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Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed Vacuum Review

Tested using Methodology v1.3
Review updated Nov 27, 2023 at 03:13 pm
Latest change: Writing modified May 24, 2024 at 09:56 am
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed Picture
7.0
Bare Floor
7.0
Low-Pile Carpet
6.4
High-Pile Carpet
6.8
Pets
7.1
Stairs
6.9
Cars
4.4
Workshop

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is an upright vacuum. It's an old, entry-level model within Shark's extensive lineup of 'Lift-Away' bagless uprights, which are designed to allow you to pick up and carry its canister while vacuuming with its wand. Compared to newer, pricier models like the Shark APEX Upright and Shark Stratos Upright, it has a simpler single-brushroll floorhead and doesn't feel as sturdily built. Thankfully, its self-cleaning 'Zero-M' brushroll isn't as tangle-prone as most other brushrolls, and it's equipped with useful features like a HEPA filter.

Our Verdict

7.0 Bare Floor

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is a good option for bare floors. It easily clears pet hair as well as small and bulky debris with minimal loss in suction performance as its dustbin fills up. While a few parts need periodic cleaning, its bagless design and washable filters mean that it incurs virtually no recurring costs. Unfortunately, it's bulky and has a fairly short hose, making it difficult to clean hard-to-reach spots, even when cleaning in its semi-handheld configuration. There also isn't a brushroll off switch, so it can scatter around larger chunks of debris on hard floors.

Pros
  • Superb bare floor performance.
  • Exceptional pet hair cleaning performance.
  • Incurs minimal recurring costs.
Cons
  • A few parts need maintenance.
7.0 Low-Pile Carpet

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is very good for use on low-pile carpet. It cleans pet hair without issue and does an excellent job sucking up fine and large debris. Its bagless design incurs minimal recurring costs as long as you clean its filters according to manufacturer recommendations. That said, many other parts need regular cleaning. The vacuum itself isn't particularly maneuverable, as it has a bulky construction and a floorhead that can get caught on rug tassels.

Pros
  • Exceptional pet hair cleaning performance.
  • Surface type adjustment for carpets.
  • Incurs minimal recurring costs.
Cons
  • A few parts need maintenance.
  • No brushroll off switch.
6.4 High-Pile Carpet

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is a decent choice for vacuuming high-pile carpet. It easily picks up pet hair and most fine and large debris. Its floorhead has a two-level surface type adjustment, and you can adjust its suction power with a sliding suction gate, allowing you to adapt to many different surfaces on the fly. However, it's not very easy to move around as it's a bit heavy and bulky. Its floorhead doesn't have a brushroll on/off switch, so it can sometimes get caught on rug tassels.

Pros
  • Exceptional pet hair cleaning performance.
  • Surface type adjustment for carpets.
  • Incurs minimal recurring costs.
Cons
  • A few parts need maintenance.
  • No brushroll off switch.
  • Low real-world suction performance.
6.8 Pets

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is decent for pets. It does a fantastic job of cleaning pet hair on bare floors and low and high-pile carpet. Also, it comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter that's fairly effective in trapping airborne allergens, though, like any bagless vacuum, emptying its dustbin can release a cloud of dust. It also incurs virtually no recurring costs. However, there are a few parts that need periodic cleaning. Its floorhead's brushroll isn't removable either, making it hard to clean tangled hair, though it's advertised to be self-cleaning.

Pros
  • Superb bare floor performance.
  • Exceptional pet hair cleaning performance.
  • Onboard HEPA filter.
Cons
  • A few parts need maintenance.
  • Non-removable brushroll.
  • Not meant for cleaning stains.
7.1 Stairs

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is a decent option for cleaning stairs. Although it's a bit heavy and bulky, its 'Lift-Away' design allows you to carry its canister body separately from its floorhead while cleaning with its wand, making it easier to carry up and down stairs. Unfortunately, its range is somewhat limited due to its short hose. Thankfully, it delivers superb performance on bare surfaces and does an excellent job on low and high-pile carpet.

Pros
  • Superb bare floor performance.
  • Exceptional pet hair cleaning performance.
  • Can be used as a semi-handheld vacuum.
Cons
  • Short vacuum hose.
  • Vacuum itself is bulky and somewhat heavy.
  • No mini turbo brush attachment.
6.9 Cars

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is a decent option for cars. Its 'Lift-Away' design lets you pick up and carry its canister with one hand while vacuuming with its wand, which helps clean smaller spaces. It also has excellent performance on low-pile carpet. It comes with a crevice tool to clean tight places in your car as well as a dedicated upholstery tool, but no turbo brush, which would make it easier to clean fabric seats or floormats. Unfortunately, it's somewhat heavy and has a bulky design. Its hose is short, making it hard to clean some tight spots, and you'll probably need to use an extension cord to clean every part of your car.

Pros
  • Exceptional pet hair cleaning performance.
  • Can be used as a semi-handheld vacuum.
  • Included crevice and upholstery tools.
Cons
  • Short vacuum hose.
  • Vacuum itself is bulky and somewhat heavy.
  • No mini turbo brush attachment.
4.4 Workshop

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed isn't designed for cleaning workshops. It can't clear away liquids, and its various internals could be damaged if you were to use it for cleaning heavy-duty debris like metal shavings.

Pros
  • Superb bare floor performance.
Cons
  • Not meant for cleaning stains.
  • Can't be used for liquid spills.
  • 7.0 Bare Floor
  • 7.0 Low-Pile Carpet
  • 6.4 High-Pile Carpet
  • 6.8 Pets
  • 7.1 Stairs
  • 6.9 Cars
  • 4.4 Workshop
  1. Updated May 24, 2024: We've added a link to the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pet in the 'User Maintenance' section of the review to provide an alternative that has a more effective anti-tangle floorhead.
  2. Updated May 01, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3. We've overhauled our floor performance tests and added new 'Hard Floor Pick-Up,' 'High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up,' 'Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up,' and 'Pet-Hair Pick-Up' tests. You can see the full changelog here.
  3. Updated Feb 02, 2024: We've added a link to the Shark Performance Plus Lift-Away in the 'Pet Hair Floor Performance' section of the review to provide an alternative that has a more effective anti-tangle floorhead.
  4. Updated Nov 27, 2023: We've added text to this review for the new tests added in Test Bench 1.2.
  5. Updated Nov 07, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update builds on our previous 'Suction' test with a new 'Airflow' test that more accurately measures a vacuum's ability to generate air movement. If you'd like to see an in-depth look at the reasoning and methodology behind this change, you can see our full changelog here..
  6. Updated Dec 02, 2022: Minor in-text adjustments to improve clarity.
  7. Updated Aug 22, 2022: We've updated this review to Test Bench 1.1, which includes a broad range of new testing procedures to measure stain and water-clearing performance, suction power, crevice-cleaning performance, noise levels, and air filtration performance. We've also updated our debris and pet hair-pickup performance tests as well as our method of scoring user maintenance requirements, recurring costs, dirt compartment sizing, and suitability for the 'Workshop' usage section.
  8. Updated Aug 10, 2022: This vacuum's suction force has been retested with a more accurate manometer. The test results for the 'Maximum Suction' and 'Normal Suction' fields have been updated. All relevant scores and text have been updated.
  9. Updated Jul 29, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  10. Updated Mar 18, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  11. Updated Dec 02, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  12. Updated Mar 18, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  13. Updated Aug 24, 2020: We've updated the power adjustment feature results in the Quality of Life test box. We've also updated the floor settings used on all surface types.
  14. Updated Jul 06, 2020: Review published.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

There are many variants of the Shark Navigator Lift-Away, which differ in terms of included parts and are listed below. Since there are no major mechanical differences between these models, we expect them all to perform similarly in testing. We tested the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed (ZU560C) in 'Blue'.

Model Number Body Color Included Brushes and Tools Notes
ZU560 Blue Upholstery tool, crevice tool  
ZU560C Blue Upholstery tool & hard bristle brush, crevice tool & soft bristle brush Sold in Canada only
ZU561 Red Upholstery tool & hard bristle brush, crevice tool & soft bristle brush, wide upholstery tool  
UV725 Red Upholstery tool & hard bristle brush, crevice tool & soft bristle brush, mini motor head  

Note that you can purchase any extra tools on Shark's website. If someone comes across a variant not listed here, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Vacuums

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is a basic but fairly versatile corded upright vacuum. It has a similar design to newer models like the Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV, which allows you to uncouple its canister from its body. While it has a less powerful suction motor than most newer Shark uprights, its floorhead does offer good surface agitation, resulting in fairly strong debris-pickup performance on carpeting. Ultimately, it's a very solid option if you're looking for a relatively affordable upright.

If you're looking for alternatives, look at our list of recommendations for the best vacuums for hardwood floors, the best multi-surface vacuums, and the best bagless vacuums.

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe [NV360, UV440]

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is better suited for more use cases than the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe, though the vacuums are similar in terms of design. The Navigator Lift-Away is a little lighter, comes with a wider assortment of tools, can be maneuvered more easily, and delivers superior performance on all surface types. Meanwhile, the Deluxe has a marginally longer power cord and vacuum hose.

BISSELL CleanView/CleanView Swivel Pet Rewind

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is significantly better than the BISSELL CleanView/CleanView Swivel Pet Rewind. The Shark performs much better on all surface types and it's easier to maneuver. Also, the dirt compartment is bigger, and it incurs lower recurring costs.

Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra/Complete

The Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra/Complete is better than the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed. The Dyson has a far more powerful suction motor, resulting in better debris pickup across a wide range of surfaces, is easier to maintain, comes with a wider assortment of attachments, and is easier to maneuver thanks to its ball-shaped wheel. However, the Shark is slightly lighter and makes a little less noise.

Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away [NV751, NV752]

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is better overall than the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away. The Navigator performs much better on bare floors, is more maneuverable, and is lighter to hold. That said, the Rotator has a somewhat better performance on low-pile carpet, a slightly bigger dirt compartment, and a longer range.

Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed and the Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV have different advantages, and you may prefer one over the other depending on your needs. The cheaper Navigator has a bigger dirt compartment and a lighter construction. That said, the Rotator is better built and has a longer power cord and vacuum hose. It also has a twin-roller head with a soft brushroll for improved debris pickup on hard floors.

BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus [Turbo, Turbo Rewind]

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is better than the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus. The Shark incurs virtually no recurring costs, has a larger dirt compartment, and delivers superior performance on all surface types. You can also lift the pod away from its body and use it in a more portable semi-handheld configuration. Conversely, the BISSELL is a little easier to maneuver as it doesn't get caught on rug tassels or electrical cords as often as the Shark.

BISSELL PowerForce Helix

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is better than the BISSELL PowerForce Helix. The Shark feels better built, incurs virtually no recurring costs, has an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, and delivers significantly better performance on bare floors. It's also much easier to maneuver, with a 'Lift-Away' design that enables you to pick up and carry its canister body independently of its upright portion. This design makes it easier to clean countertops and shelves with its wand and selection of attachments. Conversely, the BISSELL has a larger dustbin and weighs less. Its floorhead also offers five levels of height adjustment, unlike the Shark's fixed-height head.

Hoover WindTunnel 2 Whole House Rewind

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is much better than the Hoover WindTunnel 2 Whole House Rewind. The Shark has better performance on all surface types, it comes with a soft bristle brush, and it can also be used in a handheld configuration. However, the Hoover has a longer range and a bigger dustbin.

Dyson Ball Animal 2 Total Clean/Origin

The Dyson Ball Animal 2 Total Clean/Origin is better for most uses than the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed. Both vacuums perform similarly on bare floors, but the Dyson has a better performance on carpets. It's also easier to maneuver, comes with more tools and brushes, and has a much better range. However, since you can use the Shark in a handheld configuration, it's better suited for cleaning stairs and cars.

Shark APEX Upright

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is a good alternative to the Shark APEX Upright if you're looking for something cheaper. The Navigator has a much better performance on carpet, and it's lighter to hold in your hand, which makes it better suited for stairs or cleaning cars. However, the APEX has a better performance on bare floors, a longer range, and a better build quality.

Shark APEX UpLight

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed and Shark APEX UpLight are differently designed vacuums with different use cases. The Navigator is a bulkier upright vacuum with a larger dirt compartment that does a better job on low and high-pile carpets. Meanwhile, the APEX is a corded stick/handheld vacuum that's much easier to maneuver, is better built, and has fewer parts requiring regular maintenance. It also clears slightly more debris on bare floors.

Miele Dynamic U1 PowerLine

The Miele Dynamic U1 PowerLine and the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed have different advantages, so you may prefer one or the other depending on your needs. The Miele has a noticeably more powerful motor, resulting in superior performance on bare floors and carpeted surfaces, and it's significantly better built. It's also easier to maintain and comes with more tools and brushes. That said, you can use the Shark in a handheld configuration, and it incurs virtually no recurring costs due to its bagless design and reusable filters.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
6.5
Design
Build Quality
Vacuum Type
Upright/Handheld

This vacuum has okay build quality, with mainly plastic construction, though its wand is metal. It doesn't feel especially sturdy overall, particularly its fragile dirt compartment. Thankfully, the vacuum is easy to assemble and disassemble, with plenty of easy-clip mechanisms that allow you to click various components together. However, decoupling its canister from its main body can be hard.

6.0
Design
User Maintenance

This vacuum has many parts that need regular cleaning; not all are easy to access.

  • Dirt compartment: The dirt compartment comes away from the main body pretty easily after you've pressed the release latch. You should empty it after every cleaning session. You can also open it from the top to access the lint screen, which you should clean regularly.
  • Brushroll: The brushroll isn't designed to be removed, which makes it pretty hard to clear away any tangled hair, especially because the floorhead is quite heavy. You can still get better access to it by using a coin, flathead screwdriver, or anything similar to lift the brushroll cover. While the manufacturer advertises the brushroll as self-cleaning, some hair can still get caught in it. The newer Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pet has an upgraded brushroll that does a better job of resisting hair wraps and should be an option you consider if you have pets that shed heavily.
  • Pre-motor filters: The foam and felt pre-motor filters are located underneath the dirt compartment and can be lifted out easily. You need to clean them under water every three months.
  • Post-motor (HEPA) filter: You can easily access the HEPA filter by removing the front cover on the vacuum. You should clean it once a year with water.

You must air dry any part that's washed with water for at least 24 hours before putting it back into the vacuum.

6.5
Design
Recurring Cost
Bag Part Number No bag
Filter Part Number XFFK560
HEPA Filter Part Number XHEPA560

This vacuum incurs moderately high recurring costs.

  • Pre-motor filters: The foam and felt pre-motor filters should only need replacing after a couple of years, though the manufacturer gives no specific replacement interval. Regardless, you can buy a replacement set here.
  • Post-motor (HEPA) filter: There's an inconsistency on Shark's website regarding how often you should replace the HEPA filter. The user manual suggests cleaning it once a year, but the HEPA filter's product description on their website suggests replacing it every six months. The score for this section is based on the recommendations listed within the user manual. You can buy a replacement filter here.

7.2
Design
Storing
Height
45.67" (116.0 cm)
Width
12.01" (30.5 cm)
Depth
11.93" (30.3 cm)
Cord Storing
Manual
On-Board Tool Storage
Yes
Vacuum Rack/Station
No

This vacuum is pretty easy to store. It's taller than a comparable canister vacuum like the Miele Classic C1 when not in use but has a smaller horizontal footprint. There's also onboard storage for its included crevice tool and soft bristle brush attachments. Unfortunately, you'll need to wind its power cord back up manually.

7.8
Design
Dirt Compartment
Bagless
Yes
Volume
0.30 gal (1.15 L)
Full Indicator
Yes
Bag Included
No Bag Needed

This vacuum's dirt compartment is good. It's larger than alternatives like the Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV, and since it's made of clear plastic and has a max fill line, you can tell how close it is to being filled at a glance.

Design
In The Box

  • Shark Navigator Lift-Away vacuum
    • Vacuum body
    • Dirt compartment
    • Wand
    • Main head with brushroll
    • Hose with handle
    • 1x post-motor HEPA filter
    • 1x foam pre-motor filter
    • 1x felt pre-motor filter
    • User Guide
  • Various tools and brushes
    • Crevice tool
    • Soft bristle brush (attached to crevice tool)
    • Upholstery tool
    • Hard bristle brush (attached to upholstery tool)

6.7
Design
Range
Cordless
No
Cord Length
24.74 ft (7.5 m)
Hose Length
3.61 ft (1.10 m)
Minimum Wand Length
1.25 ft (0.38 m)
Maximum Wand Length
3.35 ft (1.02 m)
Total Range
28.08 ft (8.56 m)

This vacuum has a disappointing range. Its power cord is decently long, but its hose is considerably shorter than alternatives like the Hoover WindTunnel 2 Whole House Rewind, making it hard to clean out-of-reach areas when using it in its semi-handheld configuration.

7.2
Design
Portability
Total Weight
13.01 lbs (5.90 kg)
Weight In Hand
2.91 lbs (1.32 kg)
Carrying handle
Yes

This is a fairly portable vacuum. It's heavier than most cordless vacuums, even upright models like the Shark Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away. On the upside, there's a carrying handle that makes it easier to move between rooms.

0
Design
Battery
Minimum Battery Life
N/A
Maximum Battery Life
N/A
Recharge Time
N/A
Recharge Dock
No
Battery Life Indicator
No
Removable Batteries
No

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is a corded vacuum and doesn't have a battery.

Design
Quality Of Life Features
Rotating Head
Yes
Power Adjustment
Yes
Self-Propelled
No
Headlights
No
Easy On/Off
Yes
Head Surface Type Adjustment
None

The vacuum has a couple of quality-of-life features. There are two levels of surface type adjustment: "I Hard Floor" and "II Carpet", though these settings only change the speed of the brushroll and not its height. You can also slightly adjust the suction power with a slider on the vacuum handle. Opening the slider decreases suction power, making maneuvering on carpeted surfaces easier.

Design
Tools And Brushes
Brushroll
Yes
Brushroll On/Off
No
Removable Brushroll
No
Turbo Brush
No
Crevice Tool
Yes
Upholstery Tool
Yes
Soft Bristle Brush
Yes
Hard Bristle Brush
Yes
Extension Wand
Yes
Ceiling Fan Tool
No
Pet Grooming Tool
No

This ZU560C variant of the Shark Navigator vacuum comes with several attachments. There's a combination hard bristle brush/upholstery tool and a combination crevice tool/slide-on soft-bristle dusting brush, though be aware that it can be hard to fully remove the dusting brush from the crevice tool. There's also an extension wand to give you more reach. The ZU560 model only comes with an upholstery tool and crevice tool. Meanwhile, the ZU561 and UV725 models come with the same attachments as the ZU560C but with the addition of a wider upholstery nozzle (in the case of the ZU561) or a miniature motorized turbo brush (in the case of the UV725).

Design
Alternative Configuration
Blower Mode
No

You can use the Shark Navigator Lift-Away as a semi-handheld vacuum by detaching its motor unit from its floorhead, which allows you to clean hard-to-reach areas with its wand. However, it's still fairly bulky when used as a semi-handheld vacuum.

Performance
7.5
Performance
Hard Floor Pick-Up
6.0
Performance
High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up
7.0
Performance
Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up
8.0
Performance
Pet-Hair Pick-Up
2.7
Performance
Suction
Maximum Hose Suction
71.8 inH₂O (17.89 kPa)
Maximum Head Suction
1.0 inH₂O (0.25 kPa)
Normal Head Suction
0.6 inH₂O (0.16 kPa)
Setting Used For Normal "Switch 1. Floor", (Brushroll Head)
Hose Diameter
1.3" (3.2 cm)

This vacuum has terrible suction power in its floorhead. Its suction inlet is positioned too high above the contact surface to generate a tight seal. If you want to exert the maximum amount of suction force, you should use the vacuum in its semi-handheld configuration with its crevice tool, which generates a maximum of 73.58 inH₂O (18.31 kPa) of suction, which is more than sufficient for deep cleaning. However, when used in this configuration, the vacuum is ill-suited to cleaning bigger areas.

7.6
Performance
Airflow
Maximum Hose Airflow
66.3 CFM (1.9 m³/min)

This vacuum has good overall airflow performance. It's less powerful than the newer, pricier Shark Stratos Upright, but it'll still generate enough air movement to lift away medium and heavyweight debris without much effort.

8.0
Performance
Noise
Bare Floor
75.3 dBA
Low-Pile Carpet
76.8 dBA

This vacuum isn't too loud. It's quieter than most other uprights with more powerful motors, like the Dyson Ball Animal 3. Still, it's best to vacuum in an enclosed room with the door partially or completely closed to avoid disturbing anybody nearby.

6.5
Performance
Maneuverability

This vacuum has alright maneuverability. Its rotating head makes it easier to navigate between obstacles, but the bulky shape of the floorhead and dirt compartment makes it hard to clean tight spaces or underneath furniture. Its floorhead can also get caught on rug tassels and very dense carpets, forcing you to turn it off to pull it free. Its somewhat heavy weight can be a nuisance when lifting it over obstructions like electrical cords. Thankfully, its crevice tool/soft bristle brush attachment is within easy reach, thanks to the onboard tool storage slot.

8.5
Performance
Pet Hair Furniture Performance
Sofa Pickup Post Test

When used with its upholstery tool, the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed does an excellent job handling pet hair across a wide range of surface types. While there's no mini turbo brush for better surface agitation, the straight suction attachment is effective in collecting long and short strands of hair on fabric surfaces.

Performance
Air Quality
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes

This vacuum does a good job of filtering out fine allergens. Its foam and felt pre-motor filters, combined with its HEPA exhaust filter, allow it to capture a good amount of airborne particles. If you're especially sensitive to allergens, it's worth seeking out a bagged vacuum with a HEPA filter, like the Kenmore Intuition Bagged, which has an added layer of filtration in the form of its dirtbag. Removing a self-sealing dirtbag is far more hygienic than shaking out a plastic dustbin, which can release a large plume of dust and other fine particles.

6.0
Performance
Cracks
Wood Cracks Post Test

This vacuum does a mediocre job of handling debris on crevices. It lacks the necessary suction force to draw debris out from cracks as it moves, so you'll have to park it in place to clear away debris. If you want better crevice-cleaning performance, you can use its crevice tool.

3.0
Performance
Stains
Stain Pickup Post Test

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away has virtually no impact on dried-on stains, even in the 'II Carpet' setting, which speeds up its brushroll.

0
Performance
Water
Wet Compatible
No
Water Pickup Post Test

This vacuum can't clear away liquid spills.