The Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus cordless vacuum review UK

When reviewing a cordless vacuum, the design should not be ignored. After all, it also has a lot of influence on how well the device can be handled.

That is why we would like to take a closer look at size, weight and other appearance features. 👇

First impression

The design is best described as futuristic.

At least in terms of appearance, Shark devices are easily comparable with Dyson.

The look of the Stratos IZ420UKT is, of course, a matter of taste. In general, it isn’t the number one factor when shopping for a cordless vacuum cleaner.

Size and weight

The dimensions of a cordless hoover are somewhat more important. After all, being able to easily manoeuvre it around your furniture is a pretty crucial factor. And you’ll also want to be able to clean hard-to-reach places with it.

The Shark Stratos is 114 cm in height. It weighs about 4 kilograms.

Even though the weight of Shark Stratos cordless vacuums is often criticised, we didn't find it too heavy.

It was also comfortable to hold. Both as a stick hoover and as a hand hoover, we had no problems reaching any areas. 👏

Quality and workmanship

There is really nothing to complain about in terms of the quality of the Shark Stratos. This is noticeable from the very first time you set up the unit. 💥

The click mechanism when putting the parts together works like a charm.

Everything snaps into place with ease and can be removed just as easily.

The dust container can be removed at the touch of a button, and so can the battery, which is located under the handle.

Display

The Shark Stratos LED smart display is not on the same playing field as the high-tech versions currently offered by some other cordless vacuum brands.

It is attached to the handle and only displays the following parameters:

• Remaining battery life in percent
• Power mode

As such, the screen is small and simple.

Conclusion: Not a high-tech display, but does the job. Strictly speaking, the two most important categories are covered. 👍

A cordless vacuum naturally needs decent suction power. But by no means is that all that matters. The coordination of multiple cleaning features plays a vital role in the quality of a cordless vacuum cleaner.

So let's take a look at how well the Shark Stratos does in this area. 👇

How powerful is the Shark Stratos suction?

According to the manufacturer, the Shark Stratos has 80 watts of suction power.

However, the number of watts alone basically says nothing about the performance of a hoover. It simply refers to the power consumption of the motor.

With a (rechargeable) hoover, it is therefore always worth looking at the entire package. 💁

Double power thanks to DuoClean floorhead

We have already described the DuoClean Anti Hair Wrap floor head in detail in the accessories chapter.

It definitely plays a big role in the Shark Stratos' powerful performance on all types of surfaces. Thanks to the two different rollers, it copes perfectly with both hardwood and carpet flooring. It also offers twice the cleaning power.

The floor brush is also equipped with LED headlights. So you can generally see the dust better and you’ll know where you still have to vacuum, even in dimly-lit corners.

Different power modes

The Shark Stratos has three different power modes: 👇

• the automatic mode, called Clean Sense IQ by Shark
• Eco mode
• Boost mode

In eco mode, the Shark's suction power is not quite as strong, but less power is consumed.

The boost mode is ideal for stubborn dirt, as it uses the highest suction power.

The most interesting is probably the automatic mode, which the brand calls "Clean Sense IQ". In this cleaning programme, the hoover detects dirt that is invisible even to you thanks to sensors. The Shark Stratos will automatically adjust its suction power accordingly. 😎

This results in up to 50% more dirt pick-up, according to Shark.

By the way, you can see when the suction power is automatically adjusting thanks to an indicator on the floor head.

Anti-Odour Technology

A new feature for Shark cordless vacuums is the addition of anti-odour technology in the Stratos range.

You just pop an anti-odour cartridge into the dust bin, which will prevent nasty odours caused by pet hair and other dirt from being released into your home.

The cartridge releases a pleasant “Ocean Breeze” scent to mask any offending odours.

A welcome addition, in our books! If you want to know how the new features of the Stratos compares to other Shark cordless vacuums, check out our comparative Shark cordless vacuum review.

Powerful batteries

Another factor that contributes to the Shark Stratos IZ420UKT scoring so well in our cleaning tests is the dual battery.

That is a long time in itself for normal-sized flats or houses. Once you have charged both batteries, you can use the other one in no time. Which adds another 45 minutes to your cleaning time. 🤗

So you get a total of around 90 minutes of runtime. In eco-mode, this can even be extended to 120 minutes.

We can’t imagine there’s anyone who needs more time than that to clean their home.

Easily switch from stick to handheld

The Shark Stratos is a 2-in-1 cordless vacuum. This means that you can use it normally as a stick hoover for vacuuming floors, but you can also convert it into a handheld hoover. And the Stratos makes this really quick and easy. 😌

The Stratos also delivers top-class performance in handheld mode. It's not too heavy and quite compact, so vacuuming out your car, for example, is a breeze.

Usability is a central aspect of our standard testing. Ever since Steve Jobs’ innovation, every product developer should have this quality at the top of their list:

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication!

Setup

You know when you want to assemble a new electrical appliance but have to get through 50 pages of assembly instructions first?

You won't have to worry about that with the Shark Stratos IZ420UKT.

Assembly is child's play and particularly self-explanatory.

If you do need help, there is of course also a detailed instruction manual. 😊

Make sure you also fully charge the batteries before using them for the first time.

Before you start vacuuming, the dust container, batteries and all other parts must be correctly inserted.

Setting up the Shark Stratos is a real piece of cake! 🍰

Handling and manoeuvrability

The handling is actually the same as the setup. Operating the Stratos is intuitive. The operating elements are easily accessible on the handle. 🙂

Removable parts can be easily detached and reattached. Everything works smoothly.

Furthermore, the Shark vacuum cleaner is easy to manoeuvre around furniture and glides easily over the floor. This is mainly due to the two rollers on the left and right of the floor head and the movable joint.

So we didn't find anything wrong with the handling either. 🥳

Can you vacuum under furniture with the Shark Stratos IZ420UKT?

Of course, this depends primarily on the height of the furniture. If your furniture leaves hardly any space below it, the Stratos more than likely won’t be able to clean under there.

But if the floor nozzle can comfortably get under the furniture, the Flexology technology allows you to easily clean underneath.

So no need to crouch in front of sofas and cupboards or even crawl around on the floor.

The Shark Stratos IZ420UKT is very easy to look after. It really doesn't take much to keep it in good shape. 🤩

However, thorough cleaning is still recommended from time to time.

Empty and clean the dust bin

Firstly, it’s important to empty the dust container regularly. Otherwise, the vacuum cleaner will eventually fill up and no longer be able to pick up dirt.

You should also rinse the container with water from time to time.

Cleaning the brushes

If too much hair and fluff has tangled itself around the brush rollers, it can decrease your vacuum’s suction power. This can happen from time to time despite the anti-tangle function. 🤷

If necessary, you can then easily remove the rollers on the Shark Stratos to thoroughly rid them of any dirt.

Of course, the same applies to the upholstery nozzle.

You can either do this by hand or take a small knife and carefully cut the matted hair loose.

Filter maintenance

As previously mentioned, the Shark Stratos IZ420UKT unfortunately does not have a HEPA filter. Instead, the unit has two normal filters.

It’s enough to simply check these filters for damage etc. at regular intervals and knock the dust out occasionally.

The Shark Stratos IZ420UKT is a high-quality cordless vacuum. This means that it is normally very durable and long-lasting. However, it’s not impossible for parts to break.

Fortunately, this does not mean that you have to buy a new hoover. The Shark online shop has a large selection of spare parts. This way, you can quickly get your Shark back into shape in the event of minor damage. 😍

In the Shark online shop, you can also order accessories that are not included with your vacuum cleaner package contents.

(Cordless) hoovers from Shark are breaking new ground. The brand doesn’t shy away from problematic areas that are often ignored by other suppliers.

For example, we find the dual floor head for hard floors and carpets particularly innovative.

The attention to detail shown by the brand in the design of the Stratos is what really impressed us here. We love that you can charge both batteries at the same time in the docking station without the vacuum itself.

In the cleaning test, the Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus impressed us from start to finish. 😃

The hinged wand ensures that even hard-to-reach places finally become dust-free again.

What we find a bit unfortunate is that it does not have a HEPA filter. We cannot fully attest to whether the anti-allergen Complete Seal is really comparable to it in our tests.

If you are looking for a cordless hoover that can at least keep up with the top dogs in terms of dirt pick-up, the Shark Stratos is your best bet.

The Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Pet Pro Cordless Vacuum IZ420UKT (whew! 😅) is a good investment for every household! 😀