Staff Shop vacuums — also known as wet/dry vacs — are an essential part of any garage or workshop. With their powerful motors and rugged construction, these machines are designed to tackle the heavy-duty cleaning jobs that typical vacuums lack the durability to handle. They’re also more versatile than your average vacuum, as most have the ability to reverse their suction and be used as a blower as well. Plus, if they’re applicable with the dust port of your sander, mitre saw, or circular saw, they can also be used as a dust-collection system. What to Consider The main factor to consider when choosing a shop vac is size. While larger-capacity machines are great if you anticipate having to clean up large messes, they can also be heavy, bulky, and take up a lot of room. Smaller, lightweight models tend to be more useful for a wider range of tasks, since their compact size is easier to pick up and carry around, especially in a crowded workspace. If you prefer the mobility offered by cordless models, we recommend choosing a shop vac of the same brand as your existing power tools. This way you can use the batteries you have on hand to supplement your running time.