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 best compact vacuums you can find today.
Before we start it’s important to mention if you aren’t familiar with Shark that while they haven’t been around as long as other brands they have quickly become one of the main players in the residential vacuum cleaner industry. They started in the late 1990’s under the SharkNinja brand with a focus on cutting edge technology. You will see some unique features in their vacuums that aren’t found on others but they have built a good reputation for quality as well. You can read more about their story by clicking here.
[Read more…] about Shark APEX Powered Lift-Away – It’s Compact But Is It Capable?
The Hoover PowerDrive is a full sized upright vacuum that is built for picking up pet hair in carpets. Even though it is bagless it comes with a fully sealed HEPA filtration system that traps and contains 99.9% of allergens down to 0.5 microns in size. This is especially important for homes with multiple pets as they tend to shed often and leave dander all over the floors. Not only do you need powerful suction (which we will cover below) but you also need to be able to keep whatever microscopic organisms you pick up safely inside the vacuum cleaner. Hoover has always been known for doing just that.
The IONFlex 2X from Shark is a unique vacuum in that it provides the convenience of ‘on the go’ cordless cleaning while combining that with Shark’s DuoClean technology found in other models. DuoClean is a head design that works great on fine dust as well as large debris like rocks, food chunks, and dirt without changing the head or attachment. The lightweight design of the Ion Flex means you can move it around your home without difficulty and the different configurations (more on those below) make it easy to clean just about any type of floor, furniture, or high corner. It seems like today’s vacuums are all moving towards this type of flexibility since homeowners want to spend less time cleaning, and don’t want to buy multiple cleaners. And since Shark has always been on the forefront of technological advancements it is no surprise at how capable it is.