Very good
We have had this vacuum cleaner since January and it has been much better than our old one. I spent an extensive amount of time looking at reviews before I bought this model. I needed to strike a balance between what I could afford and getting something of decent quality and features. The Navigator fit that mold perfectly. It has a nice array of attachments, an easy to empty dirt container and super good suction even when the dirt container is getting full. I would recommend this vacuum to anybody.

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
My husband, 2 small dogs and I live in a small bungalow. There are 100 year old hardwood floors throughout the house with the exception of the bedroom which has carpet. We wanted a compact vacuum that could be easily stashed away since our space is at a premium. We also needed something that could handle the gobs of fur our Scottish Terrier sheds daily. This is the third vacuum I have purchased this year. The first was fine on carpet but not so good on hard floors. The second was great on the hardwood but fell flat when used on our carpet. The Shark Navigator has far surpassed my expectations!! I was hoping for something that would be ok on both surfaces, but this baby is zippy. When you turn it on it takes off! It does a great job on the floors in our home and the roller attachment is great on upholstery. We have been doing some remodeling and it even picked up the last of the drywall dust. My mom has a Dyson and I fully believe this works just as well. We bought ours at Bed Bath and Beyond and were even able to use one of the 20% off coupons that they send out incessantly.

It Sucks in a GOOD Way!!!
I've done alot of research for the past couple of months, first I thought I wanted a Dyson, but couldn't justify spending 0 plus (and then people were still saying it probably wouldn't last more than 5 years and to try and get it repaired was a real problem.

This thing is so light, it's 10 pounds lighter than my old vacuum and boy does that make a big difference since our new house has alot of carpet and tile. I love the button on top to transition from carpet to floor (on my old vacuum you had to get on your hands and knees to switch a very difficult switch, so I never did it). It only took 5 minutes to put together. Yes, the canister is small, but that's OK I just empty it and keep on moving. I did what others mentioned, I vacuumed first with my old vacuum and then used the new Shark, YUCK what came out with the new one. I couldn't be happier with my purchase especially for about 0 when purchased at Bed Bath and Beyond (you can return it no questions asked with receipt for the whole 5 year product guarantee!!!

This product makes my life better!!
I am ecstatic about my brand new Shark Navigator Vacuum!!! Product arrived very quickly from Amazon. Upon using it for the first time it was unbelievable!! The clincher is, I had thoroughly swept (using a borrowed vacuum) just two days prior to my first use with the Navigator!! I would put the Shark Navigator up against many many other sweepers without a doubt it could out vacuum the other. (I've learned don't waste your money on cheap non functional products)

After vacuuming with my new Shark Navigator I really do feel that my house is so much more clean (seeing all the dirt and dust that was just hidden within our carpet this whole time is a revolutionary feeling) I now have the golden ticket in vacuuming & cleaning!

I may sound over zealous but I want to convey to the consumer out there looking for a great vacuum (just like I was) that this product is it!! :)

Think your home is clean? Think again...
I have two of these, one which I have been using at work for about 8 months and the second I just bought for home use having just bought a house. I am crew foreman for a janitorial team at the world HQ of a well known American company. At home I have a cat and a toddler (think hair and crumbs). Overall I am extremely happy with its performance. There are a few "cons", viz:

1. If heavily used, the intake hole (inside top of barrel where the dirt is sucked in) can easily get clogged.

2. Prominent body makes it impossible to slide vacuum flat under desks, chairs, beds etc. (however, an attachment is available separately from Shark for under-furniture cleaning).

3. Small dust cup capacity makes it impractical for long-term industrial use and, I would imagine, people who don't vacuum their homes as often as they should.

4. Does not pick up large debris such as paperclips etc. However, since only industrial vacs are truly intended for such use one probably should not really consider this a "con".

Pros:

1. Phenomenal suction. I am a neat freak and vacuum my house at least every other day. My carpets are quite new. Even so I fill the dust cup every time.

2. Great on board tools, especially the 24" wand.

3. Very easy to switch between floor vac and hose.

4. Long cord, long hose.

5. Lightweight and nippy, especially on carpet when using the power brush - it virtually runs itself.

6. Very easy to empty and clean - most parts can simply be rinsed, dried and reused including all the filters.

I would highly recommend this vacuum cleaner; like any other quality mechanical item, treat it well and it will serve you admirably. Frankly I have beat the heck out of my work Shark and have seen no decline in performance. I would be very surprised if Shark's much more expensive rival Dyson is really that much better for the extra expense.

Vacuuming made easier
I have cats and I love this vacuum! It's not too heavy and really sucks! (As in suction.) The attachments are useful and easy to switch out when you need to clean base boards or corners. I also use the smaller rotating brush to get hair off the sofa. (Much better than a tape roller.) The power cord is so long that I don't have to unplug it to go into a nearby room. The Dysolv and Abzorb cleaning products that it ships with also works wonders. My only concern is the plastic its made from can crack with enough force, but not with normal use.

Used a Dyson for 6 years
Dyson has the best products on the market. I have 5 dogs living in my home. One is a golden retriever.My Dyson has saved my carpet. I use it everyday..no joke. I have had it for 6 years(got it when Dyson first came out). When I replace it I will get another Dyson!! Don't listen to people who say anything bad.I should know a thing or two about Dyson. Also if you happen to have any questions or need anything the people at Dyson are so awesome and helpful.It's a great company.

Great while it works.
Sure the attachments are great, the dumping wasn't terrible (though it was messy), but for the price I expect this machine to last longeer. Our motor died right out of warrenty, and to fix the machine was almost as much as buying a new vaccum. I wish for the price it was better made, since we also had issues with the plastic. Overall I think we are much happier with our Oreck, even if it isn't as slick and pretty.

The Vacuum works as advertised, but could stand....
The Vacuum works well and as advertised.

Needed improvements:

1) The plastic-wrapped cord with a mind of its own. Most vacs in this price range have a rubberized cord that
does not have a memory. It makes winding and unwinding much less frustrating. Like the Oreck XL-21.

2) The top cord retainer is flimsy and may not last. And since the cord is so light you have to stoop over
to make sure it goes thru the bottom retainer. Like the Oreck XL-21.

3) No light!

4) A low-speed for vacuuming light-weight rugs by doors and such. Like the Oreck XL-21.

Too bad you can't take the best features of the Oreck XL-21 and the DC17 - it would be the perfect vacuum.

Can suck the chrome off a '57 Chevy
Been using my DC17 for a few months now, and I have so say it actually makes vacuuming fun. The suction has got to be about twice what my previous Eureka could manage.

At first, switching back and forth to floor mode and using the telescoping tool seems a bit cumbersome, but it gets easier with practice. It comes with quite a few tools, but unfortunately only three of them dock onboard--you have to store the others somewhere.

One of the most clever features of this vacuum is that the (powerful) rotating brush automatically shuts down when the handle is in the upright position and there's also a manual override button that lets you switch off the brush when vacuuming hardwood and tile floors.

Who would ever think that a company would come along and make a vacuum cleaner "cool"??

Ideal For Hard Floors
I've owned this vacuum for about a year and a half. I bought it first to replace the dinosaur upright I had been using, which had hard plastic wheels and a metal shield on the bottom that scratched my floors occasionally. Also, the old one sounded like a 747.

I have a Newfoundland dog that sheds a lot of long, fine hair and a small mutt that sheds short,coarse hair. My house has decorative cement floors that are sealed with a thick coat of high gloss epoxy and a few large area rugs. All in all, this vacuum is a excellent value. I bought it for 0 and it's works great.

Pros:
Rubberized wheels on the tank. The hard plastic wheels on the old 747 would slide rather than roll across the hard floors leaving scratches; when those wheels encountered anything hard like a pebble they would push it instead roll over it, again scratching the floor. The rubber wheels on the Eureka can grip the surface of the floor and never slide across it and it rolls over anything abrasive that I've missed. There's been no new scratches with the new vacuum.

Easy Switch Attachments: Switching from the electrified rug/carpet beater attachment to the hard surface brush it fast and easy.

Compactness: Because it can be taken apart so easily, storing it in a small closet is fast and easy.

Quietness: Compared to the old 747, this one is whisper quiet.

Cons:
Shortish cord means stopping to switch outlets more frequently.

Low quality materials. From the handle down this is made of low quality plastic. The thing that held the crevice tool and small brush to the wand broke off within the first month. But for 0 I'm o.k with that, the motor, wheels and beater bar are going strong.

I have not received this item. It still needs to be received by me.
I have not received this product. I have contacted the vendor numerous times. They have not been helpful at all. If the product was lost in transit then they need to send another. I am extremely frustrated about this which is apparently what the venodr wants so I will just give up and let them keep my money.

what I expected
It's a small, powerful, and quiet vacuum. I use it on my hardwood and tiled floors where it picks up everything. The suction control allows me to vacuum throw rugs quickly without pulling the small rug up. Controlling the suction is also useful on my lampshades and blinds. This machine was exactly what I was looking for.

Nice if you want a 1-year vacuum
Nice power, seemed to pick up everything, easy to change the bag. Downside? Plenty: Completely constructed of cheap plastic. Every time I put the nozzle into the vacuum head I cringe because it feels like the cheap plastic is going to break. The nozzle attachments are CONSTANTLY falling off while you are vacuuming, dont even bother attaching them. Here I am after one year of light upstairs use and now it's broken, it no longer runs in carpet mode, the brushes dont turn. The only thing left is floor mode which doesnt work on carpets. Absolutely, positively DO NOT BUY IT, there are way better products out there for the money.

Good Value for Versatile Vacuum
I'm not one to take the time to submit a product review, however I do read reviews frequently and in this case I read dozens of reviews before deciding on this vacuum. I spent at least a month researching the right vac for our house.

Bottom Line: Very good value for a very versatile vacuum. For 0 it's a lot of vac for the money. Finding a solid but affordable canister vac is a real challenge I think. Most models are really junk--even the pricier models. This little guy really came through on almost all levels and I'm very satisfied.

Pros:
1) Powerful: it has excellent suction. Extraordinarily so for such a quiet, compact little vac.
2) Quiet: it's much quieter than the Kenmore Upright I owned before. It's noticeably quiet. My kids and wife both commented that I could run the vac while they watch TV.
3) Light: my wife wanted a light vacuum. This guy is small but mighty. It's a good size for moving through a house or apartment. Really an excellent vac if you have a lot of tight spaces.
4) Well-Designed: yes, it's a plastic vac but the plastic is thick enough to withstand basic use. The hose is sturdy, the attachments less so but still very adequate. The body is solid enough to get dragged around the house. The point of attachment between the bag and the hose inlet is well-designed... much more effectively designed than the other canisters I looked at in store. The hose has a 360 degree rotating collar where it attaches to the main canister.
5) The Bag: yeah, it's small but it really packs a punch. I'm so cheap I use my shop vac to clean out my vacuum cleaner bags. The first time I cleaned this little bag I couldn't believe how much dirt was packed in there. Sound corny, I know, but it was super full--and super compacted. The bag is easy to change.
6) The Bag Compartment: the bag is enclosed inside a lighter plastic roll-cage. This helps the bag maintain its shape... very good design. I think this contributes to why such a small bag expands and fills so evenly. I've had uprights with much larger bags that didn't seem to fill evenely or fully before major loss of suction.
7) Hose: it's a good long hose and long enough for most stairs. The hose is made of a very sturdy material--feels very strong and not easy to puncture.
8) Features & Tools: the power nozzle is electric motor driven-- I wasn't sure about that when I bought it. It works well enough. It's only a single brush so it's probably not as effective as the double brush roll types like the hoover. But it's still good. The other tools are very useful-- bare floor brush works great, crevice tool, fabric brush. This vac also includes a nice air-driven hand-held roll-brush for getting pet hair off the sofa. This little guy works great but is noisy. The retractable cord is a nice feature. Tools don't store on board but honestly I think that feature is over-rated as they always end up falling off. The main handle & extensions are long and easy to use... they snap together.

Cons:

1) Small vac: for a huge house with wall-to-wall carpet and lots of pile you might want something beefier.
2) Short cord: the cord is long enough to suit me but I could see in a large open floor-plan you'd want a longer cord.
3) Accessory Tools Don't Snap or Click on: yeah that's a little annoying... the attachments just sort of "jam" into place. Probably the biggest weakness of this vac.
4) Bags are hard to come by: hard to find the Electrolux S / Eureka OX type bags. I ordered some from Amazon in mid June and they still haven't arrived by Aug. 1. Might want to look on another site for these bags.
5) Power Nozzle: the main power nozzle is good but the single roll-brush design could be a bit better but all-in-all it's been very effective for my needs.

In mind my, the Pros totally destroy the Cons. The cons don't really bother me a bit.

I'm very happy with the vacuum... it's more than I expected, especially for the money.

It's an all-around versatile vac that a good value.

--G Anderson
Emmaus, PA

Done with this... looking for a new one
This vacuum did Ok when I first received it. I needed something small to keep in the kitchen for quick pick ups only. After a while it lost its suction power. I need to throw it out because people keep picking it up and trying to vacuum with it. All it does now is trap dirt in the beater brush and spreads the dirt around. I will be purchasing another stick vacuum, and it won't be this one.

buy a real vacuum trust me
this sort of works for a little bit but it definitely doesnt vacuum like a real one. It loses suction very quickly, in like 3 minutes, because the dust will build up. After a years use, mine wont even pick up any dirt at all.

Only one "con", but it's a biggie.
For close to a year, I used this vac daily and loved it. It's easy to maneuver and did a sufficient job picking up cat litter and various dirt and small objects. However after about 8 months I noticed a significant decrease in suction as it took multiple passes to pick up simple dirt/litter from hardwood and linoleum. As it approached the one-year mark, after 1-2 minutes of use you could audibly hear the charge drop off. The problem here is the rechargeable battery is not replaceable, so a whole new unit is needed every year. Supposedly the new Accucharge model overcomes this limitation, so I'll be buying one of those soon.

Can't live without it.
This is a fantastic little machine that cleans up everything and anything. It's handy- we keep it right in the living room in its charger. We have two children and use it several times a day and it helps with almost every mess and spill.

Maybe I got a lemon...
I purchased this item based on some excellent reviews here but it was a huge disappointment. I have been meticulous about cleaning the filter and cup, but the suction is very weak. It will pick up dust and tiny dirt particles, but anything larger (e.g., toast crumbs) is either not picked up or requires multiple swipes or is picked up momentarily and then falls back to the floor. I never expected a stick vac to pick up large items or handle heavy dirt, but this one doesn't perform even light cleaning. We recommend you preserve the packaging and test it thoroughly in case you need to return it as we did.