The Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded is a stick/handheld corded vacuum with a unique twin brushroll head. It does an outstanding job of clearing debris on bare floors and still delivers good performance on both low and high-pile surfaces. Its bagless design keeps recurring costs low, and it feels fairly well built, with sturdy, lightweight construction. Unfortunately, it has many parts that require routine maintenance, and it doesn't come with a HEPA filter to trap allergens as you clean. Still, if you're looking for a versatile, lightweight vacuum, this is a good option.
Our Verdict
The Shark Vertex UltraLight is very good for bare floors. It easily clears pet hair as well as small and bulky debris like rice or cereal, with very little drop in performance as its dirt compartment fills up. Its bagless design keeps recurring costs low, and its slim construction should allow you to clean under low lying objects like couches or tables without much of an issue.
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Outstanding performance on bare floors.
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Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
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Few recurring costs.
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Superb pet hair cleaning performance.
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Many parts require regular maintenance.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight is decent for low-pile carpet. It sucks up pet hair without an issue and clears the majority of larger, sand-like debris. Unfortunately, it struggles somewhat with finer material, such as baking soda. It has many parts that require routine maintenance. Thankfully, its recurring costs are low, and it's quite maneuverable due to its lightweight design. Its long power cord should allow you to clean large rooms without swapping outlets.
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Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
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Few recurring costs.
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Superb pet hair cleaning performance.
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Many parts require regular maintenance.
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Struggles with fine debris on low-pile carpet.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight is a decent option for high-pile carpet. This vacuum does a superb job of cleaning pet hair and sucks up most fine debris, like baking soda, on this kind of surface, though it may take an extra pass to fully clear coarser debris, such as sand. It feels fairly sturdy overall and incurs few recurring costs while its lightweight construction makes it easy to maneuver, even in tight, closed-off areas.
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Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
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Few recurring costs.
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Superb pet hair cleaning performance.
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Many parts require regular maintenance.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight is satisfactory for pet owners. It does a superb job of sucking up pet hair on everything from bare floors to high-pile carpet, and its self-cleaning silicone-finned brushroll reduces the need for you to clear hair wraps by hand. Unfortunately, it doesn't have an allergen-trapping HEPA filter or a dedicated pet-grooming tool, though it does come with a turbo brush to deal with shed fur on upholstery.
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Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
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Few recurring costs.
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Superb pet hair cleaning performance.
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Many parts require regular maintenance.
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No HEPA filter.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight is great for cleaning stairs. It's lightweight and not especially difficult to carry, courtesy of its integrated carrying handle. It can be easily reconfigured into a handheld vacuum, which makes it very easy to use in tight spaces. Its long power cord should let you clean large staircases, and it performs very well overall across a broad mix of surface types.
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Long power cord.
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Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
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Few recurring costs.
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Easy to reconfigure.
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Many parts require regular maintenance.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight is very well-suited for cleaning the inside of your car. It can be used as a compact, lightweight handheld vacuum, and its long power cord should let you clean all around your car if you stay relatively close to an outlet. Its included turbo brush and crevice cleaner should let you clean up messes on cloth upholstery as well as small, cramped areas.
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Long power cord.
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Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
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Few recurring costs.
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Easy to reconfigure.
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Many parts require regular maintenance.
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Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
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Few recurring costs.
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Many parts require regular maintenance.
- Bare Floor
- Low-Pile Carpet
- High-Pile Carpet
- Pets
- Stairs
- Cars
- Workshop
- Updated Dec 14, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update builds on our previous 'Suction' test with a new 'Airflow' test that more accurately measures a vacuum's ability to generate air movement. If you'd like to see an in-depth look at the reasoning and methodology behind this change, you can see our full changelog here..
- Updated Feb 27, 2023: We've added the HZ2000/HZ2000C model to the 'Differences Between Variants' section of the review.
- Updated Feb 10, 2023: Added a link to the Shark Stratos UltraLight in the 'Portability' section to provide an alternative that weighs less.
- Updated Aug 18, 2022: This vacuum's suction force has been retested with a more accurate manometer. The test results for the 'Maximum Suction' and 'Normal Suction' fields have been updated. All relevant scores and text have been updated.
- Updated Aug 03, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Mar 24, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Dec 04, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Nov 27, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Nov 17, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Nov 04, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Oct 30, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
There are two variants of the Shark Vertex UltraLight, though they differ only in color and included accessories. We tested the HZ2002 model, and you can see its label here.
| Model Code | Included Accessories | Color | Notes |
| HZ2000/HZ2000C | Crevice tool, Combination tool, Wand clip | Silver/Magenta | HZ2000C is a Canadian-market exclusive designation |
| HZ2002 | Crevice tool, Combination tool, Self-cleaning pet power brush, Wand clip | Silver/Blue |
If you come across a differently-equipped variant, let us know in the discussions so that we can update our review.
Compared To Other Vacuums
The Shark Vertex UltraLight is a corded stick/handheld vacuum. It has a lightweight, easily reconfigurable design that incurs few recurring costs. It also delivers versatile cleaning performance across a mix of surface types. Unfortunately, many parts require routine maintenance.
If you're looking for alternatives, take a look at our list of recommendations of the best lightweight vacuums, the best vacuums for stairs, and the best vacuums for hardwood floors.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded and Shark Rocket Corded have different advantages, so depending on your needs, one might suit you better than the other. The Vertex feels better built and has a longer overall range. However, the Rocket is a little bit easier to maintain.
The Dyson V8 and Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded have different advantages. The cordless Dyson is lighter, has an effectively unlimited range, and has lower recurring costs. It also delivers slightly better performance on all surface types. However, the Shark feels better built and has a slightly more spacious dirt compartment. Its corded design yields a practically indefinite runtime with no need to wait for a battery to recharge.
The Shark Rocket Pet Pro is slightly more versatile than the Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded. The Rocket employs a cordless design that allows you to clean almost anywhere and performs better on all surface types, especially on low-pile carpet. It also has a slightly slimmer design that makes it easier to clean under couches and tables, and it comes with a HEPA filter to trap allergens as you clean. Meanwhile, the corded Vertex features an onboard storage rack and comes with a turbo brush.
The Shark APEX Upright and the Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded are differently-designed vacuums intended for different use cases. The APEX is an upright/handheld vacuum with a much larger dirt compartment. It's also equipped with a HEPA filter to trap allergens as you clean and delivers better performance on low-pile carpet and bare floors. The Vertex is a corded stick/handheld vacuum that's considerably smaller and lighter, consequently making it easier to maneuver and store. It also has fewer parts that require regular maintenance, and it performs better on high-pile carpet.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded and Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless have different advantages, and either may suit you better depending on your needs. The UltraLight Corded has an effectively unlimited runtime courtesy of its corded design, comes with a turbo brush, and performs better on both low and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Lightweight Cordless has an effectively unlimited range, an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, superior maneuverability, and better performance on bare floors.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded and Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight are differently-designed vacuums with different uses. The UltraLight is a corded stick vacuum, so you don't need to worry about running out of charge partway through a cleaning session. It also comes with a miniature turbo brush and delivers better performance on low-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Vertex Pro has a cordless design that makes it easier to clean areas far from any electrical outlets. The Vertex Pro also clears more debris on bare floors and high-pile carpet, has a larger dustbin, and comes with a flexible wand that makes it easier to clean under tables and chairs without needing to crouch over very deeply.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded and the Dyson V15 Detect are differently designed vacuums with differing uses. The Shark is a corded stick vacuum that's better suited to longer cleaning jobs due to its virtually unlimited runtime. It also feels better built and has fewer parts that need regular cleaning. Meanwhile, the Dyson vacuum's cordless design makes it much easier to clean areas far from any electrical outlets, and it delivers better overall performance across most surface types. It also has a surface detection system that lets it automatically change its suction power depending on the floor type it's on. There's also an onboard HEPA filter and a greater variety of attachments, most notably its secondary floorhead designed for bare floors, which has a laser light to help you see fine debris.
The Shark Stratos UltraLight is better than the Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded. The Stratos has a HEPA filter, weighs a little less, and has an odor-neutralizing system. Its redesigned floorhead also results in better overall debris pickup performance. Meanwhile, the Vertex does come with a pair of brush attachments.
The Shark APEX UpLight is better overall than the Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded. The APEX has a bigger dirt compartment, lower recurring costs, and superior cleaning performance on everything from bare floors to high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Vertex is smaller and lighter, with a fully handheld alternate configuration that can be held in a single hand.
Test Results
The Shark Vertex UltraLight is decently well-built. It's mostly made of plastic, but its extendable wand is made of metal and various parts, such as the drive wheels, handle grip, and vacuum head lip, are made of rubber. It feels reasonably sturdy overall, though its clear plastic dirt compartment feels quite flimsy, as though it could break if it's dropped. Its twin brushroll design, with one soft roller and one main brushroll with silicone fins, is advertised to clear hair wraps by itself. A small digital display on the top end of the vacuum shows what floor mode it's currently in, which is a nice touch. There's also a brushroll indicator light that goes from solid green during normal use to either solid red if there's an error or blinking red if it overheats. Assembly is fairly easy, as the component pieces clip together intuitively.
It's reasonably easy to maintain. Its parts are easy to access for the most part, but many require routine servicing.
- Dirt compartment: You can remove this part by pressing the two release buttons on the main body. You can empty the dust cup by pressing the button with a trash bin symbol on it once the max fill line has been reached. You can also open it up to clear stuck on-debris from its lint screen when necessary.
- Brushroll: The brushroll is non-removable, but is advertised to be self-cleaning. Still, if you need to clear any tangled debris, you can access the brushroll via a hatch cover secured by 11 screws.
- Soft roller: The soft roller can be easily removed by sliding the blue roller release switch on the side of the vacuum. It should be washed with cold water when needed.
- Pre-motor filters: The foam and felt pre-motor filters are located inside a housing in the dirt compartment. This housing can be pulled out via the two "Filter Access" tabs. These filters should be washed with cold water twice a month.
- Post-motor filter: To access the post-motor filter, just remove its cover on the body. It should be cleaned under cold water once every nine months.
Any part that you wash with water must be left to dry for at least 24 hours before it can be reinstalled.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight has few recurring costs.
- Pre-motor filters: The foam and felt pre-motor filters are sold as a single set on the manufacturer's website. They should be replaced every two and a half years.
- Post-motor filter: The post-motor filter has an expected service life of three years. Replacements can be purchased on Shark's website.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight has good storage capabilities. Its power cord wraps around the back of the wand, reducing its overall footprint. There's also on-board storage for its crevice tool and Pet Multi-Tool attachment. That said, you have to find another place to put its Self-Cleaning Pet Power Brush attachment, as there's no on-board storage for this tool.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight's dirt compartment is okay. It's roughly the same size as that of the Shark Rocket Ultra-Light and has a visible max fill line indicator to clearly show its maximum capacity.
- Shark Vertex UltraLight vacuum body
- Wand
- Vacuum head/Floor nozzle
- Dirt compartment
- Soft roller
- Dusting brush
- Crevice tool
- Self-Cleaning Pet Power Brush tool
- On-board storage clip
- Pre-motor foam filter
- Pre-motor felt filter
- Pre-motor filter housing
- Post-motor filter (in the vacuum body)
- User guide
The Shark Vertex UltraLight has a good range. Its power cord is quite long, allowing you to clean large spaces without needing to swap outlets. That said, if you want a similarly-performing stick/handheld vacuum with a cordless design to clean far-off places more easily, consider the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight is quite portable. It doesn't weigh too much and feels very light in your hands. Its integrated carrying handle makes it easier to carry up and down staircases. That said, it's slightly heavier than the newer Shark Stratos UltraLight.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight is a corded vacuum that doesn't have a battery.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight has a couple of quality of life features. There are two floor settings: "Bare Floor", in which the brushroll spins slowly for dealing with debris on surfaces like hardwood as well as small area rugs, and "Carpet", which speeds up the brushroll's rotation to clean messes on carpet or clear stuck-on debris. The current floor setting is shown on a small digital display. There's also a headlight mounted inside the vacuum head to illuminate dark areas.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight comes with a couple of tools and accessories. There's a Self-Cleaning Pet Power Brush tool, which can be used to clean pet hair and stuck-on debris and clears hair wraps by itself. There's also an extension wand and a crevice tool for dealing with messes in far-off or tight spots. Its hard bristle dusting brush can help you dislodge stubborn debris.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight can be used as a corded handheld vacuum by detaching its wand.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight delivers outstanding performance on bare floors. It easily clears pet hair as well as small debris like rice. While it can clear the majority of bulky material, such as cereal, some can get pushed around instead of getting sucked up. Still, suction performance remains consistent as its dirt compartment fills up, which is good if you have a large mess to deal with.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight does a good job on low-pile carpet. It easily clears pet hair as well as most larger, sand-like debris. Unfortunately, it struggles more with finer material, such as baking soda, on this kind of surface.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight has good performance on high-pile carpet. It clears pet hair without issue and does a good job of dealing with fine debris like baking soda, though it struggles slightly more with larger material, such as sand. That said, its suction performance remains quite consistent as its dirt compartment fills up.
This vacuum has good maneuverability. It's lightweight and easy to reconfigure into a handheld to clean furniture. There's on-board storage for two of its three included accessories, so most specialized attachments are readily accessible. It's slim enough to clean under low-lying tables and couches if you crouch down. Unfortunately, its brushroll never stops turning in its stick configuration, and it can get stuck on rug tassels. It also tends to push around obstructions like electrical cords instead of climbing over them, but it's light enough to lift over these kinds of obstructions, so it isn't really an issue.
