Shark Rocket HV302 Review
Are you looking for a lightweight but efficient vacuum? It’s an excellent call to consider one of Shark’s models since the company holds quite a few that fall in that category.
The HV302 is among the most popular models from the Rocket series. You’ve probably heard of Shark’s Rocket collection, so it’s a good thing that you’re here.
This one is modern-looking and attractive but also efficient and powerful enough to tackle different tasks.
However, take a moment to read the review below and decide for yourself. The information included can help you figure out if this is the right vac for you.
The Rotator Lift-Away NV502 features some improved technologies and easier maneuverability than its predecessors. Continue reading as we share the vital information on its performance, standout features, as well as things you might not like about it.
This Vacuum isn’t For Those Who:
- Have a large home – while its cord is long enough, its dust cup might not be sufficient for cleaning large areas. Luckily, it’s easy to empty it although you’ll maybe have to do it once or twice while cleaning.
- Suffer from allergies – strangely, the HV302 has a somewhat weak filtration system. It’s not HEPA certified, but it’s easy to maintain.
- Want a more reliable warranty – the HV302 comes with a five-year warranty, but the deal is quite limited.
Features
First and foremost, the HV302 has fingertip controls for more comfortable and simpler use. All its controls are near the handle, so you can easily use them without stopping or bending to reach them.
The unit has swivel steering which allows you to maneuver it around furniture and other such obstacles. It helps get its wide cleaner head get into different areas that might be tricky to reach.
It also features two speed settings allowing you to adapt the unit to different floor surfaces and types of dirt.
Design
The HV302 is a stick vacuum, so its design is quite simple and modern-looking. It’s designed to be easy to work with regardless of the area you’re cleaning.
Being that it’s a stick, the unit is quite slim which makes operation much simpler. Its motor and all the settings are located at the top, near the handle. It’s where the dust cup is as well.
It can also be converted into a handheld, which is a great design solution for reaching above-floor surfaces. This also helps with keeping your car interior clean.
Size & Dimensions
As we said, this one is quite slim and lightweight. It measures some 10.5×9.8×46 inches in total while weighing approximately 8 pounds.
Since it’s as lightweight, you can easily carry it anywhere you want. It’s easy to use on stairs and pretty much all above-floor surfaces such as drapes and upholstery.
Such slim design makes it easy to store away as well. It won’t take up much space, which is great if you often struggle with storage space in your house.
Suction
Thanks to its motor, the HV302 has great suction that’s unlikely ever to die. If you notice a slight loss of suction, that’s usually due to some clogging.
The vac features two speed options allowing you to adapt its suction according to your needs. The first speed is what you’ll use for quick cleanups and dusting, while the second one is more suitable for getting into thick carpets and rugs.
Accessories & Parts
The HV302 Rocket is packed with different accessories and attachments, which is one of the reasons people opt for it. Being that it comes with as much stuff makes the unit more versatile and suitable for different tasks and floors.
While it comes with a wall-mount and an accessory bag, here’s what else you’ll receive:
- Motorized floor brush
- Dusting brush
- Extension wand
- 12’’ crevice tool
- Pet upholstery tool
- Dust away kit
- Car detail kit
Warranty
As we briefly mentioned, the unit comes with a five-year limited warranty. However, the deal only really covers a defective vacuum. In other words, it doesn’t cover normal wear and tear of wearable parts, a product that’s been tampered with, damage caused by misuse and incidental and consequential damage.
Flooring
If you have combined floors in your home, you need a vac that can perform equally as well on all of them. Luckily, the HV302 comes with plenty of accessories and two speed settings for you to use on different surfaces.
For this reason, this Rocket vacuum is considered versatile enough for both carpets and bare floors.
Carpet
Its spinning brush roll and two speed settings make the vac excellent for carpets and area rugs. It does a great job on both thick and thin carpets regardless of the dirt you’re cleaning.
With regular maintenance, these carpets become even easier to clean without using the high-speed setting. In most cases, you’ll have to clean the brushes now and then if you have a thick, high-pile carpet.
Hardwood
The first thing you should note is that its brush roll is always spinning. The vac doesn’t have an option for you to turn it off, which makes it a bit tricky to use on hardwood. While it has enough suction to pick up even the smallest pieces, its spinning brush might throw some larger pieces around. Try using the lower speed to avoid this.
Maneuverability
Given that Shark HV302 weighs less than 10 pounds, its lightweight design allows for easy maneuverability.
The HV302 is lightweight and easy to maneuver with. It features swivel steering, which is what makes it so easy to work around furniture and other obstacles.
Because it weighs less than 10 pounds, you can easily carry it up and down the stairs. On top of that, the vac lays nearly flat so that you can clean under furniture with ease.
Several of its accessories help you reach different areas that would otherwise be tricky to get to.
Maintenance
Maintaining HV302 is quite simple, and it doesn’t take much time. One of the things you’ll have to do is empty the dust bin regularly. It’s a rather small bin, so you’ll probably have to empty it after each use.
Another thing you want to pay attention to is its filter. The unit comes with a washable filter that requires an occasional rinse now and then. How often you’ll clean it depends on you and how frequently you use the vac.
Noise
Much like most stick vacuum cleaners, this Rocket model is pretty quiet. It’s powerful but makes excessive noise only when you use the highest speed setting. Sometimes, it might also be louder than usual when you use small accessories such as the crevice tool.
Either way, it makes the standard noise you’d expect from a vacuum.
Cordless or Cord?
The unit is corded and comes with a 30-inch power cable. While it doesn’t retract within the unit, the cord is easy to wrap around the handle for easier storage.
Since it’s such a lengthy cable, you reach different areas with ease and without constantly changing sockets.
Bag or Bagless?
Much like all stick vacuums, the HV302 is bagless and comes with a dust bin located near the handle. The capacity of the dust cup is some 0.118 gallons.
It’s easy to remove and empty the container in just a few steps. Keep in mind though that the process might not be the best for allergy-prone people. Still, it’s more eco-friendly than using dust bags.
Filter
As we mentioned, this one didn’t quite impress with its filtration system. While it does a relatively good job, it only has one filter. In most cases, that’s not enough if you have pets or you’re allergy-prone.
However, it’s washable, which means you won’t have to spend any extra money on replaceable filters.
Pets
Having pets means dealing with different kinds of mess every day. The HV302 stick vacuum is a reliable choice to tackle most of the cleaning challenges that come with having a pet indoors.
Kitty Litter
Picking up kitty litter tends to be a bit tricky for vacs that have spinning brushes. Make sure to use the lower speed setting so that the litter doesn’t end up everywhere on your floor.
You’ll notice that it’s easier to pick the pieces up from area rugs than bare floors. Still, it’s not impossible to clean them from tile and hard floors either, but it might just take a few more passes.
Pet Hair
Cleaning pet hair from different floors is something the HV302 stick vacuum probably won’t struggle with. The vac does a good job of picking them up from bare floors, carpets as well as upholstery.
On top of that, it has several attachments you can use interchangeably depending on the area you’re cleaning. Its two speed settings might also help with picking up the persistent hairs.
Is The Shark Rocket HV302 For You?
It might be the right choice if you’re looking for a lightweight and versatile vacuum cleaner brand. This one weighs less than 10 pounds and comes with a wide range of accessories, such as upholstery tool and the dusting brush.
It’s among the best Shark models for floor-to-ceiling cleaning in houses/apartments with pets. Though its filtration system isn’t the best, the unit is quite easy to use and store away. Another option you can go for as well is the Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away.
