Is The Least Expensive Shark Vacuum Worth Buying?

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Anyone truly invested in keeping their house clean understands the real value of a quality vacuum, especially those that have to keep a budget in mind. There are a ton of vacuum brands and models out there, and there are definitely mistakes we all make when shopping for a vacuum. Everyone, however, appreciates a good value, and the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 upright vacuum is just that. It's been a long-time favorite of experts and homeowners alike, and offers a plethora of benefits that make it worth buying.  

Despite originally being released all the way back in 2013, the NV352's well-rounded, thoughtful design still appeals to a variety of homeowners. It's a solid option for those with pets, as well as those whose home features a combination of hard floors and carpet or rugs. Its 2-in-1 design allows you to detach the hose wand to reach tall ceilings, underneath couches, and behind large objects like bookshelves.

The biggest perk of the NV352, though, is its low price point. The vac is usually available for around $200, and comes with a five-year limited warranty. Plus, the upright vacuum comes with a standard variety of helpful attachments (an upholstery tool and crevice tool), and Shark even offers replacement parts should you need to keep things running long down the line. That's hard to argue with.

The affordable vacuum offers many of the typical features you'd expect to see at this price level, starting with HEPA filtration and Shark's anti-allergen complete seal technology, which keeps dust and allergens trapped inside the vacuum. This makes it easy to ensure that your home is clean enough for those with sensitive allergies. And the included upholstery tool is designed to more efficiently grab pet hair off rugs or couches. 

Great suction ensures that pretty much everything on the floor gets handled, from small debris like dirt up to larger cereal-sized bits. Its motorized brush roll sports stiff bristles, and you can manually turn on the brushroll as needed when moving between bare hard floors and softer surfaces. All of these elements work together to pick up unwanted junk from your floor. 

The vac's lightweight design makes it easier to move around, along with swivel steering that lets you maneuver it into snug spots and around corners. Additionally, the NV352's cool Lift-Away functionality lets users lift the detachable stick hose away from the canister to reach tall areas like ceilings or slim nooks like those under couches. And thanks to two included tools, you'll have the right attachments for every vacuuming task. The Shark NV352's features and design encompass a variety of use cases, debris types, and flooring types, and it can handle about everything you throw at it.

The drawback of budget-friendly vacs like the Lift-Away NV352 is that everything is basic. While there's nothing wrong with that, it does set some limitations. The vacuum's plastic build is more likely to wear out over time compared to high-end models, although replacement parts are widely available (through both Shark and third-party sources) and you can clean your vacuum to maintain it. The vac's manual brushroll switch activation means it doesn't change automatically when moving between floor types – a minor hassle that might make for missed debris. Plus, its bin only holds a mere 1.1 quarts (roughly a quarter of a gallon), and its cord is only 25 feet long (many others reach at least 35).

Newer and premium vacuums bring more useful features to the table (or, rather, the floor). These include: self-cleaning floorheads, laser detection, stronger and reactive suction, LCD displays, larger bins, sound-dampening technology, more/specialized attachments, and even odor neutralization features for rugs and carpet. Even newer versions of Shark vacuums offer many of these elements. Although a vacuum doesn't need any of these to work, they make the job more efficient and give you a few more days in between vacuuming – an enormous perk.

Still, despite its lack of bells and whistles, the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 doesn't shy away from hard work. If you are looking for an upright vacuum that won't bust your budget, this affordable option from Shark is worth buying. It works on any surface type, includes helpful attachments, easily handles pet hair, and even sports nearly 100,000 5-star reviews on Amazon.