Shark Stratos IZ400UK Anti Hair Wrap Plus Cordless Vacuum review: "a strong choice for busy households"

Price on writing: £245 | Buy now from Amazon

How I tested

I tested the Shark Stratos IZ400UK over six weeks in my three-bedroom home. It was used on wooden floors, tile, lino, rugs and carpet. My household includes two long-haired teenagers, two dogs and two cats, providing constant long and short hair to test its Anti Hair Wrap claims.

I also carried out spot tests, including a cereal spill test on hard flooring, and compared performance directly with the Dyson V15 Detect, taking detailed notes on performance, user-friendliness and practicality.

Related: Best cordless vacuum cleaners

My verdict

After six solid weeks of use, I can say this is a seriously capable cordless vacuum. My house is subject to a constant stream of hair and crumbs, and the Shark Stratos has handled it without complaint.

The standout feature is the Anti Hair Wrap brush roll. I’ve tested plenty of vacuums that promise this and still end up tangled. This one didn’t. Not once did I have to cut hair off the bar, even with two long-haired teens and four pets. That alone makes it a strong choice for busy households.

Suction is powerful and consistent. On rugs and carpet, it pulls up embedded pet hair with very little effort. On hard floors, it doesn’t scatter debris. The cereal test was passed with flying colours: all crumbs, big and small, gone in one pass.

Compared to the Dyson V15 Detect, the Shark feels slightly less high-tech but just as effective in day-to-day cleaning. The Dyson’s laser and particle counter are clever, but in terms of actual performance on hair and general mess, I didn’t feel the Shark was lacking.

I found the shape of the Shark's floorhead less easy to manoeuvre - it's longer and flatter than the Dyson, and on a hinge rather than a ball. A smaller powered head would also be a great addition for use on the stairs or in the car, as the main floorhead is a bit unwieldy when used as a handheld. But that’s a usability niggle rather than a performance issue.

Overall, this is a powerful, well-designed cordless vacuum that genuinely delivers on its anti-hair-wrap claim. For pet owners and families dealing with constant shedding, it’s a very strong alternative to the Dyson V15, and around half the price, to boot.

Read next: Best vacuum cleaners

What’s in the box?

• Main vacuum unit

• Anti Hair Wrap Plus floorhead

• Crevice tool

• Upholstery tool

• Removable single battery

• Charging dock

• Accessory storage bag

• Scent capsule

How does the vacuum cleaner deal with hair?

Hair was the real test here. Between human hair down to the waist and heavy pet shedding, this vacuum had a lot to prove.

The Anti Hair Wrap technology worked exactly as promised in my home. After weeks of daily use, the brush roll stayed clear. No winding. No cutting hair off with scissors. That’s rare.

On carpet and rugs, it lifted both long strands and fine pet hair easily. You can see the fibres fluff back up after a pass. It feels strong but controlled. On hard floors, it didn’t ping debris across the room.

In direct comparison with the Dyson V15, I didn’t notice any drop in hair pick-up performance. Both are excellent, but the Shark’s zero-tangle bar gives it a practical edge for low-maintenance cleaning.

Related: Best vacuum cleaners for pet hair

What’s the vacuum cleaner like to use day to day?

This is an easy vacuum to live with. It senses the floor type and adjusts suction automatically, which means less fiddling mid-clean. It also lowers suction when lifted upright, helping preserve battery life.

The flexing elbow wand is genuinely useful. I could clean under beds and sofas without crouching or moving heavy furniture. For quick evening whizzes round the kitchen and lounge, that made a difference.

Emptying the bin is simple and clean. No dust cloud. No awkward shaking. Just a straightforward release - and the same can be said for changing the floorhead for the crevice tool or upholstery head.

The only real frustration is stairs. The included crevice and upholstery tools are fine for edges and spot cleaning, but without a smaller motorised head, deep stair cleaning takes more effort than it should.

Read next: Best carpet cleaners

Does the Shark Stratos IZ400UK offer good value for money?

With an RRP of £430, but a price on writing of £245, the Shark Stratos IZ400UK is not a budget buy, but it’s priced below top-end models from brands such as Dyson, Bosch and Miele - all priced over the £500 mark.

Against cheaper cordless vacuums like the Henry Quick (around £200), the Shark Stratos feels more heavy-duty and feature-packed. The Henry is lighter, simpler and uses its tidy pod system, which some people will love for mess-free disposal. But in terms of raw power, anti-hair performance and flexibility, the Shark is a step up. You get the self-adjusting suction, the flexi wand for reaching under furniture and, crucially for my house, a brush roll that doesn’t clog with long hair. If you live in a smaller home without pets, the Henry Quick may well do the job for less. But in a busy, hairy household like mine, the Shark justifies its higher price with stronger, more versatile cleaning.

Against the Dyson V15, which retails for around £600, the Shark IZ400UK offers comparable real-world cleaning power without quite as many tech extras. If you love data displays, Dyson may appeal more - it's also more manoeuvrable than the Shark. If you want strong suction, less hair maintenance and a slightly simpler experience, the Shark makes a lot of sense - and it's considerably cheaper, too.

For busy families and pet owners, especially those fed up with cutting hair out of brush rolls, I think it earns its price tag.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials like steam irons, vacuum cleaners and heated throws.

From a highly recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.