Envision a cleaning companion that seamlessly transitions between a powerful upright vacuum and a convenient hand vac, ready to conquer any mess from the floor to the ceiling. The Shark HV322 Rocket Deluxe Pro/Pet vacuum promises just that. This corded stick vacuum is designed as a versatile cleaning solution, particularly for homes with pets and a variety of floor types. But does it truly deliver on its promises? This comprehensive review explores the features, performance, and overall value of the Shark HV322, providing you with the detailed insights needed to make an informed purchase decision.
The Shark HV322 Rocket Deluxe Pro/Pet vacuum immediately impresses with its remarkably lightweight design and adaptable capabilities. Weighing in at less than 9 pounds, it offers effortless maneuverability and portability throughout your home. Its unique ability to convert into a handheld vacuum expands its versatility, making it perfect for cleaning upholstery, stairs, and other hard-to-reach areas. Complete with a range of specialized attachments and tools, and designed for easy storage, this vacuum presents itself as a compelling all-in-one cleaning solution for discerning homeowners.
Table of Contents
Product Specifications/Features
The Shark HV322 Rocket Deluxe Pro/Pet vacuum comes equipped with a wide array of features that are specifically designed to enhance its cleaning performance and improve the overall user experience. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics of what this vacuum has to offer.
Weight and Dimensions
- Weight: 8.6 lb (3.68 kg)
- Dimensions: 13” L x 10.25” W x 47.5” H
- Cleaning Path Width: 10”
The notably lightweight design of the Shark HV322 ensures easy portability and maneuverability throughout your home, significantly reducing strain during extended cleaning sessions. Furthermore, its compact dimensions contribute to convenient and hassle-free storage, making it an excellent choice for homes with limited space.
Convertible Design
- Converts to a hand vacuum
- Compact and easy to store
One of the most appealing aspects of the Shark HV322 is its ability to transform into a hand vacuum in mere seconds. This impressive versatility allows you to effortlessly tackle messes on upholstery, stairs, and a variety of above-floor surfaces with exceptional ease and precision.
Attachments and Tools
- Various attachments for different cleaning needs
- Includes a hard-bristle brush, crevice tool, and under-appliance wand
The Shark HV322 includes a comprehensive set of attachments, carefully designed to cater to a diverse range of cleaning requirements. The robust hard-bristle brush excels at removing stubborn dirt and deeply embedded debris, while the specialized crevice tool allows you to effortlessly reach into tight and narrow spaces. The innovative under-appliance wand proves to be a game-changer, simplifying the task of cleaning under couches, refrigerators, and other typically inaccessible areas.
Cord and Range
- Cord Length: 32 ft
- Total Range: 28.48 ft
- Hose Length: 2.49 ft
The generous 32-foot cord provides a substantial cleaning radius, effectively minimizing the need to constantly switch between outlets. However, in larger homes, you might still find it necessary to change outlets to ensure every corner is thoroughly cleaned.
Dust Canister
- Capacity: 0.10 gal (0.40 L)
- One-touch dust ejection system
The thoughtfully designed dust canister features a convenient one-touch ejection system, ensuring easy and hygienic emptying without any direct contact with dirt or debris. However, it’s worth noting that its relatively small capacity may require frequent emptying, particularly during more extensive cleaning tasks.
Additional Features
- LED lights on floor nozzle and handheld body
- Two surface type settings: ‘I’ for bare floor and area rugs, ‘II’ for high-pile carpets
The inclusion of LED lights on both the floor nozzle and the handheld body effectively illuminates the cleaning path, making it significantly easier to identify and target dirt and debris in dimly lit areas. The provision of two distinct surface type settings allows you to optimize the vacuum’s performance, ensuring efficient cleaning across various floor types.
Performance Analysis
How well does the Shark HV322 Rocket Deluxe Pro/Pet vacuum perform in real-world cleaning scenarios? Let’s carefully analyze its performance across various surfaces and in different cleaning modes.
Cleaning Performance
- Two cleaning modes for different surfaces
- High suction mode for pet hair and debris removal
The Shark HV322 offers the flexibility of two distinct cleaning modes, carefully designed to cater to different surface types and cleaning needs. The high suction mode is specifically engineered to effectively tackle pet hair and remove stubborn debris from a variety of surfaces.
Pet Hair Performance
The Shark HV322 generally demonstrates impressive effectiveness in removing pet hair from both hard surfaces and carpeting. However, it’s worth noting that Mode II is often necessary to effectively extract hair from medium- and high-pile carpets, ensuring a thorough clean.
Bare Floor Performance
On hard floors, the Shark HV322 efficiently handles most particles with relative ease, leaving a clean and polished surface. However, it may encounter some difficulty with larger debris, such as cereal, potentially requiring multiple passes to ensure complete pickup.
Carpet Performance
The Shark HV322’s performance on carpets presents a mixed experience. While it performs adequately on low-pile carpets, it tends to struggle on high-pile carpets, often leaving debris behind despite repeated efforts.
Hand Vacuum Performance
Converting the Shark HV322 to a hand vacuum is a quick and straightforward process, and the suction power remains impressively strong. However, the dustbin’s placement at the back of the hand vac body can make it somewhat bulky and slightly unwieldy during use.
Airflow and Suction Strength
- Maximum Hose Suction: 54.6 inH₂O (13.59 kPa)
- Maximum Head Suction: 0.6 inH₂O (0.15 kPa)
- Normal Head Suction: 0.4 inH₂O (0.10 kPa)
- Maximum Hose Airflow: 54.4 CFM (1.5 m³/min)
While the Shark HV322 boasts impressive suction figures on paper, its real-world suction performance can be somewhat lacking. This is primarily due to the suction inlet being positioned too high above the ground, reducing its overall effectiveness.
Ease of Use
A vacuum cleaner’s performance is only part of the equation; ease of use is equally important, especially for those who clean frequently.
Assembly and Disassembly
The Shark HV322 receives high praise for its remarkably simple and intuitive assembly process, making it user-friendly from the start. Setting it up involves simply inserting the end into the vacuum head and attaching the wand to the main vacuum body. Disassembly is equally straightforward, making it easy to store and transport as needed.
Maneuverability
Thanks to its lightweight design and responsive swivel steering, the Shark HV322 is exceptionally agile and easy to maneuver around furniture and other obstacles. Its narrow head fits comfortably in tight spaces, and the under-appliance wand simplifies cleaning under couches and low tables.
Attachment Usage
The various attachments are designed for easy attachment and detachment, allowing you to quickly and seamlessly switch between different cleaning tasks. The hard-bristle brush conveniently clips onto the upholstery tool for added versatility.
Cord and Range
The 32-foot cord provides a reasonable cleaning radius, but you may still find it necessary to change outlets when cleaning larger areas. The cord’s length might not be sufficient to reach from room to room without swapping outlets.
Noise Level
The Shark HV322 operates at approximately 80 decibels, which is comparable to the noise level of city traffic. While not excessively loud, it’s certainly not the quietest vacuum available on the market.
Maintenance and Durability
Maintaining your vacuum cleaner is essential for ensuring its longevity and consistent performance over time. Let’s examine the Shark HV322’s maintenance requirements and overall durability.
Cleaning the Filter
The Shark HV322 features filters that are easily accessible and simple to clean, contributing to hassle-free maintenance. The pre-motor filters (foam and felt) should be washed approximately once a month, while the post-motor filter requires cleaning only once a year.
Dust Canister
The dust canister is equipped with a convenient one-touch ejection system, making it easy to empty without getting your hands dirty. The dustbin detaches completely from the vacuum, further simplifying the emptying process. However, its relatively small capacity means you’ll likely need to empty it frequently.
Durability
While the Shark HV322 boasts a sturdy construction, its overall build quality can be considered somewhat mediocre. The plastic used feels relatively inexpensive, and the vacuum does not stand upright on its own, making it susceptible to tipping over. Shark’s warranty primarily covers the suction motor, while other components are classified as wear items and are not covered. Additionally, Shark offers very few replacement parts for sale, potentially making repairs either impossible or prohibitively expensive.
Pros and Cons
In summary, here’s a quick overview of the key advantages and disadvantages of the Shark HV322 Rocket Deluxe Pro/Pet vacuum:
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to handle, ensuring comfortable use
- Versatile design with multiple cleaning modes and attachments for diverse cleaning tasks
- Effective on pet hair and hard floors, providing reliable cleaning performance
- LED lights for enhanced visibility in dimly lit areas
- One-touch dust ejection system for convenient and hygienic emptying
- Competitive pricing, offering good value for money
Cons
- Struggles on high-pile carpets, potentially requiring more effort
- Small dust canister necessitates frequent emptying, which can be inconvenient
- Build quality feels somewhat cheap, raising concerns about long-term durability
- No HEPA filtration, which may be a concern for allergy sufferers
- Vacuum does not stand upright on its own, making it prone to tipping over
- Limited availability of replacement parts, potentially hindering repairs
Comparison with Similar Products
How does the Shark HV322 compare to its competitors in the market? Let’s take a look at some similar products that offer comparable features and performance.
- Shark Navigator Pro NV150C: An upright model equipped with HEPA filtration, offering more power and enhanced performance on high-pile carpets.
- Shark Navigator Liftaway Speed ZU560C: An upright model featuring HEPA filtration and a convertible design for comprehensive floor-to-ceiling cleaning.
- Henry, Miele, Sebo, and Hoover: Other reputable brands offering similar features and performance characteristics.
Conclusion/Verdict
The Shark HV322 Rocket Deluxe Pro/Pet vacuum stands out as a lightweight and versatile cleaning solution, delivering commendable performance on pet hair and hard floors. Its convertible design, combined with a range of useful attachments, makes it well-suited for various cleaning tasks around the home. However, its limitations on high-pile carpets, the small dust canister capacity, and the somewhat mediocre build quality may be significant drawbacks for some potential buyers.
This vacuum is particularly well-suited for daily cleaning routines, pet owners seeking effective hair removal, and households with a mix of different floor surfaces. If you find it challenging to maneuver a heavy corded vacuum, the Shark Rocket Pet Vacuum presents a viable alternative. However, if you prioritize greater power and superior filtration capabilities, you might want to consider upright models such as the Shark Navigator Pro NV150C or the Shark Navigator Liftaway Speed ZU560C.
Despite its inherent shortcomings, the Shark HV322 offers competitive pricing and delivers good overall value for its cost. If you are in the market for a lightweight and versatile vacuum cleaner that won’t strain your budget, the Shark HV322 Rocket Deluxe Pro/Pet is definitely worth considering as a potential option.
