The traditional upright vacuum has been undergoing upgrades to help it compete with the robotic newcomers.

In fact, the most difficult part of owning an upright vacuum is probably buying one.

What is the first step in choosing an upright vacuum?

Expect to spend $100 to $500 for an upright vacuum.

The current trend in upright vacuums is "bagless."

Most manufacturers now offer a bagless upright vacuum, but many perform with varying degrees of success.

Most upright vacuums have cleaning paths that range from 12 to 15 inches.

A drum sander looks somewhat like a large upright vacuum cleaner, but is much heavier (about 75 pounds).

The company also said its Hoover vacuum business had weakened because of stiff competition for bagless upright vacuums.

Read upright vacuum cleaner reviews and compare prices online.