Hoover Windtunnel 3 vs Shark Navigator NV360: Each has its own pros and cons. But with a few tests and some quick investigation, I can already pick the second one as the true winner.
The Shark NV360 is a great purchase for those on a tight budget. It lets you pick up and carry its canister separately thanks to ‘Lift-Away’ technology, which helps vacuum tight spots. It delivers impressive overall performance on low and high-pile carpets but struggles a bit with bulky debris and pet hair on bare floors.
The Hoover Windtunnel 3 is an ideal upright vacuum with high-powered suction for busy parents with children and homes with pets. It is also packed with advanced technologies for more efficient vacuuming. The only minus is its weight, but it is not a big deal considering lots of strengths of the unit.
Hoover Windtunnel 3 Vs Shark Navigator: Comparison Chart
Hoover Windtunnel 3 Vs Shark Navigator: Differences
The Shark Navigator NV360 beat the Hoover Windtunnel 3 with a score of 4-3. The first one has better overall performance, is more maneuverable, and is lighter than its competitor. Moreover, it features HEPA filtration and the Shark Anti-Allergy Seal to eliminate debris and allergies.
Cleaning Performance
The Winner: Shark Navigator
Bare Floor
The Hoover WindTunnel 3 performs well on bare floors. It has no trouble cleaning pet hair or small debris, like rice. As for large debris like Cheerios, you’ll need to pass the vacuum several times to fully suck them.
The Shark Navigator also has no problem removing small debris like rice. But it struggles a bit with pet hair and bulky debris like cereal since its head may just pass over this type of debris rather than sucking it up.
Low-Pile Carpet
In my testing, the Hoover WindTunnel 3 did a decent job with both small and large debris but struggled a lot more with pet hair than on bare floors. Sand and other small debris can get stuck in the hose since its design has grooves.
The Shark NV360, on the other hand, offers impressive performance on this type of surface. It can gather pet hair easily and sucks up a good amount of both fine debris and large material. Still, you might need to make an extra pass to suck up everything from this surface.
High-Pile Carpet
The Hoover Windtunnel 3 is able to pick up most pet hair on high-pile carpets but struggles a bit struggles to remove small and large debris. Just remember to fine-tune the head level to match your carpet level.
The Shark NV360 also has great performance on high-pile carpets. It can easily clean pet hair and the majority of fine and large debris. However, it may take an extra pass or even two to fully pick up some types of debris.
Maneuverability
The Winner: Shark Navigator
The WindTunnel 3 is somewhat heavy, and its head can’t rotate from side to side. It can go under tables and couches but has a bit of trouble reaching far underneath them. I think this vacuum is designed for big open spaces and a house without a lot of furniture.
The Shark NV360 has better maneuverability thanks to its rotating head, but its body is still quite bulky. So if you want to vacuum tight areas or under tables and chairs, use it in the semi-handheld ‘Lift-Away’ configuration.
Size And Portability
The Winner: Shark Navigator
Regarding weight, honestly, I was slightly bewildered at how heavy the WindTunnel 3 is. At around 18 pounds, it weighed approximately four pounds more than the Shark NV360 (14.33 lbs) and many other uprights I tested, and I felt every single one of those extra pounds acutely when I was testing it.
As mentioned above, it has an extra-large dirt tank, which feels like a bonus initially, but you’ll quickly learn that it sacrifices portability for this. So I can’t recommend this vacuum for a house that contains lots of steps. I think there is no good way to transport this machine except by rolling it. Lifting and carrying it is awkward and even hazardous.
Filter
The Winner: Shark Navigator
Both the Hoover Windtunnel 3 vs Shark Navigator come with a HEPA filter, which can trap up to 99.9% of particles as minor as 0.3 microns. So if you or your loved ones suffer from allergens or other respiratory-related diseases like emphysema, pneumonia, asthma, pleural effusion, chronic bronchitis, and more, equipping a vacuum with a HEPA filter is essential.
Regarding the difference, the HEPA filter of the Hoover Windtunnel 3 isn’t washable. Hence, if it’s dirty, just remove it and gently tap it over a garbage can to get rid of dirt and debris. Meanwhile, the post-motor HEPA filter of the Shark NV360 should be washed at least once every two years with lukewarm water.
Finally, I’d like to note the Shark NV360 features the Shark Anti-Allergy Seal, making it ideal for families with kids, pet owners, allergic people, and more.
Dust Cup
The Winner: The Hoover Windtunnel 3
The Shark NV360 features a 0.29-gallon dust cup, while the Hoover Windtunnel 3 has a 0.38 gallon one. Both have a maximum fill line indicator so that you can tell how full they are at a glance.
The difference in capacity is negligible, and both allow you to vacuum without interruptions, but clearly, the latter has the upper hand thanks to the larger dust cup.
Power Cord Length
The Winner: The Hoover Windtunnel 3
The Shark NV360 features a 25-foot power cord, allowing you to vacuum large areas without switching outlets, and the Hoover Windtunnel 3 offers even better reach with a 30-foot-long power cord.
I generally have no problem with the length of these power cords, except that they aren’t retractable, which is a minus point. But I don’t think this is a large problem since manual cord wrapping after each use is not a kind of pain.
Utilities
The Winner: The Hoover Windtunnel 3
Noise
| Shark NV360 Navigator | Hoover Windtunnel 3 | |
| Bare Floor | 76.2 dBA | 75.8dBA |
| Low-Pile Carpet | 77.3 dBA | 75.2 dBA |
The Hoover Windtunnel 3 vs Shark Navigator aren’t exactly quiet, but the noise level is tolerable. Although using these upright vacuums isn’t too much of an auditory assault, they still make a humming sound when running, which can be annoying to people around.
Headlight
The Hoover Windtunnel 3 features headlights, which allow users to spot any hard-to-see debris and dust in dark or dimly lit areas for better vacuuming results. It also allows you to detect things that can damage your machine if they are sucked in, such as coins and jewelry.
Many consider this feature redundant as they believe they can always turn the lights in the room or the areas they want to clean. Yes, maybe they are right. But if they are vacuuming places with no lights or corners that the lights of their rooms can’t reach, I bet they’ll fall in love with these built-in headlights.
Cleaning Path
The wider the cleaning path of your vacuum cleaner, the fewer passes you need to make, which means the faster you will get the vacuuming job done. The Shark NV360 Navigator features an 11-inch cleaning path, whereas the width of the Hoover Windtunnel 3’s nozzle is 15 inches, giving you a wider cleaning path every pass.
Hoover Windtunnel 3 Vs Shark Navigator: Similarities
Warranty
Both Hoover Windtunnel 3 Vs Shark Navigator comes with a five-year warranty, and you can call the local dealers for their services whenever you need maintenance. If you want to buy additional tools or replace parts like the filters and brush roll, there are physical stores and official online services of the brand that you can contact.
Brushroll On/Off
Brushroll is useful for carpet cleaning, but it can scratch bare floors. That’s why most vacuums are equipped with a brush roll on/off switch, which allows you to turn it off when vacuuming bare floors, and the Hoover Windtunnel 3 Vs Shark Navigator are no exception. This switch is located on the machine’s nozzle, allowing you to turn the brushroll on or off with your foot as easily as a piece of cake.
Head Surface Type Adjustment
Unlike older vacuums that can clean only one type of floor, most modern models can clean various floor types effectively, and Hoover Windtunnel 3 vs Shark Navigator are such machines.
The Shark Navigator NV360 has two height adjustment settings, including “Bare Floor I” for bare floors, such as tile or hardwood, and “’Brushroll ON II” for carpet. This feature affects how your vacuum cleans each specific type of floor.
The Hoover Windtunnel 3 also has the height control setting, allowing you to adjust the height of the brush head accordingly, depending on the type of floor you are cleaning. The height control knob is located at its head for convenient use.
Quick Rundown Of Shark Navigator
- 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.
Quick Rundown Of Hoover Windtunnel 3
- Hoover's best-cleaning bag less upright vacuum
- Quick Pass Brushroll - clean surface debris 2X faster without having to pass over the same area multiple times
- Wind Tunnel 3 Technology - 3 channels of suction to lift and remove surface debris and deep down embedded dirt
- 4-Position Height Adjustment - Easily adjust from deep carpet to hard floor surfaces for the best clean. Fast cleaning of surface areas, Extended cleaning reach
- Includes pivoting dusting tool, pet turbo tool, telescoping extension wand, and crevice tool. Conveniently empty debris with the push of a button, without getting your hands dirty
Product Video
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References:
- Shark Navigator: https://support.sharkclean.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/4402186414994/NV360_series_Manual_E_Mv3_20180312_2.pdf
- Hoover Windtunnel 3: https://hoover.com/products/windtunnel-3-high-performance-pet-upright-vacuum-1
Victor K. Giles is a leading consultant and expert in vacuum cleaner technology with over a decade of experience. As a mechanical engineering graduate in the University of Michigan, he specializes in product development, design optimization, and performance analysis. Victor collaborates with manufacturers and educates consumers, making her a sought-after guest speaker at industry events. His work has been featured in renowned publications, and he shares his expertise on his blog, “The Vacuum Teria”. Victor’s passion for cleaner, healthier living spaces drives his to help clients choose the best vacuum solutions for their needs.