The catch
BISSELL MultiClean Allergen Lift-Off Pet
You have to empty and clean the cup by hand.
Side by side
BISSELL 2998 is the one for a wider floor path and bagless collection. Kenmore BU4050 is the one for self-sealing bags and a lower published full-unit weight if you carry the vacuum between floors.
Before you buy
The 2998 has a reusable 0.75 L cup that you empty. The BU4050 releases a self-sealing bag. If avoiding bag purchases matters and cleaning up a cup is acceptable, choose BISSELL. If moving a loose load of fur and dust into the bin is the step you want to make easier, choose Kenmore.
Where this comes from
The bag capacity is unspecified, so dust-cup capacity is not compared directly with it.
The catch
You have to empty and clean the cup by hand.
The catch
You have to keep buying bags.


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Bagless against self-sealing disposal, carried weight and cleaning width, compared for a home with pets and stairs.
BISSELL 2998 is the one for a wider floor path and bagless collection. Kenmore BU4050 is the one for self-sealing bags and a lower published full-unit weight if you carry the vacuum between floors.
Which one fits
A self-sealing bag keeps the debris inside on the Kenmore.
The BISSELL has a wider nominal cleaning path.
The Kenmore’s full-unit weight figure is lower.
The Kenmore’s cleaning path is 11 in, compared with 13 in on the BISSELL. You still need to check the outer dimensions of the head.
In practice
The 2998 has a reusable 0.75 L cup that you empty. The BU4050 releases a self-sealing bag. If avoiding bag purchases matters and cleaning up a cup is acceptable, choose BISSELL. If moving a loose load of fur and dust into the bin is the step you want to make easier, choose Kenmore.
The bag capacity is unspecified, so dust-cup capacity is not compared directly with it.
The listed cleaning paths are 13 in for BISSELL and 11 in for Kenmore, a 2 in difference. Wide open strips can favor BISSELL, but furniture legs and pet beds cut into that advantage. Cleaning-path width by itself cannot show fewer total passes or faster removal of embedded hair.
Subtract 11 from 13 and you get 2 in. Nothing is inferred about coverage time or hair pickup.
The Kenmore specification of under 15 lb sits below the 15.7 lb figure for BISSELL, which is useful when you move the whole machine upstairs. Both detach for hose work once you arrive. Decide based on the carrying step that bothers you, because the full-unit figures do not say which detached pod feels easier.
The published gap for the whole unit is more than 0.7 lb. The mass of the pod was not verified.

BISSELL, 2998
This bagless upright has a removable Lift-Off pod, a 30 ft cord and a manual brushroll stop. A sealed HEPA system and an included TurboEraser let it handle both floor and above-floor jobs.

Kenmore, BU4050
This bagged Lift-Up upright has a floor brush that clears wrapped hair on its own. You also get button-release bags, a 30 ft cord and a separate brushroll stop.
Spec by spec
| Spec | BISSELL MultiClean Allergen Lift-Off Pet | Kenmore Intuition Hair Eliminator | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dirt disposal | Bagless 0.75 L dust cup | Self-sealing bags released by a button | Going bagless means no bags, though the cup has to be emptied. |
| Cleaning path | 13 in cleaning path | 11 in cleaning path | A wider path is mostly useful in open areas. |
| Whole-unit weight | 15.7 lb full unit | Under 15 lb full unit | The figures cover the whole unit, pods included. |
| Portable cleaning | Lift-Off pod for hose and accessory cleaning | Lift-Up pod for hose and accessory cleaning | On each, the pod comes off for stairs and fabric tools. |
| Cord reach | 30 ft cord with manual storage | 30 ft cord with manual storage | Each is specified at 30 ft, which means outlet reach won't settle this pair. |
Trade-offs
Change of plan
Go with BISSELL MultiClean Allergen Lift-Off Pet. With a reusable cup, there are no replacement bags to buy.
Go with Kenmore Intuition Hair Eliminator. The bag closes up as it is released.
Decision guide
Pick BISSELL 2998 if you want a wider floor path and bagless collection. Pick Kenmore BU4050 if self-sealing bags matter, and so does the lower published full-unit weight for carrying the vacuum between floors.
The 2998 has a reusable 0.75 L cup that you empty. The BU4050 releases a self-sealing bag. If avoiding bag purchases matters and cleaning up a cup is acceptable, choose BISSELL. If moving a loose load of fur and dust into the bin is the step you want to make easier, choose Kenmore.
The listed cleaning paths are 13 in for BISSELL and 11 in for Kenmore, a 2 in difference. Wide open strips can favor BISSELL, but furniture legs and pet beds cut into that advantage. Cleaning-path width by itself cannot show fewer total passes or faster removal of embedded hair.
The Kenmore specification of under 15 lb sits below the 15.7 lb figure for BISSELL, which is useful when you move the whole machine upstairs. Both detach for hose work once you arrive. Decide based on the carrying step that bothers you, because the full-unit figures do not say which detached pod feels easier.
By the numbers
What we found across the upright vacuums we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| BISSELL MultiClean Allergen Lift-Off Pet |
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| Kenmore Intuition Hair Eliminator |
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Ready to buy
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.

Clean wider strips of open floor
See price & reviews on Amazon
Let the collected fur go out in a sealed bag
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