Item Weight | 6.21 kg |
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Specific Instructions for Use | Pet Hair, Carpet, Hard Surface, Bare Floors |
Form Factor | Upright |
Number of Pieces | 1 |
Type of Guarantee | Euro-Pro Five-Year (5) Limited Warranty |
Batteries Required | No |
Included components | Canister |

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Shark NV356E 31 Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum with Swivel Steering, HEPA Filter, XL Dust Cup, Pet Power, Dusting Brush, and Crevice Tool, Perfect for Pet Hair, White/Silver
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Shark |
Colour | White With Silver |
Item weight | 6.21 kg |
Product Dimensions | 11.4D x 15W x 45.5H Centimetres |
Style | Standard Brush Roll |
Model name | NV356E S2 |
Capacity | 0.87 liters |
Power source | Corded Electric |
Manufacturer | SharkNinja Operating LLC |
Global Trade Identification Number | 00622356531191 |
About this item
- LIFT-AWAY: Lift away the pod to clean under furniture. Or detach the nozzle to clean above the floor, on upholstery, furniture, stairs, and more.
- ANTI-ALLERGEN COMPLETE SEAL: Works with a HEPA filter to trap 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum cleaner. (Based on ASTM F1977 of particles .3 microns or larger.)
- BRUSHROLL SHUTOFF: Instantly switch from more maneuverability on deep carpets to gentle bare floor cleaning.
- PERFECT FOR PET OWNERS: Picks up pet hair and loose debris. Powerfully deep-cleans dander out of upholstery and other surfaces.
- SWIVEL STEERING: Easily maneuver your vacuum in and out of tight spaces, in corners, around furniture, and more.
Additional details


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in this set of productsColorfullife Filters for Shark Navigator Lift-away NV350, NV351, NV352, NV355, NV356E, NV357, NV360, NV361, NV370 NV391 UV440 UV490, UV540 Shark Vacuum Filter Replacement 1 HEPA 3 Foam XFF350 XHF350FREE Shipping by 鶹Get it by Monday, Jul 28Only 2 left in stock.- Shark Navigator Swivel Pro Complete Upright Vacuum, Red (NV150C)FREE Shipping by 鶹Get it by Saturday, Jul 26
From the manufacturer

Power on floors, power everywhere else.
Deep-clean carpets, tackle hard floors, and take on above-floor messes with a detachable Lift-Away pod. This upright vacuum cleaner delivers powerful cleaning on floors— and everywhere else.
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Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars 37,168
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4.6 out of 5 stars 193
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4.4 out of 5 stars 7,000
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4.4 out of 5 stars 2,101
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4.3 out of 5 stars 54,560
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4.2 out of 5 stars 10,826
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DuoClean | - no data | - no data | - no data | ✓ | - no data | ✓ |
Self-Cleaning Brushroll | - no data | - no data | ✓ | - no data | ✓ | ✓ |
Powered Lift-Away | - no data | - no data | - no data | ✓ | - no data | ✓ |
Lift-Away | ✓ | - no data | - no data | - no data | ✓ | - no data |
Anti-Allergen Complete Seal + a HEPA Filter | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Product weight (lbs.) | 13.7 | 16 | 16 | 14.5 | 13.4 | 17.1 |
Wattage | 1200 | 1150 | 1150 | 1150 | 800 | 1350 |
Amps | 10 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 6.7 | 11.3 |
Cord length (ft.) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 30 | 25 | 30 |
LED lights | - no data | - no data | - no data | On floor nozzle | - no data | On floor nozzle & handle |
Versatile cleaning with Lift-Away.
1. Upright mode
Get powerful, traditional cleaning on carpets and hard floors.
2. Lift-Away on stairs
No need to carry the whole vacuum—just detach the pod for easy lightweight cleaning on stairs.
3. Lift-Away overhead
Lift away the pod and detach the cleaner head for lightweight, above-floor cleaning.
Signature Shark features.
Powerful deep cleaning
This pet vacuum cleaner gives you deep cleaning of embedded hair and dirt on carpet and powerful suction on hard floors.
XL-capacity dust cup
Navigator is a bagless vacuum cleaner—an XL dust cup gives you extended cleaning to tackle your whole home without interruption.
Anti-Allergen Complete Seal
Capture and trap 99.9% of dust and allergens while preventing them from escaping back into the air. Based on ASTM F1977 of particles .3 microns or larger.

Lightweight maneuverability
Equipped with dynamic swivel steering, this Navigator provides excellent control when maneuvering around furniture and other obstacles.
Product information
Technical Details
Additional Information
ASIN | B005KMDV9A |
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Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
鶹 Rank |
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Date First Available | Aug. 8 2012 |
Manufacturer | SharkNinja Operating LLC |
Place of Business | Saint-Laurent, QC H4S 1A7, CA |
Feedback
Product description
A lightweight 2-in-1 Lift-Away upright vacuum with a detachable canister for portable cleaning power. With the push of a button, Lift-Away technology allows you to lift the canister away and easily clean in hard-to-reach areas. This vacuum is also equipped with a completely sealed system and a HEPA filter to trap dust and allergens. It also includes a Brushroll Shutoff button so you can easily switch between carpet and bare floor cleaning.
Safety and product resources
Safety documents
Top Brand: Shark
Brands in this category on 鶹
Customer reviews
Customers say
Customers like the suction, performance, and ease of cleaning of the carpet upholstery cleaning machine. They mention it sucks up hair on one pass and is easy to empty the dirt container. Customers also appreciate the power, design, and build quality. However, some customers have mixed opinions on the weight, maneuverability, and quality.
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Customers like the suction of the carpet upholstery cleaning machine. They mention it has fantastic suction and exceptional cleaning power. Some say it's better than the Kirby vacuum and sucks up hair on one pass unlike the Dyson.
"Great vacuum but terrible if you or your pets have long hair. The roller brush is a pain to clean and remove hair that gets wrapped around it...." Read more
"Great suction, very maneuverable, the lift away feature is of great help for the stairs. Easy to empty. When available on deal then a good value...." Read more
"...It is fairly quiet, has great suction, picked up everything quickly and I was shocked at how much dog hair it grabbed!..." Read more
"...the bar is too low. otherwise great vacuum. very powerful" Read more
Customers like the performance of the carpet upholstery cleaning machine. They mention it does a fantastic job, is heavy-duty, and works great on vinyl engineered flooring. Some say the electric brush far outperforms and the dust bin seems to work.
"Great product" Read more
"...Works great! minor issue, the cord could be longer but thats about it." Read more
"Great value for the money. Works well, easy to empty and clean." Read more
"we dont have stairs, but machine is abit heavier than we thought. it works well," Read more
Customers like the ease of cleaning of the carpet upholstery cleaning machine. They mention it's easy to empty the dirt container and use it as a basic carpet vacuum. Customers also say it picks up dirt and pet hair extremely well. They also say it's light, easy to handle, and manageable on hard floors.
"...It's not too heavy, its powerful, it's easy to use, it can come apart to make it easier to clean stairs - it's well built and generally appears to..." Read more
"...The attachments are great and the Shark NV356E S2 Navigator is easy to clean and replace the filters...." Read more
"...Easy to empty though which is nice and the cord is quite long which is also nice." Read more
"...Easy to put together and the bagless compartment is much easier to remove and empty than other vacuums I’ve had." Read more
Customers like the power of the carpet upholstery cleaning machine. They mention it's awesome, surprisingly powerful on stairs, and efficient. They also say it picks up everything without burning out the motor.
"...This is compact , powerful. Very good quality" Read more
"...As a last point, it is efficient and may be suitable for a cleaning service." Read more
"Powerful but heavy..." Read more
"...The pet hair power brush attachment is super powerful and works very well.. The only issue is that the hose attachment is VERY short and doesn't..." Read more
Customers like the design of the carpet upholstery cleaning machine. They mention it's well-designed, intelligent, and looks good. Customers also say it's lightweight, has excellent suction power, and makes the carpets look like new. They also say the quality is second to none and by far outperforms any Dyson models.
"...So on a wooden floor you can roll this thing around super easy. It's nice and gentle on the floor, with proper wheels. And so many features!..." Read more
"...This vacuum’s suction is superb!!!. It’s very easy to manoeuvre. It looks good. I’m a loyal Dyson customer and this vacuum is so much better...." Read more
"Most amazing product, if you thought like I did that your house was clean you are wrong. This vac cleaned like nothing else it was truly amazing...." Read more
"...Poor design choice." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the weight of the product. Some mention it's light enough for them to use on their stairs, while others say it's a tad heavy compared to their previous vacuum.
"...The first is it is super loud and heavy! It’s a good workout though. I wish there was a spot for the small pet brush on the unit as well...." Read more
"We had a dyson before and this is way better. It is so much lighter and easy to maneuver. You can take off the dust bin and totally wash it out...." Read more
"...On the negative side it's very light and the hose is very stiff...." Read more
"...I love how lightweight and how easy it is to maneuver. The suction is incredible and works on both carpet and flat surface floors...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the maneuverability of the carpet upholstery cleaning machine. Some mention it's light and easy to maneuver, while others say it's hard to move around and tiring to pull and push the machine.
"Owned this vacuum for a month now. On the plus side it's light and easy to maneuver and has great suction...." Read more
"...It’s also a bit heavy so doing stairs isn’t the easiest...." Read more
"...it works so well, aside from its awesome power, is because the bristles are motorized! There is an electric motor in that bottom part!..." Read more
"...Forget it! Hose doesn’t expand unless you pull on it but one hand already holding the canister and other holding the wand/handle...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the build quality of the carpet upholstery cleaning machine. Some mention it's well-made, sturdy, and nice-looking. However, others say the brush roller broke on the second use, the hose already broke, and two of the four attachments broke within two years of residential use. Some also say it can come apart to make it easier to clean stairs.
"Very powerful... sturdy... beautiful design easy to use... super happy with this product... shark is the best." Read more
"...which we all know they can be expensive, I found this one sort of cheaply made too as I was putting it together. Oh well. You live and learn." Read more
"Heavy-duty and works, but a little too clunky." Read more
"...(not really a con as it is made with high quality materials)...." Read more
Reviews with images

Amazing suction! Carpet cleaning dream!
Top reviews from Canada
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- Reviewed in Canada on October 15, 2018Verified PurchaseI bought this vacuum about a month ago after doing a good amount of research, and I am very happy so far with its performance.
Key points:
- It is not overly heavy, as some other reviews may have indicated.
- The ability to detach the main canister and to use the wand is a game changer. It was pointed out in some other reviews that the hose stiffens to the point that it becomes too short. That is simply not the case -- it stretches out easily.
- The unit has a cord whether operated as an upright vacuum or with the detached portable canister. The cord is not a burden in either of its modes. The vacuum should be held by the canister handle when operated in detached mode, and there is no reason to hold the cord.
- The level of suction on carpet is very powerful. Importantly, though, users have the ability to adjust the level of suction by turning a section close to the handle.
- **My vacuum did not come with the microfiber pad that is pictured** The ability to turn off the brushes is great for preventing scratches on hard wood floors. Because the brushes are not used, however, the vacuum will not pick up absolutely everything. This is a necessary compromise. This vacuum is best used for a "first over" of hard wood floors, and then followed up with by a other cleaning methods.
- The canister holds a lot of dirt and does not need to be emptied often. Additionally, it's fairly easy to dispose of its contents.
- I paid $222.38 CDN for it over amazon.ca
I cannot comment too much on the effectiveness of the HEPA filter or how often it needs to be replaced because I have owned the unit for only about a month.
- Reviewed in Canada on January 24, 2024Verified PurchaseUsed it for the first time today and so far it’s great.
PROS:
Picked up all of the dog hair on my carpeted stairs in under 5 minutes with minimal effort. The “brushroll on” feature is amazing! It pulled the vacuum along for me and all I had to do was guide it, barely any effort required. The long hose with handle came in handy when cleaning around the baseboards, I did not need to bend over and hurt my back. It is fairly quiet, has great suction, picked up everything quickly and I was shocked at how much dog hair it grabbed! IF YOU HAVE DOGS I PROMISE YOU YOU NEED THIS! The canister was easy to remove and empty.
CONS:
It is heavier than my old vacuum (not really a con as it is made with high quality materials). It does tip over easily when using the long arm with the handle especially on stairs (an easy fix if you sturdy it with your leg). There is no place on the vacuum for the pet hair removal accessory, unless I haven’t found it yet? It does not have a quick retraction cord which is annoying because everything else about this vacuum is amazing! Poor design choice.
- Reviewed in Canada on December 26, 2023Verified PurchaseGreat vacuum but terrible if you or your pets have long hair. The roller brush is a pain to clean and remove hair that gets wrapped around it. I have irish setters and they have longer fur and fighting to clean the brush after every use is obnoxious. It would be great if a company designed a vacuum that worked well for pets other than short haired ones. Works well on carpet, not as well on bare floors/hardwood which is also disappointing. It’s also a bit heavy so doing stairs isn’t the easiest. To disconnect the hose to use separately from the foot it’s a poor design and the hose is too short so the rest of the vacuum tends to just tip over/crash to the ground if you do this without hanging onto the rest of the vacuum. Overall decent suction but a fair amount of design issues that would make me try a different product in future. Easy to empty though which is nice and the cord is quite long which is also nice.
- Reviewed in Canada on April 30, 2025Verified PurchaseWow! I usually don’t take time to write the reviews but I have to say I’m impressed with this vacuum. We recently moved into a brand new home which has carpets upstairs in the bedrooms. I have not had carpets in my home for years and I knew my cordless stick vacuum was not going to cut it for keeping them clean. The photos I took here were after 2 minutes of vacuuming a section of carpet testing this out when I first unboxed it. We are the first owners brand new home and carpets only had been here a few days and it pulled out all of this!!! In minutes! I guess construction dust and the in and out moving in boxes created more dust than I could have imagined. Really great vacuum highly recommend.
5.0 out of 5 starsWow! I usually don’t take time to write the reviews but I have to say I’m impressed with this vacuum. We recently moved into a brand new home which has carpets upstairs in the bedrooms. I have not had carpets in my home for years and I knew my cordless stick vacuum was not going to cut it for keeping them clean. The photos I took here were after 2 minutes of vacuuming a section of carpet testing this out when I first unboxed it. We are the first owners brand new home and carpets only had been here a few days and it pulled out all of this!!! In minutes! I guess construction dust and the in and out moving in boxes created more dust than I could have imagined. Really great vacuum highly recommend.Amazing suction! Carpet cleaning dream!
Reviewed in Canada on April 30, 2025
Images in this review
- Reviewed in Canada on July 16, 2023Verified PurchaseOne review said that the shark picked up a ton of dirt and debris on an area of their carpet that had been recently cleaned, and they were blown away at the power of the unit.
I cleaned my whole house before using the shark and then was AMAZED and how much dust, dirt, and debris it still picked up out of my carpets. My floors feel so good on my bare feet.
I work from home as a massage therapist so clean is very important to me and due to the amount of traffic in my place I vacuum daily.
I still can't belive how much junk the shark got out of my carpet! The unit works better than some brands that sell for thousands of $$, to find this at the price point it's at was a dream!
I blabbed about it on all my socials because I am so impressed with the quality of the shark and the results it gave me. I will never use another brand as long as shark maintains their quality.
I'm still shocked I found this unit at this price point and on 鶹. This has made my tidy home actually clean.
It's a tad heavy compared to my previous vacuum but worth it, despite the slight weight increase it moves easily, love the longer cord, and love love love knowing all that dust and dirt isn't sitting in my floors anymore
I hate carpet so much because they're so gross, big dirt magnets but the shark makes that so much nicer because it actually gets all the dust and dirt up.
My kids room! Omgoodness!! Again, I thought it was clean, I take his wellbeing very seriously, and with his asthma I vacuume in there often to reduce dust and debris. The AMOUNT of junk the shark got out of the carpet ... ugh.. so glad I got this. I can't recommend the shark more.
It honestly works so well I might be able to vacuum less each week because now when I do spend the time to vacuum the floors are actually getting clean
Top reviews from other countries
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Adriana N.Reviewed in Mexico on May 17, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Me impresionó
Verified PurchaseTenia dudas sobre que aspiradora comprar, tengo una golden retriver que tira muchísimo pelo y no sabia que equipo era adecuado para poder recogerlo diariamente.
Leí las referencias de este producto y me animé a comprarlo.
Estoy impresionada con su efectividad, recoge muy bien el pelo suelto de mi mascota, la uso diario y me ha funcionado perfectamente bien, para mi tiene un peso adecuado, no se me hace pesada, el largo del cable me alcanza para aspirar toda la parte de abajo de mi casa sin tener que desconectarlo y cambiarlo de lugar y la planta alta que es un poco mas amplia la abarca casi en su totalidad.
Me fue fácil armarla, y también desarmarla para su limpieza.
Me gusta mucho que no lleve filtros que deba reemplazar, me encantó que puedo lavarla y esta lista para volver a usarse.
Verdaderamente estoy encantada con esta aspiradora, ahora veremos que tanto duda en esas condiciones.
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Carlos NuñezReviewed in Mexico on May 4, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Muy buena aspiradora
Verified Purchase9/10 todo está bien pero le falta practicidad, debes de tener paciencia se toma su tiempo agarrarle el ritmo. Le falta agregar más accesorios para tapicería. La potencia muy buena. El cable muy bueno. Sin ningún defecto.
- Anthony MReviewed in the United States on October 6, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Surprise For Yet Another Dyson Owner
Verified PurchaseI never thought I’d be writing a review on a vacuum cleaner, but in this case after having had Dyson's for over 15 years this one earns a mention. Don’t let the price or name fool you, this easily out performs the Dysons in many ways. The Dyson(s) this is replacing is the DC07 Animal and DC27 ball vacuum. I have no regrets. My reviews are normally pretty long-winded, but I feel there's a lot to cover here for a product you hope to only buy once and service you for many years.
Build
The product is fairly well constructed; however, it is not as heavy duty as the dyson. The clips are a little flimsier, and a little smaller. The Dyson is no champion in this department either as it’s entirely plastic and I’ve replaced pieces many times over the years. This seems to be rugged enough in places that matter, and I’m pleased to find the extension tube is made of metal. Parts snap together well and easily, and it seems to require far less effort to reconfigure. Size-wise it’s closer to the ball vacuum, power-wise the larger DC07. The powered floor brush is the same width as the Dyson ball, which is to say not very wide. It does have a window at the top so you can see if something is beginning to wind around the brush before it can cause trouble. Overall the weight and size make it an excellent choice for those with petite builds or senior citizens.
I’ll say this right up front though, this is not a particularly good looking vacuum cleaner. It’s decent enough, and certainly that’s not what you buy them for. Some parts are quite handsome, but the general appearance of the tank is industrial at best, and just a bit cluttered over all.
Ergonomics
Here is a bit of a mixed bag. Ergonomically the Dyson has obviously had some top flight industrial engineers working on it, as everything is snug, streamline and compact in the ways all the parts fit together. Once you know how to reconfigure the Dyson to extend the hose, it makes sense but does have a bit of a learning curve. The Shark by contrast is simpler in many ways, if a bit fussier.
The “Lift-Away” canister allowing it to detach from the base is absolutely brilliant, and makes cleaning things like stairs, blinds, ceiling cobwebs etc. much easier. It’s far lighter than the Dyson, and easier to use. The swivel feature is similar to the ball vacuum, less sexy but works just as well. Basically, this is like having a canister and upright vacuum cleaner in one unit.
There are certain aspects that nearly appear to be tacked on, such as the cord holder. The Dysons have this on the back, and it’s quite easy to access and use. Here it’s on the side, and winding the cord really works best only going one direction as the lower clip is tucked in and a bit out of the way. The tool holder as well is not really integrated, rather a small ring with 2 friction holders for the crevice tool and brush that you put onto the upright extension during assembly. Assembly BTW is a very simple and straightforward proposition, and helps you to understand how to reconfigure. Additionally, the red 2 position on/off rocker switch looks like it came right off the parts rack of a radio shack.
The handle is well placed, well configured and comfortable to use. The main roller head is easy to tilt and the balance is quite good. Removing the tank is straightforward, and definitely one of the biggest selling points of this machine. I never liked having the hose stretch from the Dysons, which would inevitably fall over.
One thing the Shark is definitely lacking is the one hand or one finger type of ergos of the Dyson. For instance, the canister must be released via 2 flip style clips at the bottom vs the pushbutton release of the Dyson. When it comes to cleaning the Shark wins, but when it comes to those extra little amenities, you’ll have to pony up a few extra hundred dollars. However, I believe the Shark does have some advantages beyond aesthetics.
Filter
This is one of the highlights of the Shark. The Dysons have a HEPA filter which consists of a little flat filter that rests on a ribbed plate and sits at the base of the canister unit. Comparatively the Shark may seem overly complex with its multi-step filter system in 2 different locations. With the very first use it was obvious how insufficient the Dyson was in this regard. It always smelled like I was vacuuming before. With the Shark, it smells clean. There is nothing going back into the air. One look at the base filter and you know how well it’s working, it was positively filthy. Luckily these filters are made to be cleaned. The base “pre motor” filter consists of a felt filter with a foam filter on top, and then the “post motor” air return filter is a HEPA filter inside of an egg crate style frame. This is the grill you see on the front, and is easily accessed. The pre motor filter is accessed when you remove the canister. For allergy sufferers this is 5-star stuff.
Design Flaws
I have a couple of issues when comparing to the Dyson. The first being potentially important for allergy sufferers. Typically, the bag-less canisters have a little door at the bottom you open up to empty it. On the Dysons, the release for the door is at the top of the tank. You can lower the tank into a trash receptacle with one hand and pull the little release ring with your index finger, releasing the contents well away from your face and hands.
With the Shark, the release tab for the door is at the bottom of the canister opposite the hinge, which means you can’t drop the tank down into the trash can to release it, it needs to be up high enough so you can press the button. This means potential to get your hands dirty, or some of the dust and dirt to miss the can. Normally I’d go outside and do this right into the garbage can – if you do the same just make sure it’s not windy!
Additionally, the interior design of the canister has a flaw compared to the competition. Towards the top of the unit there is an inverted tube which comes close to the outside wall similar to the Dyson. However, the Shark has interior braces that trap dog fur. It can be easily dislodged by banging it, but you might not have that option. Again, this means you might be having to deal with potential contamination and sort of nullifies the excellent filtering of the unit.
Cleaning/Carpet
The first thing I noticed when I switched it on was how quiet it is! I was positive that something like this would have to be far noisier. It’s most likely that newer models of Dyson are quieter, but I’ve had experience with 4 now and they all sound about the same. A higher pitched whirring sound with the Shark can be heard opposed to the deeper Dyson Roar on the carpet. As far as real cleaning, this positively outperforms the large Dyson. It’s easier to use and maneuver, and pulled far more out of the carpet than the Dyson did. Yuck! I had no idea. We have a medium pile carpet throughout the upstairs, and 2 long haired dogs. It was obvious that this thing was digging down much deeper than the Dyson from the tracks. The motorized brush also has an indicator light on it that lights green when the brush is working, and turns red if there is a blockage or jam. Another nice feature the Shark has is a little ring you can turn to cut down on the suction if it’s becoming too hard to push.
One thing worth mentioning could bother some people. On my cut pile carpet the Shark leaves brush marks, think of a rake on sand opposed to just the flat sweep I'm used to with a Dyson. I'm not sure if this really bugs me or not, and it probably varies from carpet to carpet. I don't have any other similar type to check this on. You can certainly tell in an instant that it has been vacuumed however.
Cleaning/Hardwood Floors
The supplied Dust Away attachment with the detachable pad is a clever little extra that acts like a Swiffer on steroids. It works quite well right up to the wall, as well as sucking up all that dust and grit that manages to make its way in between gaps of the plank style hardwood floors. There is basically an open section in front of the pad to get the big stuff, and behind it is the pad which gets the dust and fine stuff that is usually missed by a vacuum even with a beater bar. You will still need to do the occasional wet mopping as things just get stuck on the floors, but for regular cleaning this is a nice option to have.
Cleaning/Pet Attachment
This is a smaller attachment with a beater bar that is powered by suction. It’s rather cleverly constructed and works well on upholstery or stairs. It’s much smaller than the Dyson Animal attachment, and far more useful. The Dyson was too large to use for pretty much anything I ever found. It’s about 4 ½ inches wide so it’s perfect for chairs and sofas. I was actually sort of surprised at how much it actually got off of the upholstery compared to just a regular brush attachment. This was a pleasant surprise inclusion; I didn’t know it would be in the package.
Pros
- inexpensive
- lightweight
- easy to use
- swivel base easy to maneuver
- incredibly powerful
- suction control
- fantastic filter system
- bag free design
- 2 position power switch (motorized brush head on/off)
- motorized brush head with blockage/jam indicator light
- motorized brush head viewing window
- portable lift-away canister for easy cleaning of stairs or hard to access areas
- hardwood/tile floor attachment
- pet upholstery attachment
- 30’ cord
- easy cord release
- 5 year warranty
Cons
- questionable aesthetics/ergonomics
- fussy design
- some materials a little flimsy
- no soft brush attachment
- dustbin door release at bottom means possible contact with contents
- motorized head only 11” wide
Wow, that’s it. I suppose one more con would be this is not a proven commodity. After a year I’ll check back in, but I would imagine Shark would have another model out by then. I can say in the last few days this little thing has really impressed me. Enough to write a review about a vacuum cleaner, which I never thought I would. But for $180, I honestly thought I was making a mistake. Instead it’s one of the smartest things I’ve done, thanks to the excellent reviews from 鶹 customers.
In summary, besides the astounding power and cleaning performance of the Shark, there are 2 things I really love about it. The first is the Lift-Away design. I can’t say enough about how cool this is. It’s like having a canister vacuum you can carry around and get cobwebs, stairs etc. with without having to drag something around behind you. The second is the fantastic filter system. While I’m not a huge allergy sufferer, I had no idea how much crap was being blown back in the air with the Dyson. Combine these features with a lightweight, easy to maneuver and hard-sucking product they’ve fulfilled their promise.
While ergonomically lacking behind the Dyson, they’ve hit a good balance of features and performance, cutting corners where it would be least noticed and giving the consumer every bit from their hard earned dollar. I was dubious of Shark because of infomercials etc., but now I know they’re not throwing their money away on fancy packaging or industrial design with questionable returns.
5 stars, highly recommended.
[edit 1/19]
I apologize to anybody that asked me in the comments how I still felt about this vacuum. For some reason I haven't been getting notifications regarding review comments.
TBH, our housekeeper and destroyer of all things made short work of this vacuum in about 2 years. For regular people, who do crazy things like maintain their products, (check the pathway when vacuuming up string or large metal objects etc. when they hear terrible screaming and clattering sounds), I would assume this vacuum will give 5 years easy. (I don't miss her one bit.) She would basically cause any warranty to be voided. Seriously, she destroyed a broom after 3 uses.
I've moved into a small townhome, and will be back to doing my own cleaning. I have one of the Dysons she destroyed (seen in picture) after some repairs it's limping along. However, I plan to purchase this very same vacuum again because of its clever design and ease of use.
If I had one complaint, the power brush attachment is belt driven, so if you are a ham fisted klutz who tries to use it for things besides upholstery, the belt may come off of its track. I basically hid this tool from the housekeeper after a few weeks of abuse.
Anthony MSurprise For Yet Another Dyson Owner
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2016
Build
The product is fairly well constructed; however, it is not as heavy duty as the dyson. The clips are a little flimsier, and a little smaller. The Dyson is no champion in this department either as it’s entirely plastic and I’ve replaced pieces many times over the years. This seems to be rugged enough in places that matter, and I’m pleased to find the extension tube is made of metal. Parts snap together well and easily, and it seems to require far less effort to reconfigure. Size-wise it’s closer to the ball vacuum, power-wise the larger DC07. The powered floor brush is the same width as the Dyson ball, which is to say not very wide. It does have a window at the top so you can see if something is beginning to wind around the brush before it can cause trouble. Overall the weight and size make it an excellent choice for those with petite builds or senior citizens.
I’ll say this right up front though, this is not a particularly good looking vacuum cleaner. It’s decent enough, and certainly that’s not what you buy them for. Some parts are quite handsome, but the general appearance of the tank is industrial at best, and just a bit cluttered over all.
Ergonomics
Here is a bit of a mixed bag. Ergonomically the Dyson has obviously had some top flight industrial engineers working on it, as everything is snug, streamline and compact in the ways all the parts fit together. Once you know how to reconfigure the Dyson to extend the hose, it makes sense but does have a bit of a learning curve. The Shark by contrast is simpler in many ways, if a bit fussier.
The “Lift-Away” canister allowing it to detach from the base is absolutely brilliant, and makes cleaning things like stairs, blinds, ceiling cobwebs etc. much easier. It’s far lighter than the Dyson, and easier to use. The swivel feature is similar to the ball vacuum, less sexy but works just as well. Basically, this is like having a canister and upright vacuum cleaner in one unit.
There are certain aspects that nearly appear to be tacked on, such as the cord holder. The Dysons have this on the back, and it’s quite easy to access and use. Here it’s on the side, and winding the cord really works best only going one direction as the lower clip is tucked in and a bit out of the way. The tool holder as well is not really integrated, rather a small ring with 2 friction holders for the crevice tool and brush that you put onto the upright extension during assembly. Assembly BTW is a very simple and straightforward proposition, and helps you to understand how to reconfigure. Additionally, the red 2 position on/off rocker switch looks like it came right off the parts rack of a radio shack.
The handle is well placed, well configured and comfortable to use. The main roller head is easy to tilt and the balance is quite good. Removing the tank is straightforward, and definitely one of the biggest selling points of this machine. I never liked having the hose stretch from the Dysons, which would inevitably fall over.
One thing the Shark is definitely lacking is the one hand or one finger type of ergos of the Dyson. For instance, the canister must be released via 2 flip style clips at the bottom vs the pushbutton release of the Dyson. When it comes to cleaning the Shark wins, but when it comes to those extra little amenities, you’ll have to pony up a few extra hundred dollars. However, I believe the Shark does have some advantages beyond aesthetics.
Filter
This is one of the highlights of the Shark. The Dysons have a HEPA filter which consists of a little flat filter that rests on a ribbed plate and sits at the base of the canister unit. Comparatively the Shark may seem overly complex with its multi-step filter system in 2 different locations. With the very first use it was obvious how insufficient the Dyson was in this regard. It always smelled like I was vacuuming before. With the Shark, it smells clean. There is nothing going back into the air. One look at the base filter and you know how well it’s working, it was positively filthy. Luckily these filters are made to be cleaned. The base “pre motor” filter consists of a felt filter with a foam filter on top, and then the “post motor” air return filter is a HEPA filter inside of an egg crate style frame. This is the grill you see on the front, and is easily accessed. The pre motor filter is accessed when you remove the canister. For allergy sufferers this is 5-star stuff.
Design Flaws
I have a couple of issues when comparing to the Dyson. The first being potentially important for allergy sufferers. Typically, the bag-less canisters have a little door at the bottom you open up to empty it. On the Dysons, the release for the door is at the top of the tank. You can lower the tank into a trash receptacle with one hand and pull the little release ring with your index finger, releasing the contents well away from your face and hands.
With the Shark, the release tab for the door is at the bottom of the canister opposite the hinge, which means you can’t drop the tank down into the trash can to release it, it needs to be up high enough so you can press the button. This means potential to get your hands dirty, or some of the dust and dirt to miss the can. Normally I’d go outside and do this right into the garbage can – if you do the same just make sure it’s not windy!
Additionally, the interior design of the canister has a flaw compared to the competition. Towards the top of the unit there is an inverted tube which comes close to the outside wall similar to the Dyson. However, the Shark has interior braces that trap dog fur. It can be easily dislodged by banging it, but you might not have that option. Again, this means you might be having to deal with potential contamination and sort of nullifies the excellent filtering of the unit.
Cleaning/Carpet
The first thing I noticed when I switched it on was how quiet it is! I was positive that something like this would have to be far noisier. It’s most likely that newer models of Dyson are quieter, but I’ve had experience with 4 now and they all sound about the same. A higher pitched whirring sound with the Shark can be heard opposed to the deeper Dyson Roar on the carpet. As far as real cleaning, this positively outperforms the large Dyson. It’s easier to use and maneuver, and pulled far more out of the carpet than the Dyson did. Yuck! I had no idea. We have a medium pile carpet throughout the upstairs, and 2 long haired dogs. It was obvious that this thing was digging down much deeper than the Dyson from the tracks. The motorized brush also has an indicator light on it that lights green when the brush is working, and turns red if there is a blockage or jam. Another nice feature the Shark has is a little ring you can turn to cut down on the suction if it’s becoming too hard to push.
One thing worth mentioning could bother some people. On my cut pile carpet the Shark leaves brush marks, think of a rake on sand opposed to just the flat sweep I'm used to with a Dyson. I'm not sure if this really bugs me or not, and it probably varies from carpet to carpet. I don't have any other similar type to check this on. You can certainly tell in an instant that it has been vacuumed however.
Cleaning/Hardwood Floors
The supplied Dust Away attachment with the detachable pad is a clever little extra that acts like a Swiffer on steroids. It works quite well right up to the wall, as well as sucking up all that dust and grit that manages to make its way in between gaps of the plank style hardwood floors. There is basically an open section in front of the pad to get the big stuff, and behind it is the pad which gets the dust and fine stuff that is usually missed by a vacuum even with a beater bar. You will still need to do the occasional wet mopping as things just get stuck on the floors, but for regular cleaning this is a nice option to have.
Cleaning/Pet Attachment
This is a smaller attachment with a beater bar that is powered by suction. It’s rather cleverly constructed and works well on upholstery or stairs. It’s much smaller than the Dyson Animal attachment, and far more useful. The Dyson was too large to use for pretty much anything I ever found. It’s about 4 ½ inches wide so it’s perfect for chairs and sofas. I was actually sort of surprised at how much it actually got off of the upholstery compared to just a regular brush attachment. This was a pleasant surprise inclusion; I didn’t know it would be in the package.
Pros
- inexpensive
- lightweight
- easy to use
- swivel base easy to maneuver
- incredibly powerful
- suction control
- fantastic filter system
- bag free design
- 2 position power switch (motorized brush head on/off)
- motorized brush head with blockage/jam indicator light
- motorized brush head viewing window
- portable lift-away canister for easy cleaning of stairs or hard to access areas
- hardwood/tile floor attachment
- pet upholstery attachment
- 30’ cord
- easy cord release
- 5 year warranty
Cons
- questionable aesthetics/ergonomics
- fussy design
- some materials a little flimsy
- no soft brush attachment
- dustbin door release at bottom means possible contact with contents
- motorized head only 11” wide
Wow, that’s it. I suppose one more con would be this is not a proven commodity. After a year I’ll check back in, but I would imagine Shark would have another model out by then. I can say in the last few days this little thing has really impressed me. Enough to write a review about a vacuum cleaner, which I never thought I would. But for $180, I honestly thought I was making a mistake. Instead it’s one of the smartest things I’ve done, thanks to the excellent reviews from 鶹 customers.
In summary, besides the astounding power and cleaning performance of the Shark, there are 2 things I really love about it. The first is the Lift-Away design. I can’t say enough about how cool this is. It’s like having a canister vacuum you can carry around and get cobwebs, stairs etc. with without having to drag something around behind you. The second is the fantastic filter system. While I’m not a huge allergy sufferer, I had no idea how much crap was being blown back in the air with the Dyson. Combine these features with a lightweight, easy to maneuver and hard-sucking product they’ve fulfilled their promise.
While ergonomically lacking behind the Dyson, they’ve hit a good balance of features and performance, cutting corners where it would be least noticed and giving the consumer every bit from their hard earned dollar. I was dubious of Shark because of infomercials etc., but now I know they’re not throwing their money away on fancy packaging or industrial design with questionable returns.
5 stars, highly recommended.
[edit 1/19]
I apologize to anybody that asked me in the comments how I still felt about this vacuum. For some reason I haven't been getting notifications regarding review comments.
TBH, our housekeeper and destroyer of all things made short work of this vacuum in about 2 years. For regular people, who do crazy things like maintain their products, (check the pathway when vacuuming up string or large metal objects etc. when they hear terrible screaming and clattering sounds), I would assume this vacuum will give 5 years easy. (I don't miss her one bit.) She would basically cause any warranty to be voided. Seriously, she destroyed a broom after 3 uses.
I've moved into a small townhome, and will be back to doing my own cleaning. I have one of the Dysons she destroyed (seen in picture) after some repairs it's limping along. However, I plan to purchase this very same vacuum again because of its clever design and ease of use.
If I had one complaint, the power brush attachment is belt driven, so if you are a ham fisted klutz who tries to use it for things besides upholstery, the belt may come off of its track. I basically hid this tool from the housekeeper after a few weeks of abuse.
Images in this review
- Merideth BakerReviewed in the United States on November 5, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Bought a spare after 9 years
Verified Purchasetl;dr Best vacuum ever. Buy one!
After 9 years (next month) of daily use (and I'm sorry to report I am not gentle at all), I've started to notice a few concerns with my Shark NV356E Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum. About a year after purchase, I broke one of the clips that holds the dust bin onto the base. But you know what? Didn't matter. The dust bin sits on the base with a tight seal, so the loss of one of the clips has made no difference for the 8 years since it broke.
The real concern began when the roller brushes occasionally weren't spinning... I'd take apart the vacuum to be sure it was clean and unobstructed, wouldn't find any problem, but then the brushes would work again. Weird. Then one day a couple weeks ago, it just stopped in the middle of vacuuming. I'm telling you, I almost cried right then and there, but I walked away to calm down. When I came back, it turned on and worked fine. Weird again. I thought I'd better order a replacement. I love this vacuum so much, and it has been such an excellent workhorse, and one never knows when a company will stop manufacturing a certain model, so I ordered a second one to have as a replacement for when the sad time of the death of my first one comes (but you'd better believe I'll consult a repairman before fully giving up—that's how much I love this vacuum). (Also, just yesterday, I believe I've identified the problem: I think the switch has somehow gone bad. I'll be looking into how to replace it.)
Other "problems" I've had include the splitting of the hard part of the little hose at the bottom of the unit 2 years ago next month (7 years after purchase). Black electrical tape held it together until the replacement hose came. I have no idea why it broke, but there's about a 75% chance it was a user-generated problem. And the boy somehow vacuumed up the cord with such force that it damaged the protective outer coating. Again, black electrical tape "fixed" it. Speaking of the boy, he has at various times vacuumed up Legos, paper, dog food, rubber bands, spiders, gravel in the driveway (just to see if it worked), the occasional sock, powdered sidewalk chalk (I thought that one might have killed the vacuum, but no, he miraculously survived), soggy cereal directly from the bowl, and I can't tell you how many times he disassembled the vacuum during his "Deconstructed" phase (remember that TV show? ugh, our aspie boy failed to heed the subtitle: "we take it apart so you don't have to")... my Shark has valiantly kept on working.
Some people think the vacuum tips over too easily. True. The hose is stiff and doesn't stretch much. When using the wand, the vacuum will tip over as you pull on the hose, because it's quite top heavy and the hose is attached toward the top. The fix is to "lift away"—detach it from the floor base. Just takes depressing a release latch. Simple.
Emptying the dust bin seems to throw off some users who experience the dirt billowing out as they empty it. Again, an easy fix: lower the dust bin down into the waste basket (don't want to empty it into a full waste basket, you guys), and then depress the release button. The bottom swings open and the dirt and debris fall out into the waste basket. Then, turn the dust bin upside down, lower it into the waste basket again, and depress the release button for the lid to dump out any debris that has gathered in the upper chamber (Labrador undercoat hair seems to get stuck in there, so I do have to tap it so the hair falls out).
Maybe you live in a new house, but I don't. My house is very old, and we have the windows open as much as possible, so between the Kansas wind and the old house, we have dust like you wouldn't believe. I dust using the vacuumm and the dusting brush. We also have two dogs, one of which (a Labrador Retriever) sheds enough that I could probably knit a whole new dog each week with his sheddings. Therefore, we vacuum every day. The bedroom where the kennel sits fills the dust bin with hair at least once and sometimes twice per vacuuming.
Speaking of the dust bin, here's one thing I consider a design flaw: the fine mesh filter up inside the upper chamber of the dust bin is not removeable. It can get clogged with super-fine dust (especially if your child has vacuumed up something slightly wet, but also just with regular use), which lessens the suction power. It would be so nice and much easier to be able to remove that mesh cup to wash it. Since you can't, the way to keep it unobstructed or to clean it once it is clogged is to use a long-handled nylon bristle scrub brush—with the bristles dry, of course—to brush/scrape the mesh, then lower the dust bin into the waste basket and tap it to remove the fine dust.
Fine dust is also, guaranteed, going to fill up your filters, so my suggestion is to buy one or a few spare filter sets. Don't throw them away. We blow them out with our air compressor (although you could probably just beat the dust out of the two triangular filters like an old-fashioned housewife beats a rug), tie them—the two triangular filters, not the hepa filter—into a pillowcase, wash them in the washing machine, and dry them in the dryer with no fabric softener. (Update: I no longer wash my two triangular filters in a tied-closed pillowcase like a caveman. Now I use a mesh lingerie bag.)
Another tip: If your vacuum begins to smell not so fresh (say, like a giant dog butt), put a few of those fabric softener pellets/beads (like Downey Unstoppables) between the two triangular filters. They are dry, so they won't harm anything, but they will cause the vacuum to put out their scent each time you use it, which is much, much more pleasant than giant-dog-butt scent. When their scent wears out (or when you replace the filters with clean ones), just replace the beads with new.
Aaaaanyway, I did finally order a spare vacuum, just in case. When it arrived, I opened the box to find I had been sent a used vacuum. Gross! Hair in the brushes, hair and dirt in the dust bin. Oh my gosh, so disgusting. Hubs made it worse by pointing out I could have been sent a vacuum someone WITH BEDBUGS had used and returned. (The strangest part is that the box had a label from another department store.) The 鶹 customer service representative facilitated a return and replacement, which I received yesterday. You'll be relieved to note it was brand new, never used. I assembled it (took approximately 1.35 minutes), and I plan to keep it upstairs, mostly unused until my original one finally gives up the ghost.
- Cynthia ShrinerReviewed in the United States on July 3, 2025
4.0 out of 5 stars It sucks just enough but tips over way too easy
Verified PurchaseFull disclosure- I'm comparing this to a dyson ball complete purchased in 2018 and losing suction. I was looking for something that was a little less cumbersome to clean stairs. This looked promising- but it is very top heavy- I mean if I exhale on this too strongly it falls over. Carrying the cannister while using the wand to clean the steps sounded like a much better option than a vacuum on wheels either falling on me from the top step, or trailing behind me while I clean. However, the hose on the Shark is very stiff- and while the machine is running, it is essentially working against itself, and refuses to let me expand it. The pet accessory for the wand does great work- but I have to apply force for it to do it's best work- which means I need to use both hands for the wand which means there are no free hands to carry said cannister. If I set the cannister down, and pull on the wand a bit, the cannister just tips over- no harm no foul- but I wish it would sit upright. So that leaves keeping it attached to the base of the vacuum for balance- and we have come full circle.
Onto suction- I was able to clean two area rugs with the Shark because I was able to control the suction on the Shark- and I cannot do that with the Dyson. But- the Dyson can't even pick up litter anymore, even after cleaning out the brush roller, and replacing the filters. I also did the standard old vacuum/new vacuum test in one room and crazy the new vacuum picked up a full cannister that the Dyson missed.
My carpets look almost brand new- but I am still on the hunt for a machine to make cleaning my steps easier. Maybe I will get it right in another 6-7 years! I'm glad I got it on sale- it will do the job for now.