Shark Classic Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Vacuum IZ201UK review

Shark Classic IZ201UK: two-minute review

The Shark Anti Hair Wrap Flexology Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is a great choice because of its strong suction and generous bin capacity. Operating as a cordless model, this Shark Classic offers around 40 minutes of cleaning power which is very impressive, although beaten by some of today's best cordless vacuum cleaners.

Shark is a brand that comes up time and time again in round-ups of the best vacuum cleaners, and for good reason. This Classic Anti Hair Wrap  model, in particular, is great for pet owners or just anyone with long hair because the brush roll won’t get all clogged up with hair. Other handy features include headlights so that you can spot smaller specs of dirt and dust, while a trigger allows you to boost the power setting for a more thorough clean. 

The Classic Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Vacuum Cleaner boasts some of Shark's most popular features – such as headlights, adjustable power, anti-hair tangling, and a flexible wand. However, at time of update, there have been various innovations from the brand that don't feature here – for example, automatic suction adjustment based on how dirty the floor is, or an odor-neutralizing puck to keep everything smelling fresh (see our Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum cleaner review). Some of the most recent models also come with an auto-empty base, to minimize escaped dust (see our Shark Detect Pro Cordless review). 

Shark Classic IZ201UK review: price & availability

At list price, the Shark Classic IZ201UK costs £349.99, which puts it in TechRadar's mid-range price bracket. However, events like the Black Friday sales and Amazon Prime Day sales can often deliver discounts on home appliances like this.

At time of update, there was no equivalent in the US or Australia, but there has been in the past, and Sharks range seems to fluctuate regularly, so it's worth double checking if you particularly want this model.

Shark Classic IZ201UK review: design

So, what do you get with the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with Flexology?

Well, your first question is probably what we mean by Flexology – which is Shark’s proprietary flexible vacuum stick design. It uses a bendable tube that you can release from the vertical position and bend inwards, a little like a knee bending the wrong way. This enables you to easily manipulate the vacuum into reaching sections of floor without having to lower yourself and the handle to do so. 

It’s especially useful for cleaning underneath tables, counters, or furniture – aided by a pair of headlights that come on (and stay on) whenever the vacuum is in use. It’s a shame you can’t optionally turn this off – given the battery would probably drain a little slower – but the added visibility of the lights still makes cleaning a lot easier.

As a cordless vacuum, you’ll be charging this model in between cleaning sessions, with a simple power cable that plug into the top of the vacuum. How do you get the cable up so high? The Flexology feature enables you to bend the top of the vacuum 180 degrees to face the ground, meaning you can lean it against the wall easily with the power port in easy reach of a wall socket.

Shark’s vacuum has a modular design, meaning you can easily detach the end nozzle from the vacuum and replace it with other accessories – or do without the stick altogether for more up-close cleaning. Alternative accessories include one for narrow spaces and corners, one for dusting, and one for cleaning furniture and upholstery – with the option to purchase more online.

There’s even a dedicated accessory for cleaning pet hair from the carpet, though we didn’t get the chance to use this in our testing.

The main feature to mention, though, is the primary floorhead. This is what you’ll largely be using to clean your floors, with separate mode settings for hardwood floors and carpets – the latter of which needs a bit more power to draw up dust and hairs.

The floor nozzle uses a mix of innovative design concepts, including a rotating soft brush roll and composite flap that continually rotate in order to maintain a complete anti-allergen seal on the floor and ensure air is only sucked in one direction. 

The flap is also coated in a textile layer that makes it easy to draw off dust balls or hairs caught in the apparatus – hence the mention of Anti Hair Wrap in the model’s name.

Shark Classic IZ201UK review: performance

Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner is a real delight to use – with the flexibility to easily maneuver around either open floor or furniture-filled living rooms. It’s a real joy bending the vacuum – rather than your spine – before easily flicking it back into the upright position.

Even on the lighter hardwood floor setting, we found dust and debris was easily sucked up, with none of the issues we’ve had previously with underpowered vacuums simply pushing balls of dust around. The trigger that you use to put the vacuum into boost mode is also highly intuitive – and, let’s face it, quite exciting to use. Fire away!

The modular parts fit together in a solid fashion, and do require a good tug at times to detach. The accessories for narrow spaces and furniture cleaning worked wonderfully well, if they didn’t include the fancier suction technology of the primary floor nozzle – while the one-click bin lid makes it shockingly easy to dump its contents into the trash.

We’re told this DuoClean model has a 40% longer run time than its predecessor, up to 40 minutes of usage – as well as 50% larger bin capacity, meaning you can clean for longer and store all the additional dirt you pick up in that extended period of time. We found, however, that the battery generally lasted a bit longer than this.

Should you buy the Shark Classic IZ201UK?

The Shark Anti Hair Wrap Flexology IZ201UK Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is a mouthful to mention, but its effective suction and anti-allergen sealing, as well as its sizable bin capacity and decent cordless run time, make it easy to recommend anyone wanting to vacuum up their home.

The headlights and Flexology features make it far easier to clean, too, with the visibility and on-the-fly flexibility to ensure you don’t need to get on your knees to clean in hard-to-reach places.

• First reviewed: June 2021