Shark Vertex Pro vs Rocket Pet Plus: Pet Hair Cleanup (2026)

The Shark Vertex Pro wins this matchup with its cordless freedom and self-cleaning brushroll, but is it worth the extra cost over the Rocket Pet Plus?

All products bought at retail No press samples 2 products tested Updated April 2026

The Shark Vertex Pro wins this 2026 matchup because its cordless freedom and self-cleaning brushroll cut cleaning time in half compared to the corded Rocket Pet Plus. If you hate untangling hair from the roller, pay the extra $180. The Rocket Pet Plus only wins if you want continuous corded power on a strict $200 budget.

I tested both Shark stick vacuums side-by-side to see how they handle shedding pets and mixed floor types. They share the same engineering DNA, but they solve very different household problems. Here is what I found when pushing these machines through heavy daily messes.

FeatureShark Cordless Vertex Pro Lightweight Stick Vacuum IZ662HShark Rocket Pet Plus Corded Stick Vacuum HV322
Price$379.50$199.99
Rating9.4/108.8/10
Best ForYou own long-haired pets and your home features a mix of har…You want strong, consistent suction for a fully carpeted apa…
Key FeatureSelf-cleaning brushroll actively prevents hair wrap during heavy pet cleanupContinuous corded suction never degrades mid-clean
Product A

Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Lightweight Stick Vacuum IZ662H

Powerful cordless cleaning with no hair wrap.
9.4/10
EXPERT SCORE
You get the cleaning performance of a full-size vacuum with up to 60 minutes of runtime from the removable battery. The DuoClean PowerFins and self-cleaning brushroll work together to pick up more in every pass, preventing hair wrap.

Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Lightweight Stick Vacuum IZ662H

In my testing, the Vertex Pro felt like a distinct step up from standard stick models. The DuoClean PowerFins—a dual-brushroll system that combines a soft front roller for hard floors with a finned main roller for carpets—grabbed everything from fine dust to spilled cereal in a single pass. The IQ Display sits right on the handle, showing exact runtime percentages so you never guess when the battery will die. I ran it primarily in ECO mode to hit the advertised 60-minute runtime at the hand vac level, though engaging Boost mode for thick rugs drained it noticeably faster.

Self-cleaning brushroll actively prevents hair wrap during heavy pet cleanup
IQ display shows precise remaining battery life in real-time
DuoClean soft roller stops large debris from scattering on hard floors
Costs nearly $180 more than the Rocket model
Battery drops significantly faster when using the motorized floor nozzle on Boost mode
Handheld unit feels heavier due to the density of the lithium-ion battery pack

Shark Rocket Pet Plus Corded Stick Vacuum HV322

I found the Rocket Pet Plus delivers a relentless, old-school cleaning experience. Because you plug it into the wall, you never watch a battery meter. During my testing, the 0.68-quart dust cup held enough dirt to clear three large carpeted rooms before requiring a trip to the trash can. The nozzle features bright LED headlights that revealed a shocking amount of white dog fur hiding against my light-colored baseboards. However, navigating the physical cord around dining chairs slows you down compared to a battery-powered unit.

Continuous corded suction never degrades mid-clean
LED headlights on both the handheld and nozzle reveal hidden dust
Specialized pet tools pull embedded hair out of upholstery effectively
Standard brushroll tangles tightly with long human and pet hair
Lacks a soft front roller, causing it to push larger debris like kibble across hard floors
Physical cord requires constant management around furniture legs

Hair Management — Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Lightweight Stick Vacuum IZ662H wins

The Vertex Pro uses a self-cleaning brushroll that actively removes hair as you clean. In my testing with long golden retriever fur, the Vertex stayed clear, while the Rocket Pet Plus required me to sit down with scissors to cut away tangles.

Floor Versatility — Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Lightweight Stick Vacuum IZ662H wins

Shark’s DuoClean PowerFins give the Vertex Pro a massive advantage on hard floors. The soft front roller pulls in large crumbs that the Rocket’s standard plastic guard simply pushes across the room.

Uninterrupted Power — Shark Rocket Pet Plus Corded Stick Vacuum HV322 wins

The Rocket Pet Plus plugs into the wall, delivering consistent suction from the first room to the last. The Vertex Pro gives you up to 60 minutes in ECO mode, but you will drain that battery in 15 minutes if you constantly run Boost mode on thick carpets.

Maneuverability — Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Lightweight Stick Vacuum IZ662H wins

Cutting the cord changes how quickly you clean. I shaved several minutes off my daily sweep with the Vertex Pro simply because I never had to stop, unplug, and find a new outlet in the next room.

Upfront Value — Shark Rocket Pet Plus Corded Stick Vacuum HV322 wins

At $199.99, the Rocket Pet Plus costs just over half the price of the Vertex Pro. You sacrifice modern conveniences like an LCD screen and a battery, but you secure comparable suction for significantly less cash.

Buy Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Lightweight Stick Vacuum IZ662H if…

You own long-haired pets and your home features a mix of hardwood floors and area rugs. If you dread the maintenance of cutting hair off a vacuum roller and want the speed of navigating your living room without dragging a cord, the $379.50 investment makes sense.

Buy Shark Rocket Pet Plus Corded Stick Vacuum HV322 if…

You want strong, consistent suction for a fully carpeted apartment and have a strict $200 budget. If you mainly deal with short pet fur rather than long human hair, and you refuse to worry about replacing degraded lithium-ion batteries in three years, this corded model fits your needs.

Our Verdict: Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Lightweight Stick Vacuum IZ662H

The Shark Vertex Pro wins this matchup. In our 2026 testing, the cordless convenience combined with the DuoClean floorhead made daily cleaning substantially faster than maneuvering the corded Rocket Pet Plus. The tipping point is the self-cleaning brushroll. Paying an extra $180 hurts upfront, but never having to hack tightly wound hair off your vacuum roller saves massive frustration over the machine’s lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shark measures that 60-minute specification using just the hand vacuum in ECO mode. In my testing with the motorized floor head attached for normal vacuuming, the runtime sits closer to 30 or 40 minutes.
No, the wheels and brushroll will not scratch sealed hard floors. However, it lacks the soft front roller found on the Vertex Pro, so it tends to scatter larger debris rather than gripping it.
Both detach into handheld units, but I found the Rocket Pet Plus slightly less fatiguing on stairs. The Vertex Pro carries a heavy lithium-ion battery in the handle, which adds noticeable wrist strain after a few minutes of vertical cleaning.

Both Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Lightweight Stick Vacuum IZ662H and Shark Rocket Pet Plus Corded Stick Vacuum HV322 are strong choices — pick the one that fits your specific needs and budget.