The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pro didn’t clean messes quite as fast as the best deep vacuum cleaners, but it was competitive. This could be your best choice if you don’t want to spend a lot. It is a very versatile option, with tools for cleaning furniture, drapes and many other above-ground surfaces.
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pro: Main features
The Navigator struggled a little on hardwood floors. It tended to scatter some messes rather than cleaning them. Only the Hoover Platinum took more passes to pick up flour off hardwood floor, and that was disappointing. For a vacuum cleaner that excels at cleaning hardwood floors, consider the Shark APEX DuoClean. It cleaned kitty litter and breakfast cereal relatively quickly on all surfaces, though, even if it scattered them a bit first.
This one is noticeably lightweight. There were only two that were lighter, and they didn't have even half the onboard tools that this one has. There is a lot packed into this 14-pound vacuum cleaner, including a long and flexible hose, a dusting brush and a crevice tool.
The Navigator is inexpensive compared to others. That's not to say it's cheap, because heavy duty vacuum cleaners rarely are, but if you want something less expensive then check out our guide to the best vacuum cleaners for home.
This is one of the Shark models that you can configure in a number of different ways for ultimate flexibility. It is a traditional upright that pulls apart to become a more portable canister vacuum that will be nice for cleaning stairs. The hose can be detached really close to the base, or you can detach it with a long and rigid tube at the end for reaching high into corners for cobwebs.
The Navigator is not the best for maneuverability. The swiveling head works well for getting around furniture legs, but the vacuum cleaner is bulky enough that it does not go under beds and other low-slung furniture easily. As it reclines the cleaning head lifts off the floor. Also, the cleaning path is quite narrow – smaller than any vacuum cleaner we tried, so it will take more passes to cover the same amount of real estate.
This vacuum cleaner is pretty quiet compared to others. There were only two that made less noise. That can matter if you live in an apartment building or like to clean during late hours.
The Shark website is user-friendly with an abundance of maintenance and user tips to help you get the most out of your deep-cleaning device. The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pro has a five-year warranty. The manufacturer will pay to ship the vacuum cleaner for servicing if it fails to operate properly.
Should you buy the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pro?
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pro has a few flaws, including its bulk and small cleaning head, but it has good suction. It's not quite as strong as many we tried, but you get a lot of value, especially considering the low price. It will help you clean your flooring, furniture and other areas of the home with a very small investment.
