Shark UltraLight Pet Pro Review

Pros

• Budget-friendly option with solid performance
• Exceptional pet hair performance
• Cord allows for infinite run time

Cons

• Struggle to remove cereal on hardwood and high pile carpet
• Cord reduces maneuverability, but still offers 25 ft. of length

Scoring

In This Review

Cleaning Test | Long Hair Test | Pet Hair Test | Wind Speed Test | Sealed System Test | Noise Test | Usability | Accessories | Size | Specs | Summary

Performance Tests

To test the Shark UltraLight Pet Pro, we put it through a series of 7 different tests to measure cleaning performance and usability.

These tests include:

• Cleaning test
• Hair test
• Pet hair test
• Wind speed test
• Smoke sealant test
• Noise test
• Usability test

Cleaning Test

To test cleaning performance of vacuums, we use 4 different debris types (sugar, kitty litter, rice, and cereal) and spread them across 3 different floor types (hardwood, low pile carpet, and high pile carpet.)

We then ran the Pet Pro over the debris with one forward and backwards pass on the appropriate suction mode. After, we measure the amount of remaining debris by weight to compare to the starting amounts.

Here are the overall results for the Shark UltraLight Pet Pro:

Across all floor types the Shark UltraLight consistently struggled with cleaning cereall. On both hardwood flooring and high pile carpet, the cleaning head of the vacuum was too close to the ground, not allowing enough space for the majority of the cereal to pass through.

This is an issue we’ve seen with other vacuums we’ve tested, so it isn’t uncommon. However, it is important to keep in mind if you plan on cleaning up larger debris.

Hardwood Floor Cleaning

The Shark Pet Pro did a good job cleaning on hardwood flooring removing 91.0% of all debris on the floor. This is better than average across all vacuums we’ve tested to date, which is an 86.7% debris removal rate.

That said it did struggle with cereal as mentioned previously. The cleaning head was too close to the ground, pushing the debris around instead of picking it up.

However, this was with one backwards and forward pass. With a little assistance, or with a different attachment, the cereal would be easier to clean up.

Low Pile Carpet Cleaning

Unlike its performance on other floor types, the UltraLight Pet Pro had amazing performance on low pile carpet, removing 99.0% of all debris by weight.

Despite the struggles with cereal on the other floor types, it had no issues on low-pile carpet, only leaving behind trace amounts of other materials.

High Pile Carpet Cleaning

As on hardwood flooring, the Pet Pro struggled to remove cereal from the floor, but still was able to clean up 89.0% of all debris.

This performance is slightly worse than average, which is 90.7% debris removal across all vacuums we’ve tested to date.

In addition, the vacuum left a little more kitty litter behind that on the other floor types. By and large, the Shark UltraLight still removed the vast majority of the smaller debris types.

Long Hair Test

For the long hair test, we want to see how well the Shark UltraLight Pet Pro is able to remove long hair from hard flooring without letting it tangle in the brush roll. To test this we placed 1.0 grams of long hair on hardwood flooring.

We then turn the vacuum onto the hard floor mode and perform a singular forward and backward pass over the loose strands. After, we check to see how much of the hair remains on the floor and in the brush roll.

Long hair performance was quite good for the Shark UltraLight Pet Pro. All of the hair was easily removed from the floor, but 19% of the hair remained tangled in the brush roll. This isn’t an alarming amount, but it can build up over time if you aren’t careful. 

More importantly, is the inability to remove the brush roll from the cleaning head. This makes removing tangles more difficult as you instead have to extricate them while the cleaning head gets in the way. As long as you have scissors this is relatively easy to deal with, but still uncommon compared to other vacuums we’ve tested. 

Pet Hair Test

To test pet hair cleaning performance for the Shark UltraLight Pet Pro, we measured 1 gram of pet hair and rubbed it into high pile carpet. Following that, we ran the vacuum on the carpet mode over the pet hair with one forward and backwards pass. 

After cleaning, we then measured the amount of hair remaining by weight to compare to the initial 1 gram. 

As the “Pet Pro” in the name would suggest, the Shark UltraLight had exceptional performance in our pet hair test. It completely removed the pet hair from the carpet after 1 pass forwards and backwards. 

While the lower cleaning head created issues for large debris types like cereal, it most likely creates a better suction with the ground, helping it to better remove pet fur. 

Wind Speed Test

Vacuums with higher wind speed can create higher suction power. To measure the wind speed we use an anemometer on the neck of the Shark Pet Pro and run the vacuum on each mode. Here’s what we found:

We found both modes to have a similar wind speed of 9.8 mph in our tests. This is lower than the average across all vacuums we’ve tested to date, which is 13.3 mph on the lowest suction power. 

However, more suction power or a faster wind speed doesn’t always equate to better cleaning performance, but it can be a contributing factor.

Sealed System Test

For the sealed system test, we want to determine how well the entire vacuum system is sealed. Vacuums that are properly sealed ensure that dust and debris vacuumed stays inside the vacuum and doesn’t spread around your home. 

To test this, we set up a fog machine with the output facing directly toward the UltraLight Pet Pro’s extension wand. With the fog machine ready, we turn on the vacuum and release short bursts of smoke into the vacuum. 

The Shark UltraLight Pet Pro was mostly sealed in our tests. 

This is excellent performance and showed the Pet Pro is able to clean and keep all the debris and dust sealed away for later disposal. 

Noise Test

To test noise levels on the Shark UltraLight Pet Pro we ran it on high pile carpet on each power mode. While it runs, we use a sound meter from about 3’ away to measure the level of noise the vacuum creates. In addition, we also measure the ambient noise levels of the room to compare with the vacuum. 

Noise levels for the UltraLight Pet Pro are about average when compared to other vacuums we test. On average, we see vacuums reach a peak of 81.7 dB, which is only 1.2 dB higher than the peak of the Pet Pro. 

Common noise levels:

• 20 dB – rustling leaves
• 30 dB – whisper
• 40 dB – quiet library, babbling brook
• 50 dB – refrigerator, moderate rainfall
• 60 dB – normal conversation, dishwashers
• 70 dB – traffic, showers
• 80 dB – alarm clock, telephone dial tone

Usability

Overall usability for the Shark UltraLight Pet Pro is good, however it is a fairly simple device. It is a corded stick vacuum, which means you will always need to have the device plugged in to clean, but battery life isn’t an issue. 

Setup

The device is incredibly easy to set up, taking a single person 5 minutes to complete.

Here is what you start with out of the box: 

• Shark UltraLight Pet Pro body
• Extension wand
• Cleaning head
• Crevice tool
• Upholstery tool
• Precision duster
• Odor neutralizer cartridge
• Onboard storage clip

Setup on the The body, extension wand, and cleaning head need to be connected for the full stick vacuum, but otherwise the majority of the setup is removing packaging.

In addition, you can insert the odor neutralizer cartridge into the cleaning head. This creates a more pleasant aroma as you clean, but does need to be replaced every 6 months. 

Controls & Display

Controls are straightforward for the Pet Pro. It has a power button on top, which turns the vacuum on / off. It lies next to a movable switch that changes the suction mode. 

Maintenance

Maintenance is also fairly simple for the Shark UltraLight Pet Pro. The dustbin will need to be emptied as it fills, tangles and blockages will need to be removed, and the filter will need to be washed as needed. 

Accessories

The accessory kit included with the UltraLight Pet Pro is basic, but adds functionality to the device. 

Crevice tools are great for reaching in tight spaces and the upholstery tool is great for cleaning couches.

The precision duster allows for more accurate cleaning thanks to the adjustable neck and flexible tube.  

As mentioned previously the odor neutralizer cartridge is also included, which helps mask any unpleasant odors that occur while cleaning, and replace them with something more pleasant. 

Size & Dimensions

The Shark UltraLight Pet Pro is about average in size when compared with other stick vacuums we’ve tested. 

Here are the dimensions of the Shark UltraLight:

• Width – 8.5″
• Depth –  10.2″
• Height – 48.4″
• Weight – 9.74 lbs
• Cord Length – 25 ft.

It also comes with a 25 foot cord, which provides enough length for full room cleaning in most homes.

It can lay down almost completely flat which is great for reaching under furniture. 

Shark UltraLight Corded Vacuum Specifications

Specifications
Type	Corded stick
Manufacturer	Shark
Model	Ultralight Pet Pro HZ702
Height	48.4″
Width	8.5″
Depth	10.2″
Floor Type	All
Dust Bin Capacity	0.39 qts
Cord Length	25 feet
Suction Power	Strong, Exact AW Unknown
Cordless	No
Bagless	Yes
Returns	Varies by retailer
Warranty	5 Years
Price	Check Price

Should you buy the Shark UltraLight Pet Pro?

I would recommend the Shark UltraLight Pet Pro if you are looking for the following features:

• Great performance at a great price: The Shark UltraLight Pet Pro is a great performer considering the asking price. Despite the issues it had with cereal, it still removed 93.0% of all debris across all floor types. 
• Excellent for pet hair: As the name “Pet Pro” suggests, the Shark UltraLight is indeed exceptional at cleaning and removing pet hair. In one forward and backward pass, the vacuum was able to remove all of the pet hair. 
• Simple design with useful accessories: Across the board the Shark UltraLight Pet Pro is simple. It is easy to use, setup, and maintain and comes with a 25 ft cord. In addition, it comes with few but key accessories that provide enhancements to the standard cleaning experience.

For more information or to buy the Shark UltraLight Pet Pro, click here.