A reliable vacuum cleaner is an absolute essential for keeping our homes clean and inviting. Shark has established a significant presence in the vacuum cleaner market, celebrated for its innovative features and competitive pricing. Standing out among their diverse offerings is the Shark Navigator NV70, an upright vacuum designed to tackle both everyday messes and specific cleaning challenges, such as pet hair. But does this vacuum truly live up to the hype?
This review thoroughly examines the Shark Navigator NV70, exploring its key features, performance metrics, and overall user experience. We’ll determine if this vacuum offers genuine value for your money, considering crucial factors like suction power, maneuverability, and ease of maintenance. Whether you’re battling allergens, dealing with persistent pet dander, or simply seeking a dependable cleaning tool, this comprehensive review will help you decide if the Shark Navigator NV70 is the ideal choice for your unique needs.
Table of Contents
The Shark Navigator NV70 is an upright vacuum cleaner meticulously engineered to deliver efficient and effective cleaning throughout your entire home. This vacuum comes equipped with a range of features meticulously designed to enhance both its performance and user experience, making it a strong contender in the competitive vacuum market. It aims to simplify your cleaning routine while providing powerful results.
Key Features
- Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology: Imagine a vacuum cleaner that not only sucks up dust and allergens but also securely traps them inside, preventing their escape. The Shark Navigator NV70 boasts Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology, expertly designed to capture and contain over 99.9% of dust and allergens within the vacuum itself. This innovative feature prevents these irritating particles from being released back into the air, making it an excellent choice for allergy sufferers and anyone sensitive to airborne irritants.
- Swivel Steering: Navigating around furniture and maneuvering through tight corners can be a frustrating challenge with some vacuums. The NV70 elegantly addresses this issue with its intuitive swivel steering design. This remarkable feature allows the vacuum to be lightweight and exceptionally maneuverable, making it effortless to glide around obstacles and reach even the most difficult areas. Consider it power steering for your vacuum, transforming cleaning from a strenuous chore into a smooth and effortless task.
- Dust Cup Capacity: No one wants the inconvenience of stopping every few minutes to empty a small, inadequate dust cup. The Shark Navigator NV70 is thoughtfully equipped with a large dust cup, boasting a capacity three times greater than the original Navigator model. This generous capacity means you can clean for extended periods without the frustrating interruption of frequent emptying, ultimately saving you valuable time and effort.
- Pet Hair Cleaning: For pet owners, dealing with the persistent issue of pet hair is an ongoing battle that requires the right tools. The NV70 includes premium pet tools, such as a specialized pet hair power brush, specifically engineered to tackle this challenge head-on. These carefully designed tools effectively lift and remove embedded pet hair from carpets, upholstery, and other surfaces, helping you maintain a fur-free and pristine home environment.
- Power Cord: A short power cord can severely limit your cleaning range, forcing you to constantly interrupt your cleaning to switch outlets. The Shark Navigator NV70 thoughtfully includes a 25-foot power cord, providing a decent reach for cleaning larger areas without the constant need to find a new outlet. This extended reach allows for uninterrupted cleaning across rooms and hallways.
- Cleaning Path Width: The width of the vacuum’s cleaning path significantly impacts how much surface area it can effectively cover with each pass. The NV70 features a 9.25-inch cleaning path width, striking a harmonious balance between maneuverability and coverage, allowing you to clean efficiently without sacrificing the ability to reach those tight, hard-to-reach spaces. This optimal width ensures thorough cleaning in every nook and cranny.
Performance Review
Suction Power
Suction power is undoubtedly the lifeblood of any effective vacuum cleaner, determining its ability to lift dirt and debris. The Shark Navigator NV70 provides strong and reliable suction capabilities, effectively lifting dirt, dust, and debris from a variety of surfaces throughout your home. While it may not match the unparalleled raw power of some high-end, premium models, it confidently holds its own within its competitive price range, offering more than sufficient suction for the vast majority of household cleaning tasks.
Cleaning Effectiveness
The true measure of a vacuum’s worth lies in its ability to effectively clean different floor types with consistent results. The Shark Navigator NV70 performs admirably on a wide range of surfaces, including carpet, hardwood, and tile, providing versatile cleaning power. It effectively picks up dust, pet hair, and larger particles, making it a versatile cleaning tool perfectly suited for homes with mixed flooring types. On carpets, the robust brush roll agitates fibers to loosen deeply embedded dirt, while on hard floors, the suction is strong enough to effectively capture debris without scattering it across the surface.
Maneuverability
Thanks to its innovative swivel steering and lightweight design, the Shark Navigator NV70 truly excels in maneuverability, making cleaning a breeze. It’s remarkably easy to push and turn, allowing you to effortlessly navigate around furniture, under tables, and in tight spaces with minimal effort. This exceptional agility transforms cleaning from a strenuous chore into a more enjoyable and efficient experience.
Noise Level
Vacuum cleaners are often notorious for being noisy appliances, but the Shark Navigator NV70 strikes a reasonable and acceptable balance. While it’s not the quietest vacuum on the market, its noise level is generally comparable to other models within its specific class and price range. You can expect the typical whirring sound during operation, but it’s generally not so loud or disruptive as to become a major annoyance.
User Experience
Setup and Assembly
Getting started with the Shark Navigator NV70 is designed to be a straightforward and user-friendly process from the moment you unbox it. The vacuum comes mostly pre-assembled, and the remaining setup steps are simple, intuitive, and require no specialized tools. The included user manual provides clear and concise instructions, making the initial setup quick and hassle-free, so you can start cleaning in no time.
Maintenance
Maintaining the Shark Navigator NV70 is designed to be relatively easy and straightforward, ensuring long-lasting performance with minimal effort. The dust cup is simple to empty with a convenient release mechanism, and the filters are easily accessible for regular cleaning and maintenance. Regular maintenance, such as rinsing the filters and removing any tangled hair or debris from the brush roll, will help ensure optimal performance and prolong the overall lifespan of your vacuum. The frequency of maintenance will depend on your specific usage patterns, but a quick check after each cleaning session is generally a good practice to keep your vacuum running smoothly.
Storage
Storage is an important consideration for any appliance, especially in homes with limited space, and the Shark Navigator NV70 offers decent storage options. Its upright design allows it to stand conveniently on its own, eliminating the need for leaning or propping it against walls. While it doesn’t feature a wall-mounting option, its relatively compact size makes it easy to store in a closet, a corner of a room, or any other convenient storage space.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong Suction: Provides effective and reliable cleaning on various floor types throughout your home.
- Anti-Allergen Technology: Captures and securely contains dust and allergens, promoting a healthier indoor environment.
- Swivel Steering: Offers excellent maneuverability, making it easy to navigate around furniture and obstacles.
- Large Dust Cup: Reduces the frequency of emptying, saving you time and effort during cleaning sessions.
- Pet Hair Tools: Effectively removes pet hair from surfaces, helping you maintain a fur-free home.
- Easy Maintenance: Simple to empty and clean, ensuring long-lasting performance with minimal effort.
Cons
- Noise Level: Can be somewhat loud during operation, which may be a concern for noise-sensitive individuals.
- No Wall Mount: Lacks a wall-mounting option for storage, which may be inconvenient for those with limited storage space.
Comparison with Competitors
Similar Models
When comparing the Shark Navigator NV70 to other popular Shark models like the NV356 and NV357, several similarities and key differences become apparent. All three models share the Navigator series’ signature swivel steering and lightweight design, making them easy to maneuver around the home. However, the NV70 boasts a larger dust cup compared to the original Navigator models, allowing for longer, uninterrupted cleaning sessions before needing to empty the collected debris.
Competitor Models
In the broader vacuum market, the Shark Navigator NV70 faces competition from well-established brands like Dyson and Hoover, each offering their unique strengths. While Dyson vacuums often provide superior suction power and a range of advanced features, they typically come at a higher price point, making them a premium investment. Hoover vacuums, on the other hand, may offer similar performance at a lower cost, but might lack some of the NV70’s convenient features, such as the Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology, which is a significant advantage for allergy sufferers.
Final Verdict
Summary
The Shark Navigator NV70 is a capable and versatile upright vacuum cleaner that offers a compelling combination of performance, useful features, and overall value. Its strong suction, anti-allergen technology, and responsive swivel steering make it a versatile tool for tackling a wide range of cleaning tasks around the home, from carpets to hard floors. While it may not be the most powerful or feature-rich vacuum available on the market, it provides a solid and reliable cleaning experience at a reasonable and accessible price point.
Is It Worth It?
So, is the Shark Navigator NV70 truly worth the investment? For many households, the answer is a resounding yes, given its balanced features and performance. If you’re seeking a reliable and affordable vacuum cleaner that can effectively clean carpets, hard floors, and upholstery, the NV70 is a strong contender that should be on your shortlist. It’s particularly well-suited for allergy sufferers and pet owners who need a vacuum that can effectively capture and contain dust, allergens, and pet dander, promoting a healthier home environment. However, if you require the absolute highest level of suction power regardless of price or strongly prefer a cordless design for maximum convenience, you might want to explore alternative options that cater to those specific needs.
