Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Pet Pro Cordless Vacuum review: a powerful stick cleaner for pet owners

Overall star rating: 4/5

Price on writing: £329 | Buy now from Amazon

What we like

• Excellent at dealing with pet hair 

• Strong suction power 

• Easy to empty 

• Handy odour eliminator

• Decent capacity 

What we don’t like  

• Attachments can be tricky to add/remove

• Relatively bulky 

• Requires frequent charging

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Our verdict

If you have pets, this powerful cordless stick vacuum cleaner is a brilliant buy. It's really effective at dealing with dog hair (I tested with two Patterdale Terriers at home) - in fact it was just as good at clearing clumps as lifting stray hairs across all surfaces and there’s a handheld pet tool for on-the-spot hair shifting from sofas and stairs.

The anti hair wrap feature removes long and short pet hair from the brush as you clean which means you don’t have to constantly pick tangled strands from the unit. 

It works well on hard floors and carpets, and everything feels properly cleaned and fresh thanks to its handy odour eliminator. 

It handles well and has the flexibility to turn corners smoothly. However, it feels quite bulky to hold and can be challenging to manipulate in tight spaces. We found it very easy to empty but attaching and removing some of the accessories proved a little trickier.

In a multi-floor house, carrying it up and down stairs could be an issue. Ultimately though, its suction power is really impressive and it leaves all spaces feeling thoroughly clean. We’d particularly recommend it if you have a small house with a few stairs, a single storey house or a flat.

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Key specs

Type of vacuum cleaner: Cordless | Weight: 2.16kg | Capacity: 0.7 litres | Runtime: 60 mins | Charge time: 30 mins | Dimensions:114 x 27 x 17cm | Warranty: 5 years (2 years for battery)

The cordless vacuum cleaner folds below the handle for easy maneuvering and storage.

Features and design

It has the look and feel of a classic cordless stick vacuum cleaner and it features Shark’s signature see-through floor head so you can see the brushes whirring away. The stick folds near the handle which makes it both easy to slide under furniture without busting your back as well and to store away.  

Three accessories are included in the box: a multi-surface tool for general use on all surfaces, a 20cm crevice tool for use in tighter spaces and niggly corners, and a specific pet tool for eliminating pet hair. I found the attachments a little tricky to attach and remove. Extras include an odour eliminating puck - a very effective and welcome addition to the whole bundle.

It doesn’t come with a docking station but it has a charging lead instead so it can be powered up pretty much anywhere there’s a plug.

It is easy enough to hold and manoeuvre - its flexibility is certainly a plus, although it can be a little tiring to push as its suction power is so forceful. And it can feel a little top heavy thanks to a heavy handle.

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What's the Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Pet Pro like to assemble?

Initial assembly of the Shark Stratos is very straightforward. It takes no more than 5-10 minutes to put together and it charges quickly too (approximately 30 minutes). Emptying the waste unit is easy as it ejects straight into the bin. The waste bin capacity is decent at 0.7 litres which means it doesn’t require emptying every time it’s used (unless you have especially hairy pets!).

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We found the vacuum cleaner most effective on carpets.

What's the Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Pet Pro like to use day to day? 

Let’s face it. The real-life runtime never quite matches up with what’s stated on the box. The Stratos is said to have a runtime of 60 minutes but in reality it’s more like 45 minutes. Although you might be able to stretch it out if you switch to the energy saving mode rather than full power. 

There’s an LED light that automatically comes on in low light to help illuminate hidden dust and dirt and the Clean Sense IQ feature means that it can intuitively detect different surfaces and debris and adjust power settings accordingly. 

And it’s very easy to empty - you just need to disconnect the tank and press a button which ejects easily into the bin. 

I like the fact that it’s foldable which makes it easy to store in small spaces and I’d say it’s moderately quiet when in use. Definitely quieter than some vacuum cleaners but by no means silent. 

Shark’s signature see-through floor head means you can easily see the brushes whirring away.

How well does the Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Pet Pro clean carpets?

I think the Shark Stratos is at its most effective on carpets. Its powerful suction allows it to access dirt and debris deep in the fibres of the carpet and it handles debris of all sizes effectively. I found it equally effective on rugs.  

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How well does the Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Pet Pro deal with hard floors?

I found the Shark Stratos slightly less effective when tackling hard floors. Despite its strong suction, it seems less able to collect dirt and debris on a hard floor. However, it still performs well in relation to other vacuum cleaners I’ve used. 

It performs exceptionally well on pet hair.

How well does the Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Pet Pro deal with pet hair?

The Shark Stratos is in its element here. It copes exceptionally well with pet hair. I have two dogs that shed and after using the Shark it removed all traces of pet hair.  Whether the hair is in clumps or spread over a larger area, this vacuum cleaner is really effective. Featuring ‘anti hair wrap plus’ technology, it claims to be Shark’s ‘best ever hair pick-up’. The floorhead is fitted with two brushes: an anti hair wrap brush with a bristle guard and comb that separates and removes pet hair as it cleans, and a soft front brush that lifts dust.

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How effective is the Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Pet Pro at vacuuming stairs?

The handheld set up and the smaller accessories make Shark easier to use on the stairs - it’s very effective at picking up dirt and debris, however it can feel a little heavy to manoeuvre in tight spaces.

The 'Flexology' design makes it easy to reach under furniture.

Does the Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Pet Pro offer value for money?

The RRP of £479 puts the Shark Stratos at the top end of the market for cordless vacuums although it’s significantly cheaper than Dyson’s similar model, the Dyson Gen5detect Absolute Pet Cordless Vacuum Cleaner (£850). It’s often available for under £400 so it’s definitely worth checking multiple retailers or holding out for a saving. It’s by no means a value option like the Hoover H-FREE 500 Pets Cordless Cleaner but it’s powerful, effective and features some excellent technology and intuitive features designed specifically with pet owners and their hairy homes in mind.

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How we tested

The vacuum was tested in a carpeted flat with a hard floor in the kitchen and bathroom. It was tested on pet hair, dust, crumbs and other household debris. It unfailingly left spaces feeling cleaner and fresher. 

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About the author

Lola Katz Roberts is London-based Content Executive. She has written for various newspapers and websites covering a range of topics from home and lifestyle to women in sport. She is passionate about all things Liverpool FC, exploring outdoors with her Patterdale Terriers and home-cooked food.

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