Shark Navigator Lift Away Review

Even though the Shark Navigator Lift Away has been around for years, it includes a HEPA filter, which is rare for this price range. In fact, we were impressed with its overall excellent filtration capabilities during our testing. If you want a traditional vacuum that won't spread or release tiny particles, pollen, or pet dander, the filtration system does its job well.

Carpet Performance

We kick off our tests on low pile carpets, which are a staple in many homes, but we also make sure to see how these vacuums handle high pile carpets, like those trendy shaggy rugs you might have. Our detailed results dive into suction power and cleaner head features, too, because these two factors can make or break a good experience.

High Pile Low Pile

We use this procedure to create a realistic and challenging testing environment for the vacuums, ensuring they perform well across various debris types typically found on floors. By using a mixture of sand, rice, and Cheerios, we test how effectively the vacuum collects diverse materials. The 24-second time limit mimics a typical cleaning pace, and repeating the test multiple times ensures we gather accurate and consistent results.

Low Pile

The Navigator Lift-Away NV352 sucked up 93% of our test debris, which is approximately 5% more than the average for this test.

With its relatively low-profile cleaner head design, I plowed some Cheerios in this test. If you face large debris, this machine rolls over the bigger stuff pretty well in reverse.

The suction felt impressively powerful on this carpet, which is definitely a plus. However, pushing and pulling were a bit challenging, which is a common trade-off for strong suction. The vacuum collected nearly all the sand and rice but left behind a small pile of Cheerios, which I couldn't finish in the allotted time. I'm confident that it would have cleaned up the rest with a couple more passes.

High Pile

Tall shaggy carpet fibers in high pile carpet let debris fall deeper into the weave and make it harder for vacuums to suck it up. What's more annoying is when larger, lightweight debris — like a potato chip — rides on top of the weave while the cleaner head pushes it around. We use sand and Cheerios because these two materials force a cleaner head to tackle both problems simultaneously while dealing with the rice. This machine sucked up an average of 65% of the mixture in the two trials I conducted at the lab.

Even though this machine is more than a decade old in design, I can't argue with these results: Its average collection in this difficult test is quite good, well above average compared to the vacuums we tested. It performed slightly better on both carpet types than its newer sibling model, the Shark Navigator Lift Away Deluxe NV360.

While I collected a lot of the material, the cleaner head struggled with larger debris, pushing it around on both the forward and reverse passes. If you're patient, you'll likely be able to have a satisfactory experience on a shag area rug. For larger materials, like popcorn or small leaves, you might need to pull out the hand nozzle rather than chase them around with the cleaner head.

Overall Carpet Cleaning Performance

Overall, this vacuum scored above average on carpet. Even though this machine looks a bit dated, I have to say its on-carpet functionality is still competitive.

After testing the Navigator Lift-Away NV352, I think most people will be able to get their low pile and shaggy rugs clean as long as they're willing to chase down larger materials that get pushed around by the cleaner head. Is it the most powerful or a boss with deeply embedded sand? No, but it's dependable. However, it's not the most effective option in this price range: the Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1 turned in our highest score on low pile carpet, earning a Best for Carpet Top Pick award in our latest round of upright vacuum testing and reviews.

Hardwood Performance

With the growing popularity of vinyl and hardwood floors, many people are looking for vacuums that can tackle various surfaces and easily move between different rooms. If you have an area rug in your open-plan living room with hard floors in your kitchen, a versatile vacuum can switch from rug to hard floor and could save you from grabbing a broom. To see how these vacuums perform on hard surfaces, we put them through the paces on vinyl floors, check their ability to handle gaps and crevices, plus test them along hallways and corners.

Cleaning Performance

The Lift-Away Deluxe collected an average of 85% of the debris on hardwood in my timed test trials, which is above average compared to most vacuums we tested.

This model uses a stiff-bristled brush roller design like its newer Deluxe version sibling mentioned above. While it works well on carpet, the hard floor mode switch turns off the brush roller for use on hardwood floors, likely because this roller might damage delicate hardwood floors (though I haven't seen this happen personally). This means only the suction is collecting material in the hard floor mode. Newer, modernized options, like the Shark Stratos, tend to use softer bristles or flexible fins that can still spin on hardwood.

Before Testing After Testing

The vacuum left sand behind during all three trials as I moved the cleaner head over the messes. It seemed to pick up the lighter debris on each pass but lacked the suction power to fully collect the sand. I believe a fluffy roller designed specifically for hardwood floors could help the vacuum grab smaller particles more effectively by using the fibers to capture finer debris.

Before Testing After Testing

For stubborn dirt, you'll likely need to give this vacuum a bit more time to collect it. Even though the overall designs and motors are similar, the Navigator Lift Away Deluxe model managed to suck up 11% more debris on hardwood than this one in the same test.

Crevice

Transition areas between different flooring types can accumulate debris, especially if there are cracks where dirt tends to gather. Tile floors with deep grout lines pose an even greater challenge. That's why we designed this test to ensure each vacuum can clean every corner of your home, not just the easy-to-reach spots.

Ironically, despite performing worse compared to the Deluxe on a hardwood floor, this older Navigator Lift Away sucked up 56% of the sand in our crevice test, besting the newer model by 9%. This is not terrible, but I can't recommend it if you have a lot of crevices or tile with deep grout lines in your home. The handheld crevice tool will likely be needed if you only have a few troublesome cracks.

Edges

When it comes to vacuuming right up against the walls, some models really shine, while others can struggle, often leaving your house cleaning not feeling complete. We break up our edge test into head-on and parallel vacuuming zones to test which models perform best at cleaning from different angles.

This model successfully collected all the coffee grounds when I approached the edge head-on, which is great because it means I can nag errant crumbs that fall near kitchen counters. Unfortunately, the cleaner head produced very little suction on a parallel pass, which means it won't be great for vacuuming long hallways.

Overall Hardwood Cleaning Performance

The Navigator Lift Away did a pretty good job on our vinyl floor tests, even though its brush roller isn't specifically designed for hardwood. Crevice performance was above average but not good enough to earn a recommendation from me for tile floors. The edge performance was great head-on but dismal on parallel runs, dropping its score well below average.

When I use this vacuum, it can clean a hardwood floor if I'm patient and willing to give it extra time and passes. It just wasn't competitive on hardwood if you want to vacuum hardwood consistently, but it's passable for a simple task every now and then when you want to avoid a broom.

If you can stretch your budget a little more, Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse collected an impressive 94% of debris on hardwood while excelling in our crevice and next-to-wall tests.

Pet Hair

Pet owners understand the struggle of dealing with fur, especially when it's shedding season. It's even tougher for multi-pet owners, who might have to clean up mixed fur types, such as soft clingy fur from a fuzzy cat alongside longer, stiffer hairs from the family canine. To help you find the best vacuums for pet hair, including long human hair, we put them through rigorous tests on both low and high pile carpets. These two tests help us reveal each machine's strengths or weaknesses with hair and fur.

We begin our pet hair stress tests with a 4-gram handful of dog hair from various breeds, covering a 13-square-foot carpet section. To make it more realistic, we add 1 gram of long hair extensions and press the mixture into the carpet with a heavy wheel, simulating the clingy effect from foot traffic and typical shedding. Our main goal is to create an area often observed in a family's home that owns a cat or dog.

This machine collected 61% of the pet hair, which is about average.

Before Testing After Testing

Unfortunately, longer hair extensions became hopelessly tangled in the bristled brush roller.

If you have multiple pets shedding fur, I recommend the Shark Rotator LA502, a similar compact-size vacuum that led the pack in the upright vacuums I tested on pet hair, making it a great option for multi-pet households.

Filtration & Suction

We meticulously evaluate the filtration and suction of vacuums to uncover their quality and performance. Effective filtration is crucial as vacuums lacking it can emit small particles into the air, potentially posing health risks, particularly for individuals with heart or lung issues.

Suction power is another important, as it reflects the vacuum's capacity to extract deeply embedded debris from carpets and crevices efficiently. Low suction often explains difficulties with cracks, edges, and high pile carpet, while strong suction often explains excellent results and often means that hand tool attachments will be more powerful.

Filtration

Unlike relying on a fog machine for visual leaks, our filtration test is rigorous and actually measures the amount of particles crowding the air. We use two sensors to measure the air quality in the room as I measure a third of a cup of flour.

The sensors are set to detect both small (0.5-2.5 microns) and large (>2.5 microns) particles, such as those found in flour. For context, pet dander is often smaller than 1 micron, while pollen ranges between 10 and 100 microns. Our test revealed no significant changes from the room's baseline, indicating an outstanding filtration system preventing particles from being released into the air. Dylos classifies air quality readings between 0-75 as excellent, meaning this vacuum is a strong contender for homes with family members sensitive to allergens like pet dander, pollen, and dust. The vacuum's ability to trap these particles without dispersing them ensures a healthier environment, reducing the chances of aggravating allergies.

Suction

We assess suction at the cleaner head rather than the intake tube, as the latter primarily influences power connected to hand tools. This method ensures that we measure suction where it is most needed during most vacuuming chores.

We measured just 124 pascals of suction at the cleaner head, far below our average. When I consider all the leftover sand on our hardwood floor test, it's clear that its suction is underpowered for its cleaner head design. If you live in a desert or have kids who play in sandboxes, I recommend you choose a model with stronger suction, such as the Shark Stratos.

Ease of Use

Testing ease of use includes a wide array of factors for a vacuum, but the overall goal is clear: Which vacuum is easier to use than the other?

To create our ranking scores, we've broken down this metric into its most important aspects: maneuverability, ease of maintenance, and upholstery evaluations.

Maneuverability

I evaluate these vacuums by conducting a series of maneuverability tests in the lab. This includes transitioning from different floor types while navigating obstacles such as cones and testing their ability to clean under furniture. We utilize this course to learn how these machines move throughout the house, noting any annoyances or beneficial takeaways.

I could easily push this vacuum onto and off the bamboo mat, and I thought it was easier to push than the Navigator Deluxe model. I really enjoyed the swivel action, making it a breeze to work my way around tight areas.

For maneuverability boost, you can lift the dustbin canister and handle off the cleaner head, letting you move the unit over stairs or use the hand-held hose to reach high areas. To be clear, this “Lift-Away” feature is not the same “Lift-Away” feature on the Shark Stratos. The more expensive model's feature transforms it into something more like a canister vacuum that lets me detach the dustbin from the cleaner head while using the cleaner head to reach under furniture.

Maintenance

Cleaning appliances that are difficult to maintain is something I dread because appliances should make life easier, not harder. I appreciate the convenience of the dustbin opening from both sides, though its size requires caution when using it over a small trash can. I mean, I appreciate the relatively large bin, but it does make me pay attention when I'm emptying it.

I'm not a fan of bristles on brush rollers because they collect fur and hair — and the brush roller has extra plastic barriers that make hair removal even more difficult.

Uphostery & Attachments

Cleaning doesn't just stop at the floors. Wherever there are places for dust and pet fur to accumulate, it will. So, we sought to create a new upholstery test to see how each vacuum can handle different surfaces utilizing its array of attachments.

In my test, I managed to tidy up most of the coffee grounds from the throw pillow using the upholstery tool. However, it required a few extra passes compared to vacuums with more powerful hand tools, like the motorized brush tool in the Shark PowerDetect AZ4002.

Should You Buy the Shark Navigator Lift Away?

The Shark Navigator Lift Away is a solid vacuum that performs well and has a reasonable price tag. We recommend this to anyone looking for good, affordable carpet performance who values the HEPA filtration system and appreciates the easy options for using the handheld tools with the Lift Away feature.

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