Shark Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with Anti Hair Wrap technology, 120 Minute Run Time (2 Batteries), Flexible DuoClean Floorhead Vacuum Cleaner with Multi-Surface & Crevice Tools, Black. IZ320UK

Product Information

OK, the latest Shark vacuum cleaners might not have quite the mega suction power of the latest Dyson models, but the suction power they do provide is more than adequate for the vast majority of homes and they offer you a choice within the same range of cleaners that allows you to fit the right one to your requirements, home and lifestyle. Oh yeah, they are usually hundreds of pounds cheaper than the average Dyson as well which always helps.

The second was the wealth of new technologies that Shark boasted about with this vacuum when we got a first glimpse of it at IFA 2023. This vacuum has four detection technologies so that cleaning your home is more thorough than ever. When we were testing, we found dealing with high-traffic areas much easier thanks the the amped up suction and the FloorDetect technology makes transitioning into different rooms across your home much easier too. The flexology wand is a very clever innovation, one which you’ll start to see on other manufacturers’ latest releases, but an innovation that Shark deserve the credit for, as the company who came up with this technology.With cordless vacuum cleaners, in particular, the raw figures give an idea of performance, but it’s only by testing them for real that you can see how good suction really is, as it’s a combination of power and tool efficiency that’s important. Transform into a cordless handheld vacuum cleaner at the touch of a button, perfect for cleaning stairs, soft furnishings and in the car. Effortlessly remove embedded pet hair from upholstery with the included Motorised Pet Tool. From skirting boards and blinds to behind the radiator, clean a wide range of surfaces and narrow gaps with the Crevice Tool, Multi-Surface Tool and Anti-Allergen Brush. It comes with just two accessories: a crevice tool and a two-in-one upholstery nozzle and dusting brush. Lots of premium cordless vacuums come with several more accessories, including a mini turbo brush - which is handy for giving awkward spots a thorough clean.

The screen is also used to show the current power mode (Eco, Standard or Boost) and, if you have the floor head attached, the floor mode (carpet or hard floor). I then combed cat hair into the carpet and ran over it using the standard power setting. Again, everything was collected with ease. Although it is a corded vac, the 9 metre-long cable will give you an adequate radius to work your way around the various floors in the home. Molly lives in a two-bedroom flat, and never found the cord to be an issue, with space to get to all of the rooms she needed to. On the plus side, Shark’s articulated “Flexology” elbow does make cleaning under low furniture very easy indeed, allowing you to stand up and swing the cleaning head underneath your cupboards and sofas from a standing position, without having to get down on your hands and knees. The slogan they use for this is makes me giggle, “bends so you don’t have to”, as I think really what they meant was “bends because you won’t be able to get up again if you get on your knees to hoover under the sofa” ;-).I measured the Shark IZ320UKT at 71.2dB (Eco), 75.4dB (Standard) and 76.8dB (Boost). That’s about average for a cordless vacuum cleaner with this much power. The Shark makes a lot of noise, so it's not a good choice if you tend to vacuum while others are asleep or working from home - even if they're on the other side of the house. All things considered, we think that when you weigh everything up Shark beats Dyson hands down and that is encapsulated in the IZ300 & IZ320 range of excellent, great value for money cordless hoovers. There’s a 0.7-litre bin, which is a good size for a cordless vacuum cleaner. You can empty it in-situ, pointing the vacuum’s bin down and opening the ejection flap. Or you can remove the bin from the body completely, which lets you pull out the rear filter for cleaning and thoroughly clean out the bin. This model also has a smart digital LED display that keeps you updated with the battery percentage, and reminds you what setting you’ve got it set to, which are both very handy additions.