Polaris 280 vs 360: Which is Best for Your Pool?

Cleaning of the pools would be very complicated if we don’t have modern pool vacuum cleaners. I wonder how our grandfathers would clean their pools when these vacuums are not invented, maybe manually, but that’s a very lengthy and complicated process.

If you are here, you are probably confused between the Polaris 280 and Polaris 360 that you should choose for your pool.

Don’t worry, our experts have reviewed these vacuums closely, and they’ll give you a detailed and extensive review of these vacuums.

Polaris Vac-Sweep 280

Polaris Vac-Sweep 280The Polaris Vac-sweep 280 is designed to pick up all kinds of debris in your pool. Most of the pool owners complain that trees surround their pool and leaves fell in the pool, but no cleaner can pick up the leaves. But this cleaner will solve their problem and pick all kinds of pebbles, leaves, and other large debris and make your pool crystal clear.

The Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 has a large intake hole to pick up the large debris and a two venturi jet power system to suck the debris and clean the pool. The unique three-wheel design of the vacuum allows it to clean every corner and wall of the pool. It has a big filter bag, which allows it to store a good amount of debris.

Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 comes with a backup valve that is a unique technology work when your cleaner is stuck in some corners of the pool or stairs. The valve comes out immediately and lows the water pressure, which allows the vacuum to come out from that part and clean other parts without wasting any time.

The vacuum comes with a one-year warranty on its full product and a 5-year warranty on the vacuum frame. The Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 takes 4 to 5 hours to clean every corner of the pool. One thing that should be in mind that it needs a booster pump to work, and that doesn’t come with it, and you have to buy it separately.

Pros
  • Pickup small and large all debris
  • Unique three-wheel design
  • Efficient and very easy to use
  • Clean every corner of the pool included walls.
  • Budget-friendly
  • Powerful suction
  • Big filter bags
  • Backup valve to release it from the stuck areas.
  • One year warranty
Cons
  • Requires booster pump to work
  • Slowly cleans the pool.
  • Poor customer support

 

Polaris Vac-Sweep 360

Blankets & ThrowsAnother Polaris Best vacuums will suck all the large debris in your pool even if trees surround your pool. The vacuum’s large intake can take all the leaves, sticks, and pebbles from the pool and store them in the big filter bag.

Polaris’s model has three venturi jets that give it more power in the suction process and make the cleaning faster. If the Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 cleans the pool in 4 to 5 hours, the Polaris Vac-Sweep 360 can do it in the 2 to 3 hours due to three venturi jets.

The three-wheel design same as the Polaris 280, and the frame are made with UV-protected material, which means it can bear all the harsh chemicals in the pool, and also the frame will not break due when it will open to the sun, which increases the life span of the vacuum.

It also comes with the back-up valve technology, which allows you to sit back and relax while cleaning the pool. The valve makes sure that if the vacuum is stuck in some corner, it will lower the pressure to release it.

The vacuum is compatible with all shapes and kinds of pools. The vacuums come with a 31 inches long hose that allows the vacuum the clean every corner, whatever the size of the filter. The vacuum comes with a warranty of one year on the full product and a five-year warranty for the vacuum frame.

Pros
  • Unique three-wheel design
  • UV protected frame of the vacuum
  • Cleans the whole pool with walls included
  • Easy installation
  • Booster pump not required
  • Durable
  • Three venturi jets suction power
  • Automatic cleaning
  • Big filter bag to store large debris
  • Cleans the whole pool in 2 to 3 hours
  • The back-up valve allows the un-interrupted cleaning
  • Compatible with all shapes and sizes of pools
Cons
  • Poor customer service.
  • Expensive

 

We have reviewed both products thoroughly, but now let’s compare them to know which one is better?

 

Polaris Vac-Sweep 280

Polaris Vac-Sweep 360

PriceThe price is the most important thing for the pool owners because not all have the extra budget to spend many dollars on the vacuum. The 280 is cheaper than the 360 models, but it requires a pump to operate, making the cost double.In price comparison, the 360 lost from the 280, but it does not require a pump to operate, which makes it an excellent option at this price and no doubt better than the Polaris 280.
DesignThe unique three-wheel design allows the vacuum to covers all areas of the pools with the walls included. The body is made with UV-protected plastic, which means it will bear the sun’s exposure in summers.

The design of both models is the same and allows the full pool cleaning efficiently without any trouble.

So, design-wise, both the vacuum cleaners are the same and work efficiently.

Cleaning timeThe Polaris 280 vacuum cleaner has two venturi jets that make the suction powerful and fast. This vacuum cleaner can clean the full pool within 3 to 4 hours.The Polaris 360 vacuum cleaner has three venturi jets, making the suction more powerful and fast than the 280. It can clean the pool within two hours so, in the speed and suction power, the Polaris 360 has a transparent edge.
Energy efficientThe Polaris 280 vacuum cleaner is not considered the most energy-efficient vacuum cleaner due to its need for a booster pump to operate. It increases energy consumption and boosts the price because you have to buy the booster pump separately.The Polaris 360 is an energy-efficient vacuum for cleaning your pool because it does not require the booster pump to operate. This feature makes it an excellent choice as compared to the 280
Filter bagThe Polaris 280 vacuum cleaner can suck all big debris, leaves, and sticks in your pool and store them in its 3L big filter bag.The Polaris 360 has a 2L filter bag to store all the debris in your pool. It also can pick the debris and other things, but its bag is less than the 280.
Backup valveA feature that allows the vacuum to not stuck in the corner, and if the vacuum stuck, it would help it release without wasting any time or manual help.Both the vacuum cleaner models, Polaris 280 and 360, have the same back-up valve, which allows you to sit back and relax while the vacuum will clean the pool.

 

WarrantyPolaris 280 has a 12 months warranty on its full product and five years warranty on the vacuum body.The brand stands behind its product and gives a warranty of 12 months for 100% customer satisfaction.

Conclusion

Our experts have extensively reviewed both products and mentioned important things and also compared them, which brings us to the decision that the Polaris 360 is better than the Polaris 280 due to these reasons. The 360 has three venturi jets that make the cleaning process fast compared to the two venturi jets of the Polaris 280. The 360 can clean the whole pool within 2 to 3 hours (depends on the pool size).

The other thing which makes it better than the 280 is that it does not require booster pumps to operate, but you have to buy a booster pump for the 280, and it does not work without them. The booster pump also affects the vacuum cleaner overall cost because buy it separately will double the vacuum’s price. So, the Polaris 360 is the best budget option for your swimming pool.

FAQ’s

What is the difference between the Polaris 360 and 380?
There are two main differences between the Polaris 360 and Polaris 380, which we’ll discuss here. The Polaris 360 does not require a booster pump, while on the other hand, 380 needs to booster pump to operate, which also increases the cost because you have to buy it separately. The other difference is that the 380 has a ziplock filter bag, while the Polaris 360 has a simple 2l bag.
How long do Polaris booster pumps last?
If you run the pump 3 hours a day, then there is a chance that the booster pump will last for more than 7 to 8 years. They are most durable and for a long time use because they are a bit expensive.
What is the best pressure-side pool cleaner?
After extensive research in the market, we have decided that the Polaris 360 is the best pressure-side pool cleaner and the cheap option because it does not require the pump to operate.
Is Polaris 360 better than 280?
Yes, the Polaris 360 is better than the Polaris 280 because it does not need the pump to operate, making it a budget option and energy-efficient. The other reason is that it has three venturi jets, but the Polaris 280 has a two venturi pump which means 360 is fast and more efficient in cleaning.
Can you use a Polaris 360 with a booster pump?
No, you can’t use the Polaris 360 with the booster pump. It is the only vacuum in the Polaris range of vacuums that does not require a booster pump to operate. It uses the pressure of the water of your pool to operate

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