I have Smartstrand in all my rental properties and my friends have had it on their stairs for 7 yrs with two cats and lot of traffic. No problems, its a great product. Nylon is not as stain resistant as Smartstrand and can fade and can stain.

We just installed Smartstrand and love the feel and look of it. However, it is very hard to find an affordable vacuum that will work on it. Just google it, and you'll be amazed at the problems people are having. Good luck!

Thanks!!

SmartStrand's durability and stain resistance are unparalleled throughout the carpet industry- and far superior to nylon. SmartStrand carpet is your stair's best friend!

SmartStrand Silk is the perfect premium carpet for your luxurious bedrooms and living rooms- with the same stain protection.

When it comes to vacuums, with any soft carpet ie SmartStrand, especially a premium soft carpet like SmartStrand Silk, you need to take into consideration the plushness & weight of the carpet. You most definitely want to use a vacuum that is CRI (Carpet & Rug Institute) approved.

Dyson Vacuums are not CRI approved and therefore not a good pairing for soft, plush carpets.

If you have a premium soft carpet, you want to find a vacuum that has:
-Beater bar with adjustable height
-Wide wheels (this will keep the vacuum higher & more flexible)

An investment like beautiful, soft carpet deserves proper maintenance- choose a vacuum that will allow for the best upkeep of your carpet! Here are some great models to check out:

Standard Upright Vacuum
Hoover UH70120
Hoover UH70205
Hoover U5780-950
Dirt Devil UD70115
Eureka AS5203A

Lightweight/No Depth Adjustment
Oreck Magnesium
Oreck Magnesium RS
Hoover Nano UH20020W

Canister Vacuum
Hoover Canister S3865
Oreck Quest Pro

Thanks for all the info!