Shark - IONFlex 2X DuoClean IF251 Bagless Cordless Pet Stick Vacuum - Blue stream

First off, this is the most I've EVER spent on a vacuum, I would normally buy one from Walmart that has pet care as well... I have to be honest here, I wanted to splurge a bit on a decent vacuum and I was on the fence between getting this guy or a Dyson animal v7 I think??? BEST MONEY I'VE EVER SPENT! This shark vac is amazing, I love doing the vacuuming at home because of this and as a dude, that says alot! I got a price match from Amazon but I wanted to buy through Best buy, they priced matched it with no problem so thank you Best buy! I honestly can't say enough good things about this vac and my wife loves the attachments which was a big thing for her, I could care less. If you're thinking about buying a shark, get one...spend the extra few bucks on a great vacuum! You will not regret it.

So you’re in the market for a premium cordless vacuum and having a hard time deciding between the Shark IONFlex DuoClean IF251 and the Dyson v8 animal? Look no further as I will pit them against one another in this review. Shark’s Pros: *Comes with two batteries *Great cleaning brush and bristle rollers (more on this later) *Stores standing up with no need for a wall mount Shark’s Cons: *Mediocre attachments *Doesn’t dump its bin without you reaching in it (ick) *Cost I have been using the Dyson v8 animal for the past 6 months and love the vacuum. Using this as my basis, the Shark will have to really outperform to get my 5 star rating. Battery: It comes with removable batteries and comes with 2! This is a big bonus over the dyson as I can keep a shark battery on the charger and one in the vacuum. Each shark vacuum battery lasts just as long as the dyson’s so this is essentially twice the run time. I didn’t time the actual run time but it does last the entire duration of vacuuming my 1600 sq ft townhome on the regular setting. There is a “max” setting but that will surely deplete your battery before finishing the main floor. The shark does come with a charging dock for the battery but the bonus feature over the dyson is that you can choose how to charge the unit. With the dyson, you either have to wall mount it or charge the entire unit by an outlet. The shark’s removable batteries can be charged on their own so the vacuum can stay in your closet and the batteries next to a wall outlet. Big win for Shark on this as the Dyson sits out in the open while it charges. I prefer to hide the vacuums in the closet when not in use. Cleaning: The shark does an amazing job at cleaning the carpet and hard floors. It has this motorized head that has two styles of rollers on the bottom. First brush in the front is a very soft bristle that does a great job on hard floors and “fluffing” my medium pile carpet. With it activated, its almost like the vacuum self propels itself. The 2nd roller is more of a traditional nylon brush designed to lift the debris from the carpet and into the suction part of the head. With this two roller combination, the cleaning path really only takes one pass to get a very good clean. The only downfall is that hair can get wound around the roller and a pain to remove. They do make it a little easier to maintain the rollers by having a removable top lid to gain access to the rollers from the top. Weight: While the Shark and Dyson may weigh very similar in weight, the dyson gets an advantage on the balance. The batteries are heavy and the placement of the batteries can really affect the handling. The Dyson has the battery along the bottom of the grip so when you’re gripping it, the weight is better distributed. The Shark has the battery running vertical making it feel very nose heavy. I feel like I am less fatigued with how the Dyson is balanced than the Shark. Storing: The Shark does stand up on its own with the floor attachment! This is by the ingenious design of bending it in the middle. The Dyson has to either be wall mounted, leaned up against a corner, or laying along the ground. A nod towards the Shark on this innovated design. The bend in the middle also allows you to vacuum underneath things without too much strain on your back. Attachments: The Shark comes with the standard crevice and dusting attachments. The attachments are friction fit and does not “snap in” like the Dyson’s. The tool that its lacking is a motorized brush attachment. For the price, you would expect it to come with one. How else am I suppose to get dog hair off the couch? The Dyson comes with one and I use it regularly on the hand vac mode. I did contact Shark and you can purchase one separately for $59. You decide if its worth it. Summary: At this price point, you will need a lot more than an extra battery to beat Dyson. While the extra battery was a big bonus. It wasn’t enough to edge me into recommending this Shark vacuum over a Dyson. The fact that you have to reach into the bin to fully empty it and the missing motorized brush head attachment was a big miss for me. If you purchased the optional motorized brush head, you will already be in the same price range as the Dyson v8 animal. This vacuum would have been better suited in the midrange pricing tier. If you are Shark loyal, I would still be happy with this vacuum as it does a fantastic job at doing both carpet and hard floors. The price point, lack of motorized brush attachment, and dust bin design kept this vacuum from 5 stars.

I have owned a shark vacuum before and I have been impressed, so my standards were a little high. All I can say is this would be an awesome upgrade to any current vacuum. For every negative there is definitely a positive. In the box is the floor suction piece with TWO brushes! Then the attachment pole and the vacuum handle that is supported by an ion battery. You get 3 hose attachments and an extra battery! I have not fully charged the battery yet but lets just say that with charging for an hour only one light is blinking. The manual states it takes 3.5 hours to have a full charge and to definitely charge right out of the box. One negative for me is the weight of the handle. I think that the ion battery contributes to this BUT there are other handles in place to so that you are using the vacuum with both hands when it feels like it is starting to get heavy. Its kind of like a baby, he/she is light at first but after awhile he/she starts to get heavy and the additional handles do help with the weight. Another negative for me is the dirt trap. It is really small and sometimes the dirt does not come completely out. I had a ton of dog hair that was sucked up and a lot of it got caught and I had to use something to get it out. However, it does suck up a lot of stuff so it is well worth the negative. Positives for me is the cordless part! I have owned a cordless vacuum before but I had to put the vacuum on the charger. I love how you can actually take the battery out and charge (plug the cord to the battery) or put battery on the charge stand and charge. I must say that I love this and I will never go back to using a cord or vacuum charge base. It is so nice to go all over the house and not have to unplug and plug as well! The next best part for me is the different button for different types of floor. I have laminate hardwood, vinyl, and rugs all of the house and I press the button to the different types of floor. Also, there is a button to switch between speeds like everyday cleaning or max power and all of the buttons are easy to press with your thumb. One more positive, everything has a label! If you can unhook or move it, there is some type of message for each part that moves. Its good for me because I was able to do even more with the vacuum. The attachments are pretty standard, I got them with my other Shark vacuum BUT there is an attachment for blinds and celling fans! I love it! Would I buy this vacuum again, YES! Would I recommend to friends or family? Absolutely!

As far as vacuum cleaners go, Shark has up until now, been one of the last brands I'd consider purchasing. However, after trying out this model, I can appreciate the appeal of what Shark’s line of carpet care products have to offer. First off, it's a good idea to review the instructions, especially with regards to storage of the vacuum when not in use. This Shark does not stand up on it's own, so be mindful of that. Assembling the vacuum was easy, as was converting it to use as a hand-held, and switching out the included attachments. This Shark IONFlex DuoClean IF251 Bagless Cordless Pet Stick Vacuum is versatile. Of particular interest to me was being able to use this vacuum as both an upright or a hand-held unit. And when used as a hand-held, you can feel the power. The vacuum had no problem cleaning my cat’s shed hair off her carpeted cat tree stand using the Pet Multi-Tool attachment. When vacuuming my area rug, my arms got a workout; which isn't necessarily a negative, but rather, an added bonus. All the Smart Response Technology controls are right there in the digital display, located on the hand-held unit, and only light up when the vacuum is turned on. The transition from cleaning my carpet to moving onto the bare floor was simply a matter of changing the surface settings on the display. And when switching to max power for more heavy-duty cleaning - you can definitely see (and feel) the difference in how the machine performs. This Shark runs quiet, and is considerably lightweight. There are dual lights on the head (floor unit), and I really liked being able to see the roller as it turns, through the clear front panel. Removing the roller to clean out any hair wrapped around it was pretty straightforward, via the tabs on either side of the head unit. Emptying the dust cup (dirt compartment) was simple, and not too messy as long as you pay attention to what you're doing. Accessing the anti-allergen filters in order to clean them was simple, as well. But again, pay attention to the instructions with regards to allowing the filters to completely dry after washing, and before you insert them back into the machine. This vacuum cleaner is cordless - and that is awesome! Having two rechargeable batteries (ION Power Packs) included is a definite plus - while one is in the hand-held unit, the other can be charging in the convenient ION Power Pack docking stand which has suction cups on the bottom for increased stability. Plus, the MultiFLEX wand bends and can be extended, to reach hard-to-get-at places underneath furniture. I do, however, think this model is a bit overpriced. But, that being said, there are definitely many features of this particular Shark vacuum that performed above and beyond my expectations. So, if you’re in the market for a dual-use vacuum, that takes up little room in your hall closet, and boasts the suction power necessary to handle pet hair, then this Shark might just be what you’re looking for.

I received the Rocket Complete last year and was so impressed with its compact size, features, and cleaning ability, but wished it was not tethered down by an electric cord. The Shark IONFlex DuoClean offered a chance to vacuum freely, and I was curious how it would compare with the Rocket Complete. I ended up being pretty impressed with this cordless vacuum. Assembly/preperation As with most modern vacuums, no tools are required for assembly. There is a quick start guide, but it is not really necessary. The batteries must be charged before use and discharged fully before recharging to condition the batteries. There are two batteries included and 3 different ways to charge them: in the unit, on the charging base, or directly to the charging cable. I noticed the manual states that all three lights will be lit once fully charged, but this is inaccurate. All three led lights will become dark and no longer blink once fully charged (see photo). Use I first used the vacuum on the Carpet/Max Power setting on medium length carpet, and one battery lasted about 13 minutes. I found the suction power was very good and it picked up about as much dust/dirt as any corded vacuum. I then used the vacuum on the hard floors using Floor/Extend Runtime, but did not determine the battery life due to completing the task. I like how the spinning brushes turn at a slow rate to loosen dirt, but not fast enough to scratch the floor surface. This allows this vacuum to clean better than any corded vacuum I have used with the brush turned off. Storage/Maintenance The problem with many stick vacuums is that they cannot stand upright. With Shark’s Multiflex lock, you can fold the vacuum in half and leave it standing or carry it to the next room with the built in handle. This is a great improvement over the Rocket Complete, where you must remove the vacuum from the wand or hang it on the wall. I was disappointed to find this vacuum does not have a quick pull-release for the hard bristle spinning brush like the corded Rocket Complete has. I have to often remove hair wrapped around the brush and removing the brush made this task a lot easier. Pros 2 batteries included Cleans hard floors better than corded vacuums (with brushes removed) Multiflex system for storage Cons No quick pull-release for hard bristled spinning brush Narrow cleaning path (about 9”) Two filters which must be cleaned regularly (monthly) Overall I would recommend this vacuum for everyday cleaning. It cleans as well as corded vacuums on carpet and even better on hard surfaces. Even though the battery does not last long, Shark provided two batteries, unlike its competitor. The two batteries combined should last long enough to do a deep cleaning for about 4 good sized rooms.

The Shark IONFLEX is one of the best cordless vacuums I have owned. I enjoy using the vacuum thanks to its lightweight, ease of use, and convenience. Shark provided some great features in what is normally a limited stick-vacuum design. The Multi-FLEX wand has two functions. Increased reach and storing the vacuum with the wand attached. It is convenient that it can be folded down in “storage mode” as you don’t have to worry about it tipping over and it doesn’t require you to mount in on the wall. The vacuum itself turns on/off with a button versus a trigger that other cordless vacuums use, making it easier and more comfortable. It provides two modes of cleaning; extended and max power. Extended runtime is great for everyday cleaning, where as max is for spot cleaning. The Shark does get a little loud while on max. On normal or extend runtime the noise is slightly louder then a higher priced cord free vac I own, but it is tolerable. However on max power, both vacuums run at comparable noise levels. Speaking of modes, expect to get a mere 6 minutes when running at ‘Max Power’, where as extended runtime provided around 30 minutes. The removable battery is a huge improvement over my other cordless. The IONFLEX 2X even comes with a second battery, allowing you to swap it out during cleaning if you need a little more time. The DuoClean brush head is a great design that has worked very well on my tile, wood, and carpet floors. It features a standard bristle brush, as well as a finer soft brush that cleans tile and wood floors. It offers useful features such as a brush roll indicator (status light), tool-less top brush access, bright led lights, and easy removal of the soft brush. The brush head is roughly 2.25 inches tall in the front and increases to around 2.50 inches near the rear. Unfortunately, our kitchen cabinets have a 2.5 inch gap from the floor and the brush head rubs on the bottom of the cabinets; scratching the top of the brush head after one use. Obviously, I am more careful with it now, but the finish is not very durable. My only nitpicks with the device were the exhaust blowing out of the bottom of the handle and the dust bin isn’t removable (without tools), but I feel these are minor annoyances. I think the Shark IONFLEX is a great choice for someone who has multiple floor types and wants a cordless with more features and flexibility. Cons Durability (finish) Dust bin isn’t removable for cleaning Exhaust location Pros Attractive design On/Off button (instead of a trigger) Multi-FLEX wand Storage mode Lightweight Good battery life and includes spare battery Attachments

Design: Setting up the IONFlex was quick and simple, although it took a while to charge the battery to full capacity. One slight downside to the design is that you will need to find a good spot to store the various attachments, since they do not attach to the vacuum for storing. In my opinion, this is just a minor inconvenience because it is such a small and lightweight vacuum. I like that the vacuum folds for easy storage and stands upright without leaning it against a wall. In addition, I appreciate the ease of emptying the vacuum’s dust bin when it’s full. The IONFlex is well-designed to complement its functionality, performance, and versatility. Performance: Due to this being my first experience with a battery powered vacuum, I will admit that I had some skepticism about how the IONFlex would perform. Its small size and lightweight design added to that skepticism, but that immediately went away when I started using this vacuum. The suction power is very impressive. I do not notice a decline in performance when using it for extended periods of time. It seems to perform great all the way until it is out of battery. The battery lasts quite a while, but there is always the backup battery if you need more time. This vacuum exceeds my performance expectations. Versatility: The IONFlex is one of the most versatile vacuums on the market. Not only is it an effective floor vacuum on both carpet and hard floors, but also an effective hand vacuum for all kinds of surfaces. It converts with ease and not having to deal with a cord is very convenient. I do not know that I can ever go back to a corded vacuum now. Additionally, the various attachments meet almost any vacuuming need. I have used the IONFlex for pet hair, stairs, my car, dust near the ceiling, ceiling fans, and more. This two-in-one vacuum is the definition of versatile. Verdict: You will not be disappointed with the IONFlex. It is perfectly designed to maximize its ease of use, performance and versatility. The convenience of cordless vacuuming will make you never want to go back, and the fact that this can fulfill any vacuuming needs is impressive to say the least.

This Shark-IonFlex DuoClean 251 is a very lightweight and easy maneuverable vacuum with its swivel base head. I had recently vacuumed my carpet with a much older Shark upright model and I was amazed by how much this machine picked up in additional human hair, pet hair, and just other dirt. It was very easy to put together, however, it would have been nice if there was a way to secure onboard some or all of the additional tools that were sent with the vacuum. A pet multi tool, an anti-allergen duster crevice tool, and an anti-allergen dust brush were part of the equipment in the box to be used in various situations. One is able to vacuum for quite a while on battery because 2 batteries are included. Now, there are 3 ways in which to charge the battery not currently in use: 1) leave the power pack in the vacuum and insert the charger into the power pack and connect to a wall outlet, 2) take the power pack out and insert the charger directly into the wall, or 3) take the power pack out and set it up in the charging caddy which has non-stick grippers on its bottom and safely attached itself to a level surface. Charging is very easy. Now, there are 2 settings when in use-a lower level, everyday running power level and a max power for heavy duty cleaning. Clearly, the max power will require more battery and the life will be shorter. I would say that you can vacuum for about 20-.30 minutes,give or take, without interruption. The power pack easily lets the user know with visible indicator lights on the status of the charge. Likewise, the power pack also easily lets the user know where in the charging process it stands. I really like how easily the multi-flex head can get under furniture that one usually has to move in order to get to the carpet underneath it. On the day I was able to start putting this Shark through its paces, Shark has a special value on a national television retailer. That Shark was a lift away, duo-clean model and had the same roller and duo-clean rollers on it and they were accessed the same way as this machine. However, I noticed that that model had a small, onboard pick/brush to clean the regular roller head; this one does not. When I first vacuumed, that would have come in handy because there was a lot of hair caught in the roller and I used a pick-like tool to get the hair out of the roller. This hair does not simply release by going in an opposite or different direction as another manufacturer's pet hair eraser machine does.