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The verdict: The Hoover React UH73100 is a clever idea executed well: an affordable bagless upright that senses your floor type and adjusts its brush roll speed automatically, so you never have to stop and fiddle with settings when you move from carpet to hardwood. Consumer Reports lists it as an 18-pound upright with suction control, micro-filtration, a 25-foot manual-wind cord, and a HEPA filter, and its FloorSense technology genuinely works — speeding the brush roll up on carpet and slowing it down on hard floors to stop debris scattering. It is not the lightest upright, it is not the quietest, and its smart app is a nice extra rather than a reason to buy. But if you want a set-it-and-forget-it upright for a mixed-floor home, the React is one of the most thoughtful budget-to-mid-range uprights Hoover has made. If you want a smart upright that adjusts itself to your floors, this is the one to beat.
What Is the Hoover React?
The Hoover React is a line of bagless upright vacuums built around two technologies: FloorSense and WindTunnel Surge. FloorSense uses micro-sensors to detect the type of floor you are vacuuming and automatically adjusts brush roll speed for the best results on any floor type. WindTunnel Surge is Hoover’s suction channel design, built to capture and contain dirt, dust, and pet hair. The base model reviewed here is the React UH73100, an 18-pound bagless upright with suction control and a HEPA filter.
Higher React models add more. The React Professional Pet Plus, reviewed by Digital Trends, stands 44 inches tall, weighs 17.5 pounds, has a 30-foot cord, a 10.5-foot hose, a 1.5-litre dust bin, and Bluetooth connectivity to the Hoover app for filter-change reminders and maintenance tracking. The React QuickLift UH73300PC adds a detachable lift canister for above-floor cleaning, a 25-foot cord, and a 5-year limited warranty. The family shares the same core idea: the vacuum should do the adjusting, not you.
Hoover React Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model reviewed | Hoover React UH73100 |
| Type | Bagless upright, corded electric |
| Weight | 18 lb |
| Cord length | 25 ft |
| Bag | No (bagless) |
| Filtration | HEPA filter, micro-filtration, sealed allergen system on Pet models |
| Suction control | Yes |
| Brush on/off | Easy on/off |
| Full-bin indicator | Yes |
| Tools included | Dusting brush, crevice tool (UH73100); pet turbo tool and pet upholstery tool on Pet Plus |
| FloorSense Technology | Yes — micro-sensors detect floor type, auto-adjust brush roll speed |
| Suction system | WindTunnel Surge |
| App connectivity | Yes (React line; Bluetooth on Pet Plus) |
| Warranty | 5-year limited (React Professional Pet Plus and QuickLift) |
One spec deserves emphasis: the 18-pound weight. That is heavy for an upright in 2026, when many cordless sticks weigh under 7 pounds and even full-size uprights often land at 13 to 15 pounds. The React compensates with swivel steering and a well-balanced body, but if you carry a vacuum up and down stairs daily, the weight is the first thing to weigh against the smart features.
Cleaning Performance: Carpet, Hard Floors, and Pet Hair
On carpet, FloorSense earns its keep. When the vacuum moves onto carpet or a rug, the floor-sensing technology speeds up the brush roll to lift deep-down embedded dirt. Digital Trends’ testing of the React Professional Pet Plus found it picked up 92 percent of rice on a rug and 94 percent on carpet — strong results for a mid-priced upright. Consumer Reports’ lab data gives the UH73100 solid carpet and bare-floor scores, with its bare-floor performance among its strongest results.
On hard floors, the React slows the brush roll to prevent scattering of debris across the floor, and the same Digital Trends test recorded 90 percent rice pickup on hardwood. That automatic slowdown is the feature you notice most in daily use: cheaper uprights fling crumbs across a hard floor before they can suck them up, and the React mostly does not.
For pet hair, the React line is tested for paws and claws, and the Pet Plus models add a pet turbo tool and pet upholstery tool for stairs and furniture. Hoover says the sealed allergen system on the React captures and contains 99 percent of dust and allergens, based on ASTM F1977 testing with particle sizes down to 0.5 microns. The HEPA filter traps dust and allergens down to 0.3 microns, which makes the React a reasonable pick for allergy-sensitive households — a real advantage over budget uprights with only a foam filter.
Design, Handling, and Ease of Use
The React is straightforward to use: there is no mode dial to learn, because FloorSense does the switching. A toggle button on the handle slides between regular and Max suction on the Pet Plus, and suction control on the base UH73100 lets you dial power down for curtains and delicate rugs. The dust bin empties with a latch on the side, and the filter is rinseable, which keeps running costs low.
The detachable handle on the React converts the upright into a more portable unit for cleaning ceilings, corners, and other hard-to-reach areas, and the hose feeds into the handle with or without a wand. On the QuickLift model, the whole canister detaches for above-floor cleaning. Swivel steering helps the 18-pound body maneuver around furniture, though it will never feel as nimble as a 12-pound upright.
Noise is a weak point. Digital Trends measured the React Professional Pet Plus at 75 to 78 decibels from 1.5 feet away in regular upright mode, which is not the quietest machine in its class. If you vacuum while a baby naps or while someone works from home in the next room, expect to be heard.
The Hoover app is compatible with React machines and lets you customize your cleaning experience and track maintenance, such as filter changes. It is useful, but it is not essential — the vacuum works fully without it, and the floor-sensing ability and useful tools are the smartest part of the package, not the Bluetooth.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- FloorSense automatically adjusts brush roll speed by floor type — no manual switching
- Strong carpet and hard-floor pickup in independent testing (90–94% rice pickup)
- HEPA filter and sealed allergen system trap 99% of dust and allergens
- Suction control and full-bin indicator included
- Rinseable filter and bagless design keep running costs low
- 5-year limited warranty on Pet Plus and QuickLift models
- Detachable handle and QuickLift canister help with stairs and above-floor cleaning
Cons
- Heavy at 18 pounds — tiring on stairs
- Loud at 75–78 dB in independent testing
- 25-foot manual-wind cord on the base model (no auto rewind)
- No brush on/off switch on the base UH73100 per Consumer Reports
- App adds little beyond maintenance reminders
- The base UH73100 is hard to find new on Amazon in 2026 — check availability before you buy
Who the Hoover React Is For
The React is a great fit for mixed-floor homes — carpet in the bedrooms, hardwood in the living areas — where you are tired of stopping to change settings at every doorway. It suits pet owners who want a sealed allergen system and HEPA filtration without paying canister prices, and allergy-sensitive households that need filtration they can trust. It also suits buyers who want a long warranty: five years on the Pet Plus and QuickLift models is generous at this price.
It is not the right pick for small apartments where a lightweight stick would do, for anyone who carries a vacuum up stairs several times a week, or for noise-sensitive homes. If you want the lightest possible vacuum, look at a cordless stick instead — and compare uprights and sticks in our guide to the best stick vacuums under 250 before you decide.
Hoover React vs the Alternatives
The closest rival is the Bissell PowerForce Helix, which is lighter at 12 pounds and cheaper, but lacks FloorSense auto-adjustment and sealed HEPA filtration. The Hoover WindTunnel Cord Rewind Pro adds automatic cord rewind at a similar budget price, but without the React’s floor sensing. For a direct brand comparison, our Hoover vs Dyson guide puts the React’s value proposition in context: Dyson cleans marginally better on deep carpet, but the React costs a fraction of the price and matches it on mixed floors. The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Lift-Off is the closest pet-focused alternative, with HEPA filtration and a self-cleaning brush roll.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Hoover React have a HEPA filter?
Yes. Hoover React vacuums come equipped with a HEPA filter that traps allergens and particles down to 0.3 microns, plus a sealed allergen system that Hoover says captures and contains 99 percent of dust and allergens.
What is Hoover FloorSense Technology?
FloorSense uses micro-sensors to detect the type of floor you are vacuuming and automatically adjusts brush roll speed — faster on carpet to lift embedded dirt, slower on hard floors to prevent scattering debris.
How much does the Hoover React weigh?
The React UH73100 weighs 18 pounds, according to Consumer Reports. The React Professional Pet Plus weighs 17.5 pounds and the QuickLift UH73301 weighs 17 pounds.
How long is the cord on the Hoover React?
The base UH73100 has a 25-foot manual-wind cord. The React Professional Pet Plus has a 30-foot cord, and the QuickLift UH73300PC has a 25-foot cord.
Does the Hoover React work with an app?
Yes. React machines are compatible with the Hoover App over Bluetooth, which lets you customize your cleaning experience and track maintenance like filter changes. The vacuum works fully without the app.
Is the Hoover React good for pet hair?
Yes. The React line is tested for paws and claws, and Pet Plus models include a pet turbo tool and pet upholstery tool. The sealed allergen system and HEPA filter also help with pet dander.
Final Verdict
The Hoover React UH73100 is a smart upright in the literal sense: it senses your floor and adjusts itself, and that single feature removes the most annoying part of vacuuming a mixed-floor home. Add a HEPA filter, a sealed allergen system, solid independent test scores on carpet and hard floors, and a five-year warranty on the step-up models, and you have a genuinely thoughtful machine. The 18-pound weight and 75–78 dB noise are real drawbacks, and the base model is increasingly hard to find new — if you cannot find the UH73100, the QuickLift UH73300PC is the closest current equivalent. But if you want a smart upright that adjusts itself to your floors, this is the one to beat.