These days, several high-end stick vacuums come out of the box with two cleaning heads (a soft roller and a multi-surface brush roll) to be able to perform effectively on all types of surfaces. But constantly swapping between floorheads during vacuuming can be frustrating and a waste of time for many.
Regarding this, Shark has had a leg up on most rivals by creating a 2-in-1 DuoClean floorhead, including the two types of rollers mentioned above – one roller made for carpets and another for hard floors. Today, I will mention two Shark stick vacuums with this signature technology, the Shark IF281 vs IF282, which appear to be identical.
Shark IF281 Vs IF282: Comparison Chart
Shark IF281 Vs IF282: Similarities
Cleaning Performance
Floorhead And Cleaning Mode
The DuoClean cleaning head, no doubt, is one of Shark’s hallmarks. It features two types of rollers: a soft brush roll and one that is bristled and pretty stiff. The soft roller can clean sensitive hard floors without scratching or damaging them, while the bristled brush roll shines on carpets.
This technology isn’t a gimmick: my tests showed it did what it was advertised to do. The best part? It is unnecessary to swap between two floorheads manually. Just choose the setting by pressing a button on the user interface.
There are two surface-type settings, carpet and hard floor, and two power settings: “ION Power” (the default) and “ION Boost” (the more powerful setting). All the buttons are on the handheld unit within the thumb’s reach, so it’s super convenient and easy to switch between them.
Cleaning Tests
The Shark ION F80 worked super well on my hard floors. Thanks to the DuoClean floor head, it easily picked up all the large debris and maintained a good seal against the floor to prevent small ones from splashing behind the vacuum. Excellent performance was also maintained on my low pile carpet, with nearly 100% of the fine dust and large debris gathered.
But on the thicker carpet, it left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. With the ION Power setting enabled, the vacuum didn’t generate enough suction to pick up everything on the carpet. Then I switched to the ION Boost setting, and the vacuum sucked down on the carpet and failed to pick up large debris.
Hair Removal
The Shark ION F80 had no problems removing hair/fur on most surfaces. But without Shark’s tangle-free technology, such as Zero-M or PowerFins, it couldn’t send all the vacuumed hair into its dust cup. So it took me a few minutes to remove the tangled hair from the roller after the test session. It was a breeze to remove the soft roller and cut off/pull out all the hair from the bristled brush using a pair of scissors.
Design And Usability
Attachments And Storage
The Shark IF281 vs IF282 share a set of accessories, including a DuoClean powerhead, a crevice tool, an upholstery tool, a charging dock, and two batteries. Considering the price tag, I can’t complain that these machines have few attachments, but I would say I’ve tested many mid-range stick vacuums that come with better attachment sets, such as the Tineco A11 and Pure ONE S11.
Regarding storage, the Shark ION F80 doesn’t have a wall-mounted charging dock like the Dyson V15 or a self-standing charging station like the Samsung Jet 90. Instead, it can self-stand anywhere thanks to MultiFLEX technology, which allows its wand to bend 180°. It comes with a compact charging dock, which is used to charge the included batteries (one by one).
Another option for storing the vacuum is to lean it against furniture or a wall. There are two small soft pads on the back of the handheld part to prevent the vacuum from slipping and falling.
I favor how to store and charge this model since drilling into the wall isn’t requested. My only gripe is that there is no onboard storage for its attachments. It would be better if it came with a wand clip (which comes with some Dyson stick vacuums) that could be attached to the vacuum’s body and house two attachments.
Weight And Maneuverability
The Shark ION F80 weighs about 8.2 lbs. if fully assembled. That is around half the weight of an upright vacuum but is quite heavy for a stick vacuum. So far, it’s the only stick vacuum that I haven’t been able to use with one hand for a long time. However, it isn’t top-heavy like most stick vacuums, as its DuoClean head is quite bulky and heavy.
In the handheld configuration, I found vacuuming above my head to be uncomfortable, and I had to take a break a few times during the test session. The MultiFLEX technology has allowed me to reach further under furniture with this stick vacuum without bending over. This technology is a godsend for those who suffer from back or hip pain.
Battery Life
| Shark ION F80 | |
|---|---|
| Maximum battery life | ≈ 43 mins |
| Minimum battery life | ≈ 13 mins |
| Charging time | ≈ 3.5 hours |
The battery life is always something that most consumers are disgruntled with when it comes to a cordless vacuum, but that’s not the case with the Shark ION F80. It doesn’t have impressive battery life, but it comes with two removable and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. When the installed battery dies, just replace it with a fully charged extra battery to double the runtime of the vacuum.
The vacuum has no digital display that shows the remaining runtime like the Dyson V11, but there are three blue light bars on the side of the battery, which show the remaining battery. When charging, these light bars also blink to indicate the current battery level.
Some users feel the 3.5-hour charging time is too long, but it isn’t a big deal for me. In fact, this is quite typical for cord-free stick vacuums these days.
Dustbin and Filtration System
The 0.28-liter dust cup, no doubt, is small. I had to visit the trash can a few times to empty it during testing, and I didn’t like that very much. Bundles of dust and hair tended to get stuck at the bottom of the dustbin. So I had to get rid of all the stuck debris by hand since shaking it wasn’t enough.
The Shark ION F80 features a two-filter system, including a pre-filter and exhaust filter, and they are all washable. But sadly, none of them are HEPA filters, and there is no sealed system. The pre-motor filter should be washed monthly, whereas the post-filter should be washed at least every six months.
Quick Rundown Of Shark IF281
- Powerful cordless suction for everyday dirt, debris, pet hair, and high traffic areas
- Upto 80 minutes of total runtime with 2 batteries in hand vacuum power mode; Vacuum, switch the battery, and keep going
- 2X Ion power pack system includes 2 removable, rechargeable lithium ion batteries and a charging dock
- Multiflex technology enables convenient under furniture reach and freestanding, compact storage
- Duoclean technology invented for fine dust and large debris on carpets and hard floors; One powerhead, two brushrolls; Do not use soap
Quick Rundown Of Shark IF282
- MultiFLEX technology enables convenient under furniture reach and freestanding
- DuoClean Technology for cleaning fine dust and large debris on carpets and hard floor
- Powerful cordless suction for everyday dirt, debris, pet hair, and high-traffic areas
- Transforms to a hand vacuum for lightweight handheld cleaning in hard-to-reach places, above the floor, and in the car
- Up to 60 minutes of runtime for hard floor cleaning and 50 minutes of runtime for carpet cleaning when using two batteries consecutively in power mode
Product Videos
Reference:
- Shark IF281 vs IF282: https://support.sharkclean.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/4402165902610/IF280_UF280_IONFLEX_Manual_E_20180620_LR.pdf
Victor K. Giles is a leading consultant and expert in vacuum cleaner technology with over a decade of experience. As a mechanical engineering graduate in the University of Michigan, he specializes in product development, design optimization, and performance analysis. Victor collaborates with manufacturers and educates consumers, making her a sought-after guest speaker at industry events. His work has been featured in renowned publications, and he shares his expertise on his blog, “The Vacuum Teria”. Victor’s passion for cleaner, healthier living spaces drives his to help clients choose the best vacuum solutions for their needs.