A New Toy: Shark Rocket Vacuum Review
Y’all have never read a review like this. When we received a Shark Rocket vacuum to review, I asked Matthew if he would be willing to write a review because… well, you’ll see. By the end of the post, you’re going to want a Rocket. I’m sure of it. 🙂
A few weeks ago, Jessica called me on her lunch break. “I have a question to ask you,” she said, “How would you feel if Shark sent us their new Rocket
There were reasons why Jessica was asking me about my emotional susceptibility to receiving a new vacuum cleaner. For starters, I do most of the vacuuming at our house. Not because Jessica is against vacuuming per se. But because I possess an unnatural affection for vacuuming. I love vacuuming. I’ve loved vacuuming since that time my father bought my mother a brand new Electrolux canister model for her birthday. As soon as I saw the bag of components, I fell in love. And too, as a full time writer who takes meds for ADHD, I found that vacuuming is good clean mindless activity.
Jessica was also calling me because she knows how much I love our current vacuum cleaner, the Dyson DC25
But before I could answer Jessica’s question, she began rattling off a lengthy list of reasons as to why I should be excited about receiving a Rocket™ for free, which included, “it cleans carpets better than a full-sized Dyson.”
“It cleans better than a Dyson?” My tone was carpeted with sarcasm. “There’s no way that little machine can out-suck my Dyson! Yes, tell them to send it!”
When our Rocket
Upon assembling my Rocket
And then, in time, I became downright obsessed with the Rocket
Here’s what impressed me most about the Rocket
Having vacuumed roughly half of our living room’s 8×10 rug, I turned the Rocket
Still holding the Rocket
I lost count how many times I filled up that canister. All I know is that I’d never had so much fun vacuuming in all of my life. At one point, after I’d finished cleaning all of the carpets, I remembered that I hadn’t vacuumed the stairs and that made me feel really happy. That evening, as Jessica was giving the kids a bath, I pulled out the Rocket™ and deep cleaned our stairs, the floors in our closets, and the places underneath our beds and Adeline’s crib.
And the Rocket™ is perfect for vacuuming these kinds of spaces. That’s because this upright is like a freakin’ Transformer, morphing from a lightweight upright into a powerful mini-sized vac that’s ideal for stairs, cars, vans, boats, and more. Rocket™ also comes with several attachments: one for corners, one for upholstery, one for hardwood and/or tile floors, and one for small hard-to-reach spaces. The attachment for corners is perhaps my favorite, only because the Rocket™ is so lightweight that I’m able to reach-and-clean spots that normally go unnoticed.
I know what you’re thinking, that I’m starting to sound like a dang infomercial. And you’re right. I am. (And I’m unashamed, mostly because I stinkin’ love infomercials!) But truly I’m sounding like that because I’m truly impressed with the power and versatility of the Rocket™. In fact, I’m so impressed that I’ve already told Jessica that I want their entire line of affordable floor-cleaning machines.
The only frustrating part about the Rocket™ is that amazing 30-foot cord I mentioned earlier. And trust me, the lengthy cord is AMAZING, that is, until you’re using it as a hand-held vac. The cord then becomes a bit cumbersome to carry around. But so far, that’s my only complaint.
If you’re looking for a versatile and affordable vacuum clean that deep cleans better than most uprights I’ve used, the Rocket™ is a fantastic option. I think you’ll be quite impressed by this machine’s suction, pick-up, and surface adaptability.
In fact, you might find yourself purposefully making messes just so you can get Rocket™ out and clean it up. Not that I’ve ever done that.
Okay… but only once.
I think I need one of these vacuums,ha. It sounds fantastic.
Oh my gosh. Matthew. This was the best vacuum review I have ever read.
I told him it was one of the best review posts I have ever read. Period. 🙂
You had me at “emotional susceptibility to receiving a new vacuum cleaner” . . . LOL!!! It sounds fabulous.
Well, doggonit. Now I have to Pin one of these to my “Gift Ideas for Me” board on Pinterest. 🙂
For real.
Haha! Love it. I grew up w/ the vacuuming responsibilities too and it’s probably my favorite household chore (I hate mowing).
We have a newer vacuum (don’t recall the brand), but it’s big, heavy and cumbersome. May have to give the Rocket a test drive soon.
Great review! I’m sold.
Big, heavy and cumbersome are words that would never be used to describe the Rocket. You’d love it!
Got to say the review his spot-on. My wife, who generally hates to vacuum, loves this machine. I, as the resident vacuum freak, also love it. An awesome vacuum. Love the Rocket.
It’s not as cute as Numatic’s Henry, though!
How is the dust canister removal/empty/re-attach experience? I used to use a 1000W Vax ‘tub’ design all the time, which was great with its re-usable cloth bag and cloth filter, but the dust was not well contained during the emptying process and the bag and filter did deteriorate a bit over time.
I have also used a 2000W Electrolux upright that was pretty good, but the wattage seemed excessive and it generated a lot of heat. Plus, the main body of it would get statically charged and dust would cling to it.
Yes, Henry is pretty cute, I’ll give you that. But doesn’t look as functional – and definitely more pricey.
As you can see in the photo, the dust canister opens from the bottom and easily empties. I don’t know what you mean by “well-contained” – it’s a canister vacuum so there is no bag. We typically will empty into into the trash and take the bag right out so that dust isn’t just sitting there.
We haven’t had the vacuum long enough to comment on the filter.
Hope this helps!
“got sucked right up to heaven!”- DYING!! Ha! Can see Matthew saying that! Does he hire out?
How well does this miracle machine transition to bare floors?
Sorry, Katie, but Matthew’s vacuuming skills stay at our house! 🙂
It doesn’t GREAT on bare floors. It has two settings – one for carpet and one for rugs/bare floors. We have both in our home and have used it on them all.
This is a truly impressive review, Matthew. Not only would I consider buying a Rocket, I am suddenly viewing vacuuming in a brand new light. I don’t currently own a vacuum as I don’t have any carpet in my home- I just sweep and Swiffer. But imagine what this handy gadget could do…
You should really consider going into infomercials.
This review requires that I RUN to Target over lunch and buy this machine! I, too, love my Dyson and cannot imagine anything cleaning better than it does. Based on Mathew’s review, I’m a believer:)
Thank you for the incredible review.
Awesome review… can I have your dyson?
haha your hubby’s great!
a great review!
I. Am. Laughing. And I want that vacuum.
This review is a revelation! And it has NOTHING to do with the Rocket. Matthew, who knew?? What a star.
I must admit: I’m intrigued. I feel like I might be married to Matthew’s long-lost twin brother out here in Maryland. . . my husband is the SAME exact way about vacuuming. But we LOVE, love, love our Kenmore canister.
Could the SHARK really swim circles around our Kenmore? Will we try the SHARK and soon send our Kenmore out to the wilds of Craig’s List? This is an emotional review. I’m verrrrry curious. Will have to check it out.
what is the model no of your shark rocket. were there any attachments. thanks
Great review. I currently have an older Dyson Animal and it has lost suction. I had carried it upstairs and man it is heavy. Coming down the stairs with it the thing disengaged the body from the handle and it went clunkety, clunk, clunk, and ended with a thud down the stairs. And I was carrying as it states to carry to carrying. Ever since then it has not been the same. I watched the info commercial too and am thinking about purchasing it, the only problem I am wondering about are the vacuuming of blinds. I always vacuum my blinds before dusting them. The commercial says it weighs 8 lbs. I can’t imagine holding up 8 lbs to vacuum all my blinds. The attachment on the commercial does not look like it would clean the blinds as well as the brush attached to a hose on a vacuum. Have you tried it on blinds? If so what are your thoughts? Thanks for any time you have to respond to this.
Well no way to edit what I just wrote. Suppose to read: And I was carrying it as it states to carry it.
I bought one of these from Walmart after having seen the infomercial a few nights before. My Walmart only had one left in stock so I grabbed it quick as lightning before the greedy people could get to it. I am a fan of Dyson. In fact, I have their Hot/Cold bladeless fan to prove it. A superb heating fan, but a subject for another time. The point is I have really wanted a Dyson vacuum cleaner based on my experience with their $300 (on sale) priced fan. But now the Shark had caught my eye and I broke off my engagement with Dyson and took the Shark Rocket home. It was passion, even lust, but was it love?
The hardest part about setup is mounting the wall bracket for optionally hanging the Rocket. Hung on the wall bracket the Rocket takes up no room at all. I snapped the Rocket together in certainly less than 5 minutes. Then test drive time baby! Oh yes that cord is long. I have fair sized apartment and found an outlet I could reach the entire apartment from. Then I put the key in the ignition, reased the power switch into position and I was screaming “Auntie Em! Auntie Em! It’s a twister!”
T
This puppy is so powerful it warps time and space around the inlet. It’s a compact Pratt and Whtney JT-9D Turbo Fan just like they use on 747’s. Most of my apartment is bare wood so I drove the Rocket race car style, complete with drifts, around the edifice. I hit the bedroom last, which is carpeted, and oh my dog! The Rocket about tore out of my hand the moment the Rocket touched the threads. The task complete, I emptied the dust can, then collapsed on my couch shaking about the most incredible vacuum experience of my life.
Note:
1. I don’t get any thrill from Vacuuming.
2. I do get a thrill from well built, over engineered, power tools.
I hope you try one, and tell others about the Shark Rocket too. I wish you would, you see, it’s lonely at the top.
I just saw the Shark Rocket infomercial for the first time, so I googled reviews for it (I always have to check out the reviews before I buy). I’m in the market for a good vacuum that will clean cat hair (I have 9 cats!), litter and more. I was going to get the rotater but they raised the price before I got the deal, and I guess I’m glad now. After that review I do believe I’ll get right on it before they raise this price as well.
But can anyone tell me….how good does it actually do with cat hair and litter?
Thanks…and I LOL at that review. He should be a writer for infomercials 🙂
Sorry, we don’t have pets, so I don’t know…
Scroll down. I went into detail in my own experiences with the machine.
^_^
I saw infomercial on CNBC today the Shark Rocket looks fantastic I did read review some place where it’s not recommended. I need a new vacuum I hope other people who have this vacuum let me know how they like it.
I just bought one and like it for the carpet, but it does not pick up debris in our entry way at all! Like little rocks from outside. Very disappointed in that!
Omg best review ever. Just ordered one and sendind my cordless dyson back. It was about twice as much and for that, i’ll live with a cord. Hate cleaning but love my vacs
Pet Hair??? how does it work on Pet hair, I have two cats and live in the desert. So sand and pet hair pick up are very important. Thanks
Sorry, we don’t have pets. You might look on Amazon for other reviews.
It works AMAZING on kitty fur. My cat is medium haired so her fur gets everywhere. This little beast picked up all the fur my old big upright had left behind.
Well, the company is now offering a “$100” steam cleaner and a LIFETIME warranty with aid shipping both ways. Sounds like they are just as confident about the Shark Rocket. I currently have a Dyson Ball, but I am willing to shelve it if this vacuum is as good as everyone says! THANKS for your humorous review… I laughed about a vacuum cleaner review? That says it all.
I just bought this little powerhouse today because my old little stic vac I had been using for my kitchen and bathroom (my big upright just spits the dirt and kitty litter back at me) had finally died a horrible horrible death. I felt that I should invest in something a bit better this time, but was still super wary of the price tag. I got it anyway, went home, and snapped it right together.
The first thing I did was attach the vac and dust head for the hardwood floors in my kitchen to get up all the kitty litter the old vac had decided to spew all over the floor. It was like watching, and feeling, a new floor come out! It picked up every last bit of litter and yuck and the dust pad picked up the more fine dust/dirt. In fact, I was so impressed with how it cleaned my kitchen floors I decided to attach the main vacuum head and have a go at my living room despite having just vacuumed it the day before.
We’ll let me say that my old big upright that I thought was doing such a fantastic job of cleaning my carpets…WASN’T. This little machine not only almost took off without me, but it picked up gobs and gobs of kitty fur and dirt my old machine had left behind. And not to mention even with the beater brush going full steam ahead, the transition from carpet to tile was amazing with no kickback or dirt flying at me. Just flick the switch to lower power and keep on going. And let’s not even mention this little, agile thing can fit into and swivel around spaces that I haven’t been able to vacuum properly in EVER.
So when I thought I was just replacing my little hardwood floor vac, I actually ended up replacing my big upright too.
GO BUY IT!
I myself am almost tempted to buy another one just in case mine now ever poops out, that’s how much I fell in love with it in under 30 mins.
About a year ago we bought a new vacuum cleaner that died recently. It had good reviews but couldn’t handle our carpet & pet hair – and honestly I was never thought it did a good job cleaning our carpets. As soon as our old vac bit the dust I remembered your review (I wanted to buy it right when I read this but my husband was against it since we had just gotten a new one). I decided to bite the bullet and go with the Rocket and after 10 minutes of using it I’m hooked!!! My carpets have never looked better, should have bought it right after this review. Thanks so much for saving my carpets!
Just purchased the shark rocket vacuum. Finally I have the best vacuum. The light and strong suction of his vacuum is fabulous. The ability to separate the smaller section for stairs and the cars is so easy and still has great suction. The attachments are numerous a device to clean the hardest or smallest area. No bags to replace yah! I could go on and on to how much I love this vacuum. Oh yes the convenient hanger on the wall to hang it up so handy. It also was very affordable. Thank you shark for creating a vacuum that is so efficient.
I ordered the Shark while watching the infomercial one day. I never order stuff like that but something about their ad moved me. I used it yesterday and was absolutely amazed. It’s the best vacuum cleaner I’ve ever used. I have two cats and it sucked up enough hair out of the carpet to make at least two more full size cats! I also used it on my blinds which was always very cumbersome with my old vacuum. It took five minutes to take care of all my kitchen blinds. I just stood in the kitchen with my mouth hanging on the floor…then I used the steam mop they sent as a gift to clean up my slobber. When you first take it out of the package you think there is no way this little thing is going to clean well but you will be pleasantly surprised. It actually made me WANT to vacuum which is surely a sign of the apocalypse. It’s lightweight and has so many attachments I firmly believe it IS a transformer in disguise. Guys, I even dusted my tables and lamp shades with this thing. It is simply amazing.
Just found this brand new at a local store for $75! Looked up reviews while I was in the store. Saw this review and bought it. Can’t wait to try it out! I love everything electronics!
Dear Matthew,
You and I are completely on the same page regarding the rockin’ Shark Rocket! As a wife to a man who tracks in more dirt than “Big Foot” and a mom to a lovely daughter, who seems to role play “Gretel” on a daily basis – leaving a trail of crumbs in her wake, wherever she goes…not to miss mentioning, we have FIVE furry family indoor members (4 cats & a dog)…well!; let’s just say vacuum cleaners are as vital to me as the air I breathe!! I have tried ’em all and years ago, after I bought my very first Shark vacuum, I was hooked! The Navigator, then the Rotator and finally (victorious trumpet sound, please) the Rocket!!
I talk about the Shark Rocket’s magnificent cleaning suction so much to my family and friends, they are absolutely convinced I secretly work for the company, that is, except for the ones who have purchased one for themselves and have…
SEEN THE CLEAN!! (Get it? Like, “seen the light”?)
I won’t go on about the many, many other Shark products I own, otherwise this comment I’m texting will turn into a longer saga than it already seems to have evolved into. I will end with this: Matthew, it was refreshing to read your enthusiastic, comical and very accurate review and realize I am not the sole number 1 fan of the Shark Rocket, like the character Kathy Bates played in Stephen King’s ‘Misery’ novel!
Last night I watched an infomercial and the price they are selling this vac for is $200. The stores I checked are selling the same vac with all the attachments for $159.
So, what does that say? If you buy it on TV it will cost $41.00 more.
And that folks is a rip off!!
I truly hope Jessica or any other poster can help me. We just finished the last 2 rooms in our house. No more carpet. For 20 years though we have had unbelievable dust. My only concern is the dust. I have watched the info commercial many times and I am bought on picking up objects.
Will it picked up the microscopic hated dust particles.
THANKS so much
We don’t see any dust on our floors!