4 Best Vacuum for Shag Carpets [Tested & Tried]

Published by Ahmad Jamal on July 5, 2023

Shag carpets have been providing houses, palaces, cabins, and lodges with a luxurious look for ages. Preserving their cleanliness hasn’t been an easy job either. That’s where this article comes in handy, as it’ll show you the path towards picking the best vacuum for shag carpets.

Whether it’s a ranch, an office, or the living room, they all deserve to look classy, beautifully designed, and pleasing to the eye.

However, cleaning or vacuuming your luxurious shag carpet will be a hard task if you don’t have the right equipment, starting with your main cleaning device, the vacuum.

In this article at CleanersAdvisor, you’ll know the benefits of obtaining a shag carpet, and what specific features you should look for in those vacuums, to make sure they meet your basic vacuuming needs.


How We Tested Best Vacuum for Shag Carpets

To help you make up your mind on which one is the Best Vacuum for Shag Carpets, we tested 15 different vacuums on the market, and carried out the tests on different shag carpet types to find out how they perform.

Additionally, we tested every vacuum on different debris and dirt types, to determine which dirt types are easier to take care of on shag carpets and which are not.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a table of comparison explaining the results of our testing on those vacuums, and which are the best 4 models you should choose from.

The vacuums with the more powerful suction power, is easily pet hair friendly, and obtains a HEPA filter can rank higher than those who lack such features.

Read along.


Why You Should Obtain a Shag Carpet?

Shag Carpets were known later than regular carpets, more specifically in the late ‘60s & early ‘70s.

History books indicated that ancient Greece introduced those rugs way earlier than the 1960s.

With that in mind, shag carpets provide the following:

  • Unique Touch & Visually Pleasing
  • Variation of Colors, Sizes, & Shapes
  • Trendy & Textural
  • Comfy & Soft

Best Vacuum for Shag Carpets:

1. Miele Complete C3 Marin Canister Vacuum Cleaner

2. Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright Vacuum

3. HOOVER T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind Upright Vacuum

4. Kenmore Elite Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Miele Complete C3 Marin Miele Complete C3 Marin Canister Vacuum Cleaner Our Testers Pick Check Price
Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright Vacuum Cleaner Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright Vacuum Runner-Up Check Price
Hoover T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind HOOVER T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind Upright Vacuum Most Economical Choice Check Price
Kenmore Elite 21814 Pet Friendly CrossOver Kenmore Elite Canister Vacuum Cleaner Most Expensive Check Price

1. Miele Complete C3 Marin Canister Vacuum Review

Miele Complete C3 Marin Canister Vacuum

Technical Specs

Motor Power: 1200w

Weight: 19.4 Pounds

Additional Helpful Equipment: Dusting Brush, Upholstery Tool, Crevice Nozzle

Filter: HEPA AirClean Filtration System

The first vacuum on our list of best vacuum for shag carpets is the Miele Complete C3 Marin, with its five height adjustments & automatic power settings, earning it the #1 rank on the list.

It still has more features, let’s find out more about them.

Miele Complete C3 Marin Benefits and Drawbacks

Easy to Maneuver

The Miele Complete C3 Marin enjoys 5 height adjustments, enabling you to quickly move the canister from the shag to the hard floors or vinyl floors and back to the shag again in an easy motion.

If you’d like to mix the shag carpets with vinyl floors, then check the best vacuum for vinyl floor article.

Its automatic settings make it easier and less tiring during a vacuuming trip all over the room.

Adjustable Cleaning Power

That’s exactly what you need in a shag carpet vacuum, an adjustable cleaning power. The Miele Complete C3 Marin is included with that.

Turning it on and off is only a foot press away, as the foot pedal is right on the canister.

HEPA Filter: Check

If you or a family member suffer from an allergy, the HEPA AirClean Filter equipped to the Miele Complete C3 Marin will solve that problem for good, at least when it comes to allergens coming from Shag Carpets.

It’s proven to collect near 100% of all the particles or organisms that are usually found in the air of the room or the lounge.

Important Attachments

You rarely find a vacuum that’s popular & effective, while at the same time lacking the important attachments.

The same goes for the Miele Complete C3 Marin, as it comes with a crevice nozzle, an upholstery tool, and a dusting brush.

Expensive

Even if it’s the best vacuum for shag carpets, it still has some downsides I won’t look away from.

It’s not easy to obtain as it’s too expensive.

However, if you compare it to the incredible features it provides, it deserves every penny.

What Our Testers Say About Miele Complete C3 Marin

“Incredibly suitable suction power, with intelligent attachments, and a HEPA Filter, the Miele Complete C3 Marin earned its weight in gold, on the top of our list of best vacuum for shag carpets.”

Our Testers Ratings

Suction Power on Shag Carpets: 5/5

Versatility: 5/5

Maneuverability: 4/5

Noise Level: 4.5/5


2. Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright Vacuum Review

Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright Vacuum

Technical Specs

Motor Power: 1200w

Weight: 10.5 Pounds

Additional Helpful Equipment: Ultra-soft bristle brushroll

Filter: HEPA Filter

The name implies it’s carpet-specific, right? You’re right. The Soniclean Soft Carpet is a moderately priced vacuum that specializes in vacuuming carpets, and more importantly, shag carpets.

The Soniclean Soft Carpet is a close second to the Miele Complete C3, but its main feature is the Vibrating, not the controllable suction power like the C3.

Soniclean Soft Carpet Benefits and Drawbacks

Vibration + Dirt Suction

Originally, vacuums suck the dirt from or out of the surface it’s occupying, with Soniclean, it’s driven outside the surface by the powerful vibration it launches.

The Soniclean vibrates at the speed of 200 vibrations/second, forcing the dirt that’s stuck to the surface of the shag carpet to come out voluntarily.

Smooth Movement

Upright vacuums are manufactured to be and look robust, so they require a huge deal of smooth movement to operate as well as required.

Therefore, Soniclean enjoys a vent system equipped with large wheels, to provide the upright vacuum with better movement.

Effective Brush Roll

If the vibration is effective, and the suction power is suitable, then an effective brush roll is a must, to complete the effectiveness circle.

An ultra-soft brush roll can be equipped to the Soniclean, providing a new layer of effectiveness and protection to your shag carpet.

Controllable Suction

As I said in the introduction, this is a must for any vacuum for shag carpets, and it’s available in the Soniclean Soft Carpet.

It has adjustable vents on the front of the aforementioned brush roller, which give the ability to control how much suction is needed to perform perfect vacuuming on the shag carpet.

Higher suction power work on taller shag, and lower suction power is sufficient for textured ones.

Mediocre on Hard Floors

The Top #1 vacuum on our list of Best vacuum for shag carpets can maneuver easily between both the shag carpets & hard floors.

However, Soniclean Soft Carpet can’t. It has a hard time vacuuming hard floors, which resulted in being a close #2 behind the Miele Complete C3 Marin.

What Our Testers Say About Soniclean Soft Carpet

“The Soniclean Soft Carpet has nearly everything you want in a vacuum for shag carpets, between the perfect stick head, the amazing vibration technique, and the adjustable power levels, the Soniclean Soft Carpet is a perfect pick for a vacuum for shag carpets. If your house consists of laminate floors & shag carpets, then this is the pick for you.”

Our Testers Ratings

Suction Power on Shag Carpets: 4.5/5

Versatility: 4/5

Maneuverability: 4.5/5

Noise Level: 4/5


3. Hoover T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind Upright Vacuum Review

HOOVER T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind Upright Vacuum

Technical Specs

Motor Power: 1200w

Weight: 18.7 Pounds

Additional Helpful Equipment: Crevice Tool, Turbo Tool, Dusting Brush

Filter: HEPA Filter

Another upright vacuum earned its spot on our list of best vacuum for shag carpets, and it’s the Hoover WindTunnel Pet Rewind.

Its ability to work perfectly on shag carpets isn’t the only feature it has, It can also suit rooms with both shag carpets & Vinyl floors.

HOOVER T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind Benefits and Drawbacks

Suitable Suction

it’s powered by the WindTunnel technology, which creates suction to lift and remove surface debris and deeply embedded dirt.

Moreover, it doesn’t provide the powerful suction immediately, or a lower level of suction, it only provides the “suitable” level, which is great for a vacuum obtained for shag carpets.

HEPA Filtration

This is a huge plus to any vacuum, let alone the powerful Upright Vacuum of Hoover T-Series WindTunnel.

It provides up to 99.7% filtration of dirt, which is humongous, for the cleanliness of the air inside your house, and against any allergens that may be hiding stealth ready for attack.

Long-living

Are you someone with no intention to move from your current house? Then a long-living vacuum is a must for you.

Upright vacuums are originally manufactured to last more years than nearly any other vacuum type, with their robust build, so is the Hoover T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind.

Pet Hair Friendly

Pet hair can literally get stuck inside high-tile carpets for the longest periods of time, and for that, you need a pet hair-friendly vacuum to dispose of it.

The Hoover T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind is included with an air-powered pet hand tool, just for that job.

Heavier than other vacuums

Its pros can’t hide the cons from neither me nor you. The Hoover T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind is a heavy vacuum that requires good body strength to maneuver around the house.

To counter this, you just need a person who can move it with ease to deploy it somewhere in the center of the room with the help of the long cord of 25 ft, and you can just use it from there.

What Our Testers Say About Hoover T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind

“The name gives the information away, it’s a pet hair-friendly vacuum that can perfectly work around both shag carpets and floors. It’s a long-lasting vacuum, with the much-needed adjustable suction power for any shag carpets’ owner.”

Our Testers Ratings

Suction Power on Shag Carpets: 4/5

Versatility: 3.5/5

Maneuverability: 4.5/5

Noise Level: 4/5


4. Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly CrossOver Lightweight Canister Vacuum

Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly CrossOver Lightweight Canister Vacuum

Technical Specs

Motor Power: 1200w

Weight: 23 Pounds

Additional Helpful Equipment: Crevice Nozzle, Upholstery Brush, Dusting Brush, Fan Tool

Filter: HEPA Filter

Kenmore Elite is optimized with a 14-inch-wide brush head, that has the capacity to get rid of any type or amount of dirt it faces.
This is one of many features, that I’ll take about in the next section.

Kenmore Elite 21814 Pet Friendly CrossOver Benefits and Drawbacks

Motorized Attachment

The main feature of the Kenmore Elite 21814 is its motorized attachment. It is created to dispose of difficult pet hair debris from any surface it got stuck it, including the shag carpets.

According to the manufacturer, the brush roll design can help you keep this pet hair from entangling the bristles of the vacuum.

Its ultra-plush carpet-head also fits the bill if you have high-pile carpets.

Versatility

User reviews did the Kenmore right by affirming –in multiple reviews- that it can work on various surfaces with the same quality.

If you have a room with both a hard floor with a shag carpet centering the room, the Kenmore Elite 21814 can do both very well.

HEPA Filter

The availability of a HEPA filter is a must to dissolve the threat of any allergens.

However, the Kenmore Elite 21814 Pet Friendly, has multiple filters alongside the HEPA, and the first one is washable for clearer filtering.

Better Storage Space

Kenmore Elite 21814 Pet-Friendly CrossOver features a retractable power cord, making the storage far easier.

Heavy

Similar to the #2 on our list the Hoover T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind, it is pet friendly, but it is too heavy for a vacuum.

It helps when you think about the pros, but you can turn away from the heavyweight you’ll have to deal with when you obtain the Kenmore Elite 21814 Pet-Friendly CrossOver.

What Our Testers Say About Kenmore Elite 21814 Pet Friendly CrossOver

“The Kenmore Elite 21814 Pet-Friendly CrossOver is well-designed to get rid of pet hair and to work on different surfaces with ease. It also has a motorized brush & ultra-plush carpet-head specialized for each job separately.”

Our Testers Ratings

Suction Power on Shag Carpets: 4.5/5

Versatility: 4/5

Maneuverability: 4/5

Noise Level: 3.5/5


Best Vacuum for Shag Carpets Compared

Vacuums/Our Testers Rating In Each CategorySuction Power on Shag CarpetsVersatilityManeuverabilityNoise Level
1. Miele Complete C3 Marin Canister Vacuum Cleaner5/55/54/54.5/5
2. Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright Vacuum4.5/54/54.5/54/5
3. HOOVER T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind Upright Vacuum4/53.54.5/54/5
4. Kenmore Elite Canister Vacuum Cleaner4.5/54/54/53.5/5

Best Vacuum for Shag Carpets FAQs

To Wrap Up

This list includes the 4 best vacuum for Shag Carpets, all of them earned a +90% overall rating for their fulfillment of the basic needs in any vacuum for shag carpets.

However, slight differences are normally found between them, and this is what makes every vacuum special in its own way.

Choose wisely, and remember: you only deserve the luxurious and clean look for your room whenever you are!