Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E Vacuum

Stairs and furniture. The detachable pod on the NV356E makes stairs, couches and tight spots much easier to clean with the full upright left behind. You press a button, lift the canister off and carry it by hand while the floor head stays on the floor. It's the feature this vacuum gets the most credit for.

Yes. The NV356E often pulls a surprising amount of dirt and dust from carpet that had just been vacuumed with another machine, and pickup on hard floors is strong too. The brush roll switches off for bare floors, so it doesn't scatter debris on hardwood.

On plush carpet, it can be. At 13.7 lb the Shark NV356E is light and easy to steer around furniture, but the strong suction makes it harder to push through deep pile, and that complaint comes up several times. On hard floors and low carpet it moves easily.

Usually not, but fine dust is a problem. The NV356E's 0.87-liter cup opens at both ends and empties quickly. A few find dust puffs out as it opens, and fine dust clogs the mesh screen inside, which is fixed in place and can't be removed to wash. Empty it deep inside the bin.

Yes, it picks up shed hair from dogs and cats well. Hair does build up on the brush, so clearing it after each session keeps the NV356E working at full strength. That small habit is the main upkeep in a home with a heavy shedder.

Often years. The Shark NV356E has a record of about 4 to 9 years of regular use, but the brushroll stopping is the repeat failure. Replacing the floor head can cost close to a whole new vacuum, so keeping the brush clear of hair is worth the effort.

Yes. It pairs a HEPA filter with Shark's Anti-Allergen Complete Seal, which keeps dust inside the vacuum instead of letting it leak back into the room.