Shark NV356e Vs NV360: Which One Is Your Best Bet?

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Shark NV356e vs NV360: Both are budget-oriented models from a big name in the industry. So after considering all aspects, I decided they were tied, which means both models win.

The Shark NV360 is a real workhorse at sucking up dirt and hair on both floors and many types of carpets. It generates incredible suction power, is lightweight, and is easy to maneuver. Regarding the negatives, its dust tank is small, and its cord could be longer.

As for the Shark NV356e, I would only recommend it for cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. On rugs and thick carpets, it can let you down. So is it worth buying? My short answer is yes since it is still better than many uprights in the same price range.

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THE WINNER (#1)
Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum with Large Dust Cup Capacity, HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, Upholstery Tool & Crevice Tool, Blue
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Shark NV356E Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum with Swivel Steering, HEPA Filter, XL Dust Cup, Pet Power, Dusting Brush, and Crevice Tool, Perfect for Pet Hair, White/Silver
Model
Shark NV360
Shark NV356e
Size and Weight
14.96 x 11.4 x 45.5 inches, 13lb
14.96 x 11.4 x 45.5 inches, 13.7 lb
Powered Lift-Away
No, only Lift-Away
No, only Lift-Away
Anti-Allergen
Swivel Steering Technology
LED Lights
Dirt Bin Capacity
0.9 qz
2.2 qz
Cord Length
25 ft
30 ft
Roller On/Off Button
HEPA Filtration
HEPA Filtration
Adjustment Suction
Noise
77.4dB
77.0dB
Self-cleaning Roller
What I Like
Price
$99.99
$199.99
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum with Large Dust Cup Capacity, HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, Upholstery Tool & Crevice Tool, Blue
Model
Shark NV360
Size and Weight
14.96 x 11.4 x 45.5 inches, 13lb
Powered Lift-Away
No, only Lift-Away
Anti-Allergen
Swivel Steering Technology
LED Lights
Dirt Bin Capacity
0.9 qz
Cord Length
25 ft
Roller On/Off Button
HEPA Filtration
Adjustment Suction
Noise
77.4dB
Self-cleaning Roller
What I Like
Price
$99.99
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
Shark NV356E Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum with Swivel Steering, HEPA Filter, XL Dust Cup, Pet Power, Dusting Brush, and Crevice Tool, Perfect for Pet Hair, White/Silver
Model
Shark NV356e
Size and Weight
14.96 x 11.4 x 45.5 inches, 13.7 lb
Powered Lift-Away
No, only Lift-Away
Anti-Allergen
Swivel Steering Technology
LED Lights
Dirt Bin Capacity
2.2 qz
Cord Length
30 ft
Roller On/Off Button
HEPA Filtration
HEPA Filtration
Adjustment Suction
Noise
77.0dB
Self-cleaning Roller
What I Like
Price
$199.99
More Info

Shark NV356e Vs NV360: Main Differences

Shark NV356e and NV360 have a tie in this battle. The Shark NV360 performs better on all surfaces, while the NV356e has a larger dust cup and a longer cord.

Color

Winner: Tie

Shark NV356e vs NV360 are quite similar in design and appearance, and the color is the most noticeable distinction that can be seen immediately. The former is available in white, while the latter comes in purple. 

I’m not saying one is better than the other because it comes down to personal preference, but I’ll try to avoid using white vacuums. As you know, vacuum cleaners are exposed to dust, dirt, and anything more disgusting on the floor or carpet. So I think it isn’t a good idea to use something white for such dirty work.

Of course, you can clean it after every cleaning session to maintain its polished look, but I didn’t. I don’t want to waste my precious time on such tedious work.

Cleaning Performance

Winner: Shark NV360

Let’s start with the Shark NV356e. This vacuum had a ton of suction, worked extremely well on my hardwood floor, and only left a minor amount of fine dust after the first pass, but that’s what most uprights in this price range can do.

Also, the NV356e was just fine on my lower carpet. It sucked up a good amount of fines and hair with no effort at all and left rake-like marks behind. I think it was because of the motorized roller with bristles designed to capture dust deep in the fabric. On my rug and dense carpet, the NV356e was delayed many times, so it was almost useless. I gave up and just took it outside to shake.

Generally, I only recommend the NV356e for low-pile carpet/floor vacuuming. I had to check the roller brush after every vacuuming session and remove long hair and string, or the roller couldn’t do its job.

The NV360 vacuum also has great suction power, even though I think it is more powerful than the NV356e. If that’s the case, it’s more expensive for a good reason. Capturing debris of all sizes, dander, and anything my little ones and dogs leave behind on my floor and carpet was no problem for this super workhorse. 

I also tried the NV360 on various carpets and rugs, and I was shocked at how much filth this powerful vacuum sucked up!  So it is no exaggeration to say that the NV360 is a fine vacuum for all surfaces! Its suction is adjustable, just like the NV356e, and this is a great feature for switching from one surface to another. So every time I found this vacuum getting stuck on the rug, all I had to do was turn a small ring on the handle to reduce the suction until I could move it.

There was also a fair amount of hair caught around the NV360’s roller brush, and I think this is a universal truth of vacuums without self-cleaning rollers. Of course, I had to cut the hair off and pull it from the roller to ensure that the bristle feature didn’t get clogged. That was incredibly easy and quick to do, and I didn’t make any extra mess at all. It was even unnecessary to disassemble the vacuum to do so. But if you hate doing this, just look for a vacuum with a self-cleaning brush roll.

Design and Usability

Winner: Shark NV356e

Weight and Maneuverability

Both the Shark NV356e vs NV360 are on the lightweight side. The first one weighs 13.7 pounds, while the latter is slightly heavier at 15.96 pounds. If you’ve tried pushing beasts like Dyson upright vacuums, you’ll see how comfortable and easy it is to maneuver these models. You can easily carry them from room to room or even up and down stairs without breaking a sweat. Plus, these machines can get into hard-to-reach places with ease thanks to the swivel steering feature, which can take a while to get used to.

easy to maneuver thanks to swivel steering
Easy to maneuver thanks to swivel steering

Dust Cup Capacity

The Shark NV356e retakes the lead here thanks to its super-large dust cup, which can hold up to 2.2 quarts of dust and dirt, while the NV360 comes with a 0.9-quart dirt bin.

The one thing I would share that will be potentially important for any allergy sufferer is how to clean these vacuum canisters. The release button for the door is at the bottom of the dust cup, opposite the hinge. So I couldn’t drop it down into my trash can to release it since it needed to be up high enough so I could push the button. This means the potential to get hands dirty or some of the dirt and dust to miss the canister. Normally, I’d wear a mask, go outside, and do this right into a garbage can. Just ensure it’s not windy!

the release button is at the bottom of the cup
The release button is at the bottom of the cup

Cord Length

The NV360 comes with a 25-foot power cord, which I think is not long enough for most users’ expectations. You can use an extension cord to avoid constantly looking for the next outlet to plug it into. As for the Shark NV356e, its cord is 30 feet long, and that’s great. It would be better if it could be self-retractable, but that’s okay!

Shark NV356e vs NV360: Similarities

Filter

Both the Shark NV356e vs NV360 share a dream filter system, including a HEPA filter that is thought to be the best at catching dust and allergens. Better yet, they have advanced sealing technology to ensure the vacuumed air has no other way of escaping before it gets through the filters. The filters are all washable, and they should be rinsed regularly to maintain the unit’s good suction power.

Lift-Away Feature

With a press of a button, you can turn both the Shark NV356e vs NV360 into semi-handheld vacuums, which are lightweight and highly portable. Without the weight of the floorhead, you can easily carry the canister around and work with the hose.

Control Button

I love the adjustable suction, which I can reduce whenever I find it difficult to push the vacuum across my carpet. Both also share two settings: one disables the roller (for vacuuming hardwood or tile), and one initiates the roller (for cleaning carpets or rugs). The button is located on the body, and it was simple to switch the roller on or off as I moved from carpet to floor and vice versa.

brushroll on/off button
Brushroll on/off button

Build quality

Both the Shark NV356e vs NV360 share a mostly plastic construction, so they feel a bit flimsy. Hopefully, they will last long enough to help me get at least a few thousand cleaning sessions. It is a breeze to assemble parts, take them apart, then put them back together again.

A Quick Rundown Of Shark NV360

Sale
Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum with Large Dust Cup Capacity, HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, Upholstery Tool & Crevice Tool, Blue
  • POWERFUL SUCTION: Deep-clean carpets and tackle bare floors with multi-surface powerful suction.
  • LIFT-AWAY FUNCTIONALITY: Detachable pod for cleaning under furniture or detach the nozzle to clean above the floor, on upholstery, furniture, stairs, and more.
  • ANTI-ALLERGEN COMPLETE SEAL TECHNOLOGY: Works with a HEPA filter to trap dust and allergens inside the vacuum cleaner.
  • PERFECT FOR PETS: Powerful pet hair pickup attachments like the upholstery tool make cleaning pet hair a breeze.
  • SWIVEL STEERING: Easily maneuver your vacuum in and out of tight spaces, in corners, around furniture, and more.
Pros
  • Amazing suction power for the price range.
  • Work well on both carpets and hard floors.
  • Compact and easy to maneuver.
  • Can be used as a semi-handheld vacuum.
  • Has a HEPA filter, which is washable.
Cons
  • The cord could be longer.
  • The dust cup is a bit small.
  • Hair wrap issue.

A Quick Rundown Of Shark NV356e

Shark NV356E Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum with Swivel Steering, HEPA Filter, XL Dust Cup, Pet Power, Dusting Brush, and Crevice Tool, Perfect for Pet Hair, White/Silver
  • LIFT-AWAY FUNCTIONALITY: lift away the detachable pod and easily clean above-floor areas like stairs, furniture, and more
  • ANTI-ALLERGEN COMPLETE SEAL: Works with a HEPA filter to trap 99.9%* of dust and allergens inside the vacuum cleaner. (*Based on ASTM F1977 of particles .3 microns or larger.)
  • BRUSHROLL SHUTOFF: Instantly switch from more maneuverability on deep carpets to gentle bare floor cleaning
  • PERFECT FOR PET OWNERS: Picks up pet hair and loose debris. Powerfully deep-cleans dander out of upholstery and other surfaces
  • SWIVEL STEERING: Easily maneuver your vacuum in and out of tight spaces, in corners, around furniture, and more
Pros
  • Can be converted to a semi-handheld vacuum.
  • Compact and lightweight.
  • Affordable price.
  • Has a HEPA filter and advanced seal technology.
  • Easy to assemble and use.
Cons
  • Not ideal for cleaning thick carpets.
  • The roller needs to be untangled regularly.

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