Shark Wandvac WV410BL Power Pet Cordless Vacuum review: Tackle smaller messes with this compact, lightweight handheld vacuum

The best handheld vacuums are portable, reliable, and offer powerful suction to clean up lighter messes just about anywhere. I got a chance to test out one of these vacuums, the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL, seeing how it compares to some of TopTenReviews’ favorites.

Shark is one of the most prominent names in the vacuum space thanks to an excellent reputation for creating quality, long-lasting midrange options from robot vacuums, corded to stick, and handheld vacuums. The Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL is “Shark's most powerful cordless hand vacuum,” so I was excited to try it out.

It’s hard to argue against the design of the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL. It’s ultra-sleek, lightweight, and compact. What more could you want? I rarely felt fatigued using the handheld vacuum, and it was easy to maneuver just about anywhere, including tight spaces. A handy little charging dock comes with the vacuum and also includes slots for the two attachments: a crevice tool and a pet tool. I love how organized it kept everything, but it was a little top-heavy.

When it came time to test the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL, it picked up smaller messes like dog hair, food crumbs, kibble, leaves, and rice with ease. However, the vacuum didn’t fare as well with debris ingrained in carpeting and rugs, and when the dust cup was full, performance dropped. Unfortunately, that dust cup was tiny, so I had to empty it sometimes multiple times during cleaning.

The crevice tool and pet tool worked as expected. Both were easy to install and felt secure in place. My preferred tool of the two was the crevice tool, as it made reaching tighter, smaller spaces even easier. The pet tool has a nonremovable brush that attracted more dog hair on the bristles than the actual dust cup, which was a slight annoyance.

During my trial period, I always had to limit what I planned on cleaning since the 15 minutes of battery life in standard mode wasn’t even enough time to vacuum my car. Boost mode dropped the runtime to 9 minutes. I barely used that mode anyway, as I didn’t notice a major difference in performance.

Although the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL has some flaws, most are common issues that plague handheld vacuums. Its sleek design and solid suction power more than make up for those slight problems. So, if you’re considering purchasing this vacuum, be sure to read my full review below.

Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL: Key specs

Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL: Price & Value

The Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL retails for $149.99 but can often be found on sale. At the time of writing, it is available directly from the Shark website for $119.99. The Wandvac Power Pet can also be found on Amazon.

Given the powerful suction for such a compact, sleek vacuum, the Shark Wandvac Power Pet is a sound investment for households with pets and kids. However, it’s one of the priciest handheld vacuums available from Shark. So, if you’re looking for something similar at a lower price, Shark has the standard Wandvac. Just be prepared to sacrifice some performance prowess.

Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL: Setup

The Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL came in a lightweight, compact box. Inside the shipping box was another one of similar dimensions highlighting the handheld vacuum's features. After opening the second box, I found all the components were packed neatly inside.

Everything I expected to be in the box was included: a user manual, the handheld vacuum, two attachments – a crevice and a pet tool – and a charging dock that arrived in two separate pieces. Slightly more environmentally friendly packaging would’ve been appreciated, as plastic was used to protect parts. At least, most of the packaging was recyclable.

Almost all the components were ready to go out of the box, so it was a simple, straightforward assembly. Most should be able to do it without even looking at the instructions. All I had to do was slot the two charging dock pieces into each other, plug in the dock, and then add the attachments and handheld into their designated locations. All in all, my vacuum was docked and charging in under five minutes. I let it fully charge before starting its first clean.

It was impressive how quickly Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL came together, and I loved how well-built and lightweight the handheld vacuum feels. The dock seems a little flimsy, but I still love the convenience of having all the components stored in one place.

Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL: Design & Features

The sleekness of the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL took me aback. Its lovely dark blue colorway blended perfectly with my home, while the dark gray charging dock featured three slots—one to hold the vacuum and two for the crevice tool and pet tool attachments.

Even with the attachments installed, the dock kept compact dimensions, making it easy to tuck the entire setup in a corner out of the way when not in use.

Although I love how conveniently the charging dock stored all the components, the design was a little top-heavy and prone to falling if it got accidentally hit. I never ran into this problem, but I’d recommend keeping the setup away from children and pets.

At least dealing with a power cable causing even more instability wasn’t a problem, as under the dock are two cable channels: one on the side and one at the back.

The real star of the show is the actual handheld vacuum. With dimensions of 2.7 x 2.4 x 15.4 inches, it’s quite slim. Many handheld vacuums I’ve tested have wider bodies, but I could squeeze this one into tighter spots behind cabinets and under car seats. The crevice tool made it even easier to get deeper into those tight spots. Just know that since the vacuum has smaller dimensions, the dust cup’s size was sacrificed; its 0.1 qt capacity is tiny.

That compact build is coupled with a lightweight design. At just under 1.5 pounds, I rarely experienced arm fatigue using the vacuum. The only time I ever felt any strain was lifting the vacuum above my head to clean dust off the blinds, which would occur no matter how heavy the vacuum was. The feathery weight means this vacuum doesn’t have the biggest battery. I only got about 15 minutes of cleaning out of the vacuum on each charge.

The Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL has an easy-to-hold handle with a small notch for extra grip. I wasn’t too worried about it falling out of my hands whether I was lifting it or had it angled, but I would’ve loved some additional texture or rubber on the handle for a slightly more secure grip.

Controls were kept simple on this handheld, with only a larger power button to turn on the standard deep clean mode and a similar size boost button for tougher messes. Both were easy to reach and activate with your thumb, even while wearing gloves and worked exactly as expected. I had no issues with the buttons during my entire testing period.

It was easy to tell the Wandvac’s buttons were on, as each would light up. Of course, the loud noise, which became even noisier in boost mode, was also a dead giveaway. The standard mode measured at about 70 dB during testing and the boost mode averaged about 75 dB. That sound level is similar to freeway traffic or a phone ringing, so it’s loud and distracting, especially to those in the same room as the vacuum. My dog was afraid of it and would run away.

Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410B: Performance

I put the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410B through a series of tests using large concentrations of dust, dog fur, rice, and oats on various surfaces throughout my home to observe its suction power.

Starting on a carpet, I spread the debris across a small area and left the vacuum on its standard deep clean setting to observe how much debris was picked up after one minute. The dog fur and dust were suctioned up almost immediately while the rice was nearly gone after only 30 seconds of vacuuming.

Unfortunately, a few oats were ingrained in the carpet and weren’t removed. That issue could be partially due to the 0.1 qt dust cup filling up after only a minute. Performance noticeably dropped after that occurred. Still, even after emptying the dust cup and heading back to the carpet, all the oats were not picked up. Doing the same test in the vacuum’s boost mode delivered similar results.

I moved onto the bathroom tile with the same debris, observing how the cleaning went. It was even quicker this time around, as it only took about 30 seconds to fill up the dust cup. I emptied it and went back to pick up a few grains of rice that got thrown around and some oats required a second pass to get out of the tile cracks. Again, just like on the carpeting, the boost mode didn’t make a huge difference on the tile.

Finally, I tested the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL on upholstery by spreading the same debris across a few couch cushions. The pick-up wasn’t as quick as the tile. Instead, the performance was similar to that of the carpet, which took about one minute for the dust cup to fill up with debris. However, I didn’t face the same ingrained oats issue as the carpeting, as the vacuum eventually removed everything from the couch.

Beyond those more rigorous tests, I used the vacuum for everyday cleaning tasks. Without any attachments, I vacuumed pine needles and a bunch of twigs from under the Christmas tree. Some twigs didn’t fit fully into the dust cup and stuck out the nozzle of the vacuum. I was impressed the vacuum managed to pick up these larger items, but it did cause some debris to fall out due to the flap of the dust cup being left slightly open.

Still, whether it was flour, leaves, or kibble, the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL managed to pick up all smaller-sized debris without issue. However, it just didn’t have enough suction power to get the ingrained dog hair and pine needles out of the rugs.

Next, I opted to use the pet tool on my fluffy dog’s bed, the living room couch where she often lays, and a comforter – another one of her favorite spots. Slotted into the vacuum, the pet tool felt ultra secure, even without the option to lock it into place.

Starting with her dog bed, I noticed a good amount of hair getting picked up, but when I looked at the dust cup, barely any fluff was inside. Instead, it all ended up stuck in the brush, which I had to remove myself.

The couch and comforter had similar results. Other “pet tools” I’ve tested in the past had the same problem. It could be due to my dog's thick and clumpy fur rather than finer hair on breeds like labs and goldens.

Unlike many pet tool attachments I’ve used, the brush on this one isn’t removable. I usually prefer a brushless option, making it more of an upholstery tool. Still, it removed pet hair well, just not in the way I would’ve liked. It also still managed to pick up a few crumbs, glitter from holiday decor, dried leaves, and dirt from various couches and chairs.

My preferred tool attachment of the two was the crevice tool. It’s basic but works exactly as expected. Birdseed had spilled all around my sliding glass door, getting into all its nooks and crannies. With the crevice tool attached, the vacuum had no issues picking up the birdseed in all the different slots of the door frame. However, there wasn’t enough suction power to get out some dirt and debris that had been caked in the door frame longer.

With it nearing the end of the fall season, tons of leaves, grass, and debris littered the floors of my car. So, I brought out the Wandvac with the crevice tool attached to get cleaning. The vacuum picked up almost everything in just a few passes. I could easily get under and beside the car seats thanks to the compact body. However, some debris ingrained in the rugs was left after I finished.

I also used the crevice tool to grab some dust and webs from behind furniture and other hard-to-reach areas. Even without being right on top of the debris, the vacuum managed to suction it up.

All of these test results are better than average for a handheld vacuum. Sure, the suction power is far behind a corded upright vacuum or a cordless stick option. But given the compact size, it’s pretty impressive.

The Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL had no problem easily tackling smaller, everyday messes. The biggest issues I faced with this vacuum were ingrained debris and the tiny dust cup filling up fast, causing performance to dip. I also found the boost mode didn’t make a major difference in cleaning performance.

A major pitfall of any cordless handheld vacuum is battery life, and the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL isn’t any different. After a full charge in the standard power mode, the vacuum lasted 15 minutes. The power light began to blink around a minute before it died as a warning; there wasn’t any other battery indicator light.

That runtime is pretty average if not better than average for handheld vacuums. Still, there was barely enough time to do a full car cleaning, but to quickly pick up a spill, it’s plenty. Boost mode dropped the battery life to just 9 minutes, so only expect to get a couple of spots in your home vacuumed before needing to recharge.

For recharging, the vacuum easily slotted right into the dock and automatically started charging. The power button light pulsed on and off to indicate charging. When finished, a dim white light glowed in the same spot before shutting off a few minutes later. The total recharge time was about 3 hours, which wasn’t a crazy amount of time but still long to wait if you were unable to finish a cleaning task.

Maintenance on the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL was standard. Again, the dust cup is tiny, so I had to empty it often – usually after every cleaning if not multiple times during a cleaning. The dust cup easily pops open for “one-touch” emptying.

However, I still usually had to dig my hand in there to get debris stuck behind the filter. Other than emptying the dust cup, the filter needs to be removed and rinsed every few months to keep up vacuum efficiency. Luckily, it comes out easily.

Would I buy the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How does the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410B compare?

The Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL is an excellent handheld vacuum, but if you’re after something slightly more budget-friendly, grabbing the original Shark Wandvac may be the way to go. It offers a nearly identical vacuum, charging dock, and attachment options while costing about $30 less. However, you’ll lose out on some suction power and battery life going for the cheaper option.

If you’re okay sacrificing the compact, lightweight design of the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL, the DeWalt 20V Cordless Dry Hand Vacuum is a powerful option. This handheld vacuum is heavy, weighing over three pounds, but it can take on just about all debris in its path thanks to strong suction power. Plus, the loads of attachments and accessories make cleaning even easier. Given it’s the DeWalt brand, the vacuum is especially well-suited for workshops.

Want an ultra-cheap vacuum that picks up smaller messes just fine? Check out the Black+Decker Dustbuster Cordless Wet & Dry. I got a chance to try out this vacuum, and it did a decent job cleaning up lighter messes in my car and house. The wet functionality came in handy for muddy spots left by my dog. However, cleaning the dustbin is more of a task due to the wet contents. It also has a shorter battery life and a clunkier design than the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL.

How I tested the Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty System

I tested the Shark Wandvac Power Pet WV410BL at my parents’ house and in their cars for several weeks over the holidays. Beyond general cleaning of things like crumbs under cabinets, dog hair on furniture, dust from blinds, and pine needles from under the Christmas tree, I did more rigorous testing of the vacuum using heavy concentrations of dog fur, oats, and rice on different surfaces. I also tried out both attachments in various cleaning situations. Using a decibel meter and timer on my phone, I observed noise levels and battery life.

Find out more about how we test.