Shark - Navigator Lift-Away ZU503AMZ

If you have pets, that shark lift away WITH the auto detangler is an absolute blessing! I’ve been cleaning professionally for 2 years now. Shark is the affordable version of Dyson. EDIT: Here’s a link to the model I have! It’s advertised for having a “self-cleaning brush roll.” Here’s a link to it! Shark Upright Vacuum, Navigator Lift-Away with Self-Cleaning Brushroll, HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, Upholstery Tool & Pet Crevice Tool, Perfect for Pets & Multi-Surface, Teal, ZU503AMZ https://a.co/d/70VY48q

I went ahead and edited my previous comment to have the model I have! I’m not sure if they’re all called “Shark Navigator Lift-Away” when talking about the lift-away models, BUT this one does self clean the brush roll. Shark would explain it better, but for all I care, it truly does self clean the brush roll! I’ve cleaned the filter and vacuum several times already, but not once had to sit there with scissors and mess with the brush roll. For context, I have very long hair and thanks to antidepressants, shed like crazy and also live with 4 black cats! So whenever it’s time to replace your shark, look for this! You won’t regret it!!

If you want to stick to your $250 budget, the Shark Navigator https://amzn.to/4lMy3JH is a great pick. It has strong suction that really grabs pet hair, and the Lift Away canister makes stairs and under furniture easy. If you’re okay with spending about $35 more check out the Shark Rotator TruePet https://amzn.to/4lSLqZ4 It’s like the Navigator but stronger and the brush keeps spinning even when you use it as a canister, so it cleans deep anywhere. Both are corded, so you get steady power and they’re built to handle pet hair for years.

I would look at sharks.

Yes. And hard wood type. We have one and it works well.

If you want powerful and baggless look at getting any of the [Shark Navigators](https://amzn.to/4lIP6MS)

Yup Shark Navigator Pet is my go to cleaner. I use it a lot (commercially) so usually buy a new one every year or so. It’s a great value machine and every bit as good as a Dyson. Also, the brush roller never gets clogged!

Have used Dyson in the past, I thought it was fine. Then we got a really fluffy cat and I realised two days after her arrival that we needed a muuuuuuch better vacuum. Bought a Shark Navigator Pet Vacuum - it’s been awesome and totally worth the money. I don’t think they’re sold at Briscoe - we got ours on sale at PB Tech.

tl;dr - I've had the [Shark Navigator Lift Away ](https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/shark-navigator-lift-away-vacuum-review/)for like 5 or 6 years and it's a workhorse. Just remember to replace the filters once in a while. I try to once a year or so.

I 100 percent agree with you, except for changing the filters monthly. We have to vacuum almost every day because we have dogs and live in a dusty/muddy environment. The vacuum is great.

I had the purple Navigator Lift Away and I loved it, until my kid borrowed and subsequently ruined in. Now I have an orangeish brown one that works just as well, but it's not the cute purple color 🙁. It was more expensive but the store didn't have the original one and I needed a vacuum.

I bought a Shark Upright Liftaway in 2023 for my upstairs (I have a large house) and I liked it so much that when my main-level vac died I got a Shark "Powerdetect", description includes "with Powerful Suction for Pet Hair Pickup". These vacuum cleaners have the strongest suction I've ever seen and the ability to lift off the canister and just use that is really useful.

I’ve had a white shark navigator “lift away” for what has to be a decade now and I’ve beat the living hell out of it. Never had anything break on it until the motor went out when I subjected it to cleaning up a nor’easter of drywall dust. Dead simple DIY fix with an eBay motor and it’s stronger than ever. Anyone that thinks this vacuum is bad sucks even more. That said we did pick up a newer one as a new primary and I much prefer the old.

Dyson Animal stick vacuum and a Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum that runs every day. I also have an older Shark Navigator upright that still works great and was reasonably priced.

A stick vacuum will never pickup as well as a plug in vacuum. I have a shark navigator which is an upright plug in and I love it.

Hey everyone, Just wanted to share some thoughts on my recent vacuum upgrade in case it helps anyone else out. After deciding between the Sebo E3 and Miele C3, I recently made the switch from a Shark upright (bagless) to the Sebo Airbelt E3 Premium canister, and I’m honestly blown away. This is my first bagged and canister-style vacuum, as I’ve used uprights my whole life. I didn’t really care much about vacuums until I had a baby—so I decided to do some research. ⸻ My situation: • 3 dogs (1 of them double-coated 🙃) • An 8-month-old baby • Mostly hardwood floors, with some rugs and low-pile carpet • Coming from a Shark Navigator upright – which I cleaned and maintained regularly, but it always smelled gross and struggled with hair ⸻ Why I switched: The constant dog smell from my Shark was driving me nuts, even with frequent washing of the dustbin and filters. I was also tired of the nonstop filter maintenance and the hair clogs. After a ton of research (and lurking here), I pulled the trigger on the Sebo E3 Premium. ⸻ My thoughts on the E3 Premium: ⭐ Hair pickup is insane The ET-1 powerhead is a beast. It pulls up hair I didn’t even know was there—especially on rugs. My carpets legit look fluffed up after vacuuming. And no more wrapping hair around the brushroll every session. ⭐ Odor is non-existent The sealed bag + multi-layer filtration system is a dream. I don’t smell anything when vacuuming anymore. The air actually smells cleaner afterward. This alone makes it worth the price, IMO. ⭐ Super convenient handle controls One thing I love is the slide suction control and power switch for the brushroll right on the handle. No more bending down or fiddling with buttons on the canister. I can easily lower suction for curtains or hard floors and turn off the brushroll for delicate rugs—all without stopping. ⭐ Much quieter than I expected It’s super quiet. I can run it while the baby naps and not worry. My dogs still run and hide (or bark at the vacuum lol), but it’s noticeably quieter than my Shark. ⭐ Build quality feels bulletproof Everything feels premium, even though the shell is plastic. German-made, smooth hose, easy-click accessories, and the canister glides like butter. I didn’t expect to care about things like bumper padding or telescopic wands—but now I do. ⭐ The bagged system just works I was skeptical about bags at first, but honestly, it’s been a relief. No dust clouds. No emptying a nasty bin. The bags hold a lot, and the hygiene cap makes disposal clean and easy. ⭐ Better warranty and more competitive pricing than the Miele C3 I bought mine through a local vacuum store that carries both Sebo and Miele. I got the 10-year non-wear and motor part warranty, plus 7 years on labor—which edged out Miele’s standard offering. ⸻ Minor Cons: 👎 The hose is a bit bulky, especially coming from an upright 👎 No headlights on the powerhead (not a dealbreaker, but I sometimes miss it). I ordered a green LED to attach to the head—will report back on that. 👎 Pricey — I paid $999 before tax, which was cheaper than most online prices ($1,050–$1,100). After tax, I paid $1,075 total. Still not cheap, but absolutely worth it for how much better it performs and how solid it feels. ⸻ TL;DR: If you’re in a multi-pet household and tired of the smell and hair clogs from a bagless upright, the Sebo E3 Premium is 100% worth checking out. It’s quiet, powerful, clean, and feels like it’ll last a lifetime. The handle controls for suction + brushroll on/off are an underrated upgrade. Happy to answer any questions if you’re on the fence. Thanks to this sub for helping guide my decision—y’all rock.

I’m a professional cleaner. Sharks all the way. I love my shark rocket stick vacuum. I love my shark navigator for carpet. Had a shark handheld that I used daily for years. You could easily get two of these for less than the price of a Dyson. Dysons are mid. THAT BEING SAID, I ADORE my Hoover porta-vac. Its suction is insane for hard floors. Has a bunch of useful attachments. Super long cord. Can’t get enough of that thing and it’s $125 on Amazon.

Yep! I know a lot of professional house cleaners who use that model and love it. I think Dysons are completely overrated.

I love our Shark LiftAway. We got it from Costco three years ago and it still runs like it’s brand new. I do fully clean the canister and filter once every 4-6 weeks depending on weather.

I’ve had the Shark Lift Away (line #5) for probably 8-10 years now and it’s been great. Handles long hair and pet hair reasonably well and is very mobile. My only complaint is that you can’t attach the beater head to the wand portion, which limits how far you can reach under furniture. But other than that, it’s a great vacuum, especially for the price!

Mine has been fine for 3.5 years with a dog and fiancé. I clean the filters regularly and wipe the insides down once in a while.

Whatever you do, DO NOT buy the Shark Lift Away models. They are absolutely terrible in longevity, being built with cheap plastic parts at the bottom hinges, which will break in a few years. It is very poorly designed in that section. Suction is great. Longevity is awful.

There is so much weight on the bottom hinge that it eventually gives way. Suction performance is great. Don't expect longevity. I bought mine in 2017. It was broken by 2023. My hoover (bagged) lasted from 99 till 2017 when I gave it away but its suction performance was nowhere near that of the Shark. I just wish Shark made more durable products.

We have 2 cats (used to have 3) and have used shark for years. We've had many sharks over the years. Specifically the lift away, power lift away, navigator I think it's called and then a rocket. Rocket died in like 3 years but the lift away lasted almost a decade. the power lift away can't remember but I think it lasted a few years. Navigator I can't remember lmfao. Currently we have a dirt devil "endura reach" I think it's called and a Kirby avalir. Both are pretty good. Endura reach has a pretty short cord tho. But most sharks or some have anti hair wrap technology on their brush rolls. That's already worth every penny if you've got cats. So I'd look at a shark if you've got pets. Hope this helps.

We have 2 cats (used to have 3) and have used shark for years. We've had many sharks over the years. Specifically the lift away, power lift away, navigator I think it's called and then a rocket. Rocket died in like 3 years but the lift away lasted almost a decade. the power lift away can't remember but I think it lasted a few years. Navigator I can't remember lmfao. Currently we have a dirt devil "endura reach" I think it's called and a Kirby avalir. Both are pretty good. Endura reach has a pretty short cord tho. But most sharks or some have anti hair wrap technology on their brush rolls. That's already worth every penny if you've got cats. So I'd look at a shark if you've got pets. Hope this helps.

> I had a Dyson and didn’t realize how bad they actually are until I bought my first Shark We did the same. We got new carpets upstairs and the Dyson tank filled after five rooms with new fluff. Changed over the the Shark and the tank was filled 2-3 times over in ever single room. The Shark made the Dyson feel like a wheezy asthmatic. The lift away is also very useful.

Our lift away is 10 years old and still going strong! I'm looking for an upgrade now because we can afford something that cleans a bit better but it's done very well for a vacuum under $200.

Shark Lift Away. It's awesome 👍

Can you get some plastic carpet protectors? Those are a godsend in my piggy room.  I'll also sweep the carpet that is exposed real quick before vacuuming just to get the long cloggy hay fibers mostly out of there, which cuts down on clogs drastically. I use a shark liftaway vacuum, I actually really like it 😅

Have had my shark lift away for 7 years now and LOVE it. Having the light on the bottom really helps on hard wood & laminate floors. I've gone back to using it over a cordless Dyson I was gifted.

I had my first shark lift away for around 9 yrs. It survived a triple coated dog through many blowout seasons. When I accidentally broke the canister shark sent me a new one free of charge even though it was out of warranty. I will.always buy shark brand vacuums

I like my Shark Lift away. It was both a Wirecutter and consumer reports top pick. My house cleaner likes it better than others she uses at other houses. I got mine at Target but Amazon has them now as well.

I have an old Shark Lift Away that we bought eight years ago when we got our first Sam. It definitely does the job and it’s great although the rollers are a little hard to clean (the dogs’ hairs don’t get stuck in the rollers, mine do 💀). There are definitely better vacuums on the market for people with larger houses but I live in a fairly small house with laminate floors, and an apartment with laminate floors prior to that, so I don’t really need much. For traction I basically have covered the dogs’ travel paths and play areas with area or runner rugs and the vacuum does a good job on those.

The shark lift away is truly BIFL. Every part that could get clogged is removable and makes fixing incredibly easy.

I love my Shark lift away! Have had it for 6 years and it’s fantastic. Agreed no cordless will give the power, esp on carpet, needed for pet hair.

I've had an old hoover and a new hoover....still like my shark lift away way better 🤷‍♀️

I’ve had a Shark liftaway for 15 years and it still works great. It’s possible their quality has deteriorated over time, but I have no complaints.

I've 2 Sharks. Lift away and the handheld one for stairs or the car. Love them both in equal measure.

A Shark lift away model. Will do carpet and hard floors, and get under things like the bed.

I've had good luck with shark navigators. I've passed them along to relatives and they've loved them

I think this is a fair assessment of the Dart.https://www.reddit.com/r/VacuumCleaners/s/CptdbfcM4y Cost of ownership is a bit higher than suggested by those that suggest it. I would add on another $60 to $80 a year for the filters. If it lasts the mythical 20 years, I haven't seen one posted here. I would calculate the cost at -- $600 for purchas of vacuum, $1800 (60*20), 4 service visits ($400). This is a cost of at least $2800. If you want to maintain an optimum suction. You need to change the bag more often in my experience with the Sebo e3. I had a Shark Rocket that lasted at least 12 years. I've had lift away from Shark that are 5+ years and going strong. I've gifted to others. In your situation, I wouldnt hesitate to by a mid range shark or a Henry or any brand.

Yeah my shark liftaway has served me pretty well, I have 2 rabbits so I'm vacuuming up hay and rather large amounts of hair quite often. For the last 4 years I also lived in a college house with a person that had a rather active dog. I really only clean out the filters and other than that abuse the shit out of this thing and it still cleans my carpet very well. Would a sebo be better? Probably. But honestly for like 99% of people they're probably fine with a consumer unit. I worked as an industrial cleaner for a while, and while I liked our johnnyvac ghiblis with the sebo power heads, I found that just like almost every other product there were drawbacks. Mobility and volume being my biggest issue with them, though I'm sure a bagged or bagless standing vac would have resolved one of those problems. This is all really to say: sebo and miele aren't always the answer.

Yeah... I have a shark liftaway that I've had for 3 ish years now. It picks up all the hay dust and rabbit hair my 2 fools can lay down generally without complaint. I do clean the filters fairly often because the hay dust always ends up clogging it fairly quickly, but it's a small price to pay for not having hay stuck to my socks.

Henry can be quite awkward on stairs as it’s too big to balance, shark lift away fares out better on stairs but not most powerful of suction, using a Miele blizzard at the moment suction is great but a lot of plastic parts that break ..just check eBay selling the parts. I’ve a wee robovac for kids to use upstairs good for quick tidy up but doesn’t replace a corded vacuum. I’m still searching for the one 🤞ever hopeful

I’ve used my sister’s Dyson and own Sharks. I prefer my Sharks. We have a cordless stick, a corded stick (used the most), and a Liftaway. They all work really well, I just got sick of hauling the Liftaway up and down stairs so we got the correcting.

No. I got one from Costco (Liftaway). I used it fairly gently for maybe a year or so then it bricked itself. I checked the contacts, power to the head, etc. (I'm an engineer). It's just dead. Seems like poorly built garbage. I'll never buy another.

I have 8 cats. I use a Shark Navigator. It vacuums up hair like crazy. Mine is 10+ years old, and vacuums just as well as it did the first time I used it. Also, Consumer Report rates high.

I have two Maine coon cats (the large, hairy ones). I also have asthma. I love my Shark Navigator vacuum

I prefer the shark navigator. I used to have a Dyson, then got a job as a cleaner and was supplied the vacuum, it was so good, when I quit, I went out and bought myself one

I have a Shark navigator that is the best non-canister vacuum I've ever had. It's lasted a long time for a budget vacuum.

I have a Shark Navigator like seemingly everyone here, and I couldn't be happier with it. It seems lightweight and not up to tough vacuuming, and I have five cats, but damn if it doesn't always do a spectacular job. It's also extremely easy to access and clean the filters, the brush, etc.

I'm telling you, that diagonal swivel motion changed my life. And yeah, the upholstery attachment is SO useful. I really just love that the whole machine is so light and easy to maneuver or clean, but it still like... really gets the pet stuff and dirt up pretty hardcore.

I own two different shark navigator models - one for upstairs and one for downstairs. I also own a Great Pyrenees and a short haired cat - we have to vacuum at least twice a week to keep up with the unbelievable amount of shedding; filling the canister each time. One model is 5 years old, the other is now 9 years old. They have had zero issues besides a small tear in one of the vacuum hoses which I fixed with some adhesive. Their suction is still nearly as strong as the day I pulled them out of the box. Additionally, parts are widely available and cheap with even third party support for filters. The navigator line (even the cheapest $100 model available at Walmart) is not garbage and do not deserve to be labeled as such.  Having said that: I have owned one Shark's cordless vacs and it was a hot piece of trash. 

My Shark Navigator is 12 years old and still going strong.  I always make sure to change filters every six months, cut hair out of the brush and empty it before it’s too full.

I always thought of Sharks as cheap vacuums. I have a central vacuum in my house and I bought a refurbished Kirby. The Kirby needed a repair so I went ahead and bought a Shark Navigator til I could get it fixed. I never bothered to take it to the shop. This Shark is amazing with what it pulls out of the carpet. Wish I would have bought one sooner.

my shark navigator is the best vacuum i have ever invested in for my golden that sheds a metric ton of fur every week. highly recommend :)

I’m very happy with my Shark Navigator

I have the shark navigator. Extremely reasonably priced which was important to me. A bit heavy but dependable, have had it for a few years and never an issue.

I've got a Sebo e3 and a mixed flooring household with pets and long hair.  Quality bags are a bit expensive, but hassle free and last for months (more hassle with Miele and their re-seating issue).  Filters on the e3 are changed every 10 bags or so depending on usage, so for me it's about 2 years of use.  Cost for bags and filters end up about $40-50 annually when I take into account my expenses after 2 years. That's $4 a month, about the cost of a decent cup of coffee these days. European bags and filters are identical and before the tariff mess could have been importer to the US at a cheaper cost than the US retail.  Dust buildup is noticeably better.  Emptying and cleaning the vacuum is very hygienic compared to bagless vacuums.  The brushroll binds up hair, but easy to remove for cleaning and the whole nozzle just stays cleaner compared to my shark navigator. The downside is the cost and the musty bag smell after a month or so.   The bagless vacuum canister would fill after a couple of rooms and needed to be emptied repeatedly during a vacuuming session.  Usually i have to reach in to get stuck long hair clumps and there's dust all over the canister and seals despite doing this outdoors. For ideal maintenance, you should  wash and air dry the canister and filter monthly and replace them at least annually.  Generic options are available cheap at Amazon. My shark lasted 5 years, so that's a ton of plastic in a landfill, much more impact than disposable vacuum bags.

I’ve been browsing this sub for months getting an idea for the next vacuum we want. We use a Shark Navigator right now and we have LOTS of dogs in our house and 2 cats and it gets the job done well. It sucks and I can see the dog hair being sucked in from 2-3 inches away. I also recommend this vacuum as a good cheap option. I clean it regularly and it keeps working for me

I'm going to second the Shark. I've had my cat for 14 years, and I bought a shark navigator around the same time. Had to finally replace it as the hose had gotten a couple of tears in it. The motor still runs pretty good, it's a garage vacuum now with some duct tape in spots. Perfect for cars and dryer lint.

Another vote for the Shark Navigator! I have 2 pets and 2 kids, our vacuum works very hard. It's got a lift away mode and a long hose which is great for stairs and things, but also more unconventional stuff like vacuuming crumbs out of kitchen cabinets or cobwebs off the ceiling, and vacuuming out your car! We've had it for a few years and if it kicked the bucket we would definitely be buying a new one. Edited to add, a more affordable option might be one of those crazy rubber broom things. I've seen them get recommended for catching pet hair on hard surfaces and carpet!

I’ve had a Dyson v8 for 5 years and it still works great which seems impressive for a stick vacuum. I also have a near decade old shark navigator that still works like the day I bought it. Now if I could just find a robot vacuum that lasts better than the POS roomba I have.

I have 2 sharks and as long as everything is cleaned a couple times per year they’ve been great! My everyday shark is a cordless ion flex, it needs to be cleaned a bit more often because we have cats. It’s been going strong for at least 8 years and I don’t baby it. I use the navigator once every week or 2 and have had no issues in the 3 years I’ve had it.

Shark is great! I’ve got a normal Shark Navigator and it works well for dog fur, the dual rotors help brush it up on hard surfaces and carpet, highly recommend it. Also features the lift away which comes in convenient to get under some surfaces.

This sub will mostly try to lean you away from what it considers a disposable vacuum and into a buy it for life vacuum. The difference generally being complexity in design, gimmicky features, no parts availability and no way to repair once broken. But based on your situation I think a “disposable” vacuum would be just fine. You can use it/beat it up for a few years, move it with you, and not spend a ton. Then down the line maybe consider a buy it for life brand. In that case I would recommend looking at Costco (either in store or online) and getting either the Hoover Onepwr or LG CordZero if you want a cordless vacuum, or a Shark Navigator or Shark Duoclean if you’re ok with a cord. Id personally stay away from Dyson as they tend to be the same disposable quality but with a buy it for life price tag. The exception is the Dyson Ball Animal 3 on sale at Costco right now for $280, but it’s very large which you stated not wanting.

I think the closest BIFL in the cordless market would probably be the LG CordZero. Aside from that you’re probably looking at a 5 years or less lifespan and maybe a battery replacement or two within that timeframe. If you really want a BIFL vacuum, you’d want to look into a bagged unit, and most of this sub will recommend either Miele or Sebo in that market. I personally own a Sebo E3 but also a Shark Apex. I expect the Sebo to last forever and have parts easily available when needed, but I’ve also owned the Shark for around 5 years now with no issues that I keep as a backup/beater vacuum for things I don’t want to use the Sebo for. But for $189 you honestly can’t beat a Shark Navigator from Costco. You can beat the hell out of it and not worry about tearing it up. And the Costco return policy/warranty will help bridge the gap of Sharks truly awful customer service.

I have a Shark Navigator as well (6 years old). We have 6 pets and my hair. It's fantastic.

Shark is great. I have an 8 year old Navigator that still does a great job, and a newer one gifted to me by a friend. Love them!

Shark navigator for sure! They weigh 13 pounds have great suction and a big canister and they’re cheap! I’ve had about 5 of them over the years because I usually end up dropping them and breaking something but they’re inexpensive enough to replace.

The Navigator works fine. The one you have pictured- I have two. I actually look for these on curbs and fix them up and resell them all the time. They are really easy to service and fix. Surprised to read all of the hate on this subreddit but that's been my experience. Never had one fail and I've sold dozens pretty easily. Lately I think I more prefer the one with the brush roll that doesn't collect as much hair but the regular Navigator is good.

I do this all the time on bulk trash days. I haven't seen any recently but people would pile old Shark Navigators up for trash on the curbs. Took them apart, emptied, unblocked hoses and they all work great. I sold them for over $50 apiece... I still do this but Goodwill charges at least $20 for them and I still have to service them. I've literally sold dozens.

We have the shark vacuum others have mentioned, a Roomba, and a cordless Dyson 😅 I still feel like I'm struggling to keep up with dog hair. We just got a new Dyson, but the shark vacuum is 6 years old and still working fine. I do have to replace or clean the filters pretty often though. Edited to add the shark one we have is the navigator.

I love my Shark Navigator, we've had it for years. We have a XL sized husky mix who goes through quite a spring and summer shed of his winter undercoat and it handles the job well. Goes from bare floor to carpet with a click of a button. I bought it on sale from Amazon for close to 150 I believe.

I got a barely-used Shark Navigator from cleaning out a relative's condo (after they died) and it lasted me 9 years of regular use due to a high-shedding dog before the wheels broke. I saw replacements on ebay and videos on how to replace, but none for my exact machine, and I had to weigh ER copay from impaling my hand as I tried to pry things apart vs buying new. I got a new one with the lift-away feature and self-cleaning brushroll for $99 in a black Friday sale, and it's been heavily used so far a few years. I'd be going through bags like nobody's business with the amount of hair I vacuum up if my main vacuum was bagged.

I LOVE my Shark Navigator. I had my parents old one that was probably purchased in 2009 and only got a new one last year as a wedding gift. The old one was still kicking and I sold it for like $50 on Facebook marketplace. For the price point you can’t beat it

We tried a 2 different Sharks, one a navigator and some other one I don't recall, a Hoover wind tunnel. The Hoover had a height adjustment which make it work better than the others, but still not good. One of the Sharks had a suction control but that didn't seem to help much.

I’ve had Dysons and Sharks and the Shark always wins in performance and longevity, hands down. My Shark Navigator was thrifted and has duct tape on the hose and works like a dream. I’ve seen the same model at Ollie’s but it’s worth whatever price it’s listed at.

Love my shark navigator. It's not BIFL - mine died after 7 years - but I vacuum free roaming bunnies. It got clogged probably 60 times (imagine not picking up hay, bunny poops, and litter, before you vacuum 🙃), which was user error, but it still managed to live a long life. Got another one no questions asked. I'm sure it would have lived another year or couple of years had I actually treated it a lil better. $20-$30 a year for a heavily used appliance seems okay to me.

According to the vacuum store guy on tiktok, Shark Navigators are the only vacuum available at big box stores worth buying. I can attest to them as I've owned two, and the first one I got second-hand. The only reason I had to get a new Shark was because my springer chewed on the cord one day when he was 2 years old. I have 2 long-haired cats, a springer spaniel, and a golden retriever. I also recommend a carpet shampooer if you have carpet in your home. They're also great for shampooing couches. We cover ours with blankets to prevent them from getting dirty, but they still benefit from shampooing.

Nope. I am on my third Shark (all different models) within 5 years. It’s horrible, I have the Apex, which was replaced 3 times by Shark due to the motor burning out. I then bought the 3m model Navigator, which lasted a year before it stopped working completely, and finally tried out the old faithful, base Navigator, didn’t even make it 6 months. My first Shark Navigator lasted 9 years and I actually gave it to a friend when I “upgraded” to the Apex and I regret it. Currently searching for a reliable brand or I’ll just go to a Bissell and replace when needed for way less money.

I had the shark navigator. Bought it refurbished from a seller on Ebay that sells specifically refurbished vacuums. Worked super well until my dumbass was holding it in a stupid way and dropped it from several feet up. Even so, it's repairable, just one of those project we haven't quite got to. Very much reccommend.

Ebay dawg, I've had my shark for 11 years, hose is all I've had to replace so far.

Love mine to, it's perfect for stairs and I love detaching it from the base and walking around doing corners.

I'm horrified that people from this sub might see my home, I consider it very clean, but from the standards they have on here I think I'd be burned at the stake. I spent 125 for my shark navigator over 11 years ago, all I've replaced so far has been the hose, which I got off ebay for $20. I vaccum multiple times per weem. Yes I maintain it, all part of cleaning imo.

I have a Shark Navigator. We own a Golden Retriever, and a teen daughter with hair to her waist. It's above your price range, but we LOVE it - got it on sale at Amazon for $160. Our carpet had been vacuumed weekly. The first time I used the Shark on the carpet, I was horrified by what was sucked out. It's 4 years old, and still going strong. Despite the piles of hair it deals with. I know people can feel strongly on bagged versus non-bag vacuums, but it doesn't really matter that much to me.

I bought a Shark Navigator nearly 3 years ago from Home Depot (got a discount as it was the display model) and paid - I think - $120-$150. It’s been wonderful. It’s not the best vacuum on the planet, but it hasn’t broken or needed anything, and it’s simple enough to empty the canister in the outdoor trash and wash the filter periodically. If I had it my way, I’d love a central vacuum like my parents had (Electrolux) but I have a townhome and I’m not willing to spend the money.

I would have said Dyson years ago, but in the latest generations they have removed all of the washable filters. That means once the dog smell gets trapped deep inside the very expensive "pet model" vacuum, it stinks your house up like rotten corn chips each time you use it. I have a Shark Navigator now and I feel it does just as good of a job at a price point under 200 bucks. Sure, you may have to empty it more often but it does a great job and every part of it can be washed, so all pet smells can be controlled. The washable post filter is chief among the washable parts!

I have a plug in Shark Navigator, but it's heavy!

Shark navigator is my goto for the last ten years

They are usually hated in these types of spaces online I’ve noticed, but mine (the navigator, same as this post) has been very reliable and I was actually able to afford it as a college student. I couldn’t afford most of the beloved ones. Still runs well though heavy use, though I do make sure to keep the floor brush stripped of my long hair and clean the filter etc. occasionally.

Personal opinion, I ask my clients to provide a solid, efficient working vacuum. All of my clients have one except for one and I bring my company vacuum. They are charged a nominal maintenance fee because it’s time consuming to clean a vacuum and care for it. It’s not good to have a community vacuum and definitely dicey if they aren’t the cleanest people. I’ve got one client who has a severe allergy to pet dander and others who have multiple dogs. Nobody has a shared anything and my clients appreciate that. Personal opinion aside, because I use many vacuums I’ve been fortunate enough to figure out which ones are great and which ones are terrible. A lot of it is just personal preference however, Shark is still the leader for me. They have some pretty great vacuums, equally great attachments and are really easy to maintain and care for. I don’t care for the cordless models but the Shark Rocket corded model is one that I use for clients if they need a vacuum. My own personal vacuum is a Shark Navigator. I just keep going back to it because it’s so good. Dyson is decent but heavy. The Dyson Animal works well but it’s super bulky and difficult to carry up stairs. They make a cordless model that has a great battery life on one - that version is 4 or 5 years old and is FAR better than their newest model that has the green light bar on the head of the vac. Max 45 minutes run time so you’ve got to be real careful about when and how long you use it without having to charge it again. A lot of the cordless models also have the charging stations so you’ll have to buy multiple batteries if you travel with it. If you’re going to invest in a vacuum though, Miele is a terrific brand. Not talked about enough but it’s by far the Porsche of vacuums. It is the lightest vacuum I have ever used. The suction is adjustable, it’s ridiculously quiet and they last forever! It’s a canister vac and can be difficult to get used to BUT…I’ve never used a better vacuum. There are a few cleaners in here who use the Sebo backpack vacuums and I know they ride real hard for them! I’m sure one of them will show up soon 😂 Other frontrunners are Bissell. The Clearview is lightweight, easy to use and has great attachments. Comes in a bagged version as well. Hoover has come back into the game recently and they have a pretty stellar vacuum that is comparable to the Shark Navigator. I avoid water vacuums at all costs. Just not practical. I’m sure this is far too much to now think about but now you know 😎

My Dyson sucked at sucking. Moved to a shark navigator and am much happier.

I would heavily recommend expanding your budget a bit and using the gift cards as part of the purchase. There are some Shark Navigators which although difficult to repair, aren't bad cleaners. If you're looking to go cheaper than that you're stuck with Bissell/Hoover which are generally considered bad in todays market.

They're "repairable" but not in the sense of replacing individual parts. If you need a new cannister, they sell that. New hose, they've got it. Want an entire head assembly? No problem. Want a belt replacement because your head is broken and the brushroller won't spin? Kick rocks, they only sell the entire head. Also they don't tend to provide long lasting support, so you probably won't find these parts for more than 3-4 years post sale. For your general apartment dweller or renter that has used Dirt Devils, Bissels and Hoovers from the bargain bin, a Shark Navigator is a fantastic cheap cleaner that would be a good holdover until they can afford something nicer. Sure there are trade offs to that cheaper upfront cost, but for the most part they're not as shitty as most people make them out to be. I still wouldn't buy a $700 Shark though, let me be clear.

I’ve had a corded shark lift away for 10+ years and it’s still going strong. Seems like a much better value. Only thing I’ve had to fix/replace was the hose.

I have a Shark with the Lift-Away function

Some version of the Shark Lift-Away is typically offered on BF by Walmart for about $99, probably closer to $120 or more now with inflation.  If they are showing out of stock at your local Walmarts, what you want to do is change your zipcode to more rural areas close by you in the app or online. Apparently they have a set number of the BF-priced model at each store. My last shark I had to drive 20 minutes out of the city for, but it was totally worth it to save $70. Also check Target and Costco or Sam's if you have memberships there. I know for a fact I've seen Costco advertising them, too. Oh yeah, to answer your question - from my experience, with vacuums they don't tend to mark them down any further, the danger here is them selling out.

I am having the same issue. I bought a shark lift away which I loved for 2 months then the latch broke so front brush roll won't stay in. Since then I've bought 3 other vacuums and none of them pich up dust or dog hair. I need an affordable vacuum that will work on hard floors that will suck up pet hair and dust. In the past I had a Tineco vacuum mop and I agree with the comment on the smell and mine didn't pick up anything very well. I have long haired dogs and I need something that works. Plus I'm on a fixed income so I can't pay $700 for a vacuum. I'm at a loss

Shark Lift Away, Navigator or professional series - all the way. If you’re looking for a lightweight, versatile and powerhouse suction. I have pets, it does the job. I’ve used Dyson, Hoover, Bissell and never looked back, got rid of the clunkers

Agreed. We’ve had our shark lift away for just over 3 years and I’ve been very happy with it. No noticeable change in performance, great suction, and easy maintenance.

Any of the Shark lift away vacuums 💯

My shark lift away is still kickin after 4 years but it’s happened 3 times where it just stops working and I had to open up the screws and remove some random clog, my buddies Dyson never had that issue although his battery is trash compared to mine

Yea.... I remember being excited by the Shark lift away... bought several over the years..... didn't understand what a dust-free, hair-free home was until we got a Sebo with bag. Now we vacuum 1/3 a much with far better results. Bagless vacs just aren't good.

What kind of vacuum did you buy? I'm thinking of going with a "bag' vacuum. I have a shark lift away now. It works great but just old. I also can't stand emptying the cup anymore as I break out every time and get eye infections (sometimes).

Shark lift off None of the robots will effectively take care of a lot of pet hair. Same with the cordless stuff. I tried a few different models… Loving the shark lift away though.

I've also gotten similar vibes looking here after my Shark Lift-Away broke after 7 years. It was great for my mix of 50% hard surface 50% stairs. Many of the suggestions here seem like overkill / some brand shaming. It's also odd to me that most of the brands suggested still use bags, which I can't imagine going back to from a cost and waste standpoint. For some though, I get it may be the best way to trap irritants for people with bad allergies etc. I don't know, I still want an upright like the Shark lift-away to get decent cleaning, go from carpet to hard, bagless with a drive belt I can repair after 5-7 years. But I think this sub has corrupted me. Suddenly, I'm thinking about Miel Boost CX1. I need to go for a long walk with your rational post in mind, reset on this purchase consideration lol.

I've settled on two, the Tineco Pure One Station 5 or Shark lift away successor corded. Still haven't pulled the trigger lol. Also found the YouTube reviews to be pretty helpful with their tests. Good luck to us both. 

This is so funny, I’ve had the shark lift away for 6 years and liked it. I didn’t realize that was apparently the consensus for it! Ive thought about upgrading since I used it to vacuum some hot cinders from a grill (not an intelligent choice) and now it always smells like fire… maybe I just replace it after seeing this chart

My Shark Lift-Away has bit the dust (pun intended), and I desperately need a new vacuum. In our home, we have a mix of carpet and hard flooring, fabric furniture, two cats, one allergy-prone small dog, and two heavily allergy-prone hairy humans (allergic to pollen, dust mites, mold, etc.). No rugs yet, but I want them someday and I love plush ones! I'm willing to spend no more than $650 using my solutions fund. What would you recommend? What do you like? Thanks, all, for your help and expertise!

Certain models will break down to the pole foot and hose, which is great for under furniture, others don't. It's the lift away part of shark that works for stairs.

I have 2 lift aways and a stick vac (not cordless). I have 4 cats and 2 dogs. Filled the canister 3 times vacuuming just the first floor. I had a Dyson and didn’t realize how bad they actually are until I bought my first Shark.

I’ve had a corded shark pet vacuum for probably 9-10 years. It still works great. I definitely recommend a shark.

Which Shark do you have? I just bought the Lift Away (corded) at Costco and it seems solid in the few times we've used it.

Which Shark did you get? I just got the Lift Away and it seems fine, especially for the price ($150 at Costco).

I don't recommend shark. We bought it, it's alright, but we still use our corded shark for the heavy lifting.

Corded Shark, I got my second one after 10 years. We have dogs, cats and kids. It does very well, would recommend.

I have a corded Shark. It sucks... but in a good way.

You may get different answers, but I don't think so. I've got a shark now, and don't find it works any differently than my old dyson, and it was quite a bit cheaper. I prefer corded models though, so not sure about other models.

I’m in sort of of the same boat. My wife trains service dogs and we have 5 dogs (and 3 kids) in the house. Also, because 5 dogs, my back yard is a mud farm and everything is coated in a layer of dirt. We have a tinneco pure 1 (it’s a stick vacuum with a base compartment). We vacuum the main part of the house where the dogs are (living room, laundry, entry, kitchen dining room). The living room really is the place we vacuum, 3-4 times a day but everything listed gets hit at least once a day (maybe twice in rainy days). We decided that making vacuuming convenient was more important than doing it super well (cause let’s face it, it’s gonna be dirty again in 5 minutes) and reliability took a back seat to convenience. So for us convenience > reliability > performance. We didn’t think ANY vacuum would make our floors 100% clean, so we didn’t try. Just get them 80% and but clean often. Then we mop probably every day or every other day…..(why do we have this many dogs again?) THEN we keep a corded shark in the basement where we keep their kennels. The shark is 5 years old and it sucks up everything but it’s heavy, so it stays in the basement) we also use this one to vacuum their kennels. We found that doing some work on our yard and cleaning the dogs as they come in, helped a ton. We still haven’t found a great solution yet. I rambled a lot. If you have any questions or suggestions for us. Let me know.

Got one. Thought it was pretty good. Suction started getting worse and worse. Had to replace dust door gasket. Paper filter became uncleanable after a while. After many complaints my ex finally went and bought a cheap ass Shark corded vac that was very similar. Difference was dramatic. Shark got lots of crap Ryobi couldn’t handle. This happened over about two years so it probably worked ok out of the box.

I have a shark corded for a few years now. Very happy with it. Just make sure you clean the filters regularly and maintain it and they're fantastic, same goes for most vacuums ,most go to shite cos people don't maintain them properly

I've had two Ryobi stick vacs for several years. I don't know whether the design has changed, but the part on the end of the brush is plastic, and as it spins it generates heat and starts to melt, and then gets noisy and smelly. I only feel safe using it for several minutes at a time. I have two precisely because they sent me another one when the first one had this problem. I feel like I may have replaced the head a second time already. Would NOT buy again. I love my corded Shark.

I just got a shark for my new apartment, but when we actually get a house we'll probably go with a sebo. Finally did upgrade to a corded though, lol.

Yeah my corded Shark is a beast! It’s been going strong for many years now. Longest I’ve ever owned a vacuum cleaner.

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.

Shark Cordless (don’t remember model number but was great on hardwood, horrible on the rugs). We also tried variety if stains (cordless and corded) from friends and they all failed. Currently we’ve gone back to a 10+ year old corded shark that performs ok, not great. But very heavy and cumbersome. Main floor for house is 50/50 hardwoods and rugs. Rugs are thin bc they are all washable (pets). Upstairs is wall to wall carpet but gated off to keep pets downstairs. Budget…honestly anything at this point. I guess I’d like to keep it under $700 but at this point I really don’t even care. We haven’t tried any canisters, open to that is they aren’t too cumbersome, I have RA, so easy to maneuver is pretty important.

I love my corded Shark vacuum. I just bought a new one after the one I had for 8yrs broke. Tho old one still works but the hose finally cracked. I could have rigged it with tape but I honestly wanted an excuse to buy another lol

I also got the corded one and I love it.

Everyone here saying they love their LG CordZero but I can’t stand mine. But then again I haven’t had anything to compare to in the cordless stick vacuums area. My simple Shark corded vacuum I use on carpets is just so much better and easier to use. But it’s not as convenient as the cordless sticks. I was about to buy a Dyson V10 from Costco that’s on sale for $399. Maybe I’ll reconsider

I love my shark! It's been great with 2 dogs & 1 cat. Mine is corded and I will never go back to cordless. I vacuumed 3 times when I first got it because it was just filling up, I was so embarrassed.

I've always found them to be hype. Used to have a Dyson corded that I got from my dad second hand. it was good, until I decided to replace it with a Shark corded. The first time I used the shark, you'd have thought I'd never hoovered the carpet, honestly the amount of engrained hair and dust it pulled out was insane in comparison to the Dyson which looked like it was doing a good job, it's not that it didn't pick anything up but I would say the recovery rate was probably 65% in comparison to the shark. I then bought the shark stick handheld and was using that but when I split with my ex it stayed at the house. My new partner has a Dyson V8 and it's crap in comparison, there is stuff I know my shark would of picked up easily and the Dyson struggles. I also have a V7 my dad gave me which I just replaced the battery on as that had got to the point where it would only run for 30seconds before switching off so will see how it is with the new battery but tbh don't hold high hopes.

I LOVE the Shark corded vacuum. Easiest to clean, switch out parts, consistent suction, power not limited by battery. Win-win!

I have both. We live on a small farm with kids and a dog so lots of vacuuming! We use the cordless stick for quick messes like crumbs or dog hair and then the Shark corded for regular twice a week vacuuming. With the Shark make sure you clean the air filter every couple weeks or it starts to lose alot of suction. I actually have a rainbow vacuum too that I had previous to any of the others but it's so heavy and burdensome I rarely use it.

Really like the dyson cordless! Didnt buy the fanciest. Bought a shark corded and absolutely hate it after using the other.

We’ve got a corded shark and it’s amazing and has lasted 5 years and still going strong. We also have a Dyson but feel the shark cleans the carpets better 

I bought a corded shark to replace an aging Dyson animal and it was way better, just the bog standard £120 lift away one.

Same with me. Had a cord break but had been running great until then. Replaced it with another Shark

Get a Shark. So much better than a Dyson as a fraction of the cost and their attachments use synthetic bristles. We had a top of the range cordless Dyson and we’ve had multiple corded Dysons and they’ve all been terrible. This corded Shark one I’ve got now is amazing, most powerful vac I’ve ever used. In general I’d avoid cordless vacs unless you live in a tiny place, otherwise it won’t even clean your full house before it needs charging.

I have a Dyson V10 cordless. I had a shark cordless forget the name but it was the top range 2-3 years ago, and that was better then the Dyson. I have now got a shark corded vacuum, going back to corded was and unbelievably eye turning move, I will never get a battery vac again unless it's a robot vacuum, but I can highly recommend shark in general, but I would recommend corded over battery as the power difference and pickup on high pile carpet is much better

I second this. We have a corded shark and it is great. We bought the LG chargeable vac and it was awful. Wouldn't pick up the litter at all.