AS someone who tried and failed for years to master the art of the at-home blowout, I have the rise of air tools to thank for my transformed hair styling routine.
Every hair tool under the sun promises “salon-worthy results at home,” and I’ve been testing theShark FlexStylehair tool for a year to determine if it can truly deliver.
Before and after using the FlexStyle’s auto-wrap curling barrels
Shark FlexStyle Air Styler and Hair Dryer, £229.99 (was £279.99)
Known originally for its popular vacuums, Shark branched out into the beauty tech space in 2022 with the launch of the FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System.
The beauty gadget features five different attachments, with an option to build your own bundle based on your hair type.
All of the FlexStyle attachments can also be bought separately on the Shark website for £24.99 each, so you can add to your collection over time.
Shark swooped in at a time when beauty enthusiasts were searching for a more affordable alternative to the £400+ Airwrap.
At £279.99, it’s still an investment, but it’s a fraction of the cost of a Dyson Airwrap i.d.
Is it worth ditching your current tools for an all-in-one gadget? Read below for my full Shark FlexStyle review.
Pros:
Creates voluminous blow-outs
Minimal heat damage
Requires little effort (once you nail the technique)
Multiple attachments included
Option to build your own set
Easy to switch between styler and dryer
Cheaper than similar alternatives
Cons:
Noisy
Bulky for travelling
Takes a while to master the technique
Hot brush attachment can feel rough on the hair
Rating: 8/10
How I tested the Shark FlexStyle Air Styler
I have the Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Styling and Drying System
Shark FlexStyle Air Styler and Hair Dryer, £229.99 (was £279.99)
As The Sun’s Fashion and Beauty eCommerce Writer, it’s my job to try out products that are causing a buzz in the industry.
I’m obsessed with all things beauty, so I’ve tested my fair share of hair stylers over the years, including the best Dyson Airwrap dupe and my Dyson Airwrap i.d review, but it takes a lot for one to become a regular in my routine.
The hype around the Shark FlexStyle is still going, and I can confidently share my thoughts after trialling the tool for a year.
The Smoothing Concentrator (hair drying nozzle) and Auto-Wrap Curling Barrels are my go-to FlexStyle attachments, so I’ll be talking mostly about them.
But I’ve also tested the Paddle Brush, Oval Brush and Fizz Fighter heads.
For reference, I have long, wavy hair that can get frizzy after washing, and I have extensions.
Shark FlexStyle review: Quickfire Q&A
How much is the Shark FlexStyle? The beauty tech tool would usually set you back between £250 and £300, but the build-your-own version is currently on sale for £199.99 on the Shark website.
Who’s it best for? As it has multiple functions, all hair types are likely to benefit, although I’d say it’s most effective for those with long and thick hair because it speeds up drying time and holds a curl for longer on thick tresses.
What we loved: How efficiently it creates a voluminous blow-out without causing heat damage, and how the attachments can create a range of styles.
What we didn’t: The loud noise it makes during use, and the fact that it’s too bulky for travelling.
Shark FlexStyle attachments: In the classic set or build-your-own bundle, the following accessories are available: Paddle Brush, Oval Brush, Auto-Wrap Curlers, Styling Concentrator, Diffuser, FrizzFighter Finishing Tool and Wide Tooth Comb.
Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 air styler review: The Nitty Gritty
First impressions
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The Shark hair tool comes with two curling barrels for each side of the head
Shark FlexStyle Air Styler and Hair Dryer, £229.99 (was £279.99)
Every beauty influencer in existence seems to own the FlexStyle, so I was pretty familiar with its appearance before trying it out.
While sleek in design, the cable and attachments together are on the bulky side (which is to be expected due to its multiple functions), but it’s meant I’ve avoided travelling with it so far.
When purchasing the FlexStyle, shoppers can select the five-in-one bundle, or mix and match their own (choosing four attachments).
I have the model that comes with five attachments: Auto-Wrap Curlers (one for each side of the head), a Paddle Brush, an Oval Brush, a Styling Concentrator, and a Diffuser.
My Fizz Fighter Finishing Tool is a new addition, which I bought separately to try and tame my frizz at my roots.
As I have attachments in my bundle that I don’t use (the diffuser, as it’s designed for curly/ coily hair), I would recommend the Build Your Own Hair Styling and Drying System to get the most for your money.
Does it deliver?
If you’re looking for a way to create bouncy blow-outs yourself, the Shark FlexStyle absolutely delivers, but it does take practice to perfect the process.
My biggest reservation about the FlexStyle before trying it was the drying system.
The FlexStyle rotates to transform from a styler to a hair dryer
Shark FlexStyle Air Styler and Hair Dryer, £229.99 (was £279.99)
A multitasking styler runs the risk of being a jack of all trades but a master of none, but Shark has ensured its hair dryer doesn’t compromise on power.
I swear by my Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer for quick results on my long hair, and the FlexStyle pretty much matches its drying time.
Call me easily pleased, but the way the tool rotates between a dryer and a styler is one of my favourite features.
The fact that it twists into a right angle makes it so much easier to use, and — in a common theme with the FlexStyle — it never makes me feel like I’m overworking to get results.
There are three heat and power settings (I tend to use mine on full blast), and following the instructions of online videos, I always use the Cool Shot feature for locking the style in place.
The Paddle Brush (for straight styles) and the Oval Brush (for blow-outs) both have boar and plastic bristles that are great for gripping the hair, but I’d recommend being gentle to avoid snagging the hair.
The newest addition to my routine is the Frizz Fighter Finishing Tool.
Like the barrels, it attracts the hair, gliding from the root to smooth frizz and flyaways, essentially enhancing the effects of the other attachments.
Now, for quite possibly the main selling point — the Auto-Wrap Curling Barrels.
My curls drop out the following day, but still give a blown-out look
Shark FlexStyle Air Styler and Hair Dryer, £229.99 (was £279.99)
I have to admit, I was quickly humbled when I realised that the beauty influencers were making the process look far easier than it is.
The airflow technology makes the air wrap around the barrel automatically to create a curl, but I struggled with getting it to pick up the hair for the first few attempts.
And when I did, the curl would drop out within the first few hours.
After plenty of practice (and TikTok tutorials), I managed to master the method, but patience is needed.
I found the key is keeping the sections small as it makes it easier for the hair to wrap, and use a product to hold the curls (I swear by the Colour Wow XL Volumiser).
Unlike when I use curling tongs, the curls aren’t going to last me for days on end, but they do look great that day, and after sleeping on them, I’m left with a subtle wave that I’ll sometimes go over with the barrels.
I also find the whole process to be far more enjoyable than curling my hair with tongs (which could be down to years of the same routine) – and the airflow makes creating curls far more efficient.
The one thing I’d change about the FlexStyle is the noise.
Shark upgraded the barrels in the 2025 version of the FlexStyle
Shark FlexStyle Air Styler and Hair Dryer, £229.99 (was £279.99)
When my roommate borrows it, I can hear the whirring from the other side of the flat, so it’s not one you could use while watching TV or late at night.
Keeping heat damage to a minimum is important to me as I already put enough strain on my hair with bleach, extensions and frequent styling.
Can I confidently say that the FlexStyle causes zero damage? No.
But can I confidently say that it creates a salon-worthy blow-out while causing far, far less damage than other hair tools? Absolutely.
Results aside, I can tell when I’m using the FlexStyle that it’s transferring way less heat than a tong or straightener (you can read my article on the best hair straighteners here).
There’s no burning smell (and if there is, you may need to clean the filter), and my hair has felt healthier since ditching the tongs for the FlexStyle regularly.
I love how my hair turns out every time I use the Shark FlexStyle, and it’s absolutely worth investing time to master the technique in order to get professional-looking results.
The verdict: Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Style
The FlexStyle is a great option for those who want to create bouncy blow-outs with minimal skill and effort.
It takes some practice to get used to, especially when using the curling attachments, and can be quite noisy, but for me, the pros far outweigh the cons.
For its price and versatility (it works as a dryer, brush and curling tool), the FlexStyle is a semi-affordable option – it’s cheaper than its competitors – that takes care of your whole haircare routine in one.
Shark FlexStyle Build Your Own Styling and Drying System, £199.99 (was £249.99) – buy here
Shark FlexStyle FAQs:
Shark FlexStyle price
The Shark FlexStyle isn’t cheap, but if you’re keen to invest in a does-it-all hair tool, it’s more affordable than its competitors.
There are several colourways to choose from, including the limited-edition sparkle FlexStyle that comes in stunning champagne and black shades (and would be perfect if you’re buying the styler as a gift).
The full list of places to shop online:
Is the Shark FlexStyle worth it?
Using the Shark FlexStyle takes some practice to get it right, but once you get the technique down, it’s so worth it.
The styler works effectively on long and thick hair, but those with fine hair will need to work harder for long-lasting curls.
At over £250+, it’s not cheap, but if you blow-dry and curl your hair regularly, it’s an investment worth considering.
PORTLAND, Maine — Australian scientists tested the strength of bite-resistant wetsuits by allowing sharks to chomp the materials at sea and found that the suits can help keep swimmers safe.
Fatal shark bites are vanishingly rare, with less than 50 unprovoked shark bites on humans worldwide in 2024, according to the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History. But increased sightings of large sharks in some parts of the world have swimmers, surfers and divers looking for new ways to stay safe.
Scientists with Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, tested four bite-resistant materials and found they all reduced the amount of damage from shark bites. They performed the work by dragging samples of the materials behind boats and allowing white and tiger sharks to bite the samples.
The bites from such large sharks can still cause internal and crushing injuries, but the materials showed effectiveness beyond a standard neoprene wetsuit, the scientists said. The research found that the bite-resistant materials “can reduce injuries sustained from shark encounters,” said Flinders professor Charlie Huveneers, a member of the Southern Shark Ecology Group at Flinders and a study co-author.
“Bite-resistant material do not prevent shark bites, but can reduce injuries from shark bites and can be worn by surfers and divers,” Huveneers said.
There were small differences between the four tested materials, but they all “reduced the amount of substantial and critical damage, which would typically be associated with severe hemorrhaging and tissue or limb loss,” said Tom Clarke, a researcher with the science and engineering college at Flinders and a study co-author.
Chainmail suits to resist shark bites have existed for decades, but lack in flexibility for aquatic activities like surfing and diving, the scientists said in research published in the journal Wildlife Research on Thursday. Newer wetsuits can be designed to provide flexibility as well as protection.
The scientists tested the efficacy of wetsuit materials Aqua Armour, Shark Stop, ActionTX-S and Brewster. The scientists said in their paper that they found that all of the materials “offer an improved level of protection that can reduce severe wounds and blood loss, and should be considered as part of the toolbox and measures available to reduce shark-bite risk and resulting injuries.”
The promise of effective shark resistant wetsuits is encouraging for people who spend a lot of time in areas where there are large sharks, said Nick Whitney, a senior scientist and chair of the Fisheries Science and Emerging Technologies Program at the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life in Boston. That includes surfers and spearfishers, he said.
Whitney, who was not involved in the study, said it’s also encouraging that the materials are unlikely to make a person “feel invincible” and engage in risky behaviors around sharks.
“I also like it because it’s not relying on any impact on the shark’s behavior,” Whitney said. “It’s basically very, very simple. In the extremely rare event that you get bitten by a shark, this material will hopefully make you bleed less than you would if you were not wearing this.”
The researchers said the suits do not eliminate all risks from sharks, and precautions still need to be taken around the animals.
They are hopeful their research will help the public “make appropriate decisions about the suitability of using these products,” Huveneers said.
Lulu Gribbin, 15, was brutally attacked by a sharkCredit: ABC News
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Mom, Ann Blair Gribbin, Dad, Joe Gribbin and her twin sister EllieCredit: ABC News
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Lulu recalls seeing a ‘shadow’ in the water before being savaged by the beastCredit: Caringbridge
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The teenager was airlifted to hospitalCredit: South Walton Fire District
She and her family had heard speculation that a shark was in the sea by the beach they were at in Walton County, northwest Florida.
But it wasn’t until the teen saw “a shadow” in the water that panic set in.
She told ABC News: “I never saw a tail or a fin. I never saw its eyes.”
After spotting a “glimpse” of the shark’s body, she initially started swimming as fast as she could.
But after recalling advice she had heard in a movie, she stopped – thinking her frantic movements would encourage the shark to chase her.
It was then that her life would drastically change forever.
She said: “I told everyone to just calm down…and the next thing I know is that I raised my hand out of the water and there just was no hand there.”
Lulu was rushed to the shore where her twin sister, Ellie, sat by her side, keeping her calm and ensuring she remained conscious until paramedics arrived.
Meanwhile, doctors on the beach wrapped a tourniquet around Lulu’s injuries.
Her mom, Ann Blair Gribbin, said she rushed to the beach when her daughter didn’t pick up her phone.
Comparing her child’s injuries to something out of a movie, she said she found her “lifeless” with her “eyes closed, and her mouth white and pale”.
Shark Attack Horror: 8-Year-Old Severely Injured in Florida’s Key Largo
She said: “All I could say was, ‘Just keep breathing. Please keep breathing. God, please let her keep breathing.
“We didn’t know anything, no idea if she was alive.”
The teen was then airlifted to a Pensacola hospital where she underwent multiple surgeries leading to her leg and arm being amputated.
Doctors said she had also lost around two-thirds of the blood in her body.
Following the horror incident, her mom paid tribute to the doctors who saved Lulu’s life.
She also described her daughter as a “miracle” admitting the family’s life will “be forever changed”.
Ann said: “At this point, we will have multiple surgeries in the days to come and our lives will be forever changed.
“She is truly a miracle. We have a long road ahead and our journey is just beginning!”
MULTIPLE ATTACKS
Lulu wasn’t the only victim that day.
According to the teen, there was another shark attack just 90 minutes before just a few miles down the coast.
She said: “If I wouldn’t known about this, I wouldn’t have been in the water”.
Lulu’s friend McCray was also bitten on her foot, and officials suspect the same beast attacked three other people.
This spate of maulings were the first in the county for three years, with the last fatality recorded in Walton County in 2005.
Cops in the area, however, stressed that sharks are always present in the Gulf.
Officers previously said: “Swimmers and beachgoers should be cautious when swimming and stay aware of their surroundings”.
Her brutal attack comes as a little boy was mercilessly savaged off the Florida coast by a blacktip shark earlier this month.
The blacktip shark rushed Richard Burrows, his sister Rose, and his dad, David, as they snorkeled at Horseshoe Reef, about four miles off Key Largo, at around 3 pm on September 1.
Richard was bitten above his right knee and on his arm, leaving him gushing blood in the water as his dad and sister scrambled to help.
David quickly applied a tourniquet to Richard’s leg to stop the bleeding, which doctors later said helped to save his life.
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She recalled the terrifying moment she pulled her arm out the water and her hand wasn’t thereCredit: Instagram /Lulu Gribbin
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Her leg and arm were amputated after she underwent multiple surgeriesCredit: ABC News
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The beach they were at in Walton County, northwest FloridaCredit: ABC News
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The teen spent more than two months in rehabilitationCredit: ABC News
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles says large underwater attack drones have ‘very long range’ of operations.
Published On 10 Sep 202510 Sep 2025
Australia will spend 1.7 billion Australian dollars ($1.1bn) on a fleet of extra-large underwater “Ghost Shark” attack drones, in a move that officials said would supplement the country’s plans to acquire sophisticated nuclear-powered submarines.
Australian Minister for Defence Richard Marles said on Wednesday that the Ghost Shark autonomous underwater vehicles will complement Australia’s naval surface fleet and submarines to provide “a more capable and more lethal navy”.
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“This is a profoundly important capability for the Royal Australian Navy,” Marles said.
“We have consistently articulated that Australia faces the most complex, in some ways, the most threatening, strategic landscape that we have had since the end of the second world war,” Marles said.
The government said it signed the $1.1bn, five-year contract with Anduril Australia to build, maintain and develop the uncrewed undersea vehicles in Australia.
“This is the highest tech capability in the world,” Marles said, adding that the drones would have a “very long range” as well as stealth capabilities.
Australia is in the midst of a major military restructuring, focused on bolstering its long-range strike capabilities in an effort to balance China’s expanding military might in the Asia Pacific region.
An extra-large Ghost Shark autonomous undersea vehicle is displayed at the Royal Australian Navy base HMAS Kuttabul, in Sydney, Australia, on September 10, 2025 [Hollie Adams/Reuters]
Marles also said that Australia was now a leading player in “the world in terms of autonomous underwater military capabilities, and Ghost Shark is capable of engaging in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike”.
Dozens of Ghost Sharks will be built in Australia, with opportunities to export to the country’s allies, Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said, adding that the first Ghost Sharks will be in service at the beginning of 2026.
Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group has said it wants to incorporate autonomous technology into the country’s defence forces because Australia has a vast coastline and up to 3 million square kilometres (1.1 million square miles) of northern ocean that needs to be defended, but only a relatively sparse population.
Separately, Australia plans to build stealth, nuclear-powered submarines with the United Kingdom and the United States under the AUKUS programme over three decades.
But critics of the AUKUS deal in the US have questioned why Washington would sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia without stocking its own military first.
As a result of the criticism, US President Donald Trump’s administration has put AUKUS under review to ensure it aligns with his “America First” agenda.
A man has died on a Sydney beach after being bitten by a suspected “large shark”, Australia’s New South Wales police has said.
In a statement, the police said emergency services pulled the man out of the morning surf onto the shore at Long Reef Beach – but he “died at the scene”.
“Two sections of a surfboard have been recovered and taken for expert examination,” the statement read.
Saturday’s incident has resulted in a string of closures in the popular area known as the Northern Beaches.
The state police said the emergency services acted after receiving reports shortly after 10:00am local time on Saturday (00:00 GMT) that “a man had suffered critical injuries”.
The victim’s identity was yet to be confirmed.
Local police officers and experts would work together to “determine the species of shark involved”.
Prior to that, there had not been a fatal attack since 1963.
Australia typically records about 20 shark attacks each year, with most in New South Wales and Western Australia.
Historically, dying from a shark bite is uncommon. In over a century of records, Australia’s shark attack mortality rate is 0.9 – less than one person per year.
Sept. 1 (UPI) — A shark bit a boy’s leg while he was snorkeling in the Atlantic Ocean near Key Largo on Monday afternoon, prompting first responders to airlift him to a Miami hospital.
The Monroe County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office said the shark bit the 8-year-old at 3:24 p.m. EDT, and Trauma Star airlifted him to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, CBS News and WFOR reported.
Audio from first responders confirmed the boy suffered a shark bite to one of his legs.
The boy was snorkeling near Ocean Reef and off of Horseshoe Reef when the shark bit him above the knee on one leg, according to WPLG.
The boy’s condition is unknown, and the local officials said they notified the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about the shark attack.
The shark attack is the first reported in Monroe County since a shark bit a spearfisher a year ago in July near Key West.
Monroe County encompasses all of the Florida Keys and the southwestern portion of Everglades National Park.
A large variety of sharks inhabit the waters off of Monroe County, including Great Whites, Bull sharks, Hammerheads and Tiger sharks.
THE cordless vacuum revolution is in full swing, and Shark’s IZ202UKT has swaggered onto the scene promising to banish dust bunnies and pet hair with ease and style.
I’ve put the Shark IZ202UKT to the test to see if it’s all flash and no substance, or if it’s the sleek domestic godsend we’ve been praying for.
Shark IZ202UKT Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, £279.99 from Amazon
Pros:
40-minute battery life
Good-sized dustbin (0.7L)
Quiet on hard floors
Sleek and premium design
Lights that highlight missed dirt
Powerful boost trigger
Compact to store
Easy to use
Anti-hair wrap technology
Cons
Heavier than other models
Can struggle in tight corners with the main attachment
Rating: 8.5/10
How I tested
Shark IZ202UKT Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, £279.99 from Amazon
I tested the Shark cordless vacuum out for two months on long- and short-pile carpets and three types of hard floors: laminate, vinyl and engineered wood.
During the testing period, I used each of the attachments and tested the battery by seeing how long it took to run down from a full charge using the normal power (39 minutes) and boost functions (seven and a half minutes).
I used it as my only vacuum during this period to see how well it fares in everyday life, including on stairs and in my car.
I took into consideration the design, ease of use and its innovative functions like the flexology, anti-hair wrap technology and LED headlights.
Shark IZ202UKT review: Quickfire Q&A
How much is the Shark IZ202UKT? The Shark IZ202UKT cordless vacuum cleaner’s RRP is £350. However, you can often find it for less.
Who’s it best for? This is a great option for those with pets, anyone with a mixture of hard and soft flooring and anyone looking for a powerful cordless vacuum with a long battery life.
What I loved: The Shark has a large dustbin and 40-minute battery life, giving me plenty of time to thoroughly vacuum my whole house. I also love its sleek design, headlight that illuminates missed dirt, how easy it is to use and how quiet it is on hard floor mode.
What I didn’t: It’s heavier than my former vacuum (Dyson V8 Animal), and I found that my arm ached after vacuuming for a while. I also noticed that the main attachment didn’t get as tightly into corners as the Dyson’s, and I had to switch to the crevice tool.
Shark IZ202UKT review: The Nitty Gritty
First impressions
Everything that came in the box
Shark IZ202UKT Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, £279.99 from Amazon
Pulling the Shark IZ202UKT out of its box, I could immediately tell it was a solid, well-constructed bit of kit.
It came with four attachments (main anti-hair wrap, upholstery, pet and crevice tools), and assembling the vacuum was a breeze, a testament to Shark’s genuinely logical design.
Everything clicked satisfyingly into place, no head-scratching required.
After charging the vacuum, it took seconds to assemble it before I was ready to tackle the dust bunnies that had taken up residence on my floors.
Does it deliver?
The Shark cordless vacuum folds over for compact storage
Shark IZ202UKT Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, £279.99 from Amazon
One of the first things I noticed about the Shark is how quiet it is in hard floor mode.
It glides effortlessly across laminate, vinyl and wood, sucking up everything from fine dust to larger debris without a fuss.
I could definitely hear and feel the difference in the power when I switched to carpet mode, and then hear it level up again when I squeezed the trigger for max power.
The max power setting is really effective at sucking up those stubborn bits of fluff and pet hair ingrained in the carpet.
Battery life
The Achilles’ heel of many cordless vacuums is battery life. I’ve had vacuums in the past that would conk out halfway through my vacuuming session, leaving me with a half-clean house.
This is not an issue I experienced with the Shark IZ202UKT.
I used it in multiple rooms, switching between hard floor and carpet modes, and I managed to vacuum the entire house with battery still left over.
Shark claims up to 40 minutes of run time, and during my tests, it consistently delivered between 37-40 minutes, on standard power settings.
When I tested it using Max power only, it lasted seven and a half minutes, which I think is relatively impressive.
If used on the standard settings with a few bursts of max power when needed, I’m optimistic most people will be able to tackle a substantial portion of their home, if not the whole thing, without needing to pause for a recharge.
If you have a larger home, you could opt to purchase a spare battery to swap out when needed.
Dustbin capacity, Flexology wand and LED lights
Another unsung hero of the IZ202UKT is its nice big bin — I was able to vacuum most of the house before needing to empty it.
This might sound like a small thing, but anyone whose vacuum forces them to constantly empty a tiny dustbin will appreciate the sheer convenience of this.
The bin is also quick, easy and mess-free to empty.
Shark has designed something called the Flexology wand, which is a very handy feature for multiple reasons.
With a simple press of a button, the wand bends in half, making it super easy to vacuum under furniture, beds, and sofas without having to contort yourself or move heavy items.
It’s also ideal for compact storage as it more than halves the height of the vacuum, making it easy to tuck into cupboards.
Another feature I really liked, and one you likely won’t realise you need until you have it, is the integrated LED lights.
They illuminate dust, crumbs, and pet hair that you would otherwise completely miss, especially under furniture, in dimly lit corners, or even just in a room with poor natural light.
In terms of cons, there are two things I noticed which are worth bearing in mind.
The cordless vacuum cleaner weighs 5.16kg, which may not sound like a lot, but when you’re vacuuming for 40 minutes straight, you’ll likely feel your arm start to ache.
I was especially aware of the added weight, as my former vacuum (Dyson V8 Animal) weighs less than half the Shark, at 2.54kg.
The other downside is its agility.
The main attachment is quite large, and I noticed that it struggles to get right into the corners, occasionally leaving bits of fluff behind.
Again, I found this especially noticeable compared to the Dyson Animal V8 I was using previously, which is a lot slimmer and more nimble.
It was easily solved by switching to the crevice tool, but it caused a slight inconvenience.
How much is the Shark IZ202UKT vacuum cleaner?
The Shark IZ202UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner retails in the UK for £350; however, it’s often on sale and has been spotted for as low as £189.
Shark IZ202UKT Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, £279.99 from Amazon
You can find the Shark IZ202UKT at a variety of retailers across the UK, both online and in physical stores, including:
Alternatives
There are a few strong contenders in the cordless stick vacuum market that offer similar features to the Shark model.
Dyson V8 Absolute: Although an older model, the Dyson V8 Absolute is often available at a more affordable price point than newer Dysons, and it still offers excellent suction and the premium Dyson build quality.
It’s lighter than the Shark IZ202UKT, which might appeal if arm ache is a concern. However, it lacks the Flexology wand and automatic hair detangling of the Shark.
It has a lot of the same features with a slightly longer run time than the IZ202UKT (50 mins), but is slightly heavier at 5.68kg (vs 5.13kg).
It can be found for around the same price point (£190-280), too.
Dyson V12 Detect: For a bit more money, you could get the Dyson V12 Detect, which has 60 minutes of battery life, hair detangling, and a laser which illuminates invisible dust.
It’s a lot lighter than the Shark but does have a smaller bin.
The RRP is £499.99, but it’s currently on sale for £380. Read our Dyson V15 Detect review here.
Shark IZ202UKT Review: The Verdict
AFTER putting the Shark IZ202UKT through its paces, I believe it’s a formidable contender in the cordless vacuum market.
It offers powerful suction, impressive battery life, and a range of genuinely useful features that make cleaning feel less like a chore.
The flexology technology makes cleaning under furniture a breeze and provides a compact storage solution.
The LED headlights are ideal for spotting hidden dirt, and the anti-hair wrap technology saves you from untangling hair from the brush roll.
Yes, it is a bit heavy and may not be the most agile in tight corners, but for everyday cleaning, tackling pet hair and providing a powerful cordless experience, the IZ202UKT delivers.
Shark IZ202UKT Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, £279.99 from Amazon – buy here
OCEARCH, a non-profit research organisation that tracks marine animals, tagged the 30-year-old male great white shark named “Contender” in the waters east of Massachusetts
09:34, 22 Jul 2025Updated 09:35, 22 Jul 2025
Contender, the 14ft, great white shark, is on the move
The world’s biggest shark is heading straight towards Martha’s Vineyard in the US, after being pinged near an affluent tourist destination.
The 14ft predator, which weighs a whopping 1,653 pounds, was recently detected on Friday afternoon, around 50 miles off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts.
OCEARCH, a non-profit research organisation that tracks marine animals, tagged the 30-year-old male named “Contender” in the waters east of Massachusetts, between Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank.
It was seen heading towards the wealthy holiday destination of Martha’s Bay, home to celebrities and multi-millionaires. Former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama own a £10million mansion on the island.
OCEARCH first tagged the shark in the North Atlantic, 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast, off Jacksonville.
It took six people, including three fishermen and scientists, to tag and release “Contender”, which is then electronically tracked through the Argos satellite system, according to Dr Harley Newton, OCEARCH Chief Scientist & Veterinarian.
The beast appears to have made a dart for the north over the last few weeks(Image: OCEARCH / SWNS)
The predator can be tracked through OCEARCH’s Global Shark Tracker app, where anyone can follow the animal as it moves. The animal has been pinged several times, including on January 26 and February 6, which means the tag attached to the fin was spotted above the surface for a brief period of time as it swam. It was last pinged on June 7.
The huge shark can be tracked (Image: OCEARCH / SWNS)
Dr Harley Newton, OCEARCH Chief Scientist & Veterinarian, previously told The Mirror there were some tourist hotspots the shark might visit.
She said: “This is the exciting question about Contender, as this is the first season we will be able to watch him migrate to a summer/fall foraging area.
The shark recently pinged
“Although there are many places in the Northeastern US and Canada where he could go, there are two primary locations where many white sharks spend the summer: Cape Cod, Massachusetts or Nova Scotia, Canada.
“Though Contender is an adult male white shark, and the largest we at OCEARCH have ever tagged and sampled in the Northwest Atlantic, but he is certainly not the largest male white shark ever caught.
Contender, the 14ft beast, was first tagged in the North Atlantic by OCEARCH in January(Image: OCEARCH / SWNS)
“Contender was 13 feet 9 inches total length and estimated to weigh 1653 lbs. But male white sharks can grow up to 18 feet.
“The adult age class animals have been more elusive than smaller, younger, age classes so we were excited to have the opportunity to tag, sample and release him. Based on our Global Shark tracker, he has travelled 1870 miles to date from the place he was first tagged and released. We won’t know until he shows us, which is all the more reason to follow him on the tracker.”
With more hot weather on the horizon I’ve finally taken the plunge and bought this snazzy Shark fan that’s heavily discounted for Amazon Prime Day
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The Shark FlexBreeze TableMate Cordless fan(Image: SHARK . GETTY)
I’ve had my eye on this Shark fan for a while. It’s become one of those products, you know the ones where you look at something once then it feels like it’s constantly popping up on your social media feed tempting you forevermore.
The Shark FlexBreeze TableMate has been on sale at £99.99 for a while, which has really caught my attention. But now even more has been shaved off the price as Amazon launches its Prime Day Deals, knocking another £10 off and leaving it at a super enticing £89.99 – 40% off the £149.99 RRP.
It’s such a good deal that I’ve finally bitten the bullet and ordered it. Amazon’s price is currently even cheaper than direct from Shark where the fan will set you back £99.99. It’s significantly more expensive at Currys where it’s priced at £149.99.
I’m one of those people who’s always too hot at the best of times. Where others are reaching for the thermostat I’m normally just right, and, as such, I love a good fan, especially over summer.
I already have two fans that I rate very highly. One is the Challenge White Pedestal and Desk Fan (£70 at Argos), that’s super impressive when you turn it up. So much so I’ve used it in some capacity almost every night since I’ve bought it.
It has all manner of fancy features and High Street TV says it’s a fan that “does it all” and it’s hard to disagree. But what those two don’t have is a battery function. I spend a lot of my spare time doing DIY or playing with my son (not at the same time!) as such, I’m often sweltering outdoors in the recent heatwave temperatures, but can’t be bothered going to the effort of setting up an extension lead and plugging in one of the fans.
Midea SmartAir Cool and Purify Bladeless Fan(Image: Sam Jones)
That’s where the Shark FlexBreeze TableMate is going to be excellent. Its portability means it can simply be unplugged and run off the battery, making it ideal for those looking for a cooling breeze on the go. Shark says the fan can run for up to 24 hours on the battery, though that’s on the lowest speed setting.
When ramped up the fan covers “up to 20 meters”, while it’s UV and rain resistant, making it suitable for use outdoors. Other features include five fan speeds, 180 degrees of side-to-side oscillation, and a 55° tilt to keep the air circulating at the desired angle.
Of the buyers who’ve delved in to date, the fan has averaged 4.5 stars out of 5. One of the delighted reviewers said: “This is by far the best fan I have ever had! We have a heatwave right now and I normally can’t sleep, but not this year! Slept all the way through and didn’t hear the fan yet I was cool all night. Only wish I’d found this sooner.”
The fan has a remote control for easy adjustment(Image: Amazon)
One of the few less positive reviews highlighted a potential issue: “When using this fan as a plug in it’s brilliant and I’m very happy with it in every way, but when using it on battery which is fully charged and on 2nd lowest setting the battery doesn’t last long.”
Despite this another buyer was very happy: “I did consider another leading brand but decided on Shark. This for me has been a really good choice. This fan is fairly expensive but the build quality is plain to see and it works really well.
“It is so versatile being able to run on mains and battery I can take it anywhere, it even has a remote control. I would recommend this fan to anyone even my friends.”
It’s been 50 years since “Jaws” ruined that summer, spawning a fleet of increasingly dreadful sequels and knockoffs, turning a simple fish into a movie monster, and a dozen since “Sharknado” turned the monster into a joke. Sharks had been swimming in the culture before that, to be sure, often with the prefix “man-eating” appended, though men eat sharks too, and way more often — so who’s the real apex predator? And even though they are not as naturally cute as our cousins the dolphins and whales — I have never heard of one balancing a ball on its nose — they have also been made adorable as plush toys and cartoon characters.
“All the Sharks,” premiering Friday on Netflix, is a competition show in which four teams of two vie to photograph the most, and the most different, species of sharks, across two eight-hour days, and are set loose in the waters off Japan, the Maldives, South Africa, Australia, the Bahamas and the Galapagos Islands. And, brother, are there a lot of varieties — hammerhead shark, walking shark, whale shark, tawny nurse shark, pajama shark, pelagic thresher, tiger shark, tasselled wobbegong shark, puffadder shy shark, baby shark, mommy shark and daddy shark, to name but a few. (There are 124 species of sharks in Japanese waters, we’re told, and 200 off South Africa.) Points are awarded according to the rarity or abundance of the species in each location. These sharks are neither monsters nor jokes, though at least one contestant finds the banded houndshark “freaking adorable … their little cat eyes, their subterminal mouth.”
As competitions go, it is friendly, like “The Great British Baking Show” or “MasterChef Junior.” There’s no way to sabotage your opponents, no strategy past guessing where the sharks might be running, eating or hanging out. The purse — $50,000 — goes to the winners’ chosen marine charity, though prizes are also awarded to the top-scoring team in each episode. (Cool gear, seaside vacations.) Winning is not so much the point as just staying in as long as possible — because it’s fun. Sometimes things don’t go a team’s way, but no one has a bad attitude.
“All the Sharks” is hosted by Tom “The Blowfish” Hird, far left. The competitors are Randy Thomas, Rosie Moore, Aliah Banchik, MJ Algarra, Dan Abbott, Sarah Roberts, Brendan Talwar and Chris Malinowski.
(Netflix)
Naturally they are good-looking, because this is television, and fit, because you need to be to do this; most have professional expertise in fishy, watery or wild things. (They certainly know their sharks.) Brendan (marine biologist) and Chris (fisheries ecologist) are a team called the Shark Docs. Aliah (marine biologist specializing in stingrays — which are closely related to sharks, did you know?) and MJ, identified as an avid spearfisher and shark diver, comprise Gills Gone Wild; they met at a “bikini beach cleanup” and have been besties ever since. British Bait Off are Sarah (environmental journalist) and Dan (underwater cameraman), who like a cup of tea. And finally, there are the Land Sharks, Randy and Rosie. Dreadlocked Randy, a wildlife biologist, says, “I was always one of the only Black guys in my classes … I got that all the time: ‘Oh, you’re doing that white boy stuff’ and it’s just like, ‘No, I’m doing stuff that I love.’” Rosie, an ecologist who specializes in apex predators, wants to show girls it’s “OK to be badass … work with these crazy animals, get down and dirty.” She can hold her breath for five minutes.
The show has been produced with the usual tics of the genre: comments presented in the present tense that could only have been taped later; dramatic music and editing; the “hey ho uh-oh” narrative framing of big, loud host Tom “The Blowfish” Hird, with his braided pirate’s beard, whose website identifies him as a “heavy metal marine biologist.” Footage of great white sharks — the variety “Jaws” made famous — is inserted for the thrill factor, but none are coming.
But whatever massaging has been applied, “All the Sharks” is real enough. The contestants deal with rough seas, strong currents, jellyfish and sundry venomous creatures, intruding fishermen, limited air, sinus crises, variable visibility and unexpected orcas. And the sharks — who do not seem particularly interested in the humans, as there is no lack of familiar lunch options — do sometimes arrive in great, unsettling profusion. (There’s a reason “shark-infested waters” became a phrase.) Meanwhile, the ocean itself plays its ungovernable part. In their enveloping blueness, dotted with colorful fish and coral reefs, the undersea scenes are, in fact, quite meditative. (Humans move slow down there.) Someone describes it as like being inside a screen saver.
In the bargain, we learn not a little bit about shark behavior and biology, and there is an implicit, sometimes explicit, conservation theme. Each encountered species gets a graphic describing not only its length, weight and lifespan but the degree to which it is or isn’t endangered — and, sad to say, many are.
June 29 (UPI) — A 20-year-old woman was likely bitten by a juvenile sand tiger shark while swimming off a New York beach, officials said.
The unidentified woman was waist-deep in the surf at the Central Mall beachfront of Jones Beach State Park when at about 4:15 p.m. EDT Wednesday she reported being bitten by an unknown marine wildlife, the state’s Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation office said in a statement on Friday.
Officials said the woman suffered non-life-threatening laceration injuries to her left foot and leg and was transported to Nassau County University Medical Center Hospital for treatment.
As she did not observe what exactly attacked her, an investigation ensued with biologists concluding that it was “most likely” a juvenile sand tiger shark, though “without direct observation of the animal that caused the bites a full expert consensus was not reached,” park officials said.
Swimming resumed at the beach on Thursday, after park staff and police used drones to search the area and lifeguards scanned the water from the shore.
Sean Byrne knows how to show an audience a bad time. Sixteen years ago, the Australian filmmaker launched onto the scene with “The Loved Ones,” his proudly grisly debut about a misfit teenager who gets gruesome revenge on the boy who refused to go to prom with her. Part expert torture porn, part exploration of adolescent romantic anxieties, the film was an instant midnight-madness cult item that took Byrne six years to follow up.
When he did, he went in a different tonal direction with “The Devil’s Candy,” a surprisingly emotional psychological thriller about a heavy-metal-loving painter who moves his family to a beautifully rustic home, only to lose his mind. Working in recognizable horror subgenres, Byrne entices you with a familiar premise and then slowly teases apart the tropes, leaving you unsettled but also invigorated by his inventiveness.
It has now been a decade since that distinctive riff on “The Shining,” and for Byrne’s third feature, he once again pillages from indelible sources. “Dangerous Animals” draws from both the serial-killer thriller and Hollywood’s penchant for survival stories about hungry sharks feasting on human flesh. But unlike in the past, Byrne’s new movie never waylays you with a surprise narrative wrinkle or unexpected thematic depth. He hasn’t lost his knack for generating bad vibes, but this time he hasn’t brought anything else to the party.
The movie stars Hassie Harrison as Zephyr, a solitary surfer who explains in on-the-nose dialogue that she prefers the danger of open water to the unhappiness of life on land. An American in Australia who grew up in foster homes and who lives in a beat-up old van, Zephyr encounters Moses (Josh Heuston), a straitlaced nice guy whom she hooks up with. Not that she wants him developing feelings for her: She takes off in the middle of the night so she can catch some waves. Unfortunately, Zephyr is the one who gets caught — by Tucker (Jai Courtney), a deceptively gregarious boat captain who kidnaps her. Next thing she knows, she’s chained up inside his vessel out at sea, alongside another female victim, Heather (Ella Newton).
Like many a movie serial killer, Tucker isn’t just interested in murdering his prey — he wants to make something artistic out of his butchery. And so he ties Heather to a crane and dangles her in the water like a giant lure, pulling out a camcorder to record her final moments as sharks devour her. Watching his victims struggle to stay alive is cinema to this twisted soul and Zephyr will be his next unwitting protagonist.
Working from a script by visual artist Nick Lepard, Byrne (who wrote his two previous features) digs into the story’s B-movie appeal. Tucker may use old-fashioned technology to record his kills, but “Dangerous Animals” is set in the present, even if its trashy, drive-in essence would have made it better suited to come out 50 years ago as counterprogramming to “Jaws.” With Zephyr’s tough-girl demeanor and Tucker’s creepy vibe, Byrne knowingly plays into genre clichés, setting up the inevitable showdown between the beauty and the beast.
But despite that juicy setup, “Dangerous Animals” is a disappointingly straightforward and ultimately underwhelming horror movie, offering little of the grim poetry of Byrne’s previous work and far too much of the narrative predictability that in the past he astutely sidestepped. There are still subversive ideas — for one thing, this is a shark film with precious few sharks — but Byrne’s sneaky smarts have largely abandoned him. Rather than transcending expectations, “Dangerous Animals” surrenders to them.
One can’t fault Harrison, whose Zephyr spends much of the movie in a battle of wills with her captor. Because “Dangerous Animals” limits the amount of sharks we see, digitally inserting footage of the deadly creatures into scenes, the story’s central tension comes from Zephyr trying to free herself or get help before Tucker prepares his next nautical snuff film. Harrison projects a ferocious determination that’s paired with an intense loathing for this condescending, demented misogynist. It’s bad enough that Tucker wants to murder her — beforehand, he wants to bore her with shark trivia, dully advocating for these misunderstood animals. It’s an underdeveloped joke: “Dangerous Animals” is a nightmare about meeting the mansplainer from hell.
Alas, Courtney’s conception of the film’s true dangerous animal is where the story truly runs aground. The actor’s handsome, vaguely blank countenance is meant to suggest a burly, hunky everyman — the sort of person you’d never suspect or look twice at, which makes Tucker well-positioned to leave a trail of corpses in his path. But neither Byrne nor Courtney entirely gets their arms around this conventionally unhinged horror villain. “Dangerous Animals” overly underlines its point that we shouldn’t be afraid of sharks — it’s the Tuckers who ought to keep us up at night — but Courtney never captures the unfathomable malice beneath the facial scruff. We root for Zephyr to escape Tucker’s clutches not because he’s evil but because he’s a bit of a stiff.
Even with those deficiencies, the film boasts a level of craft that keeps the story fleet, with Byrne relying on the dependable tension of a victim trapped at sea with her pursuer, sharks waiting in the waters surrounding her. Michael Yezerski’s winkingly emphatic score juices every scare as the gore keeps ratcheting up — particularly during a moment when Zephyr finds an unexpected way to break out of handcuffs.
But Byrne can’t redeem the script’s boneheaded plot twists, nor can he elevate the most potentially intriguing idea at its core. As Tucker peers into his viewfinder, getting off on his victims’ screams as sharks sink their jaws into them, “Dangerous Animals” hints at the fixation horror directors such as Byrne have for presenting us with unspeakable terrors, insisting we love the bloodshed as much as they do. Tucker tries to convince Zephyr that they’re not all that different — they’re both sharks, you see — but in truth, Byrne may be suggesting an uncomfortable kinship with his serial killer. But instead of provocatively pursuing that unholy bond, the director only finds chum.
‘Dangerous Animals’
Rated: R, for strong bloody violent content/grisly images, sexuality, language and brief drug use
The celebrities were said to be taking a big risk as they swam with ever-increasing sized sharks in the Bahamas in a new ITV series to mark the 50th anniversary of Jaws
The seven celebrities took their lives in their hands to dive with top predators for new TV series(Image: ITV)
The seven celebrities who agreed to swim with sharks in an ITV series which marks the 50th anniversary of Jaws, were taught to dive by an instructor with missing limbs.
All have now returned from filming Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters with their lives intact, but were constantly reminded of the dangers involved by their Australian instructor – who was missing an arm and a leg, courtesy of a tiger shark.
The celebs swam will many fearsome sharks including Hammerheads (Image: Getty Images/Image Source)
For the five-part series, due to start next month, the celebs were challenged to confront their greatest fear and flown to the island on Bimini in the Bahamas, home to around 10 different species of shark. Once there, they took the plunge together alongside hammerhead, bull and tiger sharks.
While there is no voting or elimination process in the show, the dives got progressively harder, with each involving a bigger and tougher breed of shark, and the celebrities were allowed to sit out if they felt overwhelmed.
One insider said: “The sharks they were free diving with were definitely dangerous and they were shocked when they realised what had happened to the expert, who’d had an arm and a leg bitten off.”
The island of Bimini is a sanctuary for sharks and often has 10 different types in its waters(Image: Getty Images)
Despite the series being shown as tribute to half a century since the Oscar-winning Jaws was released in 1975, the “ocean-phobic” stars did not attempt to recreate the movie scenes. “There were no Great Whites involved in the making of this show,” the source said. “But it was not for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure. Some were more scared than others.”
Viewers will have to wait to see if any of the stars sustained injuries during the making of the programme, which was filmed last year.
Yesterday presenter Rachel said that taking part was a “dream come true” adding: “It was the best trip, the best experience, the best everything, of my life.” Describing it as “wet and wild” she added: “Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters is a totally new type of entertainment show, with so much integrity and a love of sharks and conservation at its heart. And with the best bunch of people you could hope to work with.”
Hammerhead sharks are fearsome looking when viewed from beneath(Image: Getty Images)
The mum-of-two said she’d first been asked to take part a year ago. “They said we’re thinking of sending some celebrities out to the Bahamas for a few weeks to swim with some of the biggest, scariest wild sharks in the world.”
Helen agreed that it had been brilliant, saying: “One of the most insane experiences of my life, learning about this incredible creatures, with equally incredible humans.”
Ross described it as a “great adventure” and quipped: “No, it’s not a wind up, it’s a real thing.” And pop star Dougie marvelled that it was the closest he’d ever get to a “real Jurassic Park experience”.
ITV entertainment boss Katie Rawcliffe said audiences should enjoy the combination of blue chip natural history programming with ITV’s skill at entertainment, and called the famous faces taking part “some of the bravest celebrities out there”.
Karen Plumb, of Plimsoll Productions, said the aim was to give viewers a new perspective on sharks. “We’re constantly looking for innovative approaches to wildlife storytelling and are certain that our fish-out-of-water spin – delivering 50 years after Jaws – will transform the world’s perception of these critical predators before it’s too late.”
