While the Navigator series is now one of Shark’s more basic lines in terms of advanced features, this model still has a removable dust bin and plenty of cord length for cleaning average-sized rooms. An 11-foot-long extension hose also makes it easy to clean drapes or steps without lugging the entire unit with you. Plus, accessories like the motorized brush, upholstery tool, and crevice nozzle can be used to deep clean specific areas of your home. The fully sealed system has a HEPA filter that locks in dander and allergens. We gave the process of emptying the machine a perfect score, and we’ll also noted that it’s pretty quiet for a powerful pick. While there are definitely less expensive upright vacuums on the market, this model from Shark is a great choice if your home has a mixture of flooring surfaces, and you’re hoping to stay in the $200 price range.
In theory, Zero M Shark vacuums won’t get hair wrapped around the brush roller. Because it’s designed like more of a dusting cloth, the roller can pick up very fine particles or large debris. The front roller kicks up dirt and debris into the maw of the more traditional bristles. The Lift-Away feature is not unique to Shark, but the company does it better than anyone else.
Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help shark pet hair vacuum you get it right (the first time). Several Wirecutter staffers who own or have used Miele canister vacuums note that they can be unwieldy in small apartments, and their bulbous shape can make them difficult to store.
Brian Driscoll, the Reddit vacuum guy, told us that he has seen 30-year-old Miele canisters. That’s incredible longevity for any kind of electric product these days. Senior staff writer Tim Heffernan’s 12-year-old Miele “still runs like new and has never had a single issue,” even after he mistakenly vacuumed up a lot of plaster dust without a bag in place. Deputy editor Christine Cyr Clisset has used her Miele for nearly a decade. This is the most rigorous set of tests we’ve done on vacuum cleaners at Wirecutter, particularly the cleaning tests. In previous versions of this guide (and in our other vacuum guides), we also did a bunch of testing, but we didn’t measure the results as carefully.
With a 360-degree hose swivel, a telescopic wand, and onboard tool storage for accessories, we found the design of this moderately priced vacuum to be very functional and convenient. Pet hair takes up more space than dirt and dust so a vacuum designed to combat pet hair typically has a larger bin along with rubber fins or spiraled bristles on the roller brush to prevent tangling. The company has been growing rapidly and, according to Inc Magazine, it is now one of the top 5000 fastest growing companies in the USA. We’ve reviewed a host of the company’s vacuum cleaners and their performance, innovative features and high consumer ratings often result in one or more of these machines making our best vacuum lists.
We tested the top-of-the-line Shark Apex and found it to be a good vacuum, but probably not worth the extra cost over the Navigator. It has a dual-brush cleaning head that supposedly helps it pick up hair and dusty debris off of bare floors. But that adds a lot of bulk to the vacuum, and we never found bare-floor pickup to be a problem with the single-brush models in the first place. The Miele canister vacuums are among the quietest vacuum cleaners you can buy. We measured a C3 model—running with the power head attached and the brush roll spinning at the maximum suction setting—at 74 dBc, which is about five dBc quieter than our main pick.
Kibble spilled on the hard floor was no match for this vacuum, though it proved to be more difficult to pick up on the carpet. Oddly enough, we actually didn’t even see the attachments—they’re stored separately—until later on in our testing, which should give you an idea of how well this shark dustbuster handheld vacuum works on its own. This Black + Decker vacuum also has a long hose to reach various nooks and crannies, and a large canister to hold debris. The canister has a door that’s easy to open when you’re ready to clean it out, and there’s a washable filter in there, too.
If something does break, Shark’s customer service is generally good about honoring the five-year warranty. It’s rare to see such an affordable vacuum backed by a policy that basically guarantees this kind of longevity. 25 March 2023 — Answered questions and added jump links for reader friendliness. Double-checked all products to ensure they are in stock and our opinion still stands.
The bin can hold up to 0.2 gallons and a point-and-shoot release lever on the bagless canister rapidly forces out the majority of the contents without the need to get your hands dirty. This is another big improvement on many handheld vacuum models, which often unload from the bottom, sometimes risking a spill. Strong suction is everything when it comes to vacuums, especially when you’re trying to pick up after your pet.