Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX review – pros, cons and comparison charts

Finding a cordless stick vacuum that cleans both carpets and hard floors can be quite a challenge. These vacuums rely on batteries for power which makes them great on hard floors but less effective on carpets. However, one vacuum stands out as a powerful cleaning gadget that can take on even the carpeted surfaces. Released only a few months ago, the Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX is one of the best battery-operated stick vacuums you can own today.

The vacuum is an upgrade of the IonFlex 2X, and comes with features that make it more usable and able to clean different floor types. Using the combination of a powerful battery, unique brush construction, and several other features, the vacuum achieves cleaning power and efficiency that other vacuums in its class can only dream of. Here is a breakdown of the features and a look at the pros and cons of this cleaning machine.

Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX outline

Here’ a quick overview of the F80 cordless vacuum from Shark:

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Specifications

Cleaning/Suction Power

The suction power of the Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX is great. Although the company doesn’t disclose values for that, independent tests have found the airflow to reach 38 CFM when the cleaning mode is set to the highest level. At its lowest, the airflow reaches 24 CFM. That’s around 100 AW, which means the motor of the vacuum is the same, used in previous Shark cordless models such as the IonFlex. Although it doesn’t seem to be very high, the suction produced is powerful enough to remove stuck dirt, even the debris that’s set deep within the dense fibers of carpets. The ability of the ION F80 to pick up dirt doesn’t mainly depend on the airflow, though. Instead, it’s the design of the brush roll that makes this vacuum such an effective cleaner. The manufacturer calls the design a DuoClean System and consists of a powered cleaning head that houses two different brushes. With this amount of power and construction, it’s no wonder that the vacuum achieves such cleaning efficiency for different surfaces.

DuoClean technology

Input Power/Autonomy

It’s a cordless stick vacuum which means it relies on a battery for power. The cordless nature gives you the freedom to vacuum any part of your home since you do not have to worry about power cables and outlets. Besides that, the battery is a powerful 25.2V lithium-ion type that produces 9.5 amperes (300 Watts). It’s also rechargeable and takes around 3 hours to reach full capacity when completely drained. The time it takes the battery pack to discharge varies depending on the cleaning mode used, with the carpet and ION Boost settings draining it the fastest. The battery is removable and the manufacturer offers you the option to charge it while still on the unit or separately. One thing that sets the Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX apart is that it comes with two batteries and offers you extended runtime.

Battery with charger

Dust Capacity

The vacuum is bagless which means it uses a bin to hold the dirt you vacuum up. The dust cup’s capacity is 0.3 of dry quarts. You may find this inadequate if you have pets in your home or if you have high-traffic places to vacuum as it can mean having to take out the bin for emptying after every vacuuming session. The manufacturer makes the emptying procedure easy for you, though. Apart from the dust cup being highly accessible, discarding its contents involves pressing a button to release a lid.

Filtration Efficiency

The vacuum uses washable filters for both the pre-motor and post-motor filtration. The filters are foam and felt materials and serve to clean the air reaching the motor as well as the one coming out of the unit. The manufacturer recommends washing these filters frequently to restore their efficiency and to prevent instances where they cause the vacuum’s suction power to reduce. One thing worth noting is that the filters are not HEPA and may not be suitable if you’re prone to seasonal allergies.

Weight and Dimensions

It weighs 8.7 lbs. without any of the accessories attached, which makes it a lightweight and highly portable unit. It measures 45.9 × 13.4 × 10.2 inches. Besides being light and not very bulky, you will find the collapsible wand such a handy feature when storing the Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX after use. A button allows you to bend the wand a few times onto the unit for a compact self-standing vacuuming machine.

Warranty

A 5-year warranty backs the Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX for the non-wearing parts and workmanship. However, that doesn’t cover the battery pack which comes with a separate 2-year warranty. With many manufacturers offering warranties that are shorter than this, the five years quite a bargain. The company only honors warranty claims from real owners and for a vacuum that was bought from an authorized seller. As presented on Shark’s website, for the batteries, only the ones that were originally bought together with the unit are covered by the warranty.

Warranty and accessories

Accessories

The stick vacuum comes with only a few accessories. However, the manufacturer offers an array of attachments that you can purchase separately and which are compatible with the Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX. The tools and accessories you receive in the box include; 2 rechargeable batteries, a charging cable, a charging dock, a crevice tool, and an upholstery nozzle.

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Special Features

It looks like the manufacturer concentrated on refining the few features rather than introduce new functionalities that would limit the efficiency, power, and usability of this vacuum. The few features are what make this vacuum to stand out as among the best of Shark stick vacuums. They include:

Powerful and Removable Battery

The battery is a 25.2V, 9.5A pack. With this, you’re assured of adequate power to run the vacuum’s various parts and functions, from the brush roll, lift-away, to the headlights and the various indicators. The runtime of the battery is among the longest for a stick vacuum and ranges from 20 minutes to as long as 1 hr 20 min based on the cleaning mode in use. The battery is also removable which offers you the option to purchase several of them and never run out of power while cleaning. The manufacturer provides you two batteries on buying the vacuum, and you can decide if you want an extra one.

ION Power Pack Double Charging System (not included in the original package)

MultiFlex Tech

It’s essentially a hose that bends in a few places to offer enhanced flexibility. With this feature, cleaning under furniture won’t tire you out as you can do it while standing upright. Apart from allowing you easy vacuuming, it can save you from backache and complications if you have a health issue with your back. The MultiFlex also makes storing the unit a lot easier. You only have to bend the hose and have your stick vacuum stand on its own and taking up just a little space.

MultiFLEX tech depicted on the box of the product

DuoClean System

Shark uses an innovative brush roll to make this vacuum versatile and to enhance its ability to pick up dirt. The DuoClean system is, in simple terms, a floor head that features two different brush rolls. One of them is a soft brush while the other one is the regular stiff bristled brush that’s usually used in vacuum floor heads that clean carpets. The soft brush works to clean hard floors without damaging them. With these two brush rolls, you never have to worry about the surface you’re cleaning, the machine transitions automatically once you select the necessary setting. It means safe cleaning of sensitive hard floors and efficient cleaning of carpets.

Two Power Speeds

You can set the motor speed or suction to two modes; ION Power and ION Boost. You use the lower power “ION Boost” for the normal day to day cleaning where there’s not a lot of dirt to be picked up. Also when using the vacuum to clean bare floors or smaller area rugs. The higher suction “ION Boost” becomes necessary when vacuuming high-traffic or when you encounter places messes.

Shark F80 controls

Timed ION Boost Mode

This innovative feature has made the Shark ION F80 able to conserve battery power. It’s a times cleaning mode that automatically stops working after 60 seconds. The mode also offers you 2 options to control the duration manually. Pressing the button continuously extends the time to vacuum messy areas while pressing the button before the 60 seconds are over stops the mode instantly. Using this feature, you can vacuum any surface you come across and ensure every bit of dirt is picked up.

Headlights

Vacuuming the dark areas or rooms in your home won’t be a challenge when using this vacuum. It features lights on the floor head which enhances visibility and allows you to see every spot that requires extra attention. The headlights also work as indicators to warn about a brush roll that’s not fixed correctly. This can often happen when you have taken the brush out for cleaning.

Shark F80 led lights

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Usability

With only a few parts (the motorized nozzle, wand and the lift-away), the Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX assembles in a minute. There are not many attachments either and using the vacuum is less demanding. The buttons to switch on power and for the cleaning modes are conveniently placed on the handle, with the power button lying between the two settings for the floor type and suction power. Once you press the power button, you need to select the cleaning mode based on the surface you intend to vacuum. There are icons to represent a bare floor and carpet. Selecting one of them switches the nozzle to utilize the right brush for the surface. You also have access to the low and high suction setting which you can change depending on the surface being cleaned or the amount of dirt present.

The handle is ergonomic and doesn’t hurt your hand which means you can clean for long hours without feeling fatigued. Besides that, the unit itself is lightweight and won’t tire you to push as you go about vacuuming the various rooms and surfaces in your home. The Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX is a perfect pick if you have a lot of furniture in your home. Also if you have a back problem. That’s because you will never have to bend when cleaning the places that are hidden underneath furniture. The wand flexed multiple times and you only need to push a button to make it bend and allow the nozzle to access such areas. The vacuum also converts to a handy lift-away that you can use for the areas above the floor or those outside such as the porch and the car.

Maintaining the unit doesn’t doesn’t present any difficulties. That brush roll detaches easily so you can remove hair tangles and other dirt, while the dust cup comes out with ease to allow an emptying process that takes no time. It opens downwards on pressing a release button which makes discarding the dirt safer and less messy. The foam and felt filters are easily removable and washable. You only need to clean them under water. Wait for them to dry up, and put them back into the unit. That’s it!

Here’s a demo of the MultiFlex tech:

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Pro points

• Ability to clean both bare floors, and carpets
• A powerful battery that produces strong suction and for long
• Removable batteries that allow you to own several of them and extend the vacuum’s runtime
• Dual brushes that make cleaning different surfaces easy, efficient and safe
• Headlights for enhanced visibility when the areas you have to clean are not adequately illuminated
• Converts to a handheld so you can vacuum areas which the whole unit cannot reach
• Lightweight construction that makes the vacuum easy to use and less tiring
• A MultiFlex wand that makes cleaning underneath furniture a breeze and for easy storage
• Timed high-suction mode to conserve battery power and allow you to clean for longer

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Con points

• The hand-vac feels somewhat bulky and tiresome to use
• Difficult to move over carpets as the brush roll tends to pull the unit forward but which can be eliminated by using a lower suction power
• Lacks HEPA filtration

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Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX vs Shark ION P50 vs Shark IONFlex 2X vs Dyson V10 Absolute

Comparison between Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX, Shark ION P50, Shark IONFlex 2X and Dyson V10 Absolute (left to right)

The best thing to do when reviewing such a vacuum is to compare it with other similar units from the same brand (IonFlex and P50). One also needs to put it side by side to the main contender, the Dyson V10:

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Final Comments

There are many reasons to consider this vacuum if looking for a powerful cordless stick vacuum. Lightweight, powered by two high-capacity batteries and featuring a unique DuoClean brush roll, the Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX not only cleans powerfully and efficiently but is also easy to use. It converts into a handy lift-away and allows you to vacuum areas inside and outside your home. With it, you don’t even need a separate handheld to clean your car. Of course, the vacuum has its downside such as a low capacity for the dust cup and the lack of HEPA filtration. However, the benefits it offers far outweigh the drawbacks. Coming from a company that’s well known for quality and long lasting vacuum cleaners, the ION F80 is a cleaning device worth considering.