Summers can be harsh and the scorching heat can leave us completely drained. We turn to various activities to beat the heat but nothing compares to taking a dip in the swimming pool.
Swimming pools can be costly and require maintenance depending on how much you use it. Even if you use it once a week, it is essential that you keep it clean. A poorly maintained pool can promote several recreational water illnesses (RWI).
Apart from that, a dirty pool can cause irritation in the eyes, itchy skin, and food poisoning as well.
So, what’s the solution? How to steer clear from these diseases and still keep a pool? It’s easy. You’ll need a pool cleaner.
There are various pool cleaners on the market but Polaris cleaners are considered to be among the best. In this comparison review, we’ll look at Polaris 360 vs Polaris 380 to find the better option.
Our rating:
 (4.1 / 5) |
Our rating:
(4.1 / 5) |
Let’s get started:
Comparison
| Pool Cleaner | Weight | Dimensions | Booster Required | Reverse Back Valve | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Choice Polaris 360  View Price | Weight 15.6 pounds | Dimensions 20 x 10 x 22.75 in | Booster Required No | Reverse Back Valve No | Warranty 1-year |
Best Choice Polaris 380  View Price | Weight 16.5 pounds | Dimensions 9.8 x 20 x 22.5 inches | Booster Required Yes | Reverse Back Valve Yes | Warranty 1-year |
Polaris 360 Vs Polaris 380: Review
1 Polaris Vac-Sweep 360 Pressure Side Pool Cleaner
Polaris 360 is an affordable side pressure pool cleaner that will cater to your pool cleaning needs like a pro. It attaches to a dedicated pressure line and takes care of debris, leaves, contaminants, etc.
Features
- Booster Free Operation:
The first noteworthy feature of Polaris 360 is its ability to operate without a booster. Pressure pool cleaners require a pressure source to operate such as a booster pump but that’s not the case with Polaris 360.
It uses the pool’s own water pressure to do the job. Another benefit of this feature is that it exerts less strain on your pool compared to the ones that require a booster pump to operate.
- Belt-System:
Older versions of pressure pool cleaners incorporated the shaft system to operate but not this one. It uses the belt-driven system that involves less moving parts, less wear and tear, and less maintenance as well.
- Jet Nozzles:
Nozzles are meant to direct the Polaris 360 into the pool. It has 3 nozzles that exert water at high pressure and make the unit move inside the pool.
You can adjust the thrusters as per your will. By default, it is set at eleven O’clock, however, you can change it sideways or in a vertical position to set the course of direction.
- Filter Bag:
There’s a large bag attached to the unit that devours debris, leaves, pebbles, and other contaminants, leaving behind a fresh and clean pool.
- Hose:
It incorporates a 31 feet long hose which is more than enough to allow Polaris 360 to cover a large pool. You can attach the hose to a pressure line and the unit will take care of the rest.
Pros And Cons Of Polaris 360
- Tail Sweep Pro compatible.
- 1-year warranty.
- Good RPM range.
- Three-wheeled design to ensure that the unit doesn’t trip off the floor.
- Repairs are expensive.
Polaris 360 is ideal for pool owners who want to operate a pressure pool cleaner without a booster pump. It saves money and offers good results.
2 Polaris Vac-Sweep 380 Pressure Side Pool Cleaner
Polaris 380 is yet another side pressure pool cleaner meant for in-ground pools. It can clean your pool regardless of surface and shape. Unlike Polaris 360, this one requires a booster pump to operate.
Features
- Ziplock Filter Bag:
The unit has a 2L filter bag on top that holds up debris, leaves, pebbles, and dirt in.
There’s a large hole underneath the pool cleaner that sucks in contaminants easily. Thus, this pool cleaner roams around inside the pool and sucks in almost every bit of the debris present.
- Powerful And Meant For Bigger Pools:
The biggest difference found between Polaris 360 and Polaris 380 is the pressure they operate on.
Polaris 380 clean sweeps Polaris 360 in this depart because not only it incorporates triple jet technology but it also uses a separate pressure booster. Therefore, it’s pressure is almost thrice compared to Polaris 360.
- Faster Cleaning Cycle:
The combination of quality thrusters, three wheels, and a longer hose (31 feet) makes this unit fast at operation. These features are similar to Polaris 360.
- Back-Up Valve:
There’s a back-up valve on the unit which resets every 3 minutes to free the unit from corners. This feature eliminates the need to manually move the unit.
- Belt Driven:
This unit uses a belt system to operate. It sure is a faster way of cleaning the pool but since Polaris 380 uses a booster pump, the belt system goes through an enormous amount of stress and might require timely maintenance.
Note: Since Polaris 380 has more moving parts compared to Polaris 360, it can be a little more costly to maintain.
Pros And Cons Of Polaris 380
- Cleans the average pool in under 3 hours.
- Scrubs floor, walls, and surfaces.
- Classic tires and belt driven mechanism makes it a fast-operating pool cleaner.
- Backup valve frees it from obstacles such as steps, corners, etc.
- Expensive.
- A booster pump is not included.
Go for Polaris 380 if you have a bigger pool and a high budget. It’s almost similar to the Polaris 360 but offers more pressure.
Conclusion
Polaris 360 Vs Polaris 380 is a close competition because both have similar features. However, if we had to pick one, we’d go with Polaris Vac-Sweep 380 since it is meant for bigger pools and runs on a separate booster. But keep in mind that it’s more expensive and requires additional maintenance.
If budget is an issue or if you have a small pool, then Polaris 360 can be a better choice for you.
