An upright or canister vacuum is sturdy overall, but the wand, hose, and attachments stick out and snag easily, and a full dust canister is a mess waiting to spill. Empty it and secure the loose parts first.
Pro tip: Many uprights have a built-in wand and cord garage; use it to keep everything contained as one unit instead of loose parts in a bag.
Watch out: Do not carry a vacuum by its hose or wand; lift the main body by its handle, since the connecting attachments are not built to bear the unit's weight.