One company, in particular, saw this cordless trend coming. British company Dyson was the first to pioneer this field with a series of capable -- yet pricey -- Cyclone V series stick vacs designed with impressive suction and cleaning power to leave the competition in the dust. Rivals have since followed suit and now sell cordless vacuums of their own. Some manufacturers of cordless vacuum cleaners have even shamelessly cloned Dyson products. Others are distinctive new riffs on the cordless vacuum, with innovative dust-busting features all their own. Despite the many knockoffs, Dyson vacs still perform at a higher level than other brands, in our experience. Perhaps it's the head start it's had in refining these smaller machines or the extensive research and development that goes into making them. Dysons are pricey, but worth the money if you have it to spend. If not, there are plenty of cheaper cordless vacuums that will do the job and keep your home clean.