HEPA and Foam Filter Set for Shark Navigator Vacuum Lift Away NV351 NV352It's not as sleek or streamlined as the wireless Dyson DC59, but the corded, $179 Shark Rocket features similar attachment options and adequate performance for less than half the price.While the Rocket never won any of our cleaning tests, it never came in last, either. You might find the cord a nuisance (I'll admit it annoyed me), but Shark tries to make it as easy as possible for you to manage. If you like the look of this handheld-to-stick-vacuum but want to ditch the cord and make more of an investment, you can't go wrong with the DC59. More traditional stick vacuums like the Hoover Platinum Collection LiNX also impressed us, however, and you might appreciate the LiNX's simplicity and consistent performance which was equal to, if not better than, the Shark's. Design and features The Shark Rocket is a lightweight, corded, in-hand vacuum. The handheld portion, which weighs 4.2 pounds, includes the bin, the primary motor, and the power cord.

The attachments add weight, naturally, but even with the floor nozzle and extension tube connected (arguably the heaviest setup), I still found the Rocket light and easy to handle. The fact that it has a cord is a bit of a nuisance, especially if you're used to a cordless vacuum.buy miele handheld vacuum cleanerWe performed all of our primary performance tests with the floor nozzle and extension tube attachments. vacuum cleaners in walmartThe nozzle is 10.5 inches wide and 3 inches tall. vacuum cleaner harga murahThis low profile, coupled with the fact that the Rocket will recline almost completely, means that it can reach under furniture easily. The Rocket has two cleaning modes and a button to switch between them.

Mode I is designed for bare floors or delicate rugs while Mode II is best for carpets. The second mode activates the brushroll in the floor nozzle, which agitates the carpet for a deeper clean.I mentioned the cord being an inconvenience, particularly when compared to vacuums like the Dyson DC59, which features the same basic body style without the cord. Even still, the Rocket's cord is 27 feet long, giving you plenty of lead to vacuum a large room or two smaller rooms. As with full-size upright vacuums, you will have to unplug and replug to move from place to place. On the other hand, you'll never have to worry about draining the battery as you would with a cordless model. Doubtless an attempt to make the cord less of a nuisance, Shark gives you two options for storing the Rocket: with the hand-held portion detached and hooked onto the base of the extension tube and floor nozzle, or locked into the wall dock. The problem with the wall dock is that it limits your attachment options as you'll still have to contend with the cord.

The prongs around which you wrap the cord are located on the extension hose. This means that, if you want to stow the cord neatly with the Rocket in its dock, you'll also need to attach the extension wand. It's not a deal-breaker by any means, but it does make the Rocket more high-maintenance than similar models such as the DC59, which docks neatly no matter what attachment is in place.Though this cord may feel clumsy and outdated, you'll appreciate other elements of the Rocket's overall design, namely the wealth of included attachments. You'll find the extension tube, which can be used with different attachments, as well as a floor nozzle, dusting brush, pet upholstery tool, crevice tool, and the Dust-Away tool, which includes a removable, washable microfiber pad. A storage bag keeps everything in one place. The Shark Rotator Pro Lift-Away vacuum also came with a wide variety of extras, and we appreciated the ability to use one vacuum for all of our specific cleaning needs. The Rocket takes this concept to a higher level because of its portability.

This variety of tools is comparable to the Dyson DC59's, but that unit lacks a dusting tool. Shark's Web site also gives you the option to purchase other attachments, such as a car detailing kit or an extension hose specifically designed to fit and reach under appliances.Usability When considering the usability of a particular vacuum, bin and filter maintenance factor heavily in our assessment. A latch on the side of the Shark Rocket opens the hatch door to the dustbin. You'll need to manually close it, but the process is anything but difficult. Truly, with regard to emptying the bin, the Rocket's cord causes the most inconvenience. After all, you have to carry the cord with you wherever you take the vacuum, including the trash can.The cord proved to be the only real annoyance while using the Rocket. That said, the cord's placement, coupled with the vacuum's overall ergonomics, ensures that it will stay behind you, provided you aren't slaloming around your living room. If slaloming is your thing, the Rocket is certainly maneuverable enough for it.

When you're using the floor cleaning nozzle and extension tube, the attachment pivots. This makes turning and moving around furniture a breeze. If you're using the vacuum without the extension hose, you'll appreciate the ease with which the attachments snap into place. Performance We put each of the vacuums through a series of rigorous tests to assess how they would do with debris types you may encounter in your home. Our tests included Fruity Cheerios, a sand-and-sawdust mixture (to mimic fine particulate debris), pet hair, and human hair, collected from a hair extension kit. We performed every test three times each on three different surface types: low-pile carpet, mid-pile carpet, and hardwood/laminate floors. We also conducted a torture test, scattering 1.25 ounces of bobby pins and small nuts on the low-pile carpet.When shopping for a new vacuum, it can be hard to know what you're actually paying for, let alone what you should be spending, with price points ranging from under $100 to over $1500.

Mid-priced vacuum cleaners usually offer the best combination of performance and value, although it's the more expensive models, loaded up with the latest and most powerful technology, which give the very best carpet cleaning. Some low-cost vacuums compare favourably with pricier models, but generally the cheaper models are better suited to cleaning hard floors. Our expert vacuum cleaner reviews reveal which machines suck up dirt and pet hair and let you zip around for a quick clean, so you can buy with confidence. Video: How we test and review vacuum cleaners to find the best The task at hand When buying a vacuum cleaner, keep in mind the type of cleaning that's required. Barrel models are easier to carry up stairs and use in awkward places, such as a car or behind furniture. Upright models suit large areas of carpet cleaning, on a level surface, as they have built-in power heads. A conventional cleaning head is usually all you'll need to vacuum carpet.

But when it comes to picking up pet hair, a model with a turbo brush or power head will often give a more thorough clean. Vacuums are either bagless (with an on-board bin) or use bags to collect the dust, and both systems have their pros and cons. Bins and reusable cloth bags are messier and harder to empty, while bags are more user-friendly, but have ongoing costs and you may sometimes forget to to buy them. You usually need specific bags for a given vacuum cleaner, and you might void your warranty if your machine breaks down and you've been using generic (unbranded) bags rather the brand's own bags. You also need to consider the costs of bags on the environment (in product tests, CHOICE now includes the price of each bag where applicable and also make note of the company's policy of bag disposal). There's also a third type to consider: the water filter vacuum cleaner. These have an on-board water container to trap the dirt. They tend to be less messy to empty. Bags generally come with sliding shutters to prevent dust from spilling out when removed.

With a bagged vacuum you can just put the full bag into the rubbish bin, rather than risk letting dust and allergens back into the air as you tip the vacuum bin into the rubbish. This could make a bagged model a better choice in an apartment, or when you don't have a garden into which you can empty the vacuum bin dust. Bags aren't necessarily recyclable, but are usually biodegradable. If the bags are completely biodegradable, you can simply put them in your compost - your garden worms will thank you for the tasty snack. When you change the disposable bag, you're also changing and refreshing a large part of the filter system. However, the other filters still need replacing from time to time. Generally a disposable bag is larger than a bin, so doesn't need to be emptied as frequently. This type of vacuum does involve an ongoing cost as you'll need to buy bags from time to time, and it can be inconvenient if you run out. Many warranties demand that you use only the manufacturer's branded bags rather than generic replacements.

This could apply if your machine breaks down due to dust entering the engine or a similar fault; it shouldn't apply in unrelated cases such as wheels breaking or the power head failing. It's easier to see and retrieve an item that's been accidentally sucked up. Disposing of the waste from a bin can release dust and allergens back into the area. But if you have a house with an outside area, this is less of an issue - you could even dump it straight into the garden or compost. With a bin model you'll need to either clean the main filter frequently, or replace it – a hidden extra cost. Make sure you replace filters when necessary, as the vacuum's performance could deteriorate otherwise. Bin models generally involve fewer ongoing costs as you don't need to keep buying bags. The container needs to be emptied after each use, and when finished for the day, you must clean and dry the container and filters to prevent mould growing in the vacuum cleaner. This means a bit more more work but is generally an easy process.

Water filter models can also usually be used for cleaning up wet spills. They claim exceptionally good dust filtration and to be ideal for people with allergies, asthma and dust sensitivity. We haven't tested this aspect, but note that many other bag or bagless models come with HEPA filters and could be just as good if not better for dust filtration. Check out this list to decide which features or functions are must-haves for your new vacuum. Power head or turbo head A power head replaces the standard cleaning head and has an inbuilt motor that operates the brush. Using one generally improves dirt removal from carpets, whereas a turbo head (which uses airflow to operate the extra brush) is usually less effective. These attachments are designed to boost cleaning performance but tend to make vacuums bulkier and/or heavier and they may not be as easy to use or manoeuvre. Tools such as a crevice nozzle (for narrow corners and around chair cushions), an upholstery brush (for curtains and soft furnishings) and a dusting brush can be very handy.

Check whether these tools are supplied with the vacuum cleaner or if they're optional extras. This lets you adjust the wand to suit your height, so you can vacuum without bending your back too much. If you're tall, try to test the model in-store to ensure it's long enough for you. This feature's useful if you have carpets with different pile heights, and also for wooden or tiled floors. A control on the wand that allows you to vary the suction for more delicate jobs, such as cleaning curtains. This handy feature lets you know when the dust collector is full without having to open the vacuum. A vacuum that can reverse the airflow to blow air continuously is a godsend when it's time to blow up the airbed! Onboard storage for accessories Handy when you are cleaning edges and upholstery, and/or dusting furniture whilst vacuuming. Allows the wand to be attached neatly to the cleaner when storing. This is useful for keeping all the bits together. This is much easier than winding up the cord manually!