If you’re not sure about the long hose of a canister vacuum but want more flexibility than an upright, the bagless Shark – Apex has the best features from both types. While the Navigator series is now one of Shark’s more basic lines in terms shark dustbuster of advanced features, this model still has a removable dust bin and plenty of cord length for cleaning average-sized rooms. An 11-foot-long extension hose also makes it easy to clean drapes or steps without lugging the entire unit with you.
We did find the canister was best used from the ground, rather than trying to carry it while also maneuvering the extension wand. This vacuum easily collected hair on every surface we tested it on, but we did have to cut it out of the brush roll after each use. We also really enjoyed this vacuum’s brush roll shut-off feature, which made it easier to clean slick surfaces like hardwood and grouted floors. It helped minimize the amount of debris kicked out while suctioning, but you do have to move the vacuum directly over any mess when the brush roll is turned off. The Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFins Cordless Stick Vacuum was the clear winner in our search for the best Shark vacuum—and best vacuum in general.
It was able to easily pick up all of the debris on a low-pile carpet, but we docked a bit off its effectiveness score for slightly struggling on a high-pile rug and not easily navigating the hardwood floor. Because it doesn’t stand up on its own, either, you’ll have to lean it against your furniture or gently rest it on the floor if you need to pause your vacuuming session. However, like many other stick vacs, you can use the Shark Rocket in handheld mode, with or without an extension, to clean furniture, ceilings, stairs, and more.
Since the cleaning head is relatively narrow and the body is top-heavy, this machine does fall over more easily than some other vacuum cleaners do. If you find tipping to be a constant problem, you can lift away the main assembly and set it on the floor for a sturdier base. Some of our staff testers disliked having to use the clips to take off the dust cup. If you’re willing to upgrade to a vacuum that can clean the heck out of your home and last for decades, buy a Miele C3 canister vacuum cleaner. Every industry expert we’ve spoken with (even one from a competing brand!) has told us that these are excellent vacuum cleaners, and a few technicians have said they’re simply the best you can buy.
But the wand is rather heavy and bulky, and it cannot be expanded or collapsed. The underside of the canister has four 360 degree rotating caster wheels. We did expect that the canister would have some kind of bumper around the perimeter to stop scuffing or scraping of walls/furniture, but it does not. The Shark Navigator series is already relatively light, at about 12 pounds, but there are plenty of great vacuums that are even lighter.
While we initially had a few issues when first testing this model, it did impress us with new technology like a self-emptying base and a self-cleaning brush roll. The setup process is a little complicated for this model, as the individual vacuum pieces are not labeled, which makes the directions slightly confusing. When it came time for testing, our first two rounds of testing on carpet and hard flooring shark pet hair vacuum did not go smoothly. The vacuum shut off repeatedly and alerted us that it needed to be emptied, despite having no debris in the dust bin, and it spit larger debris across the floor. However, it suddenly started performing flawlessly when we moved to cleaning our set of testing stairs. We ended up re-testing the vacuum on the other flooring surfaces and it then began performing very well.
In terms of effectiveness, it captured all the hair and debris in our testing area in fewer than five passes. The Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 needs very little maintenance and has essentially no recurring costs. That’s because its parts are made to last the lifetime of the machine, whereas most affordable vacuums need fresh filters and belts to keep running well.