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Pros

  • Lightweight

  • Comes with many attachments

Cons

  • Weak suction

Every manufacturer needs to strike a balance between these three considerations, since everyone buys and uses vacuums a little differently. For example the Dyson V8 Absolute handvac weighs just 5.6 pounds, sucks up as much dirt as a vacuum twice its size, but it costs a whopping $599.

So where does the $200 Shark Rocket Complete fit in?

On normal carpet, the Rocket picked up 68% of the testing dirt we laid out for it. That's pretty good considering that the V8 got 88%, and the slightly cheaper Kenmore 10341 suctioned up 67%.

But when we switched over to the kitchen floor area, the Rocket failed to launch. This Shark dropped as much uncooked macaroni and rice as it picked up. We had to bend down and switch to the motorized minibrush to finally get the floor spick and span. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, but this Shark is a corded handvac, meaning it should be more powerful than a battery-operated one.

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Without a heavy battery, we also expected the Rocket to glide around floors, but it tips the scales at 10.7 pounds when carrying around its best attachments. Those attachments are the Rocket's saving grace, so you'll want them all with you. Our favorite is probably the under-appliance wand which lets you clean under your washer and dryer without moving them.

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Overall, we found the Shark Rocket Complete rather middling. Its many attachments can clean a wider variety of surfaces, but other vacuums can pick up more dirt. The Rocket is a decent choice for a lightweight replacement vacuum, but there are lighter, cheaper, and more powerful options out there.

Meet the tester

Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews

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