Hoover Windtunnel 2 vs Shark Navigator: It is a hard-fought battle to determine which is better. But let me keep your worries at bay!
The Shark Navigator is the winner as it performs much better on low-pile and high-pile carpets and is easier to maneuver thanks to its rotating head. However, the Hoover Windtunnel 2 has a bigger dirt tank and a longer hose.
That is just the tip of the iceberg. Let’s scroll down for more information.
Hoover Windtunnel 2 vs Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe: Comparison Chart
Hoover Windtunnel 2 vs Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe: Differences
The Shark Navigator beat Hoover Windtunnel 2 with a score of 3-1. The first one has better performance in most cases. It is easier to maneuver and slightly lighter than its rivals. Additionally, you can use it in a semi-handheld configuration, making it easier to clean stairs, cars, and hard-to-reach areas.
Cleaning Performance
The Winner: the Shark Navigator
Compatible Floor Type
- Bare Floor (Hardwood, Laminate, Tiles)
The Hoover WindTunnel 2 has decent performance on bare floors. It can collect small debris, like rice, and pet hair, without any trouble. As for large debris, such as Cheerios, you may need to pass the machine several times to suck it up. Also, I noticed that it didn’t perform as its dirt compartment became full.
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe does a great job on bare floors. It picks up small debris like rice easily but struggles a bit with bulky debris and pet hair because its head sometimes just passes over this debris rather than vacuuming them up. The good news is that it maintains consistent suction performance as its dust container fills up.
- Low-Pile Carpets
The Hoover WindTunnel 2 is a decent option for low-pile carpets. It has decent performance with both small and large debris but struggles much more with pet hair than on bare floors. Small debris can get stuck in its hose since the hose has grooves.
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe delivers impressive performance on low-pile carpets. It can pick up pet hair and the majority of both larger material and fine debris without an issue. But you may have to make more than one pass to suck up everything.
- High-Pile Carpets
The WindTunnel has an okay performance on high-pile carpets. It can remove most pet hair but still struggles to vacuum small and large debris.
On the flip side, the Shark Navigator does a great job on high-pile carpets. It can vacuum pet hair and a good amount of large and fine debris with ease. But you may still make an extra pass to remove some types of debris from the surface fully.
- Stairs
The Hoover WindTunnel 2 is disappointing for vacuum stairs. This upright vacuum is bulky and has no rotating head, making it unsuitable for cleaning small, tight stairs.
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe is a decent option for stairs. It has a ‘Lift-Away’ design, allowing you to detach its canister from its main body and clean using its wand. But its hose is short, which is quite limiting.
- Cars
The Hoover WindTunnel 2 is not designed for vacuuming the car, while the Shark NV360 is acceptable for this purpose. The ‘Lift-Away’ design of the second one makes it easier to clean tight spots inside a car, but its short hose length might be an issue.
Maneuverability
The Shark Navigator has decent maneuverability. It has a rotating head, which is useful when maneuvering around obstacles. But its body is still quite bulky, making it harder to fit in tight areas or under chairs and tables. Fortunately, when used in the semi-handheld ‘Lift-Away’ configuration, things will get easier.
The WindTunnel 2 has disappointing maneuverability. Its head is heavy and cannot rotate from side to side. It can go under tables and couches but will have trouble reaching far underneath them.
Dirt Compartment And Filter
The Winner: the Shark Navigator
Dirt Bin
The WindTunnel 2 has a fairly big dirt bin (0.34 gal). There is a transparent indicator line, but it can be hard to see.
The Shark NV360’s dirt tank is also somewhat large (0.29 gal), so it shouldn’t need to be emptied too often. It is also made of clear plastic and features a maximum fill line indicator, which tells how full the bin is at a glance.
Filter
Hoover Windtunnel 2 vs Shark Navigator is equipped with a HEPA filter, which has a reputation for collecting more than 99.9% of the particles from the air stream that passes through them. But the latter takes the lead here by having Anti-Allergen complete seal technology.
Design and Convenience
The Winner: the Hoover Windtunnel 2
Weight And Portability
The weight of Hoover Windtunnel 2 vs Shark Navigator are 16.1 pounds and 15.96 pounds, respectively. If you care about the slightest weight advantage, the Shark Navigator is the way to go.
But, generally, both feel light in hand. Moreover, they have a built-in carrying handle, making them easier to pick up and carry.
Range
The WindTunnel 2 has an acceptable range. Its power cord is long enough (24.74 ft) to keep the machine in the same room without switching plugs, while its somewhat long hose (8.60 ft) helps extend its range.
The Shark NV360 also has an okay range. Its cord is slightly longer (25.00 ft), but its hose length is significantly shorter (4.07 ft). So it can be inconvenient when you need to clean high-mounted shelves and any other hard-to-reach areas.
Utilities
The Winner: the Shark Navigator
Semi-handheld Mode
The Shark Navigator can be used in the semi-handheld vacuum mode by removing its canister from its main body and cleaning with its hose and wand. This feature comes into play when you need to clean stairs, cars, and hard-to-reach areas. There is no semi-handheld configuration for the Hoover WindTunnel 2.
Noise
| Hoover Windtunnel 2 (dB) | Shark Navigator (dB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Low-Pile Carpet | 85.8 | 76.0 |
| Bare Floor | 87.5 | 75.7 |
As we can see, the Hoover Windtunnel 2 is noticeably noisier than the Shark Navigator. Even so, the second one is still loud enough to wake other members of your household early in the morning. So if you use either of these machines, vacuum your room with the door partially or completely closed.
Brushes And Tools
The WindTunnel 2 comes with a variety of brushes and tools, whereas the Shark Navigator comes with fewer tools and accessories:
| Hoover Windtunnel 2 | Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe |
|---|---|
| Brushroll Brushroll On/Off Removable Brushroll Turbo Brush Crevice Tool Hard Bristle Brush Extension Wand Ceiling Fan Tool | Brushroll Brushroll On/Off Crevice Tool Upholstery Tool |
Hoover Windtunnel 2 vs Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe: Similarities
Motor
Both Hoover Windtunnel 2 vs Shark Navigator feature an efficient and powerful 1200W motor that produces exceptional suction power, which makes deep cleaning as easy as pie.
Build Quality
The Hoover Windtunnel 2 vs Shark Navigator have a mediocre build quality. They are entirely made of plastic, except for their metal wands. Although the plastic is sturdy, it could possibly break if dropped.
Recurring Cost
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away incurs almost no recurring costs. Its filters are washable, and given that they are well maintained, they should not require replacing.
Likewise, the Hoover Windtunnel 2 comes with a 3-year warranty, so there are no recurring costs. Its filters will last the lifetime of the warranty.
A Quick Rundown Of Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe
- 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.
A Quick Rundown Of Hoover Windtunnel 2
- Optimized Cleaning: The Multi-Floor Brush Roll allows you to turn the brush roll on for optimal cleaning on carpets and off to prevent scattering of debris on hard floors.
- Extended Cleaning Reach: With up to 16 ft. of cleaning reach, so you can clean dirt and dust anywhere in your home with our live hose and tools.
- No Loss of Suction**: Our advanced Multi-Cyclonic Technology gives you a continuous cleaning experience with No Loss of Suction
- Hassle-free Cord Rewind: 25 ft. power cord automatically retracts in seconds so you never have to wrap a cord again
- Great for pets: Advanced AllergenBlock� Technology, HEPA Media Filter, odor-absorbing carbon and Pet Turbo Tool make WindTunnel� 2 Whole House� Rewind great for pet owners.
Product Video
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References:
- Hoover Windtunnel 2: https://hoover.com/products/whole-house-rewind.
- Shark Navigator: https://support.sharkclean.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/4402186414994/NV360_series_Manual_E_Mv3_20180312_2.pdf
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.