This vacuum is small and lightweight enough that I can actually vacuum my front stairs by myself, without an extension cord. My previous vacuum was so large and heavy that I would go downstairs backwards, placing the vacuum on the steps one by one while my cleaning lady followed with the wand and brush, doing the vacuuming. Neither of us could vacuum the steps alone. But the Mighty Mite does the job! It is so light that I use it much more often than I did the big heavy old one (also a Eureka, and with excellent suction, but HEAVY!).