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My dog sheds a lot, so I tested 6 of the best Shark vacuums to clean up pet hair

The best Shark vacuum for pet hair we tested Best Shark vacuum for pet hair: Shark Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum IZ361H The best Shark vacuum for pet hair finds a sweet spot between top-notch performance and undeniable value. It won't dig into your budget the way a new Dyson vacuum would, but that doesn't mean it's anything to sneeze at. I've tested vacuums from a lot of different brands, and Shark usually delivers. However, if you're looking through your options to keep up with all the hair that falls off your dog or cat and into every last crevice of your home, the options from Shark can get confusing. The brand's lineup of vacuums feels endless and overlapping. What are PowerFins? Do you need PowerDetect? What about HairPro? I tried to make sense of these fancy terms by tossing them to the side and digging into the machines themselves, deploying six different Shark vacuums to clean up all the hair my Chihuahua mix leaves behind. One vacuum in particular stood out from the pack. Shark Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum IZ361H Of all the Shark pet vacuums I tested, this cordless stick vacuum possessed the best combination of performance and agility while remaining true to the value that makes Shark vacuums worth it. If you line up each of the Shark vacuums I tested for this exercise, the Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum IZ361H might look the least impressive. But don't let appearances fool you, as this simple model cuts out gimmicks while retaining the versatility that makes the best stick vacuums — and a vacuum from a fair-priced brand such as Shark — so valuable. The Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum IZ361H weighs just under 8 pounds. It's easy to roll around while using and won't tire your arms during longer cleaning sessions. Good thing, too, because this vacuum is the one any pet owner will reach for to get to those spots that might not receive as much traffic or attention. The Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum IZ361H can get under and around furniture with precision and pace. That's not to say it can't handle larger, heavy-traffic spaces, because it certainly can. But its combination of portability and adequate cleaning power makes using it a more manageable task than heavier, bulkier upright models (such as the Rotator and Stratos models I also tested and discussed below) that should be reserved for owners of extreme shedders. The motorized brush roll on the floor head of this vacuum still handles pet hair well. It has silicone flaps — 'PowerFins' in Shark's language — that agitate embedded pet hair to release it from surfaces that would otherwise keep it trapped. Bristles interspersed between the flaps add to the effect and help prevent never-ending tangles of hair from gobbling up the roll itself. If you've ever taken a look at the bottom of a vacuum that's been used more than a few times, you probably know those pesky buildups of hair so thick that you have to slice through them. The Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum IZ361H has three levels of suction, and while some of the fancier vacuums we tested packed more power, the performance here was more than adequate. From thin layers of dust and hair to hidden tumbleweeds that had collected beneath my bed, this vacuum handled it all without needing me to clean out any clogs. Notably, the stick attachment on the Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum IZ361H can be removed and used as a handheld vacuum that's on par with some of the best I've tested. It has a basic crevice nozzle, an upholstery tool perfect for hair stuck on furniture and a flat dusting brush I loved as a way to keep tabletops sparkly. As a pseudo-handheld vacuum, the Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum IZ361H doesn't have the biggest canister. It will fill up on longer jobs, though it's a plus that longer jobs are possible, as I found the advertised run time of 40 minutes to hold up in testing. The small dustbin capacity is amplified by the fact that much of the handled unit is taken up by a three-layer filter system. As a pet owner concerned with allergies, I'll take that trade-off. Then there are small design choices that add to the convenience of the Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum IZ361H. Its battery is removable, which is helpful if you want to buy a second to improve run time or if you don't want to have to look at the entire machine while it's charging. The handheld unit of the vacuum also clips on to the bottom of the stick, making storage more compact and balanced. As I'm sure my fellow pet owners know, evidence of our furry friends tends to end up everywhere in our homes, not just on the floors. The Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum IZ361H — with a capable arsenal of attachments and a design built around the perils of pet hair — gets to all those locations without tacking on features that either don't work, bog you down while you clean or, worst of all, drive up the price. It's a machine I'll be sticking to (pun intended) for as long as I have a pet. While cleaning my home with these six Shark vacuums, I evaluated each according to the following criteria: Performance Suction: Powerful suction is one of the key functions of a vacuum geared toward pet hair, as it contributes greatly to the ability to lift hair off surfaces. I especially valued vacuums that created significant suction. Surface versatility: Hard floors, fluffy carpets, upholstered furniture — pet hair finds itself everywhere. I put each vacuum to the test on different surfaces in my home to see how well it could handle the variety. Battery life and charge times: For any cordless models, I timed how long they would run and how long it took to reach a full battery after the battery was drained. Design Attachments: Many pet hair vacuums come equipped with attachments that can unearth pet hair from stubborn spots. I analyzed the function of these add-ons to see which added the most to the vacuum's capabilities. Handle and build: If your home is large, you want a vacuum that doesn't become a burden after using it for a few minutes. I assessed how easy each vacuum was to wield and control, keeping in mind weight and size. Canister and cleaning: My home is not that big, and my dog is downright puny. Yet somehow, the pet hair builds in unfathomably large bunches. Those with big homes (and bigger pets) need the capacity to handle more hair. I looked at each vacuum's canister and filters to see how much they could hold. Ease of cleaning was also considered. Additional features: Were there any extra features on the vacuum that made it stand out? Any important inclusions were taken into account for each assessment. Value Price: Shark vacuums are known to provide solid performance at a price better than other top vacuum brands that cost a pretty penny. I factored in each model's price to see which offered the most bang for your buck. Versatility: While pet hair was the main target of this test, a vacuum that can handle more of what your home throws at it is going to be way more valuable than a one-trick pony. Warranty: I accounted for the length and coverage of each vacuum's warranty. If you're set on purchasing a Shark vacuum to clean up pet hair in your home, these are the main functions you need to consider before clicking that 'complete order' button. Capacity I have a small Chihuahua mix and live in a one-bedroom apartment. I don't need a massive canister on my Shark vacuum to stay up on pet hair cleaning. But you might live in a three-bedroom house and have two big dogs that make my Chihuahua's shedding output look measly. In that case, one of the upright vacuums I tested — such as the Shark Rotator ZU102 — might be a better fit. Try to be realistic about how much pet hair you need to clean and how often you'll need to fire up your Shark vacuum. Otherwise, you might get frustrated with a stick vacuum that doesn't have the canister or battery capacity to last a full vacuuming session. Mobility One of the biggest reasons the Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum IZ361H earned the top spot was because it is a light, mobile vacuum that's equipped with the tools to handle pet hair. Reaching under a couch, onto a dusty table or even up to a high shelf was no issue. Its cordless design meant no tangled wires, and being able to ditch the stick attachment for a handheld mode lightened the load when floors weren't my target. Don't overlook how important range and movement are when cleaning. Surfaces Most of the flooring in my home is hard, and the winning vacuum was able to handle roaming from those floors to various area rugs dispersed through the space. But if you live in a heavily carpeted home, you might want a heavy-duty upright vacuum. Carpets can trap pet hair and additional debris, calling for more power and capacity to truly get them back to looking fresh. Shark Stratos Duo Clean Upright Vacuum AZ3002 A massive unit that might be Optimus Prime hiding in plain sight, this powerful vacuum is made (and priced) for big jobs of pet hair cleanup. The feature set on this monstrous vacuum is lengthy. It takes the PowerFins brush roll that exists in my top pick and splits it into two rolls layered within the floorhead. Its canister is removable from the floor unit, letting you take it and the attached hose off the ground for elevated cleaning. Choose between three levels of suction power, and forget about nasty smells building up within because there's a replenishable odor neutralizer. While it worked at cleaning up pet hair, the Stratos fell in my rankings because I found myself tripping over its design. Sure, we can all deal with a corded vacuum for its benefits, but the Lift-Away canister was far from the convenience and versatility of a stick vacuum. I couldn't reach as far under furniture, and I certainly couldn't move around my home with the same speed. Throw in the fact that it's bigger in storage and still $400 when on sale, and you'll see why I chose the Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum IZ361H as the better buy. Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum ZU102 The Rotator could be a wise purchase if you need more capacity than our top pick but don't want to shell out for the pricier Stratos. This is the Shark vacuum I would buy to tackle pet hair if I were living in a large space with lots of carpet. It has more power and a larger capacity than our top pick, though it's not as mobile because it's not a stick vacuum. I was still impressed with its reach, which was a much easier exercise than going mobile with the Stratos because the Rotator has a longer tube and no detachable canister. And for a great price, you get the same PowerFins brush roll as my top pick, plus the odor neutralizer and a thorough HEPA filter. Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum IP1251 On paper, this is a better version of our top pick. In practice, its signature feature was a total flop. The Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum IP1251 has multiple features our top pick lacks, like a more advanced brush roll, a more flexible stick for better access and angles, and the ability to detect messes and floor types to change power levels on the fly. But it jammed up every time I tried to vacuum a thick rug in my apartment, which I've never experienced with any other vacuum I've tested. That's a big enough red flag that I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Cordless Handheld Vacuum CH951 I've tested a lot of handheld vacuums, and this one isn't bad. But if pet hair is your primary goal, I'd look our review I've tested handheld vacuums for a variety of use cases, including car vacuums, and the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus is solid. I like that it doesn't clog and has above-average suction. Its trio of attachments performs well, though even its motorized brush tool doesn't do excellent work against pet hair. I'd much rather spend my money on our top pick, which has the flexibility to be used on floors or as a handheld. If a dedicated handheld vacuum for pet hair is what you're looking for, consider the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser. Shark Wandvac Power Pet Cordless Handheld Vacuum I like having this little vacuum around to quickly deploy from its charging stand for small messes or obvious bunches of pet hair. Even so, how is it $130 or more? Everything is smaller on the WandVac. It's a useful little tool for cleaning up sudden messes, like the small morsel of food my dog likes to take out of his bowl and over to an area rug, where he has no intention of ever eating it. But nothing about this vacuum's minuscule canister suggests it's capable of handling a lot of pet hair, and my testing confirmed as much. It's better suited for other purposes. If you hate the buildup of even small debris, having the WandVac at the ready with its charging stand could be worth it for you when it's on sale. Does the type of flooring affect how easy it is to vacuum pet hair? Does the type of flooring affect how easy it is to vacuum pet hair? Yes. Hard floors are generally easier to clean of pet hair, while the textures and fibers of rugs tend to have a stronger grip on pet hair. That's why we valued strong suction and attachments that excel at lifting hair from surfaces. Which robot vacuum is the best for pet hair? Which robot vacuum is the best for pet hair? It's not a Shark vacuum, but the iLife VS3 Pro is the best robot vacuum for pet hair based on our testing. It uses decently strong suction to gather pet hair instead of a spinning roller brush. Especially with a sale price usually hovering around $100 ($160 when not on sale), it's a tremendous value that can passively cut down on the buildup of pet hair. Are Shark vacuums better than Dyson for vacuuming pet hair? Are Shark vacuums better than Dyson for vacuuming pet hair? It depends on your budget. The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine Absolute Wet-Dry Vacuum is our pick for the best cordless stick vacuum. It's a wonderfully versatile machine for cleaning a variety of messes, including those left behind by pets. It's also vastly more expensive than the Shark vacuums we tested here, many of which are suitable for most needs. Don't feel like you need a Dyson vacuum. CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors with many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products who ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we test each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this article, associate testing writer Joe Bloss let the pet hair from his Chihuahua mix build up in his home. He then unleashed these vacuums on the mess to weed out which ones couldn't handle the job. Bloss has penned product reviews across several other categories of vacuums for CNN Underscored, including the best car vacuums.