Bissell is one of those brands that is well known in the vacuum cleaner industry, particularly the residential segment. They have a wide lineup of affordable vacuums that are effective at cleaning but not necessarily on the cutting edge of technology. That just hasn’t been their niche per se but they are starting to invest more in developing new cordless models that can compete with the likes of Dyson, Tineco, and Shark. Their ICONPet is a big step forward in terms of cord-free technology as it comes with powerful batteries that can clean your entire household. But does it compare favorably to the other top cordless brands sold today?
For starters, the ICONPet as you might have guessed from the name is geared towards homes with one or more pets. Animals in your home present a variety of challenges when it comes to cleaning the floors and surfaces, especially carpets. They shed hair and dander which are known allergens, triggering a reaction in those with allergies or asthma if not thoroughly removed on a regular basis. You need a vacuum with enough power to pull embedded dust from carpet fibers as well as one with the right tools for other surfaces. Bissell designed this cleaner with those things in mind.
[Read more…] about Bissell ICONPet Stick Review – Is It A Worthy Competitor?
Shark is certainly one of the most innovative vacuum companies in the world. If you look at their lineup from top to bottom you will see a lot of features exclusive only to them, or at the very least invented by them. So it’s not surprising that they have multiple robot vacuums that you can put on auto-pilot, letting them do the cleaning that you don’t want to. One thing Shark has always done is looked at what their customers want out of a vacuum, and then responded by filling those needs. The ION lineup demonstrates that perfectly.
The Shark APEX Speed is a lighter and more compact vacuum than the full sized uprights in their lineup. It’s designed to provide the cleaning ability of the larger models combined with easier maneuverability, making it ideal for smaller homes or tight spaces. Even though it is on the lighter side it sill comes with some of the features that have made Shark the most innovative brand today like DuoClean, Lift-Away, and Active Glide (more on those in a bit). While it is on the pricier side of their lineup there are many reasons for that. Let’s take a look at what this vacuum has to offer to see if it is indeed one of the 
The Shark ION F80 is an all purpose cordless vacuum that comes with their unique MultiFLEX™ technology, as well as a long list of strong features. Like the other major brands in the home vacuum industry, Shark has made a big investment in cord-free machines to make them viable replacements to the heavier corded models found in virtually every household. While the biggest improvement has been with the batteries (more on that in a minute) there are several other features that make the F80 a tremendous value.
Anybody who has been following the vacuum cleaner industry over the last few years has noticed a trend towards lighter, more versatile vacuums that don’t sacrifice cleaning ability. This is a tall task for the major brands but most of them have met it with flying colors. Dyson, Shark, and others have multiple cordless models to choose from with long lasting lithium ion batteries but Oreck had been missing from the conversation. That is noticeable since the company has been one of the pioneers in both residential and professional cleaning products for so long.