The EGO POWER+ 9-Gallon won on raw, measured power. On Concord Carpenter's custom test rig it pulled a class-leading 126 CFM of airflow and 105 inches of water lift, enough that it beat other large vacuums on its medium setting while they ran flat out. That power comes from the 56V battery, and the tank only loses about 6% of its suction as the pack drains, so the last gallon cleans nearly as hard as the first.
The design is the other half of the story. Concord Carpenter and VCG Construction both singled out the onboard storage, which keeps every wand, nozzle, and the hose organized and clipped in place. It even ships with a Bluetooth remote fob so you can start and stop the vac from the end of the hose. The 9-gallon tank handles a full shop cleanup, and EGO backs it with a 5-year tool and 3-year battery warranty.
Milwaukee's 12-gallon NEXUS actually edged the EGO for the top spot on Concord Carpenter's scorecard, but it weighs 50 lbs, runs close to $949, and arrives without cleaning wands. For a serious home workshop rather than a commercial crew, the EGO is the smarter buy: nearly the same power, far better storage, and a price that does not require a pro budget.
What It Won't Do
Fine dust is the EGO's weak spot. In Concord Carpenter's sealed dust-box test it sucked so hard that the filter clogged almost immediately on fine sawdust, the run timed out at 140 seconds, and suction fell about 30%. The fix is simple but mandatory: run pre-filter bags for drywall and sander dust. Filter cleaning is also manual, a button you pump rather than the automatic system on pricier extractors.
The Vacmaster 24V cordless costs about $116, and that price includes the battery and charger. That alone sets it apart, because the DeWalt, Ryobi, and Milwaukee budget cordless vacs all sell as bare tools at the same number. TylerTube crowned it the winner of his battery shop-vac shootout, and not on price alone. Its wide 1.875-inch hose cleared a mason jar of play sand in 24 seconds and a jar of water in under 2, faster than every rival he tested.
It also throws in extras that punch above the price. The motor detaches into a 210 mph blower, and there is a slot to carry a spare battery. The tank is only 4 gallons, so it suits car detailing, spills, and quick garage jobs rather than all-day cleanup, but for grab-and-go work at this price nothing else keeps up.
What It Won't Do
The Vacmaster's design has rough edges. TylerTube's biggest gripe: the stored hose physically blocks the lid, so you have to flip it out of the way every time you empty the bin. Both hose ends look identical, which makes it easy to grab the wrong one mid-job. The build is plain plastic, not job-site grade, and the 4-gallon tank fills fast on bigger messes.
Who Should Buy Which
EGO POWER+ 9-Gallon Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum
The most powerful all-around cordless shop vac
- Serious home-workshop owners who want the most cordless suction
- Buyers already on or entering the EGO 56V platform
- Users who value big capacity and the best-organized accessory storage
- Anyone willing to run pre-filter bags for fine dust
- People who want cordless freedom without a commercial-grade price
Vacmaster Professional 24V MAX 4-Gallon Cordless Wet/Dry Vac
A ready-to-run cordless vac for under $120
- Budget buyers who do not want to join an expensive battery ecosystem
- Homeowners doing car detailing, spills, and quick garage cleanups
- Users who want the fastest bulk pickup for sand, mud, and water
- Buyers who want a ready-to-run kit with battery and charger included
- People who can live with a few design quirks for the price