Suction-side pool cleaner review

Pentair Kreepy Krauly 'Lil Shark Above-Ground Suction Pool Cleaner

Name: Pentair Kreepy Krauly 'Lil Shark Above-Ground Suction Pool Cleaner
Brand: Pentair

4.2BasicValue 2.0/10

Pump-drivenWalls?Waterline?Skims surfaceWi-FiBluetoothRandom nav

Spec-based review: scored from Pentair's published specifications with the same weights as every other suction-side cleaner. Not a hands-on test. How we score.

Our take

The Pentair Kreepy Krauly 'Lil Shark Above-Ground Suction Pool Cleaner is a suction-side cleaner driven by your pool pump from Pentair. It cleans the floor, navigates at random, turning when it bumps into a wall, and has no app.

On paper it scores 4.2 out of 10 (basic) against other suction-side cleaners. Its strongest areas are filtration (7.0) and pool size (5.0). Where it gives ground: warranty (3.0) and cleaning coverage (3.5). Random navigation: it can miss spots and take longer to cover the pool.

The best price we found is $299.99 at Leslie's. The typical suction-side cleaner we track costs $459, so this one is cheaper than most. For what it does, its value score is 2.0 out of 10.

If you want waterline scrubbing, the cheapest we track with it is the Zodiac MX6 Suction-Side Pool Cleaner at $349.

To spend less for nearly the same spec score, the Hayward Wanda the Whale Above-Ground Suction Pool Cleaner rates 4.4 for $219.

For about the same money, the Zodiac Baracuda Ranger Above-Ground Suction Pool Cleaner scores higher (5.5) at $269.99.

Bottom line: a basic pick for above-ground pools and low running cost and nothing to charge.

Pros

+No battery or cord to manage: it runs whenever your pool pump does.

Cons

−Random navigation: it can miss spots and take longer to cover the pool.
−The maker doesn’t say whether it climbs walls.
−Runs off your skimmer or suction line and the pool pump, so the pump has to be on while it cleans.
−Warranty length isn’t stated.
−Above-ground pools only.