniably heavy. Pushing it across a deep-pile carpet requires a noticeable amount of effort, and carrying it up a flight of stairs is a workout. Its traditional, fixed-wheel design makes it clumsy compared to modern, steerable vacuums. Navigating around chair legs and under tables is a multi-point turn affair, not a graceful glide. As one user succinctly put it, it’s “heavy, clumsy… hard to get round furniture.” We absolutely confirm this finding. It doesn’t clean corners well with the main head, requiring you to switch to the hose and crevice tool for edge cleaning. The non-retractable cable, while long, does get in the way and requires manual winding for storage. At 80 decibels, it is also loud—a deep, powerful roar that leaves no doubt about the motor’s strength. This is the fundamental trade-off of the DC27: you are sacrificing modern agility, quiet operation, and lightweight convenience for uncompromising, brute-force cleaning power. If your home is large and has long, straight runs of carpet, this might be a compromise you’re willing to make. If you live in a smaller, cluttered space, the handling could become a significant source of frustration. Interested in seeing if the trade-off is right for you? You can check the latest price and availability online.
What Other Users Are Saying
Our in-depth testing found the Dyson DC27 Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner to be a powerhouse with significant handling drawbacks, a sentiment that is strongly echoed in user feedback. One particularly pointed review encapsulates the negative aspects perfectly, describing it as the “worst vacuum cleaner I ever bought,” citing that it is “Heavy, clumsy, noisy, inconvenient.” This user’s experience mirrors our own findings regarding its poor maneuverability around furniture and its inability to effectively clean corners with the main floor head. Their complaint about having to “get down on hands and knees to pull out the hair that gets tangled round the brushes” is also a valid point we confirmed during our maintenance tests. This feedback is crucial because it highlights the very real, day-to-day usability challenges that come with this model. While we were deeply impressed by its suction, prospective buyers must weigh that power against these well-documented ergonomic flaws. It serves as a potent reminder that the “best” vacuum isn’t just about suction; it’s about how the machine fits into your cleaning routine and physical capabilities.
How Does the Dyson DC27 Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner Compare?
The vacuum market has evolved since the DC27 was first launched. While it remains a benchmark for raw power, several modern alternatives offer different features and design philosophies that may be a better fit for certain users. Here’s how it stacks up against three key competitors.
1. Hoover HU300PT Upright Vacuum Cleaner Pet Hair Attachment
- PERFECT FOR PET OWNERS: This pet upright vacuum cleaner comes with a mini turbo brush to help remove stubborn pet hairs from cushions, sofas and carpets. Rotating bristles penetrate deeply into the...
- LIGHTWEIGHT: Weighing less than 5 kg in use, this upright vacuum cleaner is easy to lift, manoeuvre and steer around your home.
The Hoover HU300PT represents a more modern approach to the upright vacuum. Its most significant advantage over the Dyson DC27 is its lightweight and steerable design, making it far more agile and easier to navigate around furniture. While its 850w motor is less powerful on paper than the DC27’s 1400w beast, its multi-cyclonic technology still provides excellent suction for daily cleaning tasks. For users who found the DC27’s weight and clumsiness to be major deterrents, the Hoover offers a much more user-friendly experience without a drastic sacrifice in everyday performance. It’s an ideal choice for those who value maneuverability and ease of use over the absolute maximum deep-cleaning power of the Dyson.
2. Dyson DC24 Multi Floor Ultra-lightweight Vacuum Cleaner
- Dyson DC24 Multi Floor Ultra-lightweight Dyson Ball Upright Vacuum Cleaner
- Product type: VACUUM CLEANER
For those loyal to the Dyson brand but intimidated by the DC27’s bulk, the Dyson DC24 is the logical next step. As its name suggests, it is an “ultra-lightweight” model that introduced the revolutionary Dyson Ball technology. This design pivot directly addresses the DC27’s biggest weakness: its lack of agility. The DC24 can turn on a dime, making it infinitely better for cleaning in cluttered spaces and around obstacles. The trade-off is a smaller motor and a more compact bin, so it may not have the same deep-cleaning grunt or capacity as its larger sibling. This makes the DC24 perfect for smaller homes, apartments, or users who prioritize nimble handling and easy storage above all else.
3. Shark NZ850UKT Corded Upright Vacuum Anti Hair Wrap DuoClean
- ANTI HAIR WRAP: Removes hair from the brush-roll as you clean, perfect for long, short & pet hair.
- FOR ALL FLOORS: DuoClean floorhead glides from carpets to hard floors, with 2 motorised brush-rolls in 1 floorhead. LED headlights illuminate hidden dust & pet hair.
The Shark NZ850UKT is a direct challenger packed with features the DC27 lacks. Its standout feature is the Anti Hair Wrap Technology, which actively removes hair from the brush-roll as you clean—directly solving one of the main user complaints about the DC27. It also features a DuoClean floorhead with two brush rolls for carpets and hard floors, and Powered Lift-Away, which transforms it into a portable cleaner for stairs and high places. While its suction may be comparable, the Shark’s suite of modern convenience features makes it a more versatile and less maintenance-intensive machine. It’s the best choice for tech-savvy users who want the latest innovations in vacuum cleaning.
Final Verdict: A Powerful but Dated Specialist
After extensive hands-on testing, our verdict on the Dyson DC27 Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner is clear: it is an incredibly powerful, specialized cleaning tool that remains a force to be reckoned with, particularly for homes buried in pet hair and dominated by deep-pile carpets. Its Root Cyclone technology delivers on its promise of unrelenting, fade-free suction that can revitalize tired-looking floors. The Mini turbine tool is nothing short of brilliant for upholstery and stairs. However, this raw power is wrapped in an old-school design that feels heavy, loud, and cumbersome by today’s standards. Its lack of agility makes it a chore to use in tight, cluttered spaces.
We recommend the Dyson DC27 Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner for users with large, open-plan homes with lots of carpet, for whom maximum suction power is the absolute top priority. If you are willing to trade modern maneuverability and convenience for unparalleled deep-cleaning muscle, this machine will not disappoint. For everyone else, particularly those in smaller homes or who value lightweight handling, one of the more modern alternatives would likely be a better fit. If you’ve decided that uncompromising power is what your home needs, you can find the best deal on the Dyson DC27 Animal today.
Last update on 2025-11-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API