Shark vs Vax Vacuum Cleaners

Shark and Vax are two well-known names in UK upright and cordless vacuums. Shark's range runs from the Lift-Away NV602UK in Classic Blue at £129 and the NV602UKT True Pet at £229 to the IZ202UK cordless at £249 and the Stratos IZ400UKT Pet Pro at £279. Vax is the cheaper option, with the Air Lift 2 Pet Plus upright at £119, the Pace Cordless at £129, the Blade 4 at £139 and the Pace Plus at £189.

Shark's technology is built around hair and floor handling. PowerFins keep the brush bar in contact with the floor, Anti Hair Wrap removes hair as you clean, and Lift-Away lets the canister come off for stairs and furniture. Its sealed HEPA filtration traps 99.9% of dust, and the Stratos adds Clean Sense IQ and Anti-Odour Technology. Vax uses multi-cyclonic separation and a HEPA filter rated at 99.99%, with Boost Mode on the Pace range, a Turbo Tool for pet hair on the Air Lift 2, and DustTracker LED headlights on the Blade 4.

Shark suits households with long hair or pets, where hair wrap is a daily problem, or anyone who wants an upright that converts into a portable cleaner for stairs and sofas. Vax suits families on a budget that want a pet-focused upright or a light cordless for quick tidy-ups, and the Blade 4's brushless motor and three-hour fast charge make it practical for frequent use. The Pace cordless models weigh 3.1kg, so anyone who prefers a lighter machine should compare weights before buying.

Bottom line: choose Shark if hair wrap, Lift-Away flexibility and a cordless Pet Pro model are the priority, with prices from £129 to £279. Choose Vax if you want the lowest price, from £119 to £189, with a pet tool and LED headlights.