Shark Rotator Professional vs Hoover WindTunnel 3: Which Is Better For Versatility?

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For Shark Rotator Professional vs Hoover WindTunnel 3 performance, I can say that they are comparable as they work very well to keep your house clean. Yet, if you are looking for a more versatile vacuum cleaner, I would recommend the Shark Rotator Professional NV501 for you.

The Shark Rotator Professional NV501 is overall a better vacuum. This Shark model is easy to use and assemble, has great suction and brush roll mechanism, and features great anti-allergen seal HEPA filtration. It is also relatively lighter than its rival and has the lift-away pod for higher convenience in cleaning. Though its suction is not as strong as the Hoover Windtunnel 3, it can effectively pick up pet hairs and dirt from both carpets and hard floors.

The Hoover WindTunnel 3 UH72630 is an excellent vacuum cleaner for people with pets that shed a lot. Its suction is incredibly strong, so it can suck pet hairs and dirt efficiently. It also has a great long hose and an extra-long electric cord. However, this Hoover WindTunnel 3 vacuum is very heavy and cannot adjust the suction power for cleaning delicate surfaces. Therefore, it is an outstanding vacuum for heavy-duty deep cleaning tasks.

Shark Rotator Professional vs Hoover WindTunnel 3: Comparison Chart

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
Shark NV501 Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, LED Headlights, Wide Upholstery Tool, Dusting Brush & Crevice Tool, White/Red
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Hoover High Performance Pet Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, UH72630
Model
Shark Rotator Professional NV501
Hoover WindTunnel 3 UH72630
Dimensions (LxWxH)
11.93 x 13.98 x 46.06 Inches
14 x 15.5 x 44.5 Inches
Weight
15.5 Pounds
18.1 Pounds
Voltage / Watts / Amps
120V / 1200W / 10A
120V / 1440W / 12A
Dirt Tank Capacity (Max Fill)
0.88 Quarts
1.42 Quarts
Cleaning Path Width
9.25 Inches
15 Inches
Cord Length / Hose Length
25 ft. / 8.4 ft.
40 ft. / 12 ft.
Bag Type
Bagless
Bagless
HEPA Filtration
Suction Control
Lift-Away Canister
Brushroll On/Off
Surface Height Settings
Swivel Steering
LED Headlights
Attachments
Wide Upholstery Tool, Dusting Brush & Crevice Tool
Pivoting Dusting Tool, Pet Turbo Tool, Telescoping Extension Wand & Crevice Tool
What I Like
Price
$218.00
$249.99
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
Shark NV501 Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, LED Headlights, Wide Upholstery Tool, Dusting Brush & Crevice Tool, White/Red
Model
Shark Rotator Professional NV501
Dimensions (LxWxH)
11.93 x 13.98 x 46.06 Inches
Weight
15.5 Pounds
Voltage / Watts / Amps
120V / 1200W / 10A
Dirt Tank Capacity (Max Fill)
0.88 Quarts
Cleaning Path Width
9.25 Inches
Cord Length / Hose Length
25 ft. / 8.4 ft.
Bag Type
Bagless
HEPA Filtration
Suction Control
Lift-Away Canister
Brushroll On/Off
Surface Height Settings
Swivel Steering
LED Headlights
Attachments
Wide Upholstery Tool, Dusting Brush & Crevice Tool
What I Like
Price
$218.00
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
Hoover High Performance Pet Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, UH72630
Model
Hoover WindTunnel 3 UH72630
Dimensions (LxWxH)
14 x 15.5 x 44.5 Inches
Weight
18.1 Pounds
Voltage / Watts / Amps
120V / 1440W / 12A
Dirt Tank Capacity (Max Fill)
1.42 Quarts
Cleaning Path Width
15 Inches
Cord Length / Hose Length
40 ft. / 12 ft.
Bag Type
Bagless
HEPA Filtration
Suction Control
Lift-Away Canister
Brushroll On/Off
Surface Height Settings
Swivel Steering
LED Headlights
Attachments
Pivoting Dusting Tool, Pet Turbo Tool, Telescoping Extension Wand & Crevice Tool
What I Like
Price
$249.99
More Info

Shark Rotator Professional vs Hoover WindTunnel 3: Differences

I would say that between Shark Rotator Professional vs Hoover WindTunnel 3, the Shark Rotator Professional NV501 is more versatile than the Hoover model because it wins 2-0 against its rival for its design and convenience, and filtration system.

Cleaning performance

Tie!

Suction power and control

  • Suction power

For the suction power between Shark Rotator Professional vs Hoover WindTunnel 3, the Hoover WindTunnel 3 has more powerful suction than the Shark Rotator Professional. I am really impressed by the suction of this Hoover vacuum model.

Let’s compare the motor power between the Shark Rotator Professional vs Hoover WindTunnel 3 first. The Shark vacuum has a 1200 W and 10 A motor system while that of the Hoover is 1440 W and 12 A. Obviously, the motor of the Hoover WindTunnel 3 is more powerful than the Shark Rotator Professional’s.

In terms of the airflow, the measured result of the Hoover WindTunnel 3 is incredible, which is about 65.7 cfm at nozzle. This number is higher than many vacuums that I’ve used, including the Shark Rotator Professional.

The Shark Rotator NV501 also has very good suction as it passes all the pick-up tests with a percentage of >90%. Yet, I see that the Hoover is more powerful, especially for picking up cat and dog hairs on carpets and hard floors.

  • Suction control

With that great amount of suction, the Hoover WindTunnel 3 is ideal for deep cleaning tasks. However, this strong suction has a drawback as it will damage delicate surfaces, so it is essential for the vacuum to have a suction control functionality.

Unfortunately, the Hoover does not have any switch for adjusting the amount of suction, while the Shark Rotator Professional does. The Shark model has a collar called Suction Release to modify the suction amount. So, when using the Shark Rotator NV501, I can reduce the suction to clean the delicate surface, like press-titled surfaces, without worrying about lifting the titles up.

Brush roll system

Brushroll On/Off switch on Shark Rotator Professional (above) and Hoover WindTunnel 3 (below)
Brushroll On/Off switch on Shark Rotator Professional (above) and Hoover WindTunnel 3 (below)

When comparing the Shark Rotator Professional vs Hoover WindTunnel 3 brushroll systems, I see that both feature the traditional brush bristles, meaning they don’t have the self-cleaning feature. Both of them also have a switch to turn on and off the brushroll motion.

On the Shark NV501, the brush roll will be off when in the Bare Floor mode, while on the Hoover UH72630, the brush roll can be turned off by pressing the pedal on the cleaning head.

Adjustble floor nozzle height

The Hoover WindTunnel 3 UH72630 has an adjustable nozzle height with 7 levels. Meanwhile, it nozzle height of the Shark Rotator NV501 is fixed.

This adjustable-height cleaning nozzle is very useful when used on carpets as it allows you to change the height of the nozzle to be suitable for different carpet volumes. Besides, if you find the Hoover WindTunnel 3 sticks on the floor and hard to move around owing to its powerful suction, you can increase the cleaning head to address this problem.

Hoover WindTunnel 3 adjustable floor height
Hoover WindTunnel 3 adjustable floor height

Floor compatibility

  • Carpets/ Rugs

With that much suction, the Hoover WindTunnel 3 can suck up almost anything on the floor and carpets, like pet hairs, sand, flour, and larger debris. It works great on low-pile carpets and even high-pile carpets. Moreover, I feel that its brushroll agitation is sufficient to loosen the embedded dust in the carpet base. 

However, I feel overwhelmed by the amount of force I need to push this Hoover vacuum on my carpet because its suction is too strong, and it is also heavier than other vacuums I’ve used. Another drawback of this vacuum for carpet cleaning is that it started to suck the fiber of my medium to high pile carpet owing to that strong suction.

When using the Shark Rotator Professional to clean my carpets, I feel more comfortable. Though it does not have the adjustable nozzle height functionality, pushing it on the carpet does not take as much effort as pushing the Hoover WindTunnel 3. 

The Shark Rotator Professional picks up pet hairs and fine debris very well, whose performance can be comparable to the Hoover’s. However, for larger debris, it is not as effective as Hoover WindTunnel 3 because it pushes some of the particles owing to the non-adjustable head height.

  • Bare floors

On the bare floors, I can say that the Shark Rotator Professional is compatible with more bare-floor types than the Hoover WindTunnel 3 due to its adjustable suction strength. 

For example, when vacuuming the press and stick tiled surface, the Shark vacuum will be better as I can release the suction to make it more gentle. Meanwhile, the Hoover vacuum sucks the tiles up because of its suction.

However, when using the Shark Rotator Professional to vacuum the super fine debris like flour, I noticed that its pick-up performance is not as effective as when vacuuming fine solid debris like sand. Meanwhile, the WindTunnel 3 can vacuum very well in this test because its suction is powerful, making the cleaning head likely to stick to the floor, creating a better seal to suck up more embedded dirt.

As both vacuums have the switch to turn off the brush roller, the scattering of debris particles is prevented effectively. 

Shark Rotator Professional cleaning flour on bare floor
Shark Rotator Professional cleaning flour on the bare floor

Dirt bin & Filtration

Winner: Shark Rotator Professional NV501

From the technical information, between the Shark Rotator Professional vs Hoover WindTunnel 3 dirt bin capacity, it is obvious that the Hoover’s is the larger. The bigger dirt bin is more convenient for cleaning a whole house as it reduces the interruption for emptying the bin in the middle of the cleaning session.

However, the Shark Rotator Professional has a higher-quality filtration system. Its HEPA filters are combined with the brand’s Anti-Allergen Complete Seal technology will help capture the dust, even the micro ones, and allergens inside the vacuum.

The filtration seal of the Hoover WindTunnel, for me, is not truly sealed. When using the hose for cleaning, I still noticed the dust spewing out of the hose base. The leaking of dust and debris from the vacuum can damage your health in the long term, especially for people who are allergic to dust or asthma sufferers.

Therefore, in this aspect, I appreciate the filtration system of the Shark model more than that of the Hoover. So, the winner in this round is the Shark Rotator Professional NV501.

The HEPA filter of Shark Rotator Professional
The HEPA filter of Shark Rotator Professional

Design & Convenience

 Winner: Shark Rotator Professional NV501

Maneuverability

The Shark NV501 is 2.5 pounds lighter than the Hoover WindTunnel 3 UH72630. Moreover, the Shark model has swivel steering, which makes maneuvering around your house corners much easier.

Reach range

  • Cord & hose length

The Hoover model has an impressive cord length and hose length. It has a 40-feet cord and a 12-feet hose, while those of the Shark model are 25 ft. and 8.4 ft, respectively. So, the Hoover provides a much wider reach range. Besides, when I stretched the hose, the Hoover did not easily fall as other lighter vacuums did.

  • Lift-Away canister

However, for me, the Shark is more versatile due to its Lift-Away feature. With this functionality,  I can easily detach the power pod and carry it for cleaning stairs and above floors. So, I think it can compensate for the shorter hose of this Shark model. 

Ergonomics & Build quality

In this aspect, I prefer the design of the Shark NV501 Rotator Professional to that of the Hoover UH72630. The Hoover UH72630 looks bulkier, and the plastic feels flimsier than the Shark NV501.

When using this Hoover vacuum, I feel its handle is cheaply made as it flexes and creaks in my hand. Its power switch is not as friendly as that of the Sharl vacuum. It is recessed and needs to press all the way down to use, which I sometimes find frustrating to use it.

Another problem of the Hoover is its motor. It is deniable that this vacuum motor is very powerful, but it creates a lot of heat. However, with a motor of 12 amps and high wattage, I think the amount of heat pumped out is acceptable and not worrisome.

Noise level

The Hoover WindTunnel 3 is the noisier vacuum compared to the Shark Rotator Professional. Its noise is very loud, especially when vacuuming rugs and carpets. When using the hose, I feel that the noise level is much lower. However, with such a strong suction, I think the noise level of this Hoover is acceptable. 

Utility

Tie!

Headlights

Headlights of Hoover WindTunnel 3 (above) and Shark Rotator Professional (below)
Headlights of Hoover WindTunnel 3 (above) and Shark Rotator Professional (below)

Both vacs have headlights, but between the Shark Rotator Professional vs Hoover WindTunnel 3 headlight type, I prefer LED lights on the Shark model. It is because the Shark NV501 Rotator’s LED headlighting is much brighter and more directed on floors, thus more effectively illuminating the dark floor areas than the other. Meanwhile, the headlight on the Hoover model is warmer, less strong, and not directed where it is needed.

Attachments

In terms of the attachment set, the Hoover WindTunnel 3 UH72630 is slightly better than the Shark Rotator NV501. The Hoover model has more accessories than the Shark one. It has the Pivoting Dusting Tool and Pet Turbo Tool, which are not included in the set of the Shark NV501 Rotator Professional.

In addition, the attachments of the Hoover WindTunnel 3 works very well and can all be stored on board. The pivoting duster changes its angle for cleaning awkward vents or ceiling fans. The air-driven pet turbo tool works great at collecting pet hairs on my couches and sofas.

Quick Rundown of Shark Rotator Professional NV501

Sale
Shark NV501 Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, LED Headlights, Wide Upholstery Tool, Dusting Brush & Crevice Tool, White/Red
  • LIFT-AWAY FUNCTIONALITY: Detachable pod for cleaning under furniture or detach the nozzle to clean above the floor, on upholstery, furniture, stairs, and more.
  • ANTI-ALLERGEN COMPLETE SEAL TECHNOLOGY: Works with a HEPA filter to trap dust and allergens inside the vacuum cleaner.
  • ADVANCED SWIVEL STEERING: Easily maneuver your vacuum to get in and out of tight spaces, in corners, around furniture, and more.
  • LED HEADLIGHTS: Powerful lights on the nozzle reveal hidden debris and pet hair around your home.
  • WIDE UPHOLSTERY TOOL: The wide cleaning path helps remove pet hair, dust, and large debris from mattresses, couches, curtains, lampshades, and other delicate upholstered surfaces.
Pros
  • Strong suction that can be adjusted
  • Can turn off the brush roller
  • Great HEPA filters with Anti-allergen Complete Seal
  • Very bright LED headlights
  • Has the lift-away powered pod
  • Good ergonomics in design
Cons
  • Short electric cord
  • Small dirt bin capacity

Quick Rundown of Hoover WindTunnel 3 UH72630

Hoover High Performance Pet Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, UH72630
  • Our Best Cleaning Bagless Upright*
  • QuickPass Brushroll � 2X Faster Cleaning** - Clean surface debris without having to pass over the same area multiple times
  • WindTunnel 3 Technology - Creates 3 channels of suction to lift and remove surface debris and deep down embedded dirt
  • Brushroll On/Off Switch - Turn on/off brushroll for optimal cleaning on carpets and hard floors.
  • Headlight - Spot hard to see debris in dim lighted areas for a better clean.
Pros
  • Superior suction power
  • Excellent pick-up performance
  • Has brushroll shutoff functionality
  • Great electric cord length & hose length
  • Larger dirt bin capacity
  • Adjustable cleaning nozzle height with 7 settings
Cons
  • Very loud noise
  • Poor ergonomics in design
  • The motor creates a lot of heat

Product Videos

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References:

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