Shark Rocket Ultra-Light HV292 Handheld Vacuum
- Details
Avg. rating = 92/100
Many consumers have weighed in on the Shark Rocket HV292 and the results are encouraging. Reviews are very good and the average rating is 92.3 out of 100, making it the highest rated handheld vacuum on our site (tied with the more expensive Dyson Mattress). The HV292 is corded so there is no need to charge it, and there is no limit to the run time. It includes several tools, one of which has a motorized brushroll which is great for picking up pet hair, cleaning upholstery, and doing carpeted stairs. Owners are using this in their homes, RVs, and cars. However it does not come with a HEPA filter.
Quick Specs | |
Type | Handheld |
Bagged/Bagless | Bagless |
Best for... | Hard Floors & Carpet |
Pet Hair Features | Yes |
Approx. Weight | 3.7 lbs |
HEPA Level Filtration | No |
Power Cord Length | 15 ft |
Motor Driven Brushbar | Yes |
Warranty | 5 Years |
Over 1500 owner ratings were found (from a number of different sources) for the Rocket HV292. These can be seen in the table below. When a weighted average is applied the ratings generate a vacuum score of 92.3 out of 100 which is very good. You may wish to see other handheld vacuum scores. You can also see ratings for all the vacuums on our site in the Vacuum Review Finder.
Source | Consumer Rating | # Ratings |
Amazon | 4.6 stars out of 5 | 1054 |
Bed Bath & Beyond | 4.6 stars out of 5 | 161 |
Wayfair | 4.7 stars out of 5 | 171 |
Walmart | 4.7 stars out of 5 | 68 |
Best Buy | 4.5 stars out of 5 | 30 |
Home Depot | 4.5 stars out of 5 | 17 |

- Feels solid and well made
- Powerful suction
- Includes motorized tool (for deep cleaning)
- Great for carpeted stairs
- Effective on pet hair
- Dust canister is easy to empty
- Washable filters
- No HEPA filter
- Manual states “The use of an extension cord is not recommended”
- Some folks (a minority) report weak suction
- Large – may be cumbersome in tight quarters (like small vehicles)

- Shark Rocket handheld vacuum
- 12 inch crevice tool
- Dusting brush tool
- TruePet motorized brush tool
- Flexible stretch hose
- 15 foot power cord

The vacuum has 2 rinsable pre-motor filters (one foam, one felt). These are easy to access. Shark suggests cleaning these about once per month. There is also 1 post-motor filter. It too is rinsable and should be cleaned about once per year.
Aside: You can get a handheld AND a stick vacuum at the same time with a Shark Rocket stick vac. One of the more affordable units is the popular HV302. It is under $200, has a 25 ft power cord, and owners love it. BUT you will not get a motorized pet tool with it. Also, Shark seems to be changing the tools provided with their vacuums frequently so it is best to check carefully to see what is included before making a purchase. Check out our HV302 review. |
The dust canister is very easy to empty - a button opens the bottom door. This is a popular design mostly because it is simple and fairly effective, although, like many bagless units, you may sometimes have to stick your hand into the canister and pull out stuck debris.
This is not too heavy a handheld vacuum but we’ve seen lighter. We’ve also seen heavier. In the table below are the weights of some of the handhelds we’ve reviewed
Dyson V7 Trigger – 3.04 lbs
Dyson V10 Handheld component – 3.65 lbs
Shark HV292 – 3.7 lbs
Dyson V11 Handheld component – 4.45 lbs


The Rocket HV292 carries a very respectable 5-year manufacturer's warranty on parts and labor. In addition, we have found that the device is both ETL and UL Listed.
The manual provided with the HV292 is very short and it really doesn’t have much detail. We would have liked to see something with more information. It is written in English, Spanish and French and covers the tools and hose, emptying the dust canister, cleaning the filters, checking for blockages, and the warranty. You can view a copy of the manual here: Shark Rocket Ultra-Light HV292 Manual
Nigel Russco has been reviewing and testing vacuums for over 14 years. He is a professional engineer and uses his review platforms to help consumers determine which vacuum cleaners are the best for their cleaning needs. Follow Nigel on facebook or view his vacuum review videos on the Vacuum Cleaner Advisor YouTube Channel.