Shark Rocket Comparison: Reviews and Comparison

When it comes to deep cleaning, a traditional upright vacuum is the default choice by consumers because it combines power and agitation.

The biggest problem is size. For instance, a Bissell 9595A upright weighs 15 pounds. And even with a detachable hose, it wouldn’t be long enough to clean anything over your head.

Lugging this up and down the stairs can strain your back. And while cheap, it isn’t as good as a Dyson upright, costing three times as much.

Another option is a cordless vacuum that won’t cover as large an area.

Now here lies a dilemma for most consumers

Do I buy a cheap heavy upright that’s a pain in the butt to use? Or buy something cordless and lightweight that’ll only run for 45 minutes max?

The Shark Rocket is a good compromise between a cumbersome, heavy upright and the limited range of a cordless.

It’s light and versatile, yet still retains the power cord, so you can still use it to clean the whole house.

Of course, having a more compact design will result in a few limitations – the biggest of which is bin size.

But the pros more than make up for this.

First, let’s look at the similarities

Except for the NV482, all Rocket variants are stick vacuums that come with a removable tube that morphs into a hand vacuum.

It uses the same architecture as the Dyson cordless minus the trigger mechanism.

In its place, it uses a slide switch that has two power settings for bare floor and carpet.

The dirt bin is similar to Dyson in that it has the same trap door design that relies on gravity to empty dirt.

Another similarity is the primary floor tool that has its own motor. So agitation isn’t a problem. There will be some variances in terms of brush roll design and LED lights.

Shark Rocket Ultra-Light (HV302, HV303)

The HV300 series (or Ultra-Light) is Shark’s first product that utilized Dyson’s concept of interchangeable tools.

In terms of attachments, the HV 302 has the fewest, and this includes:

• Wide pet upholstery tool
• Dusting brush
• 12” crevice tool
• Accessory bag
• Wall mount storage hook
• Dust away hard floor attachment with 1 microfiber pad

Note that the pet upholstery tool included here has no motorized brush. The main floor tool also doesn’t have any LED headlights.

Ultra-Light has several different variants. The HV302 comes with a home and car detail kit, while the HV303 has an under-appliance wand.

This is also one of the lightest – only 7.6 pounds.

Logan from VacBin compares the Rocket to the Dyson DC44.

The most obvious difference would be weight and build quality. The Shark Rocket is heavier mainly because of the massive floor tool.

It also doesn’t swivel as well, going only a maximum of 45 degrees.

Bottom line: This is an excellent option for homes without pets. It comes with the tools you need to clean most parts of the home. Now if you have an automobile, opt for the HV302 with the car detail kit; otherwise, go with the HV303 that comes with the under-appliance wand.

Shark Rocket TruePet (HV322)

The next step up would be the HV322. Shark calls this “TruePet” because it has a pet tool and motorized brush.

This tool is much more efficient than the pet tool found in the HV302 because it has a beater bar. If your home has lots of pets, this is a better option because it’ll do the job faster, but it’s a bit more expensive.

Here’s the complete list of accessories that you’ll get:

• Accessory bag
• Wall mount storage hook
• Dust away hard floor tools with one microfiber mop
• Flexible hose
• TruePet mini motorized tool
• On-board accessory storage

It has the same power (500 watts) as the HV302/303. But this variant has LED headlights in the floor tool. This helps in terms of visibility in cleaning low-lighted areas like beds or the living room table.

And like the HV302, it also has a hard floor attachment with a mop resembling the Swiffer.

It’s a pound heavier at 8.6 pounds and has the same power at 500 watts.

Bottom line: “TruePet” is the upgrade version of the 300 series with two upgrades. It comes with a mini motorized brush and LED headlights. These upgrades come at a premium, but if you have pets this is a very good investment.

Shark Rocket PowerHead (AH452)

The Shark PowerHead (AH452) is the most unique of the 5 Rocket variants because the motor and bin are in the same vicinity as the motorized brush.

It has a similar design to the Bissell AirRam.

The absence of a detachable wand limits this vacuum to cleaning just floors. You won’t be able to use this to clean above the floor.

It comes with two brushes, each designed for carpet and bare floor.

The green beater bar (the one that looks like a squeegee) is for bare floor while the bristled brush (gray) is for carpet.

There is minimal power loss because the motor and brush are side by side.

But cramming the motor, bin and brush in such a cramped area does have its downsides.

The biggest would be the size of the bin. Compared to the other two variants on top of this, it won’t hold as much dirt and you will need to empty it more often.

Here’s a big mess test done by kode1996.

In terms of pick up it was pretty good. Cleaning a large mess like this will require frequent trips to the bin.

While it did clean a lot of the dust, it didn’t deep clean as well, but for cleaning high-traffic areas this is a good option.

Bottom line: This variant is one of the cheapest Rocket variants but also the least versatile because it will only clean floors. It has no tools or a detachable wand that will allow it to clean upholstery. If you accept this limitation, this is a good stick vacuum for small homes.

Shark Rocket DuoClean (HV382)

The Shark DuoClean (HV382) has Shark’s latest brush roll technology. It combines the soft roller head with a bristled brush that works together to clean bare floors and carpets.

This is a new concept that I’ve never seen before. Shark copied the soft roller head first seen in the Dyson V6 (and later the V8) and came up with this unique combo.

Counter-rotating brushes aren’t a new concept. I’ve seen it in robotic vacuums like Roomba. But this combo of a soft roller and bristle is unique.

A soft, fabric-like roller in front prevents the dreaded “snow plow” effect, where larger bits of dirt get plowed. Often the low profile design of the cleaner head causes this because large debris doesn’t fit.

By using a soft roller, Shark could expose more of it and increase clearance allowing it to grab dirt, pulling it in towards the suction port.

The downside to the twin brush system is weight – it weighs close to 10 pounds! But without the extension wand and floor tool, that goes down to 3.5 pounds. It still is the heavies of the bunch because it has a more powerful 600-watt motor.

Here’s a video of the Duo Clean in action

Aside from the main floor tool, you’ll also get the following:

• Dusting brush
• Duster crevice
• Accessory bag
• TruePet Mini motorized brush
• Under appliance wand

Between this variant and the TruePet HV322, the price difference is minimal. So I’d recommend this over the former because of the more powerful motor and better-performing floor tool.

Bottom line: The DuoClean system is double the fun and will outperform any other Shark Rocket variant because of its superior agitation. Using the soft roller bar helps prevent dirt from plowing because it has more clearance. This is great but for homes with pets that need a lightweight stick vacuum to clean high-traffic areas.

Corded Hand Vac (Shark Rocket HV292)

If you don’t need the floor-cleaning capabilities of the other variants here then the HV292 is a good option.

It has a smaller motor (400 vs. 500 watts) compared to the HV300 and HV320 series.

The bin size is just about the same. In terms of functionality, this product will be similar to the Dyson V6 Mattress because it has a mini motorized brush in its arsenal. So this is usable on upholstery.

Here are the tools that you’ll get:

• Extended reach flexible hose
• 12” crevice tool
• Mini motorized brush
• Dusting brush

Bottom line: This is the only handheld in the Rocket series line. It’s a great option for a lightweight handheld with a power cord. The mini motorized brush tool is excellent for cleaning upholstery and even mattresses. Dare I say this is a good alternative to the V6 Mattress if you don’t mind the cord.

Warranty

All Rocket series vacuums come with a 5-year limited warranty from SharkNinja, except the HV292 (which only has 1-year warranty).

Where can I buy this?

All of these products are available on Amazon, and it comes with free 2-day shipping if you join Prime (yes, even if it’s a free trial). Check the links below for the latest pricing information.

• Shark Rocket Ultra Light (HV301) on Amazon
• Shark Rocket True Pet (HV322) on Amazon
• Shark Rocket DuoClean (HV382) on Amazon
• Shark Corded Handheld (HV292) on Amazon

Disclaimer: I will earn a commission if you purchase from the link above, but at no extra cost, so it’s a win-win for us!

To Wrap Up

There is a detailed comparison of the five Shark Rocket series vacuums that range between $100 and $290.

The best option, in my opinion, if cost isn’t an issue, would be the Shark Rocket DuoClean which costs just a shade under $200. This variant has the best agitation thanks to the DuoClean head and is probably more versatile than the Dyson V8.

This is the best option if your home has carpet and hard floors because of the DuoClean head.

It’ll be able to pick up small and large debris because the soft roller and bristle brush combo will (literally) pull in dirt.

Pet owners will also benefit because this system will pick up pet hair.

Bargain hunters looking for an affordable stick vacuum option should take a close look at the Shark Rocket Ultra-Light.

But if the Rocket DuoClen is too expensive, opt for the cheaper Shark Rocket TruePet (HV322). It has the more traditional bristled brush that also works well on both surfaces. However, it won’t do as well on large dirt.