Best Shop Vacuums · head-to-head

CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac vs Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac is cheaper at $116.24. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac or Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum?

The CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac is the cheaper at $116.24. The CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.

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Key specs, head to head

The numbers that decide it, drawn to scale — longer bar wins, the accent bar is the stronger figure.

Max airflow (CFM)
CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac 190.8
Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum 70

Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum
US price $116.24 $143.48 Walmart current retail price
BrandCRAFTSMANShop-Vac
Released
Tank capacity gal 16 5
Peak hp 6.5 4.5
Max airflow (CFM) 190.8 70
Hose diameter (in) 2.5 in 1.25 in
Cord length (ft) 20 6
Wet dry Yes Yes
Blower function Yes Yes
Release

Sources — CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac: craftsman.com (verified 2026-06-19). Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum: shopvac.com (verified 2026-06-19).

What's the difference between the CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac and Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Tank capacity gal: CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac 16 vs Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum 5
  • Peak hp: CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac 6.5 vs Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum 4.5
  • Max airflow (CFM): CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac 190.8 vs Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum 70
  • Hose diameter (in): CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac 2.5 in vs Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum 1.25 in
  • Cord length (ft): CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac 20 vs Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum 6

What reviewers say

Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.

CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac

One whitelisted source with a verifiable review body survived: Pro Tool Reviews names this Craftsman its 'Best for Dust Collection' pick, praising its class-leading 190 CFM airflow, high 16-gallon capacity, and good value, while flagging that it is hard to transport, heavy when full, and has a large storage footprint. This is a buying-guide selection rather than a standalone lab test, and the 190 CFM figure is a listed manufacturer spec that the outlet did not independently measure, so no verified measured numbers exist for this exact model. (1 sourced review.)

Praised: High airflow (190 CFM) makes it excel at dust collection; High 16-gallon capacity; Good value for the price.

Flagged: Not as easy to transport / heavy when full; Large storage footprint.

Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum

Only one whitelisted tester (Reviewed/USA Today) hands-on lab-tested this exact Shop-Vac 5989300; it ranked among the weakest in a six-model roundup, praised for light weight and attractive stainless design but faulted for poor suction and rust-prone steel. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)

Praised: Light weight and easy to carry; Attractive stainless-steel industrial design.

Flagged: Poor suction; one of the weakest in the roundup; Stainless-steel tank may be susceptible to rust.

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