It’s a high-quality vacuum just by itself, but Kenmore also gives you excellent filtration. We were also impressed by the performance of other sealed systems like the Shark in our pet hair vacuum tests, but the Kenmore was about 20% better at capturing fine dust. The Crossover head is a very good carpet head, with an easy-to-adjust height control and a heavy hardwood agitator brushroll that will help you get dirt out of your carpet. This head is easier to steer on carpet than the less expensive Kenmore design, though not quite as refined as the Shark.
In our testing, the VACMOP earned a perfect score across every category. We found it to be very lightweight, and a great option for small spaces or those with limited mobility. While it offers an easier way to mop floors, keep in mind that you’ll need to hold the power button down to trigger the vacuum function of this wet-dry vac. It’s also easy to spray cleaning solution onto your floor, thanks to a well-placed button on the handle, but you may also need to refill the solution often if you’re cleaning a larger space frequently. However, the light on the floor head allows you to see into the nooks and crannies of your home and catch debris hiding under furniture.
One accessory that sets apart the most expensive vacuums is a small powered rotary-brush tool, specifically designed for grabbing pet hair that sticks to furniture. Less-expensive vacuums sometimes include an air-powered version that might be worth trying out, but those are ineffective for tougher jobs like cleaning carpeted stairs. We tested the top-of-the-line Shark Apex and found it to be a good vacuum, shark dustbuster 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. You probably don’t need HEPA filters—for most people, regular filters are totally fine.
It also does a decent job on hair, and the self-cleaning brushroll does help to limit hair tangle but will not completely eliminate it. Edge cleaning and handling large debris were weaker areas for the vacuum. The canister also houses a 25 ft retractable power cord, three filters, and the dust canister. 25 ft is also a decent length for a canister vacuum (perhaps not for an upright). There’s a reason Shark vacuums are a top buy—the brand’s offerings come with powerful suction, fully-sealed HEPA filtration systems, and comprehensive warranties, all at affordable prices. Plus, in recent years, the brand has come toe-to-toe with its more expensive rival, Dyson, to release innovative designs for robot vacuums and handheld models.
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. The Navigator Lift-Away does a decent job of filtering out dust and other allergens. It has a post-motor HEPA filter, and the transfer points are also sealed with rubber gaskets.
Overall, this vacuum mop combination is an affordable and easy-to-use option for apartment dwellers or busy households that need a quick cleaning tool for daily use. The Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum blew us away with its performance, earning it high marks and the upright spot among other models. While this pick still has fewer vacuum features than others from Shark, the shark robotic vacuums lift-away pod is a favorite among our testers and powerful suction will make it a go-to in any home. We gave it the highest possible marks for its simple setup—assembled and ready for use in less than five minutes. We found it difficult to move around on high-pile carpets and slightly docked its maneuverability rating for this reason, but we did note that the vacuum is not too heavy overall.