After Testing Dozens of Duds, I Finally Found The Vacuum of My Dreams

As a shopping editor, I’ve been lucky enough to test and discover many of my go-to home products through my work. From bath towels that’ll transport you to a five-star resort to a can’t-miss posture-correcting office chair to the cooling mattress every hot sleeper needs, I pride myself on being able to find the best of the best. However, there is one product category that has continually eluded me: vacuums.

You name it, I’ve tried it. High-end picks on everyone’s wishlists? Check. Bargain dustbusters everybody swears by? Check. The latest and greatest to go viral on TikTok? Yup, that too. I’ve even gone so far as to go over my friends’ homes and try out their vacuums on the hunt for the perfect pick (What can I say, I’m nothing if not dedicated). Then came the day the clouds parted, the sun appeared, and the Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum appeared at my doorstep.

First off, there’s the star of the show: the Clean Sense IQ technology. What this means is that the vacuum uses a special technology to sense dirt, automatically increasing power and suction for better pick-up when needed — and only when needed (something your battery will appreciate). Next, there’s the DuoClean PowerFins HairPro double brush roll. This two-roll system makes getting a deep clean on both hard floors and carpets light work, not to mention preventing that dreaded hair wrap (one point for pet owners). Top this off with an odor neutralizer that guards against bad odors from inside, a MultiFLEX wand that makes getting under furniture and storing a breeze, and a certified HEPA filter for advanced allergen trapping and it seems like there’s nothing this vacuum can’t do.

Now, when I first received this vacuum, I’ll admit I was skeptical as to whether or not it would live up to its powerful claims. After all, I had been burnt many a time before. However, after giving the battery a full charge (note: it offers a 60-minute runtime) and installing the odor neutralizer, I took a deep breath, turned it on, and watched as this vacuum got every surface of my home crystal clean. Hardwood? Pristine. Rugs? Not a crumb left in sight. After transitioning it into a handheld and attaching the smart two-in-one crevice and brush tool, my baseboards, door frames, and upholstered surfaces were also spotless.

• Clean Sense IQ technology: With Clean Sense IQ, I could hear which areas of my floor were dirtier than I thought as the motor revved up on these spots for a deeper clean; it has brought me so much comfort in knowing I’m truly getting the deepest clean
• No Wrap brush roll: This vacuum’s brush roll is a game-changer in that it never gets tangled with hair. As someone with long hair who’s constantly finding strands all over the place, I’m used to having to take apart the vacuum base to remove the hair buildup — a chore I’m now able to cross off my to-do list for good

If there’s one thing I would say I wasn’t fond of, that would be the Duster Crevice Tool. I found this attachment to be rather weak in that it left a fair amount of dust behind. However, the Anti-Allergen Dusting Brush attachment made up for that with its sleek two-in-one design.

All in all, the Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum is a pretty stellar pick, but I would specifically recommend it if you’re looking for something that:

• Maneuvers well in tight and difficult spaces
• Has a long runtime
• Tackles hair (both human and pet) with ease

• Shark, $299.99 (normally $499.99)
• Best Buy, $299.99 (normally $499.99)
• Amazon, $299.99 (normally $499.99)
• Walmart, $488.95
• Home Depot, $499.99

The Commerce Team at Apartment Therapy has one mission: to help you make smart and informed purchases. We know how hard online shopping can be — it’s literally our job! From trying to decipher confusing marketing lingo to sorting through scores of fake paid reviews in search of some truth, online shopping can be overwhelming. We’re dedicated to doing the hard work for you by reviewing these products firsthand and delivering all the information you need, both good and bad.

Our team is made up of a group of writers and editors who have years of experience in the home, kitchen, and parenting consumer product space, and who put hundreds of items to the test every year to determine which ones get our stamp of approval. We bring these products into our personal spaces, testing them for weeks and even months at a time to see how well they live up to their claims and if they are really worth your time and money. At the end of the day, we’re consumers too, so we’ll always provide you with all the information we want — and then some.