Odvex.Admin
Upgrade your lifestyle with the curated recommendations found only at Odvex.
If you have pets, you know the struggle. Tumbleweeds of fur in the hallway, dander embedded in the sofa, and a vacuum cleaner that smells like a wet dog every time you turn it on. Most vacuums promise to handle pet hair, but few actually survive the shedding season.
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional (NV356E) has been a best-seller for years, often cited as the “Dyson killer” for a fraction of the price. It boasts a completely sealed HEPA system, a massive dust cup, and the ability to detach the canister to clean stairs. I put this white-and-silver workhorse to the test in a house with two shedding cats and a mix of hardwood and carpet to see if it really sucks (in a good way).
What is “Lift-Away” Technology?
This is the Shark’s party trick. Most upright vacuums are heavy and impossible to drag up stairs. The NV356E allows you to press a button and lift the entire motor/canister assembly off the floor head.
- Portability: When you lift the pod away, you are essentially holding a powerful canister vacuum. You can carry it in one hand while using the wand to clean curtains, ceiling fans, or stairs.
- Anti-Allergen Seal: This is critical for pet owners. Cheap vacuums suck up dust and then blow fine particles back out the exhaust. Shark uses a sealed system with a HEPA filter that traps 99.9% of dust inside the machine. No more sneezing while you clean.
- Brushroll Shutoff: A physical switch lets you turn the spinning brush roll on for carpets (to dig out dirt) and off for hard floors (to prevent scattering litter or scratching wood).
- XL Dust Cup: The bin holds 2.2 quarts of debris. You can clean the whole house without stopping to empty it three times.
Hands-On Experience: The Fur Test
I ran the Shark through three distinct challenges: the “Cat Tower of Doom,” the hardwood hallway, and the deep pile rug.
The Carpet Deep Clean
On the rug, the suction was intense. Almost too intense. The Shark has a suction release valve on the handle for a reason—if you don’t open it slightly, the vacuum can actually seal itself to thick carpets. Once adjusted, it pulled an embarrassing amount of grey dust and fur out of a rug I thought was clean. The swivel steering makes it easy to navigate around furniture legs, though the head is a bit narrower than some competitors.
The Hard Floor Test
I switched the brush roll off. This is key. On cheaper vacuums where the brush always spins, kitty litter just gets flung across the room. The Shark sucked up litter, Cheerios, and hair without scattering. The “Dust-Away” attachment (a microfiber pad head included in some bundles) is fantastic for polishing floors while vacuuming.
The Lift-Away Mode
Cleaning stairs with an upright is usually a nightmare. I detached the pod, attached the Pet Power Brush (an air-driven turbo tool), and went to work on the carpeted stairs. The tool is loud, but it ripped the cat hair right out of the risers. Being able to leave the heavy floor nozzle at the bottom of the stairs while I carried the light pod was a game changer.
Pros and Cons
It’s a fantastic machine, but it’s not perfect. Here is the honest breakdown.
| What I Loved (Pros) | What Could Be Better (Cons) |
|---|---|
| Suction Power: It rivals vacuums that cost $500+. It never seems to lose power. | Top Heavy: Like most uprights, it can tip over easily when using the hose if you aren’t careful. |
| Lift-Away: Makes cleaning stairs and overhead areas incredibly easy. | Short Hose: The stretch hose is stiff and shorter than I’d like; the vacuum often tips when you pull it. |
| HEPA Seal: No dust smell. The air coming out feels cleaner than the air going in. | No Headlight: There are no LEDs on the floor nozzle to help you see dust in dark corners. |
| Bin Capacity: Huge dust cup means less trips to the trash can. | Cord Management: It’s a manual wrap cord (30ft), no auto-rewind. |
Comparison: Shark vs. The World
Here is how the NV356E compares to a high-end Dyson and a budget Bissell.
| Feature | Shark NV356E (This Review) | Dyson Ball Animal 2 | Bissell CleanView |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 🧹 | Lift-Away Upright | Upright (Ball) | Upright |
| Suction 💪 | Strong (No loss) | Very Strong | Moderate |
| Filtration 🌬️ | Sealed HEPA | Sealed HEPA | Standard Filter |
| Versatility 🛠️ | High (Detachable Pod) | Medium (Wand) | Low |
| Price 💰 | Mid-Range | Expensive ($400+) | Budget ($80) |
Verdict: Should You Buy It?
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E is arguably the best value in the vacuum market right now. It offers the sealed HEPA filtration and raw power of a premium vacuum for a mid-range price. If you suffer from allergies or own pets, the sealed system alone makes it worth the upgrade over cheaper brands.
While it lacks fancy features like laser headlights or self-cleaning brush rolls (which newer Sharks have), it is a reliable, durable, and powerful machine that gets the job done. I’ve used mine for years, and it still sucks just as hard as day one.
