Shark Stratos Corded Stick Vacuum Review [HZ3002] - 16 Objective Tests

We test the Shark Stratos corded stick vacuum (model HZ3002) vs. our battery our objective and data-driven cleaning, usability, and performance tests. Is this vacuum right for you? Let's find out now.
Buy Shark Stratos (Amazon) - www.amazon.com/Shark-HZ3002-U...
Buy Shark Stratos (SharkClean.com) - moderncastle.com/go/shark-str...
Table of Contents
0:00 Overview
0:28 Sponsor
0:50 Performance Tests
0:56 Cleaning Tests
2:56 Long Hair Test
3:23 Pet Hair Test
4:15 Noise Test
4:53 Usability
6:24 Accessories
7:12 Size
7:26 Summary
The Shark Stratos HZ3002 is a corded stick vacuum that offers the highest suction power of any stick vacuum from Shark to date. It was designed with hair, especially pet hair in mind. The two main brush heads come with their HairPro and Self-Cleaning technologies that are designed to remove hair without prolonged tangling in the brush rollers. It also includes a HEPA filter and odor neutralizer to keep your cleaning experience free from allergens and unwanted smells.
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[@ModernCastle]

Buy Shark Stratos (Amazon) - www.amazon.com/Shark-HZ3002-Ultralight-Self-Cleaning-Neutralizer/dp/B0B2CTWVJ6?tag=mc_1002-20 Buy Shark Stratos (SharkClean.com) - moderncastle.com/go/shark-stratos-corded-stick Questions? Ask away! I do my best to answer all questions within 24 hours.

[@cgreen6369]

THANK YOU for testing kitty litter! So far, you are the only reviewer of any vacuum review I've seen that does this.

[@ModernCastle]

My pleasure! Glad to hear it was helpful.

[@kristywhiteside5256]

I have this EXACT model and I LOOOOOOVVVVVVVEEEEEEE IT!!! I think I saw a comment somewhere ...stating it's the "worst vacuum ever" and also suggesting not to buy SHARK if you are going to use it as your "main vacuum". I have to say that my opinion is COMPLETELY OPPOSITE. I've actually had a Shark Uplight (corded) for about 6 or 7 years and it STILL performs as amazing as it did the very first time I used it. Prior to the UpLight, I had been using the Dyson Animal, which I actually thought was pretty awesome. I look back now and just shake my head, though. I can't comprehend what made me rave about that thing when no matter how many passes I Mase, there was always dog hair left behind. Also, I'm not quite sure what it was about sitting on the floor for an hour after vacuuming with kitchen shears cutting out the dog hair (that had wrapped so much of itself around the brushead that upon first glance...I COULDN'T EVEN SEE THE BRISTLES ON THE BRUSH ROLL) that ever prompted me to rave about and recommend it to my friends/family. LOL...I blame society, "Brand-Boasting", and "mob mentality. That thing was harder than you know what to maintain, and TRULY was COMPLETELY AWFUL. Haha! I didn't realize JUST HOW GOOD LIFE COULD BE.....not until I ditched it and tried out the Shark Uplight! I have a video that one of my son's recorded of me using it for the first time on the black Oriental rug in our foyer...and my reaction to the results are absolutely hilarious! Haha, no drama here, just fact. I was MIND-BLOWN! Here I was, close to throwing it out because I didn't believe that it could ever "recover" from being abused by 2 teen boys (who are both avid sports players .... constantly bringing all of every kind of ballfield into the house on nearly a daily basis) as well as 2 dogs that highly enjoy shedding. I had even tried my mom's and a couple of friends vacuums on it and it just demanded to continue looking like it was homeless. The video of me using my Shark for the first time was planned, as I PURPOSEFULLY had chosen the absolutely most disgusting carpeted area in here because I wanted to REALLLLLLY put that bad Noy to the ultimate test! I was laughing so hard and screaming, "NO WAY! NOT POSSIBLE! OMY LOOK....THE CARPET IS LITERALLY BLACK!" Hahaha! It had been sitting there for about 5 years and I truly thought it was a really dark gray. It had been so long since I saw it in it's original state, that I adapted to the new color, I guess? Haha! The Dyson was good at making wheel lines on it, but NEVER ONCE actually LIFTED ANYTHING UP OUT OF IT! After I did one half of the rug that night, I took some side by side photos showing before and after. It's honestly night and day. Ito this day, if I look at those pics and focus on the "before" side (which I had JUST vacuumed the day before with my Dyson (the Shark hadn't been delivered yet) ... it kinda makes me gag!!! Hahahahaha! Soooo nasty! I remember being so mortified that THIS is the way people saw our home as they walked in! I thought I had been doing a somewhat decent job on it, always claiming thats as good as I'll ever get it to look because with 2 dogs, it doesn't stand a chance of EVER fully recovering. BOY WAS I WRONG! I swear, THAT SHARK COULD SUCK THE FACE OFF OF A BABY! It must've been pulling dirt out from the dang basement through that rug! I could not believe the amount of dirt and hair that came out of that thing! Not to mention, the UpLight was one of the first Sharks to have the duo clean anti-hair wrap self cleaning brush roll....and when I was done vacuuming that rug, I knew the FINAL test results were about to be revealed. I shut the vac off, lay it down, and was hesitant to have my dreams crushed ....but slowly peeked through my fingers to look at the brush roll (sorry, but there was not a smidge of confidence in me that made me believe that after pulling all of the nasty crap out of the rug like it did.....that there would ACTUALLY BE a CLEAN BRUSH ROLL as the company claimed. I was prepared for exactly what I had to deal with on the Dyson. Y'all, I about FELL OUT! I SWEAR ON MY FLAT IRON.....NOT ONE STRAND OF MY HAIR....OR THE HAIR OF EITHER OF OUR DOGS WAS TO BE FOUND!!! I SERIOUSLY thought I was being "punked"! LOL! That brush roll, I kid you not, looked JUST AS CLEAN AND UNUSED as it did when it was removed from the box and the plastic wrapping! I must've stayed up until 3am that night vacuuming the house! I was having so much fun! Hahaha! I have yet to have one issue with it. I change the filters and maintain it properly and it is PERFECTION. I'm not sure why the person who made the comment about how you should never buy a Shark, "especially if you're going to use it for your main vacuum" has this opinion. I can only speak from my personal experience and testify to the quality and performance. Yes, it HAS BEEN my MAIN vacuum since purchasing it (I didn't realize people keep a variety of models on-hand to choose from each day....like pairs of shoes, lolol). With that said, I think it's important to note that it's been working at 110% for more than a handful of years.....on a house that's 3,100 sq ft. I realize the comment I just make about not realizing that people actually have more than one vacuum seems hypocritical, seeing as I started off by saying that I have THIS Shark....the corded Stratos (this exact model). I don't judge, I had just never considered that there was a need for owning more than one. Lol. The reason I have this corded Stratos (with my UpLight still in tip-top shape) is because I won it in a raffle at a Trivia Night. I didn't know what I was going to do with a 2nd vacuum and literally...I almost came close to putting it together on Marketplace. HOWEVER, I finally started looking athe reviews, etc and was intrigued at the fact that it turned into a "handheld". That alone....with the specific attachments it came with got me to thinking how it actually would be PERFECT to use in my car. My UpLight was good for the car, but never could reach as many areas as this Stratos can. I've also used it in the house of course. Lol, I just keep one on each floor! My observation of the two of them (WITHOUT all of the fancy, technical testing behind it) is that they perform almost identically! Seriously, the really feel like they are the same model when I'm using them. Obviously, there are 2 major differences: the dust cup on the Stratos is smaller (oddly enough, I don't have to stop and empty it and more than I do with the UpLight...so it's not been any sort of deal breaker for me, honestly), and the UpLight doesn't convert into a handeheld like the Stratos. It feels like they took the UpLight and "tweaked it" a bit, and now call it the Stratos. AMAZING PRODUCT with an equally amazing affordable price for the guality you receive. Highly recommend.

[@sandblanket]

Great video! Might buy it, is it easy to get the brush roll out to clean? If you included that in the video I might’ve missed it.

[@ModernCastle]

Yes, it's easy. There is a lock on the side, you just open that up and the entire brush slides out.

[@speedracer9132]

I need a corded stick vac that can use the main motorized brush head, ideally that locks into place flat (laying down) to to the side part of stair carpet, please let us know if you ever find one like that. These small accessories that aren’t fully motorized vacuum heads leave a lot behind on carpeted stairs, this carpet still needs agitation like other carpet

[@ModernCastle]

Unfortunately, I don't think I've ever seen a model with that functionality. What if you just removed the wand and click the main head into the body and use it in handheld mode?

[@MaryB_TN]

You can do that with this Shark Stratos Ultralight Corded Stick Vacuum. I have one, and I just attach the regular motorized floor head directly to the handheld part. The powerhead is narrow enough to get my stairs with incredible, amazing suction power!

[@canoeshoe]

No one talks about how you cant clean the inner roller head cover?

[@MagicT-bq1qy]

Hello, your videos are very helpful thanks so much but I'm still having a problem deciding between two models. I can't seem to find the answer anywhere hope you can help. Can you tell me the difference between the Shark Model # HZ2003 and the Shark Model # HZ2002 they are both corded stick models but I haven't been able to find a comparison for these two anywhere. Help would be appreciated

[@ModernCastle]

I'm not finding much info online about the HZ2003. Though as with most other Shark vacuums, when you see a number variant like that it generally means it's the same vacuum with a different color and/or different attachments. Functionally, they are going to be extremely similar.

[@MagicT-bq1qy]

I ran into the same problem very frustrating to say the least. I just about made up my mind until I came across a lot of complaints on the shark stick corded vacuums that I was looking at along with some other models in the shark family about them overheating is this a problem with them or just from poor maintenance by the consumer? Thanks @@ModernCastle

[@ModernCastle]

@@MagicT-bq1qy In my years of testing that's not something I've ever personally experienced. When it comes to stick vacuums it's really important to keep your filters well maintained and empty the dust bin early and often. Cleaning when the bin is full / nearly full dramatically reduced suction performance, and is a likely a contributing factor to those overheating cases.

[@MagicT-bq1qy]

Hi, @@ModernCastle Thank you so much for your videos they are very helpful and for your advice it has helped me a lot. Have a good day!

[@ModernCastle]

@@MagicT-bq1qy My pleasure. glad I could help!

[@27mulata]

I have this vacuum and it never done that to me .

[@ModernCastle]

Done what to you?

[@Freeazabird]

Great. I have ALL hardwood so this won’t work. Thoughts on the pet pro corded?

[@ModernCastle]

Pet Pro is going to have a similar performance. If you have all hardwood then perhaps something like the Dyson V10 Absolute will be better, with the soft roller brush. See here - www.amazon.com/Dyson-Cyclone-Absolute-Lightweight-Cordless/dp/B0798FVV6V?tag=mc_1001-20&th=1

[@iAmInsaine22]

I bought this vacuum about a year ago and I genuinely hate it.

[@ModernCastle]

What do you dislike about it?

[@user-xv1kp6qf7h]

Why do you hate it??? This comment could be so helpful with more info

[@KT8702]

Why?

[@lillianeberhardt5373]

The worst vacuum ever! 25 year professional cleaning experience. I can’t say enough about how bad this was, the designers should get fired! Thanks

[@ModernCastle]

What is it that you dislike about the vacuum?

[@aspinthereddragon9302]

@@ModernCastle the machine is made in china, almost no part availability and its bagless so dumping out dirt can be harmful to your health

[@kaitybrandendenburger743]

@@aspinthereddragon9302these seem like personal preferences lmfao

[@aspinthereddragon9302]

@@kaitybrandendenburger743 No it not, its literal fact, you're a victim of marketing and you just go along with the masses

[@kaitybrandendenburger743]

@@aspinthereddragon9302 okay lmao it’s a vacuum