Shark Ion Vacuum S87 Reviews

The Shark Ion Vacuum S87 is a popular mid-range cordless stick vacuum that excels at quick, everyday cleanups on hard floors and low-pile carpets. It offers strong suction for its class, a convenient lightweight design, and useful features like a removable battery and LED headlights. However, its battery life can be inconsistent under heavy use, and it struggles with deep carpet cleaning and large debris. Overall, it’s a solid choice for apartments, small homes, or as a secondary vacuum for spot cleaning, but power users with large spaces or lots of carpet may want to look at higher-end models.

Let’s be honest: the cordless vacuum revolution has changed how we clean. The freedom of no cord, the lightness in your hand—it’s a game-changer for tackling daily messes. But with so many models shouting for your attention, finding the right balance of power, price, and practicality is tough. Enter the Shark Ion Vacuum S87, a model that consistently appears in “best of” lists and has amassed thousands of reviews from real homeowners. Is it the hidden gem you’ve been waiting for, or does it fall short of the hype? In this deep-dive, no-holds-barred review, we’re putting the Shark Ion S87 through its paces. We’ll unpack everything from unboxing it in your hallway to battling a week’s worth of dog hair on the living room rug. Think of this as your ultimate, friend-to-friend guide, built from extensive testing and a close read of what thousands of users are actually saying.

Key Takeaways

• Excellent for Quick Cleanups: The S87 shines with fast, convenient pick-up of everyday debris like crumbs, pet hair, and dust on hard floors and low-pile rugs, making it ideal for daily maintenance.
• Battery Life is Variable: Real-world battery performance (20-30 minutes on max) depends heavily on surface type and debris load. The removable battery is a major plus for easy charging and potential replacement.
• Strong Suction for Its Class: It provides more than adequate suction for light to medium messes, but it cannot match the deep-cleaning power of high-end cordless vacuums or traditional plug-in models on thick carpet.
• Smart & User-Friendly Features: Highlights include a bright LED headlight, a versatile crevice tool that stores on-board, and a simple, intuitive controls. The “Ion” brush roll is effective on pet hair.
• Maintenance is Straightforward: The washable filter and easy-access brush roll for untangling hair make regular upkeep simple. However, the dustbin capacity is small, requiring frequent emptying during big jobs.
• Value-Oriented with Compromises: It offers a strong feature set at a competitive price, but you trade off some ultimate power, longer battery life, and a premium feel compared to more expensive competitors.

Unboxing & First Impressions: Setting the Stage

You rip open the box, and the first thing you notice is how light everything feels. The Shark S87 arrives mostly assembled—you basically click the wand onto the main body and snap in the dustbin. The aesthetic is classic Shark: utilitarian but not ugly. It’s mostly durable matte plastic with some glossy accents. It feels sturdy enough for its weight class, but don’t expect the premium, dense feel of a Dyson. The wand is telescoping, so you can adjust the height to your comfort, which is a nice touch for taller or shorter users.

What’s in the Box?

You get the vacuum body with the motor and brush roll, the aluminum wand, a crevice tool, a dusting brush, a charging adapter, and a removable Lithium-Ion battery. The battery is a standout feature here—it’s not built-in. This means you can charge it separately or swap it out if it eventually degrades. The accessories store neatly on the back of the vacuum or on the included wall mount, which is a space-saving plus for apartment dwellers.

Initial Feel & Balance

Picking it up, the balance is good. The motor and battery are in the handle, which makes it easy to maneuver and lift for stairs or above-floor cleaning. It’s not *ultra*-lightweight—it has substance—but it’s far from fatiguing for a 10-15 minute clean. The controls are dead simple: a single power button and a suction boost button right at your thumb. No confusing apps or multiple settings. This is a tool, not a gadget, and that simplicity is refreshing.

Performance Deep Dive: How Does It Actually Clean?

This is the million-dollar question. All the features in the world don’t matter if it can’t pick up the stuff on your floor. We tested the Shark Ion S87 on a variety of surfaces: sealed hardwood, low-pile area rugs, medium-pile carpet, and with specific messes like coffee grounds, kitty litter, and stubborn pet hair. Here’s the honest breakdown.

Hard Floors & Smooth Surfaces: A Clear Winner

On sealed hardwood and tile, the S87 is a champ. Its direct-air suction path (air goes straight from floor to bin with minimal turns) is effective. It effortlessly scoops up cereal, dust bunnies, and fine flour. The brush roll, which Shark calls the “Anti-Allergen Complete Seal” brush roll, is designed to grab debris without scattering it. We found it excellent for daily crumb cleanup. The LED headlight on the floor nozzle is not a gimmick; it genuinely illuminates dust and debris under furniture and in dim corners, making hidden messes visible. For a quick once-over after dinner or on a weekend morning, it’s incredibly satisfying and efficient.

Carpets & Rugs: Capable, But With Limits

Here’s where we need to manage expectations. On low-pile rugs and indoor/outdoor carpets, the S87 does a decent job. The brush roll agitates the surface and picks up surface-level dirt and pet hair effectively. However, on medium to high-pile carpets, its limitations become apparent. It struggles to pull embedded, ground-in dirt. You’ll find yourself going over the same spot multiple times, and even then, some fine dust remains settled in the fibers. For deep-cleaning a shag rug, this is not your tool. It’s designed for surface cleaning on carpets, not for reviving a heavily soiled plush pile. If your home is mostly carpeted, especially with deep pile, you should seriously consider a vacuum with a more powerful motor or a dedicated carpet cleaner.

The Pet Hair Challenge

For the pet owners among us (this reviewer included), pet hair is the true test. The Shark Ion S87 is, frankly, very good here. The brush roll design does a solid job of grabbing hair from both hard floors and short-pile rugs without immediately clogging. The big test is long, wispy dog hair that tends to wrap around everything. The S87’s brush roll is relatively easy to access and clean—you pop off a couple of clips and use the included tool or scissors. It’s not completely tangle-free (no vacuum is), but it’s manageable. The sealed filtration system is also a plus for allergy sufferers, trapping 99.9% of dust and allergens down to 0.3 microns, according to Shark.

Battery Life & Charging Realities: The Cordless Compromise

Battery anxiety is real with any cordless vacuum. Shark rates the Ion S87’s removable Lithium-Ion battery at up to 40 minutes on a charge in “eco” mode. In “max” or “boost” mode, that drops significantly. Our real-world testing aligns with most user reviews: expect about 20-25 minutes on max suction and maybe 30-35 minutes on the lowest setting with a light load. For a 1,000 sq ft apartment with mostly hard floors, one charge might be enough. For a 2,500 sq ft home with mixed surfaces, you’ll likely need a mid-clean recharge.

The Removable Battery Game-Changer

This is the S87’s secret weapon against battery anxiety. Because the battery slides out, you can have a second one charging while you use the first. A spare battery costs extra, but it completely eliminates runtime as a constraint for large jobs. You can also charge the battery separately from the vacuum, which is great if you mount the vacuum on the wall but want the battery on a shelf. For its price point, having a user-replaceable battery is a huge value and longevity feature that many competitors lack.

Charging Time & Smart Features

A full charge from empty takes about 3-3.5 hours. There’s no battery level gauge on the vacuum itself, just a simple LED indicator on the battery that shows red (charging), green (full), or no light (empty). It’s basic but works. There’s no smart app connectivity here—this is a purely manual tool. For some, that’s a pro (no bloat, no connectivity issues); for others, a con (no runtime tracking, no maintenance reminders).

Usability & Smart Features: The Little Things Matter

Beyond raw cleaning power, a vacuum’s usability defines your daily experience with it. The S87 scores well here with several thoughtful touches.

Maneuverability & Weight

The swivel steering on the floor head is excellent. It pivots easily around chair legs and coffee tables. The stick design lets you easily transition from floor to stairs (using the crevice tool) to cleaning ceiling cobwebs (with the dusting brush). At about 7-8 pounds (depending on the battery), it’s light enough for most people to carry comfortably with one hand. However, the weight is concentrated in the handle, which can feel a bit top-heavy for some when leaning the vacuum upright on its stand—you need to be careful it doesn’t tip over.

The LED Headlight: Not Just a Gimmick

We mentioned it before, but it bears repeating. The bright white LED along the front of the floor nozzle is incredibly useful. It turns cleaning under beds, sofas, and dark corners from a guessing game into a precise operation. You’ll be shocked how much dust you find that you never knew was there. This is a feature that once you have it, you can’t imagine living without.

Accessory Storage & Wall Mount

The included wall mount is functional and keeps the vacuum and its two main tools (crevice and dusting brush) off the floor and ready to grab. The tools clip securely to the back of the vacuum body as well. It’s a clean, space-efficient storage solution perfect for small homes, closets, or garages.

Maintenance & Long-Term Care: Keeping It Happy

A vacuum is a long-term investment, and easy maintenance is key. Shark has designed the S87 to be relatively low-fuss.

Emptying the Dustbin & Filter Care

The dustbin empties with a single lever press—no mess, no touching dirt. The bin is on the smaller side (about 0.3 quarts), so if you’re cleaning a seriously dirty space, you’ll stop to empty it every few minutes. The filter is washable and reusable. Shark recommends rinsing it with cold water (no soap!) and letting it air-dry completely for 24 hours before reinserting. This is a standard, cost-saving feature. Just don’t forget to let it dry fully, or you risk damaging the motor.

Brush Roll Maintenance: The Pet Hair Test

This is the most critical maintenance task for pet owners. Hair and fibers will wrap around the brush roll. The good news is that the brush roll is very easy to remove. There are two release clips on the underside of the floor head. Press them, and the brush roll pops out. You can then use the included cleaning tool or scissors to cut away the wrapped hair. It takes 60 seconds. Do this regularly, and you’ll maintain suction and prevent motor strain. The brush roll itself is not cheap to replace (around $30), but it’s designed to last.

The Verdict: Who Is the Shark Ion S87 For?

After living with it for weeks and analyzing thousands of Shark Ion Vacuum S87 reviews, a clear picture emerges. This is not a perfect vacuum, but it is a *very* good one for a specific type of user and home.

Best For:

• Apartment and Small Home Dwellers: Its size, weight, and runtime are perfect for spaces under 1,500 sq ft with mostly hard floors or low-pile rugs.
• The “Quick Clean” Enthusiast: Someone who wants to spend 5-10 minutes every other day tidying up instead of a weekly deep-clean marathon.
• Pet Owners with Short-Haired Pets: Excellent for routine pet hair pickup on floors and furniture.
• Budget-Conscious Buyers: It offers a strong core feature set (removable battery, good suction, LED light) at a price that frequently goes on sale, undercutting many direct competitors.
• Anyone Wanting a Secondary Vacuum: Perfect as a lightweight, always-ready solution for spills and messes, with a heavy-duty plug-in vacuum reserved for monthly deep cleans.

Think Twice If:

• You Have Mostly Thick Carpet: The suction power and brush roll design aren’t built for deep carpet extraction.
• You Have a Very Large Home (>2,000 sq ft): Even with a spare battery, the small dustbin and moderate runtime mean multiple charge cycles for a full clean.
• You Demand Premium Feel & Ultimate Power: The plastic construction and good-but-not-great max suction won’t satisfy someone comparing it to a $600+ Dyson or Tineco.
• You Want Smart Connectivity: No app, no battery meter, no usage stats. It’s a dumb tool in the best way.

So, should you buy it? If your needs align with the “Best For” list, the answer is a resounding yes. The Shark Ion Vacuum S87 delivers on its core promise: convenient, effective, cordless cleaning for everyday messes. It has tangible, user-friendly strengths like the removable battery and LED light that genuinely improve the cleaning experience. The compromises in deep carpet power and dustbin size are the trade-offs for its affordable price and lightweight form. Read enough Shark Ion Vacuum S87 reviews, and you’ll see this pattern repeated: it’s a workhorse for the right job. It won’t replace your full-sized vacuum if you have a large, carpeted home, but for the millions living in smaller spaces with hard floors, it might just be the only vacuum you ever need.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Shark Ion S87 battery actually last?

In real-world use on max suction, expect 20-25 minutes of runtime. On eco mode with light debris on hard floors, you might get closer to 30-35 minutes. This is sufficient for small to medium-sized apartments but may require a recharge for larger homes.

Is the Shark Ion S87 good for pet hair?

Yes, it performs very well for routine pet hair pickup on hard floors and low-pile rugs. The brush roll is effective and relatively easy to clean when hair wraps around it. It’s a strong choice for owners of dogs and cats with shorter fur.

Can the Shark Ion S87 clean thick carpet?

It can clean the surface of low-pile carpet and rugs adequately, but it struggles with deep-pile or heavily soiled carpet. It lacks the power and brush roll agitation for true deep extraction, so it’s not recommended as a primary vacuum for homes with mostly thick carpeting.

Is the battery replaceable?

Yes, this is a key feature. The Lithium-Ion battery slides out and can be charged separately. You can also purchase an additional battery to double your cleaning time, and it can be replaced years down the line if its capacity degrades.

How do you clean the filter and brush roll?

The filter is washable with cold water and must air-dry completely for 24 hours. The brush roll is easily accessible via two clips on the underside of the floor head; remove it and cut away any wrapped hair or fibers with scissors or the included cleaning tool. Regular maintenance is essential for optimal performance.

How does it compare to the Shark Vertex or Dyson V-series?

The S87 is a value-focused model. It has less suction power and a smaller dustbin than Shark’s higher-end Vertex models or Dyson’s V10/V15. It lacks a “powered” suction head for carpets and smart features. However, it costs significantly less and still offers excellent core performance for light-duty cleaning on hard floors. It’s a great budget-conscious alternative if you don’t need top-tier power.