Home Vacuum Zone is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Just as there is plenty of interest when two heavyweight boxing champions face up to each other in the ring, when two of the very best vacuum cleaner manufacturers go head-to-head it is fascinating to see who comes out on top. Our Shark vs Dyson comparison for instance is one of our most popular articles.
In our latest vacuum cleaner 'Battle Royale' we are going to see a Shark vs Bissell comparison and we've lined up their best latest models. We’ll compare vacuums from Bissell and Shark in the following categories:
Full Size Upright Vacuums - Shark Apex Duoclean vs Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Lift Off
Cordless Stick Vacuums - Shark IONFlex Duoclean vs Bissell Bolt ION XRT
Canister Vacuums - Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away Canister vs Bissell Hard Floor Expert
After reviewing the features of both vacuum cleaners and how they might benefit you, we will give you our honest assessment of which one comes out on top in our Bissell vs Shark contest for that category.
Effective at removing pet hair on floors and furniture.
Light up crevice toolis really helpful for spotting dirt.
Powerful suction and allergy sealed casing to ensure only clean air is expelled.
Febreeze Pet Odor Eliminatorfreshens up the air as you vacuum.
Easy to Empty
Cons
Hose is a little short and shorter than the Shark Apex.
Inferior power and filtration performance compared to the Shark Apex.
Pet Friendly Features
Has been designed and produced to specifically deal with the issue of pet hairs and dander that many other cleaners can't cope with.
Uses a special brush roll which stops pet hair wrapping around it and compromising the effectiveness of the cleaner's ability to pick up dirt.
'Pet Turboeraser Tool' is a miniature version of the main brush rolls and can be used to clean pet hairs from upholstery, furniture, hard to reach places or where the main brush roll is too wide
More Features More value
Uses a cyclonic air system to maximize the suction power of the cleaner and reduce the amount of dust that can potentially escape back into the room.
Comes with tools, some of which are specially designed for cleaning pet hair. These include a dust brush, a crevice wand with an LED light to see the area you are cleaning more easily, and a special 'Pet Turboeraser Tool'.
The dirt bin is very easy to empty and is done by the press of a button. This opens the bottom of the bin, and rather than you having to pull the debris out, it will all come out without you needing to touch it
You can detach the canister from the upright and use the machine as a handheld vacuum cleaner, which allows you to use it in any room in your home
For high up places, you can use the telescopic extension wand, which is also useful for reaching under furniture for spots that can't be accessed easily.
Shark DuoClean Apex Review
Pros
Superior suction performance, pick up ability and filtration compared to the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser.
DuoClean brush roll is easy to remove and clean with included cleaning tool.
Has noise reduction technologywhich can be especially welcome if you have pets who fear the loud noise a vacuum cleaner usually makes.
The under appliance wand works on the same principle as a crevice tool, but it is much longer so it can reach under, and to the back of, appliances to clean spots which you might otherwise never be able to reach.
Controlling the cleaner is easy thanks to the control buttons and the on/off switch being located in the handle.
Cons
More expensive than the Bissell.
FEATURES
Uses Shark's in-house 'DuoClean' technology which uses two brushes on the main roller to reach dirt and dust which may be lying deep within the fibers of your carpets. We talked about the benefits of this technology in detail in our Shark IONFlex 2X Duoclean Review.
This cleaner is suitable for many floor types including thick or thin carpets, wooden floors, laminate flooring, and linoleum.
Shark’s active glide system ensures that the cleaner's movement is made as smooth as possible, while not compromising the suction power.
The brush roller unit has LED lights in the front to help you see the area you are cleaning more clearly. There are also LED lights in the handle.
A 'lift away' option lets you detach the canister but continue to have suction and power in the brush roller. This means you can slide the brush roller under low items like sofas and chairs to clean.
Shark DuoClean Apex vacuum cleaners come with an excellent array of tools and accessories. You have normal items such as the crevice tool and the dusting brush, but with this you also get a motorized pet hair tool, and a special tool called an 'under appliance wand'.
Conclusion: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Lift Off vs Shark DuoClean Apex
This choice here is between two upright vacuum cleaners which both have great cleaning power, can be adapted for hand-held use, and are both very effective at dealing with pet hair.
Of the two, the Shark offers more accessories, and the under appliance tool will be loved by those who can't get under low items as it will allow them to finally reach under. Both the Shark and Bissell have the option to remove the canister, while continuing to clean but the Shark also includes noise reduction and glide technology.
From Bissell, we have a cleaner that is geared up to fight dog hair, and its easy-to-empty bin will delight those who have had the drag it out with their bare hands. It also has a lower price which is always a plus.
However, with its array of tools, suction power, sealed HEPA filtration and usability we believe the Shark DuoClean Apex is worth the extra spend, and therefore it is our winner in the Bissell vs Shark upright vacuum cleaner category.
Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which will normally allow for at least 20 minutes of cleaning, although it can be up to 30 minutes depending on the type of surfaces you are vacuuming.
Incorporates Shark's trademarked 'Duoclean' system which uses a roller and brushes to maximize the penetration of the cleaner to pull up deep-lying dust and debris from carpets.
Has multiple settings under the banner of 'Smart Response’ which allow you to select the surface you are cleaning and adjust the power to maximum. It also has an extended runtime option which lowers the power output and extends the battery life.
The wand of the Shark IonFlex is flexible and can bend. This enables you to put it at an angle to give you the best possible access and reach when you are trying to clean tight areas, or under furniture.
Accessories that come with this cleaner are an upholstery tool, dusting brush, crevice tool, and a special dusting brush which is designed to minimize the amount of dust it stirs ups. This will be welcome for those who suffer dust allergies.
Can be used as an upright cleaner, a handheld cleaner, and with the wand extended it is also able to clean drapes and other high areas.
Weighs less than 9 lbs. without any accessories attached so it is light enough to be moved easily from room to room, and upstairs.
If you have the time, check out this 20 minute video from Shark showcasing all of the features of their IONFlex Duoclean Cordless.
Bissell Bolt ION XRT Cordless Vacuum Review
Features
Is extremely lightweight at just 5.8 lbs. making it one of the lightest and easiest stick vacuums on the market.
Uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which gives an average cleaning time of around 25 minutes.
Can be used on multiple surfaces, including carpets, wood floor, laminate flooring, tiles, linoleum, and rugs.
The Bissel Bolt ION is very adaptable and can be used as an upright cleaner, a handheld upholstery cleaner, or as a dust buster on counters, worktops and other surfaces.
Has a folding handle which gives it the flexibility to let you to clean under coffee tables and into more difficult to reach places, plus it means that it takes up less room when it is being stored.
It incorporates Bissel's bespoke 'EdgeReach' cleaning technology (see video below), which enhances the vacuum cleaner's ability to suck debris right up to edge of baseboards, and into corners.
Has a bigger than average dirt bin for a stick vacuum cleaner of 0.4 liters, which is very easy to empty once it is full.
The accessories and tools which come with the Bissel Bolt ION, include a dusting brush/crevice tool combo, and a special 'scoop and sweep' tool. This is great for cleaning up dry spillages such as pet food mixer.
Staying with the pet theme, there is also a rubberized pet hair tool which can pick up pet hair from furniture, carpets, and upholstery, and a pet hair nozzle tool which lifts pet hair which is really embedded.
Conclusion: Shark IONFlex vs Bissell Bolt ION
This is a very tough one to call as both these stick vacuum cleaners offer great features and cleaning options.
We love the flexible wand on the Shark Ion Flex, and its ability to let you reach places where you would not normally be able to clean. Its Duoclean system is powerful, and with the Smart response settings you have enhanced control whilst you are cleaning.
The Bissel Bolt ION is especially good for those who must deal with pet hairs day in and day out, and the accessories will be particularly useful for this. It is also a very light cleaner, so its appeal includes how easy it will be to maneuver.
Taking these two features into account, and with the added cleaning power of its 'EdgeReach' technology, we believe there is more than enough here to give the Bissel Bolt ION our top recommendation in the Bissell vs Shark cordless vacuum cleaner category.
Multi-cyclonic action promotes powerful suction whilst keeping the amount of dust escaping from the cleaner to a minimum.
Uses a turbine foot specially designed for vacuum cleaning hard floors such as tiles, laminate, or wood, and can also be used to clean carpets which have a low pile.
Dirt bin releases from the bottom of the cleaner so it is very easy to remove and empty when it is full, plus there is less danger of dust escaping from the bin as you do so.
Enhanced filtration system has multiple layers which greatly reduces the possibility of dust re-entering the room and causing problems for asthmatics or those with dust allergies.
Accessories supplied with the Bissell are fairly basic and only include a brush and a crevice tool. These are stored conveniently on the main wand so that they are within easy reach any time you need to use one of them
The extending wand can be utilized to clean drapes and to reach high up areas such as the tops of units or wardrobes
The power cord extends to 18 feet which should suffice for most homes (although it is much shorter than you would find on other top canister vacuums). It is also an auto rewind which should prevent it from kinking when the cleaner is not in use.
Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away Canister NR96
Features
Is suitable for, and effective at cleaning hard surfaces such as laminates and tiles, rugs, and carpets.
Uses Shark's innovative and exclusive 'Lift-Away' facility which allows you to remove the canister, whilst the cleaner is still vacuuming. This gives you improved maneuverability and enables you to clean difficult to reach areas of your home.
The cord is 23 feet long which beats the length of cord that the Bissell canister has. The cord also has auto rewind, so it is easy to store after use.
The list of accessories which come with this shark cleaner is impressive. You get a crevice tool, a duster brush, a straight nozzle, and a power brush, which does a great job of picking up pet hairs and dander from upholstery and carpets.
When you are cleaning in an area where the light is not great you will be able to see better thanks to the LED lights which shine from the main nozzle attachment.
This Shark vacuum cleaner is easy to move around corners and across rooms thanks to its advanced steering system which swivels and pivots with the minimum of effort from you.
It has an enhanced filtration system which keeps the maximum amount of dust inside the cleaner. This consists of a HEPA filter and two layers of foam filters which are accredited for trapping 99.99% of the dust particles within the cleaner
Conclusion: Bissell Hard Floor Expert Multi-Cyclonic vs. Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away Canister NR96
In our canister vacuum cleaner category, the Shark vs Bissell comparison saw two very similar products come head to head.
The Bissell excels when it comes to cleaning hard floors, and does a very good on carpets too, provided the pile is not too deep. Its multi-cyclonic action ensures you have all the cleaning power you need, and its enhanced filtration system means that dust is kept in the machine, where it belongs.
The Shark has a bit more to offer in terms of being user friendly with features like 'Lift-Away' enhanced steering, more accessories, and little extras such as an LED. The question is whether this is enough to justify paying a bit more for it than the Bissell, and our answer to that is 'Yes, it does!'
So, the winner of our canister vacuum comparison is the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away Canister NR96.
This last result means the overall score in our Bissel vs Shark vacuum cleaner reviews is a 2-1 victory for Shark.
Last update on 2024-09-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
