Shark Rocket DuoClean – Complete Series Comparison

While giants like Dyson are bringing innovation for a wallet-breaking price, Shark Ninja has been trying to meet the need for quality at affordable costs.

Shark Rocket Complete with DuoClean HV380 series is an example of that. In this series, Shark has introduced a new DuoClean technology that was not included in any of its prior models.

The HV380 series has promising features and an abundance of variants. In this article, we will thoroughly analyze them through a Shark Rocket DuoClean review.

What is the DuoClean Technology?

Shark was not exactly the visionary of the concept behind the DuoClean technology. Other brands have introduced their versions of this technology before.

Shark’s take on it is simply two brush rolls operating simultaneously.

It is not as plain as it sounds, however. The cleaner head is comprised of two different kinds of brushes – a soft brush roll and a bristle brush.

The bristles agitate headstrong debris, and the soft brush roll sweeps dust inward for a swifter pickup.

It is claimed to perform a Triple Particle Cleaning job by picking up small, large, and fixed debris from all floor types.

The DuoClean brush head would succeed when the single brush head could not perform adequately.

You might like the Shark navigator VS rotator comparison guide.

Product Specifications at a Glance

All Shark Rocket DuoClean variants share the same core features. The only way to tell them apart is by color schemes and accessories.

In case you are in a rush, the following chart displays the product specifications of the DuoClean base model HV380. All variants have these in common.

To find out how each variant differs from all the others, scroll down to the Variants section.

Shark Rocket DuoClean Reviews – Best HV380 Series Variants

The Shark Rocket DuoClean has five noteworthy variants. Each variant comes with a diversified and unique set of tools.

It is quite evident that the variants were each made to meet different sorts of cleaning needs.

1) Shark Rocket DuoClean HV380

The HV380 is the basic model of the series. It is the one we have just discussed above. Yet we have saved its unique tools from being discussed in this part.

The additional tools the HV380 comes with,

2) Shark Rocket DuoClean HV381

The HV381 comes with the following additional tools, apart from the ones we discussed in the base model review.

3) Shark Rocket DuoClean HV382 – TruePet

This is the TruePet version of the DuoClean series – Shark’s best candidate aimed at pet owners.

The accessories of the HV832 go as follows –

4) Shark Rocket DuoClean HV380W

The above set of tools is almost the same as what comes with the original HV380, with the exception of the under-appliance wand.

5) Shark Rocket DuoClean HV384Q

The following accessories come with the DuoClean HV384Q –

How do these specifications pan out in practical cleaning? Let’s not put off the answer to this question any longer. Dive into our Shark Rocket DuoClean complete review below to see the big picture.

Build & Design

Shark has put a lot of thought into the build and design section of the Rocket DuoClean. Assembling and disassembling the vacuum cleaner is no rocket science. All the instructions come in the manual.

Shark Rocket DuoClean is a 2-in-1 vacuum package. It can be converted from a stick vacuum to a handheld. This allows you to extend your cleaning area from floor to walls and ceilings.

When converted to the HandVac version, the unit feels quite heavy.

Some users may struggle to uphold the handheld for longer periods. However, it is not very likely.

Shark has designed an ergonomic handle on the top. It has three settings – off, bare floor, and carpet. Including the ‘OFF’ option was an improvement compared to their DeluxePro series, which had none.

In the previous Shark models, getting access to the motorized brush was not so easy. You had to remove the cleaner heads and unscrew a bit here and there.

In the Shark Rocket DuoClean, the upper side of the floor base is built removable. This leaves the motorized brushes on the inside open for cleaning.

This mechanism is called the brush roll garage. It lets you clean the motorized brushes without even having the cleaner’s head’s face toward you.

There is an onboard storage clip for the convenient storage of tools. There are bright LED lights near the floor base, but they cannot be turned off even when you do not need them. It can be annoying at times.

Our Rating: 7/10

Cleaning Performance

The new cleaner head is supposed to pick up fixed debris too, as a part of the Triple Particle Cleaning feature.

On bare floors,

The rocket DuoClean could pick up pet fur, large particles, and fine dust. It took a few sweeps of the vacuum cleaner over messy spots. But in the end, the floor was spotless.

The soft roller brush handled the large particles. The bristle brush sucked in whatever was left off by the former.

To remove stuck-on debris, you have to spot them first and have the vacuum cleaner linger there until the debris is picked. It takes only a few seconds, and we are not complaining.

Remember to use the bare floor setting the upright vacuum comes with. The bare floor setting (setting 1) has less suction so that delicate bare floors are not damaged. Small rugs can be cleaned in this setting too.

On carpeted surfaces,

Use setting 2. This mode provides maximum suction to pull out dirt from the depths of your carpets.

The Shark Rocket DuoClean had no problem picking up pet hair, fine dust, and large debris from even the thickest carpets. The bristle brush took care of the pet furs and ground dust particles.

Long story short, the Shark Rocket DuoClean picked up everything we threw its way. We found a second pass to be able to clean all of the dirt from a surface.

Sometimes the vacuum cleaner fails to do back sweeps. It puts up a little struggle to pull itself forwards.

The suction never fades during a cleaning session.

We conclude that the cleaning performance is marvelous.

Our rating: 8.5/10

Filtration

Shark Rocket DuoClean comes with 3 filters, none of which are HEPA. Many consider HEPA filters to be a must-have inclusion in a premium quality vacuum.

These filters remove tiny dust particles and allergens, purifying the air you breathe. Other brands have incorporated HEPA filters in cheaper units.

This is one shortcoming of the Shark Rocket DuoClean that we cannot look past.

Though not as good as HEPA filters, the filters enclosed in the Duo Clean function well and serve their purpose. There are one post-motor and two pre-motor filters in the Shark Rocket DuoClean.

One of the pre-motor filters is foam material, and the other is felt.

All three filters are washable. If the filters get clogged up, it can result in poor suction. You should wash the pre-motor filters once every month. After rinsing, letting it air dry for a day will be crucial.

Thanks to “Shark Cleaning” for making a video walkthrough. Check this 1-minute video on filter maintenance.

Dust Capacity and Maintenance

The dust cup in the Shark Rocket DuoClean is a nice, transparent one. If the vacuum cleaner picks up anything of importance, you can see and recollect that.

The dust cup can hold up to 1.0 dry quarts of dirt and debris. For a vacuum cleaner of this size, there should have been a larger dust cup.

The dust cup will fill surprisingly quickly if you set out to clean your entire house. This is a major inconvenience because the vacuum cleaner has a superior power configuration and cleaning tech.

Only a larger dust cup would have suited this powerful vacuum cleaner.

For long cleaning sessions, frequent trips to the garbage can are expected.

Emptying the dust cup is hygienic enough. You do not have to touch the dust cup at all. You must first eject the dust cap from the vacuum cleaner’s body.

Place it over a trash can and press the release button. The bottom of the dust cup will fling open, and dirt will be dumped in the trash can.

However, the dust cup has a raised flat disk inside it. Dirt tends to get stuck onto it and will not come off even when you empty the dust cup. In such cases, manual intervention is needed.

Our rating: is 7/10

Ease of Use

The 30 feet cord allows you to clean large rooms without plugging it into a different switchboard.

The weight of the vacuum cleaner in the upright stick form is nothing to bat an eye at. But due to the model’s incapability to remain in a standing position by itself, most of the bulk is distributed to your hands.

Using it for longer periods can affect maneuverability and cause discomfort.

Converting the unit from a stick vacuum to a handheld and vice versa is very easy. The weight of the handheld may seem to be a burden from time to time.

The LED lights provide visibility in darker cleaning areas. Whatever the room’s lighting, you get to see if there is dirt on the floor within the radius.

The lights turn on automatically and cannot be turned off. So when additional lights are unnecessary, you cannot do anything about it.

The swivel steering of Shark Rocket DuoClean is a better one than the Shark Rocket DeluxePro’s. It delivers smooth steering allowing for better control of the cleaner head. It is so good that making multiple passes in the same spot does not feel tiresome.

The brush roll garage can cost a hundred bucks if the motor gets clogged. You will be able to access and clean it yourself easily.

Two accessories can be stored directly on the vacuum using the attachment clip. This way, the tools you use the most will always be close.

Storing the whole unit itself can be done in multiple methods. You can detach the handheld part and hang it from a hook on the wand. Apart from the other obvious option, mounting it on the wall, it can be kept leaning against the wall or furniture.

The last option is very space-consuming and should only be a temporary storage means. The wall mount is the most convenient storage solution out of all the available ones.

Our rating: is 7/10

Shark Rocket DuoClean – Pros and Cons

As a recap or summary of the in-depth analysis above, we will review the pros and cons of the Shark Rocket DuoClean for a quick observation.

Pros:

Cons:

Whom is Shark Rocket DuoClean Perfect for?

First of all, the price and feature combo of the Shark Rocket DuoClean is nearly unbeatable.

If you do not mind the minor conveniences like frequently emptying the bin or its inability to stay in an upright position, the Rocket DuoClean can prove to be an ideal vacuum cleaner.

If you have to deal with fixed debris regularly, DuoClean would be a smart choice.

The sets of attachments are very versatile. If post-purchase service is very important, the 5-year warranty is a pretty lucrative deal.

If you prefer your vacuum cleaner to clean floor to ceiling and everything in between with strong suction power, Duo Clean is highly recommended. You will save money too.

To Wrap It Up

Shark Rocket DuoClean is a powerful and reliable vacuum cleaner. Its cleaning capabilities surely raised our eyebrows. The premium 5-year warranty ensures that the superior quality of the unit is sustained.

In this price range, we cannot think of a better vacuum cleaner. You will get a variety of tools with whichever variant you choose.

Just think about which ones you will actually apply and choose wisely.