Shop Vac Recommendation

$100ish budget. I need a new, good, shop vac. My cheapie one now, has a ring that holds the pre filter on that keeps falling off and ends up blowing dust out half the time.

Store brand like Ridgid or Kolbot? Dewalt?

Thanks!

I really like my 12 gallon Rigid. It's noisy and hard to move around sometimes, but I have never had a problem with it even cleaning out the pellet stove. Just smack the filter clean and put it back on.

I have a little 2 gallon craftsman as well, and I hate it because it uses bag filters that never stay on and clog in record time. 

If you've got time and like to hunt for great deals, try to find a commercial quality option.  I bought a Clarke Tailor Mate Dual for $25 from the local university surplus auction.  Dual motors, big tank, useful wheels, US-made, and all the parts to repair are available online.  Impressive performance and should last a lifetime.

I've had a Lowe's brand 12 gallon 5.5 hp Shop-Vac that has performed flawlessly for probably 8-10 years now. Have used repeatedly on both dry vacuuming and wet vacuuming repeatedly filling 12 gallon canister. Swmbo likes it so much that she uses it for vacuuming in the house (stained concret fllors and 2 dogs that shed) as well. About $99 iirc.

EDIT:  just checked online and the exact model has been replaced with a black colored model. Same horsepower 5.5 and still $99

Since I was a kid all I ever knew was Shop-Vac brand shop vacuums.  Black and red ones.  I just bought one a few months ago myself.  Never let us down.

Ours came in at just under 100$

Buy the biggest motor you can find.

SWMBO bought me a 5.5 Hp., 16 gallon Craftsman wet / dry vac about twenty years ago and it has been earning my respect ever since. However, the last time I bought it a replacement filter, all that was available was a generic, less than perfect fit alternative because Sears.

Highly recommend if you can afford it. 

I got mine for cheap because a friend of relative works for the company. Quiet, powerful and the long hose reaches from end to end of my garage

Whatever you get make SURE it uses the big 2 1/4” hose and not the E36 M3ty 1 1/2” one.  My old one that went “missing” had the fat hose and it would suck up small children in its maw, never clogged or gave trouble.  Then I received as a gift a much nicer looking stainless bodied one with the smaller hose.  Not nearly as useful and clogs/jams on three leaves.  

I have an old HF brand.  Pretty sure they are under $50.   Beat the living E36M3 out of it, comes back for more.   I use a knee high stocking for a filter, works OK.

I replaced my old beat up Craftsman with a new Ridgid a few years ago, and it's been a beast so far.

So I ended up with a Ridgid 16.5 gallon, 6.5hp stainless steel shop vac.  The thing sucks!  Thanks for the advice everyone!