This can be a useful feature if you have stairs, but it’s by no means necessary. We’re big fans of how this vacuum performs without that add-on, and only have run into minor hiccups, like how the attachments tend to fall off the storage areas located on the base of the machine. Performance isn’t the only aspect worth noting when it comes to a vacuum. Our V7 was so beautiful, and so light, that my now 6-year-old shark pet vacuum often clamored to vacuum with me. But if you simply can’t stomach the idea of spending more money on another Dyson, after two vacuums poop out suspiciously right after the two-year warranty expires, you’ll probably want to give a Shark stick vac a shot. The generously sized dust bin is easy to remove, and the contents empty out at the bottom, so you’ll have minimal or no direct contact with all the contents.
These days, cordless vacuums are some of the most powerful vacuums when it comes to suction and they ensure you’re not restricted by the length of the wire. Check how long the battery will last between charges, and whether the battery is swappable, shark stick vacuum so you can simply replace it and carry on vacuuming, rather than the floor cleaner being out of action completely while it recharges. At more than 5kg, it is heavier than other cordless vacuums we tested and it had the shortest battery life.
The V15 Detect was able to remove 88% in the same challenge, as well as 95% from low-pile carpet. Whether vacuuming across hardwood floors or low-pile or midpile carpeting, the V15 barely left a tuft in its wake. There are plenty of options on the market, and we’ve spent countless hours testing the top models from brands like Shark, Bissell, Dyson, Tineco, Eureka, and Samsung at the CNET product testing lab in Louisville, Kentucky. In our vacuum cleaner evaluations, we run a rigorous slate of tests to determine each cleaner’s capabilities when it comes to picking up a variety of messes on various floor types. However, the cleaner head works extremely well on hard floors, and its self-cleaning brushroll won’t get tangled with pet hair.
The stick vacuum that came out on top is the Shark Stratos cordless. Our reviewer was impressed by its ability to sense how much dirt is on a floor and increase the suction power, the battery-life, ease of storing and the Anti- shark stick vacuum Odor technology which made the home smell so fresh. It’s not perfect – the battery life is relatively short at 40 minutes of use, and it only works on hardwood flooring, not to mention its small water capacity and high price.
I used it when I was moving out of my previous home, and actually received compliments from strangers about the condition of our rugs and our baseboards at the time (it does really well against walls and ledges). At a smidge over 9 pounds, it’s almost twice as heavy as its closest competitor, the Dyson V7. The brush head is much larger too, so it’s more difficult to quickly maneuver it in small rooms. Finally, it’s not as pretty as the Dyson and just a little harder to use. Once you’ve screwed the dock into the wall, the vacuum neatly clicks in and starts automatically recharging.
This robust upright vac features anti-hair-wrap tech and offers dedicated modes for carpet and hard-floor cleaning. After zipping around the main floor of my house for 20 minutes, my floors were cleaner than they’d ever been—and they stayed that way. And until there’s a robot vacuum mop that works as well as the upright mop vacs, I’m quite happy to push mine around the house for a few minutes a few times a week.
Instead of a brush roll, the Hizero has a soft polymer roller that’s supposed to mimic the way a dog licks things off the floor. It’s pretty cool technology but it wasn’t great at cleaning my textured kitchen floor (to be fair, the product description does state that it performs best on “leveled” floors). If you have the benefit of perfectly flat floors this could work—especially if you’re in an apartment and worry about noise. But if your floors have seen smoother days or you have an old house with kids and pets, you’re probably better off with something that actually sucks (in the good way).
Shark is the most popular vacuum brand in America, and its vacuums have received top marks for reliability and relative affordability. According to a Consumer Reports survey, a vacuum’s median life is eight years. Find out more about how Insider Reviews tests and reviews home products.