The Hoover Tempo Widepath Upright Bagged vacuum cleaner is one of the best-selling vacuum cleaners of all time. In addition, it has traditionally been very highly rated from Consumer Reports for being an efficient, powerful, and cheap vacuum cleaner.
Our take on the Hoover Widepath Tempo is:
However, if you are looking to pay less than $80 for a vacuum, then this is going to be the best option in that price range – Hoover has done a great job at building an inexpensive yet effective vacuum cleaner.
Hoover Tempo Widepath Vacuum Review
Suction Power:
The suction power of the Hoover Tempo is terrific, and it won’t let you down as long as you keep the back and machine unclogged. The vacuum even has a slight ‘self-propelled’ feeling to it due to the strong bristols and strong suction power. However, the vacuum does underperform on hard flooring, as there is no shut off for the beater bar – making it so you end up just blowing things around instead of picking them up like you would want to.
If you only want to use the vacuum on carpeting, then you will be fine. However, pass if you want to use it on hardwood floors.
Ease of Use:
The Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900 is a standard vacuum cleaner without many bells and whistles, which is why it’s less than $80. It works just fine, and will get the job done. It comes with a nice light, a standard length cord, and we like that it only weights 16 lbs. However, it does have some shortfalls:
- It’s fairly loud, with a slightly higher pitch tone than some of the other vacuums we tested
- The hose is shorter than we would like
- Belts tend to break a little easier than other vacuums
- Powercord comes out very close to the base of the machine, making it very easy to vacuum over
- Bags fill up fast (partially because it does a great job with the suction/cleaning)
One other aspect to note: the Widepath really is wide, with a 15 inch base. This is great if you have wide-open spaces, but it does tend to make it a little more difficult to vacuum in tight spaces.
Filtration:
The Tempo Widepath filtration is good, but it is not HEPA. The system/bag design is an anti-allergy one that filters 99% of particles down to 0.5 microns (HEPA would filter down to 0.3 microns). However, you can purchase Hoover HEPA bags if you choose. In addition, there is a second washable filter, so there are no filters that you need to purchase down the road – just the bags.
Durabilty:
We would expect the widepath by Hoover to last a few years, but would not expect much more. Some users have been able to get several years out of their machine, but the limited warranty is good for just one year on the standard model. Failure to take good care of and maintain the vacuum will significantly reduce it’s expected life and suction power. Also, as a bagged vacuum remember that suction will be lost as the bag fills up and as the machine gets clogged.
User Reviews:
Again, the Hoover Tempo Widepath upright bagged vacuum is one of the most popular vacuums ever made. There are over 2,200 reviews on Amazon.com alone, with the machine scoring a 4.2/5 stars with customers – reflecting that a strong majority of people get what they expect out of the Tempo.
Our Review:
We think the Tempo is a great basic vacuum cleaner. It’s great for someone who:
- Has pets
- Has thick carpets
- Is fine with the basics
- Doesn’t need to use the hose a lot
Where we think the Widepath struggles:
- Hard floor cleaning
- Maintenance (belt/bag replacement, etc.) is higher than other vacuums
- Louder than some models
- Non-HEPA filtration
Overall, we would strongly recommend the Tempo for someone willing to spend no more than $80 for a vacuum. However, if you can afford it, we think you would be better off by purchasing a more expensive vacuum, like the Shark Navigator Upright (overtime, because you won’t have to purchase bags the Shark will end up being less expensive overall and we like it’s suction power better).
Where to Find a Great Sale on the Tempo Widepath Upright bagged vacuum cleaner, model U5140-900:
We would recommend purchasing from Amazon – you get great customer service, the best price, and free shipping:
