Shark - Navigator Lift-Away

I bought this one - thank you!!

I have the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 and it's fucking great, especially for the price. It's really easy to use and very efficient. I actually love it. And it was like $150.

My NV352 lasted for over a decade and only was replaced because the HEPA cover broke and replacement wasn’t handy. I was not pumped about other ways to hold it together, and ultimately thought it’s probably time. The Shark Rotator replaced my 352 and it is a good replacement. Maybe a canister is better but my wife won’t use it, hates the Sebo (just pictures) and even though since I do most of the vacuuming i still have to consider her wants. She wanted/still wants a cordless, which we have a shark version and I refuse to buy another. I’ve replaced the battery on it to extend the life, but to buy the Dyson and see the battery issues they have is a non-starter. Shark for life and budget. I’m sure for $1200 the Miele is great but it’s hard for me to justify that to my cost conscious wife.

My experience is similar but not fair. My brother has a Dyson battery powered and he swears by them. So he buys a new one every four years or so. We had our first coffee shark for at least ten years. I shopped for months last year between Dyson, shark, Mielle, and another he and like Mielle I cannot remember their name. Anyway, after using them all it came down to a formula from my Public policy class - I could get almost 90% of the performance from a shark for only $249, or spend $700 for 100%. I was willing to spend up to $1000 but it just didn’t make sense. Shark gets everything I need at a fraction of the cost.

If on a budget, Shark navigator lift away on sale. Seen at as low as $120

The most basic lift away https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/shark-navigator-lift-away-vacuum-review/

Shark Navigator https://amzn.to/4l4n4dv it’s powerful machine that works on both carpet and hard floors surfaces. It’s bagless and the pod is detachable so you can hard to reach areas more easily

I agree. I think their lack of parts availability also hurts them. But for someone that doesn't want to repair their vacuum or doesn't know how or can't, I don't see the problem with them. The nv352 is rock solid. Like you said, their bagless uprights are, for the most part, great. I don't want to spend hundreds on a vacuum. I don't want to buy bags. I got two sharks from Walmart on sale this month. I got the cu512 and cu530. Both were originally around $200. I got them both for $35 each. My nv352 lasted almost 12 years, and it still was working, but the wheel broke off due to my own negligence. 6 I did was filter changes and a belt change.

You said what was on my mind. That is exactly how I feel. I am not a Miele or Sebo hater at all. But I just can't justify spending $1500 on a vacuum or even $400. My last NV352 lasted 12 years. I just bought the Shark cu512 from Walmart on clearance for $35, and while I was there, I found the SharkCU530 on sale for $35 bucks, too. I was very close to pulling the trigger on a Kenmore Featherlite but waited and glad I did. One day when I have a need for a Sebo or Miele, I'll probably do what you did. I live in an apartment that is 95% hardwood, so I don't really need the Miele or Sebo. If the next place I buy is carpeted, I'll maybe look into it.

I agree with the elitism. And I'm a huge Shark fan. Have been for 15 years or so. My nv350 went on for 12 years....only died cause I dropped it down the stairs. I got two Sharks from Walmart on clearance, one for $85 (zu561) and one for $65 (nv360). Those two will probably last me the next 20 years. But I also have three cats and wanted to see what the hype was about. I found a two year old Sebo D4 Premium for basically $480. That is way more than I'd ever want to spend on a vacuum. I can afford it by all means but like you I could never justify it. The other side of me loves electronics and wanting the best of the best. And I do have to say.....the Sebo is incredible. Value is subjective so for me I do see a difference in the amount of dust and cat hair left over after a week of vacuuming with each. And the difference on carpet and what it pulls up. But its also a whole different ball game using a canister vacuum vs plugging in a vacuum and just going. Not having to worry about what suction level or head and attachment I'm using. So I do have some respect and awareness of the other side.

My first shark lasted 15 years until it just didn't suck enough (pun intended). Granted, I didn't have a ton of carpet but we do have a kid and cats. The one I have now I got from my dad when I had to move him into memory care. It's nearing 10 years old. Probably didn't get a ton of use by him. Still works fine, although I don't like this model as much as the OG lift away I had. Clean the canister and clean/replace the filters and it does fine.

I think the OG navigator list-away NV350 series (that they’re still cranking out) is a great little machine if you’re willing to deal with the bagless. Yes the single cyclone isn’t the most efficient at dust separation but it is great for airflow. The simple bin makes it much easier to keep clean. These were CRI approved meaning they met their standards for cleaning, surface retention, and filtration. By their standards, it deep cleans carpets and won’t void carpet warranties. These are one of the least expensive machines that has a sealed system. Jumbo pack of aftermarket filters for $20 will keep the machine running well for years. Replace the foam & felt filters every 3 months, and the HEPA filter every 6 months and there won’t be any issues with heat and warping. Most parts can be found online aftermarket for cheap. Running costs for filters are low. The motor shark uses in these is different than their newer designs. It’s surprisingly quiet and powerful with decent airflow. If this vacuum wasn’t good and people didn’t buy it, it wouldn’t be on the market relatively unchanged for 15 years at this point. It’s better than the newer designs meant to replace it.

The new shark power detect is awesome with the auto empty base but a bit out of your price range. If you want a really cheap one as a secondary I’d recommend smoture (vacuum wars tested it and it actually looks pretty great for the price) and you could get a $199 upright shark from Costco while staying in your price range. Costco is great because sharks aren’t very repairable so being able to return 2 years later is great if you have a membership. Having an upright and a cordless is the way to go, deep clean every week or two with the upright then use the cordless for daily pick ups

I found myself purchasing a new vacuum about every 2 years. Then I purchased a Dyson pet , and it was great. Had a 5-year warranty, and promptly lost suction at the 6-year mark. It was the best vacuum for the almost 6 years I had it. Now I have a Shark, an apartment vacuum because it is mostly for bare floors, but the cord is short. Have had it for 2 years now. I would take advice of the professional cleaner - the porta-vac.