For two years, I was TechRadar's chief vacuum tester. That wasn't my actual job title (more's the pity) but that is mostly what I was doing. My main takeaway from those very housework-heavy times is that most people should ignore the flashy cordless stick vacuums and just buy a corded upright. And that's especially true for anyone with pets, lots of carpet, or a home with many people living in it.
I'll get into exactly why I've turned into such a corded upright evangelist below, but I'd like to flag up first that if you were going to convert, now would be a great time to do so. We're just nearing the end of the Amazon Prime Day sales and there are a ton of discounts on corded upright vacuums from Shark — if you're quick. (Want to see? Skip my waffle and jump straight to the deals.)
• View the full Amazon Prime Day sale
Why buy a corded upright?
Why are corded upright vacuums the superior type of vacuum? Three big reasons:
#1. The suction is better
The main reason to choose a corded upright is because, as a general rule of thumb, the suction is almost always better than on a cordless model. If you have carpet, hairy pets, or a high-traffic household, it's just going to be much more effective at keeping it clean.
#2. They last longer
Speaking generally, corded uprights are typically more robust and longer-lasting than cordless options — possibly because often, on a cordless vacuum, the first thing to expire will be the battery. A decent lifespan on a cordless stick vac might be 2-5 years, whereas many upright models can run and run... my mum has a corded upright that used to belong to my grandmother, and has been in use for maybe two decades. It's still going strong.
#3. You can clean, uninterrupted, for longer
With a corded vacuum, you're never going to run out of juice mid-clean. Perhaps even more significant is that the dust cups are much bigger — the cup on a cordless stick vacuum generally be 0.8L at the most (many are smaller), whereas it's common to see 2L cups on uprights. If you're dealing with pet hair in particular, it's such a blessing not to have to traipse to the bin every 10 minutes.
Shark cordless upright deals
Okay then, let's get into the deals. We're nearing the end of Amazon Prime Day, but there are still some bargains to be had, if you're speedy. These Shark corded uprights all have decent discounts that are well worth checking out.
Which should I buy?
How do I tell the difference between these vacuums, I hear you ask? Well, some of them are slightly older models, but that might not be immediately obvious. Most are designed around the same 'lift away' system, where you can remove and hold the canister while you use the floorhead on the wand attached to the flexible nozzle.
A key differentiator to pay attention to is the attachments included. Most will come with your standard narrow nozzle and 'multi-tool' but some might also have a mini motorized head that's designed for use on furniture, and is especially useful at getting hair off upholstery.
The fanciest models will also have some advanced 'detection' features — for instance, they might be able to sense carpet or room edges and increase suction in response. The PowerDetect Upright has a nifty trick where it will suck up (rather than showploughing) debris when it's being pulled backwards. That feature makes a surprisingly big difference to how fast you can clean.
Cordless alternatives
Not convinced? There are some situations where a cordless vacuum is still a better choice. For instance, if you have mostly hard flooring (so don't need a ton of suction power for effective cleaning), or your home has lots of stairs (which would require some awkward traversing with a bulky, heavy upright), or you're trying to navigate many nooks and crannies (in which case the cord and chunky form factor is going to get annoying).
Here are the Prime Day deals I'd recommend on Shark cordless stick vacuums:
More Amazon Prime Day deals in the UK
- Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
- Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
- Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
- Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & De'Longhi
- Fans: from £20
- Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
- Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
- Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
- Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura
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