This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Another cordless stick vacuum, this one the Shark Cordless Vertex Pro.
What differentiates this model from the sea of others and what, if any, are standout features?
**WHAT’S IN THE BOX**
• Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Stick Vacuum (in pieces)
• Attachments include eight inch crevice tool, pet multi-tool and anti-allergen dusting brush
• Battery charger
• Documentation
**THE SETUP**
The parts assemble easily. Operation can be in upright configuration as well as handheld by removing the extension tube. Accessories fit well and operate as expected. Other than the main brush, none of the accessories are powered.
Once assembled, and once the manual has been studied, it’s time to put it to the test, even before charging. It arrived with a 50% charge.
**PUT TO THE TEST**
A first observation is that it is noisier than expected.
As with any stick vacuum, cleaning a bare floor requires only the lowest suction setting. Featuring “deep-cleaning DuoClean™ PowerFins™ and a self-cleaning brushroll to get rid of hair wrap” it’s time to test this. As can be seen in the photo, there are two as in “Duo” brushes in the business end.
I was pleased with how well it did and how easily that assembly was able to be cleaned. Very little dirt and only one hair can be seen after cleaning three rooms. The self-cleaning feature appears to work!
Also notice the three circular gray screw heads. With a gentle, tiny turn counterclockwise in the direction shown next to each one, the entire bottom shield comes off for cleaning underneath, including if a clog needs to be cleared. The front brush is removeable with a small button at the right side. Pressing that button ejects the brush for easy cleaning. Returning it to its position, it snaps back in place.
The Multiflex wand is easily articulated to allow cleaning deep under furniture. It may look odd, but it works well.
Onto low pile rugs, another success and still no mess in the roller assembly.
The brush head articulates nicely to either side making steering very easy. The head is not too wide, making it easy to navigate into spaces a traditional upright and some other stick vacs would not fit.
At first look, it was a mystery how stowage would work since it is not supplied with a stand and it is too top heavy to stand upright on its own. After reading the manual, I saw that free standing in an upright position is accomplished only by rotating the handle/motor/bin assembly forward and down after pressing a release button below the dust cup. This lowers the center of gravity so the entire vacuum will remain steady and upright. That’s a smart idea though odd looking. It is also much less expensive a design than to have to provide a charging stand. During use, however, it will not stand upright on its own.
There are multiple settings and modes for every surface:
• A hard floor setting in which the Hard Floor icon illuminates and the brushrolls spin slowly to clean bare floors and small rugs.
• A carpet setting in which the Carpet icon illuminates and the brushrolls spin more quickly to pick up dirt down deposited down into the fibers below the carpet’s surface.
• Suction Power Modes vary between ECO, Deep Clean, and Boost Mode.
The Vertex Pro does a good job vacuuming and the articulating accessories make it easy to clean crevices, dust and clean up inside vehicles.
The dust cup has a greater capacity than many others in the category.
On the lowest power and suction setting, the Shark can get up to an hour’s use, and as little as about 10 minutes at full power setting on a single charge of the removable battery. Charging is by a plug-in port near the top when the battery is installed. It will not operate while charging.
HEPA filtration is said to capture and trap up to 99.9% of dust and allergens down to .3 microns.
The main head is equipped with LED headlights that come on during all modes. These were not as effective as I had hoped. In my experience, a greenish color does a better job of showing floor level dirt, dust, and hair.
Emptying the dust cup is with a push of the release button. Hold the assembly over a trash bag to minimize the flying dust. Regularly removing and cleaning the dust cup is recommended. This is accomplished by rinsing in the sink. Don’t forget to let it dry thoroughly before reassembly and reuse.
What about maintenance? Disassembly for clearing a blockage is easy to do with guidance in the Owner’s Guide.
The pre-motor foam filter and the felt filter are my least favorite design that is still used by Shark and some other makers. Through use, dirt clogs the pores and decreases effectiveness. At this price I would have expected a better design that minimizes maintenance requirements. Another brand that popularized the slogan, “never loses suction” has a better design, does a better job and has no such filters to clog. These Shark filters will require inspection after each use in order to determine how often cleaning will be needed. Cleaning consists of rinsing in plain water. I squeeze the water from the foam filter after rinsing to maintain peak performance and then it is important to let them both dry for 24 hours before reassembly.
**CONCLUSION**
I am impressed with its vacuuming performance and general operation. I can forgive what I criticized as poor filtration design and the odd bend-in-half design that allows for upright stowage. It is not the best I have used at its price point, but there is nothing to specifically recommend against this model.
**WARRANTY**
Shark Cordless Vertex Pro is covered by the manufacturer’s five year warranty. The Lithium Ion battery is covered by the manufacturer’s two year warranty.
