Shark Rocket Pet Pro – the Fresh Face of a Cordless Vacuum for Pets

The Rocket Pet Pro is the latest pet vacuum from Shark. A powerful cordless stick, the new model resists hair tangles, making it one of the most effective cordless vacuums for pet and human hair.

But suction and anti-hair technology aren’t the only features that make this vacuum stand out. There are many more, as we shall see in this review. As is the norm, let’s start with the quick specs table, move on to the appearance and then dive in the detailed features and comparison charts.

Shark Rocket Pet Pro – Table of Features

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Looks

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Specifications

Suction/Cleaning Power

The manufacturer doesn’t provide details about the vacuum’s suction. However, tests indicate a 42 CFM airflow at the wand entrance (on the Max setting; 27 CFM on the Min setting). Comparing this airflow to that of other cordless sticks on the market, the cleaning power of the Rocket Pet Pros is somewhat above average, almost similar to the Tineco S12, and slightly less than the Dyson V11. It’s a great improvement from the earlier models and one that makes the vacuum suit homes with shedding pets. The Rocket Pet Pro also uses what the producer calls Dirt Engage technology, an innovative nozzle and brush roll design that helps to remove embedded debris.

Dirt Engage brush roll with Zero-M

Input Power

The vacuum uses a 21.6-volt  lithium-ion battery that takes 4 hours to charge. The battery’s runtime isn’t one of the longest. It depends a lot on the usage and varies between 40 minutes and less than 10 minutes, as described below:

• 40 minutes – Handheld vacuum
  
• 25 minutes – Bare floor mode
  
• 20 minutes – Carpet mode
• 10 minutes – Boost mode (handheld, bare floor or carpet)

Users with large areas to vacuum may find the runtime inadequate, especially if they have to use high power most of the time. But you don’t have to limit yourself to the runtimes listed above. The battery can be removed, which means you can double, even triple, the cleaning time. You only need to purchase an additional battery or two, and the issue of running out of power midway in your cleaning tasks will be sorted. The battery can also be charged in or out of the vacuum. It allows you to have the spare piece connected to the charger as you go on with your cleaning tasks.

Dust Capacity

The dust bin capacity is almost 11 oz (0.3 dry quarts). Emptying it is simple, thanks to a plastic slider with a fancy name (CleanTouch). Considering that the vacuum is meant to clean up after pets and picks up a lot of hair and debris, I would have expected the bin to be larger than that. Users also find the bottom part of the bin hard to clean, requiring one to pull out stuck hairs with the hands. The sides are smooth, though, which makes debris to slide out of the bin without sticking.

CleanTouch Dirt Ejector

Filtration Efficiency

The Shark Rocket Pet Pro can be used by anyone in your family, including those with allergy problems. It features Shark’s anti-allergen system that keeps particles trapped inside the vacuum. The unit is fully sealed, so allergens do not find an opening to re-enter the room, while a HEPA filter cleans the exhausted air. With these measures, 99.97 of particles as small as 0.3 microns do not leave the vacuum once sucked up.

Weight and Dimensions

It’s a lightweight stick vacuum that only weighs 7.1 pounds. Most people can use it comfortably, which includes carrying it around. The handheld unit is even lighter and more portable. You can use various attachments with the lift-away, too, which means enhanced versatility. With every part assembled, the vacuum measures 10.24 inches long, 7.09 inches wide, and 46.1 inches high.

Dimensions

Warranty

SharkNinja backs their vacuums with generous warranties, something that’s rare with many vacuum cleaner manufacturers. The Rocket Pet Pro comes with a 5-year limited guarantee that covers both parts and labor. It means a lot, especially seeing that vacuums contain moving parts that are prone to breaking down.

Accessories

The manufacturer only offers two accessories with the vacuum. These are the pet multi-tool and the crevice nozzle. You can always purchase additional attachments, though, which include an under appliance wand, a pet multi-tool, mini powered brush, and mini motor brush that self cleans. If you have lots of hair to clean in your home, I would advise you to purchase the additional attachments. They will help you to pick up strands from a variety of surfaces, such as couches and mattresses. Other parts in the box are the main unit and its components, a charger, and the user manual.

Shark package contents

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Special Features

The Shark Rocket Pet Pro is primarily built for homes with pets. However, that doesn’t mean the vacuum isn’t effective on other debris. It cleans a variety of surfaces, removing different kinds of dirt as efficiently as it does hair. Designed to be usable and durable, this new model offers many cleaning advantages. Let’s look at the vacuum’s main features.

High Suction

Tests show suction of the Rocket Pet Pro to be higher than that of most brands in its category. Being a cordless vacuum, the 42 CFM airflow it achieves is considerably high. It means the vacuum can clean a wide range of places and different kinds of debris, both large and small. The powerful suction is an essential requirement for pet hair vacuums. It ensures fur doesn’t get stuck in the tubes and other passages when cleaning areas frequented by pets.

Anti-Hair and Self-Cleaning Brush

The vacuum uses a new brush roll design to prevent hair tangles. Instead of bristles, the brush features blades. The construction ensures a deep clean of surfaces such as carpets, but more importantly, zero hair tangles. The new technology for the brush roll makes the Shark Rocket Pet Pro a real pet vacuum.

You will not grapple with hair strands wrapping around the brush roll anymore regardless of length. The nozzle also comes with a comb that continually removes hair from the brush as it spins. This prevents strands of hair from wrapping around it, reducing maintenance requirements, and making the nozzle efficient throughout. With these two technologies, the Rocket Pet Pro perfectly fits a home with shedding pets.

Removable Battery

The battery can be removed, which means two things. It allows you to replace an old battery to restore cleaning time, especially if you’ve used the vacuum for more than a year. You can also use more than one battery with the vacuum and extend cleaning time considerably. Purchasing one or two extra batteries will see you clean for more than 1½ or 2 hours. If your home is large and high traffic, an additional battery would be a necessity. For small apartments, the 40-minute runtime of the battery should be sufficient.

LED Lamps

Three lights on the nozzle light up the area in front and allow you to clean dark areas. These include rooms with dim lighting, under furniture, edges, and other hidden surfaces. The lights start as soon as you start the vacuum and remain on all through. It allows you to spot debris on time and increase the number of passes or switch to high power mode.

LED lights

Allergen Protection

The Rocket Pet Pro is a fully sealed vacuum. That means no vacuumed allergens will be re-entering the air as you go about your cleaning. In addition to that, the post-motor filter is HEPA. This ensures particles that get picked up by the cleaning nozzle do not find their way into the air. As a result, the person using the vacuum stays protected from allergic particles throughout.

2-in-1 Design

It can convert into a handheld, allowing you to clean places the floor nozzle cannot. Detach the upper part, and you have a versatile vacuum that you can use on places such as couches, mattresses, and similar surfaces. You only need to attach the necessary accessory. The handheld version cleans using the same suction that of the full-size vacuum, only that it allows you enhanced portability and cleaning ease.

Handheld mode

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Usability

The Shark Rocket Pet Pro makes cleaning your home easy in many ways. Upon unboxing it,  the first thing to notice is the few vacuum parts; these include the main unit that houses the motor and dust cup, the battery and its charger, an extension wand, floor nozzle, and two accessories. The parts take you a minute to put together, plus there’s an instruction manual to guide you. Once assembled, the vacuum only needs the battery charged, and it will be ready to start cleaning.

You can charge the battery in the vacuum or outside.  It takes around four hours to charge, which is somewhat long, considering it only cleans for forty minutes. However, the battery is the replaceable type, and you can obtain a spare one for longer vacuuming sessions. Besides that, you can always conserve power by using high suction only when it’s necessary.

You have two options for suction control: High and Low. The low-speed mode is suitable for hard floors, while the high-speed setting works excellent on carpets. The vacuum doesn’t come with a button to switch off the brush roll, though. You’ll have to rely on the speed settings when moving from one type of floor to another. To vary suction to Boost mode, you only need to squeeze a trigger on the handle – a convenient way to control cleaning power on the go.

Power Settings

The vacuum’s low profile is an advantage. The floor nozzle goes under furniture smoothly, allowing you to clean every surface in a room. Add that to the smooth swivel at the neck, and you have a nozzle that’s effortless to steer. The three LEDs on the nozzle help to reveal messes you wouldn’t otherwise see. These features make the Rocket Pet Pro not only usable but also practical.

The floor head cleans different types of flooring safely and effectively. It features a uniquely designed brush roll, which self-cleans and relieves you of the need to take the nozzle apart for maintenance. With no hair tangles to worry about, the vacuum will be less demanding when it comes to keeping the brush roll in good condition. The Shark Rocket Pet Pro also uses washable filters, which lowers maintenance costs. With a brush that resists tangles and washable filters, the vacuum is one of the easiest to maintain.

After using the vacuum, you might need to find a place to lean it against, such as a wall. That’s because it doesn’t come with a mechanism to hold it upright, or wall mount to hang on. It’s one of the few drawbacks of the vacuum. The weight distribution is impressive, though, and the unit is unlikely to topple over when leaning against a wall. For more accessible storage, you can always take the vacuum apart, especially if you don’t use it every day. The various components are designed to detach easily.

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Shark Rocket Pet Pro Pros and Cons

Here is a summary of what’s great about the vacuum and what I think could do with some improvement.

The Pros of Shark Rocket Pet Pro

• The suction is superb, and the vacuum cleans impressively. It works great on bare floors and low-pile carpet
• The anti-allergen system makes the vacuum safe, especially for allergen sufferers
• The cordless cleaning allows you to reach every part of your home, both inside and outside
• The wide 10″ cleaning path means fewer passes for every room and less time to complete cleaning tasks
• The anti-hair design for the brush roll works wonders to prevent tangles
• The removable battery allows you to extend cleaning time using a spare piece
• The headlights help to reveal hidden dirt and debris
• The swiveling neck makes steering the vacuum around a breeze

The Cons of Shark Rocket Pet Pro

• The vacuum cannot stand on its own. You have to lean it against something for storage
• The dustbin is too small for large and high traffic homes

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Shark Rocket Pet Pro (IZ162H) vs Shark Rocket Pro (IZ140) vs Shark Rocket Cordless (IX140)

Shark Rocket Pet Pro vs Shark Rocket Pro vs Shark Rocket Cordless

As you can see in the following table, the Rocket Pet Pro has the best filtration, comes with removable batteries, and a Pet Multi-tool. LED lights are missing from the IX140 model, but are present on the IX141 which is sold on Amazon. The Dirt Engage brushroll equips both Pro versions:

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Shark Rocket Pet Pro vs Shark ION P50 vs Shark ION F80 MultiFlex

Shark Rocket Pet Pro vs Shark ION P50 vs Shark ION F80 MultiFlex

Among these 3 Shark cordless vacuums, the P50 has the biggest suction and the largest bin (but it is also the heaviest). The Rocket Pet Pro and the P50 are allergen-sealed and have HEPA filtration. The F80 has the MultiFlex feature. As for the brushroll, the one installed on the Rocket Pet Pro is the only which doesn’t tangle in long hair strands.

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Shark Rocket Pet Pro vs Moosoo K17 vs Dibea F20 Max

Shark Rocket Pet Pro vs Moosoo K17 vs Dibea F20 Max

Among these 3 budget-friendly cordless vacuums, the Dibea F20 Max seems to be the most powerful. It also comes with the larget bin and the most versatile accessories. However, keep in mind that the Shark is the only one that has a brushroll that doesn’t tangle.

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Final Comments

Pet hair is a common problem in many homes. Some vacuums struggle to pick it up, and tangles are a common occurrence. The Shark Rocket Pet Pro provides a new way to tackle pet hair. Featuring a unique brush design and a self-cleaning mechanism, this new model is a must-have if you have shedding pets in your home. The vacuum does not only clean pet hair but also that of humans. It also removes other kinds of dirt and debris superbly, making it an all-round vacuum cleaner. Being a cordless vacuum, the Rocket Pet Pro allows you quick cleanups in any place, especially the areas frequented by your pet. If pet hair is a problem in your home, the Rocket Pet Pro is a vacuum I would recommend.