Shark is a top brand in the vacuum cleaner market and is often featured in the list of best vacuum cleaners. The Shark Vertex Bagless Corded Canister Vacuum with DuoClean Powerfins is one of their two canister vacuums, and it's the more feature-rich and expensive of the two.
This model includes many of Shark's best-loved design innovations and offers far more than your average canister vacuum. With dual brush rolls featuring Shark's PowerFin technology, it's designed for a deep and thorough clean. The self-cleaning brush roll reduces the time you'll spend cleaning the vacuum itself. It's also one of the best vacuums for pet hair, thanks to its powerful suction and advanced brush roll technology.
This canister vacuum offers three suction levels, and the flexible wand gives added maneuverability compared to other canisters. Plus, the bagless dust bin means no ongoing cost of vacuum bags. I tested it in a home environment on both carpet and hard floors, assessing not only its cleaning performance but general ease of use, how easy it is to store, as well as what's involved in the maintenance to keep it performing at its best.
At under $500, this canister vacuum is cheap compared to some of the leading cordless vacuums, but it's pretty pricey compared to most other canister models. However, if you're in the market for one of the best vacuums for pet hair and want a deep and thorough clean for your home, this Shark model might be worth the investment.
Helen is a freelance writer specializing in home appliances. She has tested a variety of floorcare appliances for Top Ten Reviews, from stick vacuums to robot mops.
For this review, Helen spent a week thoroughly testing the Shark Vertex Bagless Corded Canister Vacuum, putting it through its paces in her home and assessing its performance. She also took the vacuum's specs, features, price point, and ease of use to give an in-depth and accurate judgment of its value to our readers.
Shark Vertex Canister Vacuum: Key specs
- Type: Canister
- Dustbin capacity: 0.4 gallons
- Suitable for: All floor types
- Dimensions: L 17.7 x W 14.2 x H 49.2 inches
- Weight: 8.8 lbs (canister)
- Storage: Freestanding, wand folds for storage
Shark Vertex Canister Vacuum: Price & availability
- $479.99 / £329.99
Shark only has two canister vacuums in its range, and the Shark Vertex Bagless Corded Canister Vacuum with DuoClean Powerfins is the top-of-the-range option, and as such, it’s the more expensive of the two. But for that, you’ll get all of Shark’s best design features bundled into one canister vacuum that offers top-notch performance.
It’s available directly from Shark as well as Amazon and from other big retailers such as Wayfair and BestBuy. If you shop around, it’s often available at a reduced price.
Shark Vertex Canister Vacuum: Setup & assembly
The Vertex comes in a large box, and as with all Shark vacuums, it comes packaged in fully recyclable paper and cardboard packaging. Once all the parts are removed from the box, the assembly is pretty intuitive and is simply a case of clicking the hose to the canister and then clicking the floorhead and the handle to the wand.
The instruction manual is little more than a pictorial guide, illustrating the basics of how to assemble, store, use, and maintain the vacuum. Thankfully, because the vacuum is so simple to use, this basic information is sufficient.
Shark Vertex Canister Vacuum: Design
This black vacuum has gold accents that give it a more premium look than the cheaper canister on offer from Shark, which has silver accents. It feels sturdy and well-made, the floorhead, in particular, is far better quality than I see on most canister vacuums. The dual brushroll configuration makes it a robust cleaner that’s designed to clean deep into carpets without damaging hard floors.
The handle features a rubber grip on top, as well as a control panel. This allows you to switch the vacuum on or off, adjust the power level, and switch between floor types, all from the handle, so there’s no need to bend down to the canister.
Similarly, there’s an accessory holder that clips to the wand, so you can keep both the accessories close to hand while vacuuming as well as storing them on the vacuum. Or, if you rarely use them, the accessory holder needn’t be attached.
It’s clear that plenty of thought has gone into the design and functionality, which is refreshing at a time when many vacuum manufacturers are pouring innovation into cordless vacuums, and the corded models are sometimes left behind.
The lightweight canister has four wheels for agile maneuverability, and its handle doubles as the handle for the dust bin, which is easy to remove by pulling back two switches with your thumb and forefinger. The bin is emptied by pressing one button that flips open the base for the dirt to fall out.
Shark Vertex Canister Vacuum: Features & accessories
Accessories:
• Pet crevice tool
• Upholstery tool
The Vertex is not one of those vacuums that comes with a mountain of accessories that’ll end up gathering dust at the back of a cupboard. It’s supplied with just a pet crevice tool to reach into narrow spots or for overhead cleaning. Plus, you’ll get an upholstery tool that can be used on sofas, headboards, and even curtains. It’s worth noting, though, that there are plenty of optional accessories available on Shark’s website, should you need a tool for a specific job.
What it lacks in accessories, it makes up for in other standout features. These include the flexible wand that not only folds in half for more compact storage but can bend during vacuuming to allow for easier reach under low furniture.
In an upgrade from Shark’s cheaper canister vacuum, this one features two brushrolls in the floorhead for a deeper clean. What’s more, the self-cleaning design stops longer hairs from becoming tangled around the brush roll. Thereby eliminating the need to spend your valuable free time removing unwanted hair from the floorhead.
Allergy sufferers will benefit from the HEPA filter and Shark’s anti-allergen complete seal that it claims will trap and seal over 99.9% of dust, dander, and allergens inside the vacuum.
The controls offer the choice between three suction levels, plus there’s a carpet as well as a hard floor setting. LED lights on the floorhead illuminate debris while you clean, which is particularly useful in poor parts of your home.
Shark Vertex Canister Vacuum: Performance
I was impressed with the performance of this vacuum when I put it to work. Most notable is its ability to remove ground dirt from deep within a carpet pile. Even when vacuuming recently vacuumed rooms, it was able to remove far more dirt from within the carpet than I expected or even realized was there. Likewise, it has a similar effect on a long pile area rug, giving it a deep and thorough clean.
On the carpet, when I sprinkled oats near the baseboard, it wasn’t as effective at removing this debris, and as such, I'd say edge cleaning on the carpet is one of its weaknesses. However, it’s better if you approach the baseboards with the side of the floorhead as opposed to the front. Plus, with the tools conveniently on board, switching to the crevice tool is quick and easy and means I could collect anything left behind.
Pick-up on hard floors was impeccable, and having the controls on the handle made it super easy to transition between different floor types as well as adjust the power if necessary. And unlike on carpet, edge cleaning was faultless when on a hard floor.
I used the crevice tool to reach down the sides of a sofa as well as for overhead cleaning to vacuum up some dusty cobwebs near the ceiling. However when vacuuming overhead using the wand, it quickly starts to feel heavy, so this is best tackled in short bursts. The upholstery tool proved effective at cleaning dust and crumbs from furniture.
The canister feels lightweight to pull along, and when vacuuming stairs, it’s compact enough to sit on a step. I did experience the hose twisting a couple of times, but a firm tug usually pulls it straight. I did utilize the flexible wand to vacuum under a bed, and indeed, it does give extra reach without the need to bend down, but having said that, I found it difficult to control the floorhead in this mode.
Whether vacuuming carpet or hard floor, this vacuum didn’t go above 70dB, which is similar to a dishwasher or shower and pretty quiet in comparison to some other vacuums. The floorhead glides nicely on all floor types, and it’s easy to maneuver around obstacles. Plus, when you need to stop to pick up a stray dog toy or sock, it’s helpful that the floorhead and wand will stand unsupported.
Shark Vertex Canister Vacuum: Care & maintenance
The bagless dust bin can be emptied as frequently as you like, which helps to keep the weight to a minimum during use. I found it easy to detach and empty. The washable filters mean you don’t need to fork out replacements frequently, but you’ll need to wash out the foam and felt filters every three months. The HEPA filter only needs washing every 12 months, but in each case, it’s worth keeping an eye on the filters and washing them out more often if you think they need it.
The five-year warranty is a good length and covers any non-wearable parts so long as you buy it from an authorized retailer. Shark will repair any defective parts or replace the vacuum, if necessary, during this five-year warranty, which is pretty lengthy in comparison to other warranties. Plus, there’s a good range of replacement parts available to purchase directly from Shark. These include replacement canister wheels, dust cups, wand, handle and hose assemblies, and more. This makes it easy to extend the life of the vacuum if a replaceable part breaks.
There are numerous configurations for storage. The foldable wand is helpful if you don’t have full-height storage. Additionally, because the wand and floorhead are freestanding, they can be stored separately in the canister or clipped to it for storage as one combined unit. Or, when disassembled, the compact canister will easily slot into a smaller cupboard.
Shark Vertex Canister Vacuum: User reviews
With a good, though not exceptional, score of 4.1/5 stars on Amazon, it’s clear that this vacuum doesn’t suit everyone. However, it’s got a rating of 4.7/5 on Wayfair, and those that like it really do love it, with comments such as “I am really impressed with the maneuverability” as well as praising it for being “very powerful, yet still light and quiet”.
Less favorable reviews point out that “Every time you turn off the machine or even disconnect the floor head, the speed and carpet level reset back to low suction and low pile,” and others complain about the “hose kinks” though this can be a relatively common issue with canister vacuums due to their long hoses.
Shark Vertex Canister Vacuum: Expert opinion
Mallory Micetich, Home Expert at Angi, thinks “canister vacuums have a substantial suction power and are light in weight since you only need to move the wand and power head when cleaning. They can give users more control over the area they’re working on.”
The downside, says Mallory, is that “canister vacuums are also harder to store due to their round shape, unlike upright vacuums that can easily fit into some of the most narrow closets.”
Should you buy the Shark Vertex Bagless Corded Canister Vacuum?
If you’ve got carpets or a busy house that requires a regular deep clean, this is a great choice and worth the investment. However, if you’re used to a vacuum with lots of tools, you may need to invest in some of the optional extras to meet your needs.
The 25ft power cord isn’t super long, but it does mean you can vacuum on full power without fear of the battery running out. If, however, you have mostly hard floors and your house doesn’t get too dirty, this vacuum might be overkill, and you could save a few dollars by opting for a different model.
- First reviewed: January 2023
How does the Shark Vertex Canister Vacuum compare?
This vacuum is one of the more expensive canisters you can buy, and in terms of price, it is really only comparable to canisters from premium brand Miele. The Miele Compact C1 Pure Suction, which I gave 4/5 stars back in 2020, is a little cheaper, but you’ll have to take into account that with the Miele, there’s an ongoing cost of dirtbags to factor in. Both models offer great suction, but the Shark has a larger floorhead with dual brush rolls, whereas the Miele floorhead doesn’t contain brush rolls at all.
In comparison to one of my favorite upright vacuums, the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352, this Shark canister is double the price. But for the extra money, you get a lighter vacuum with extra features like the self-cleaning brush roll. Plus, the flexible wand allows for better reach under furniture.
One of the big disadvantages is that it doesn’t have the freedom of a cordless vacuum. I love the Dyson V15 Detect, which is a cordless vacuum with great suction, but at almost double the cost of this Shark canister, being tethered to a power cord might seem like the more favorable option.
