Shark Navigator NV105 Review: Great for Small Homes

A lot of the upright vacuums I’ve reviewed weigh at least 15 pounds and can be a chore to move around because of its weight.

The NV105 is the lightest upright in Shark’s Navigator product line, weighing in at just 10.6 pounds.

This is not a cordless vacuum but a corded one with a 25-foot power cord and 700-watt motor. Good enough to clean small to medium size homes.

A Lightweight Shark Upright Vacuum

Shark Navigator NV105

Shark Navigator NV105 Review

Most upright vacuums weight between 15 and 20 pounds which can be an issue if you have a bad back. The Shark Navigator NV105 is a lightweight alternative at just 10.6 pounds for people looking for something more compact that’s easier to carry a flight of stairs. It won’t be as potent as Shark’s larger upright vacuums but it’s a great fit for smaller homes with lots of carpet. And even if this vacuum is considered as a lightweight, it still holds a lot of dirt thanks to the 1.8 dry quart capacity. What this product offers is an affordable lightweight upright option that cleans floors that’s easy to empty.

If you are looking for upright performance minus the cumbersome weight, then have a look at the NV105.

It also comes with an upholstery and crevice tool to clean upholstery.

Take note that this does not have the lift-away feature where you can separate the canister from the floor tool.

Let’s have a close look at the features and how it performs in the real world.

A quick look at the features

  • Equipped with a 700-watt motor
  • You can turn the brush roll off which makes it suitable for cleaning hard floors
  • Comes with 3 filters (2 primary filters on top of the dust cup and 1 post-motor filter) – it does not have HEPA filtration
  • 2 tools included for above the floor cleaning – Upholstery/pet tool and combination brush and crevice tool
  • 3-year warranty
  • Weighs only 10.6 pounds
  • 25-foot power cord
  • Bagless and easy to empty dust cup (1.8 dry quart capacity)
  • Uses Electret filters

Pros

  • Weighs just 10.6 pounds
  • Has brush roll on/off feature – great for both hard floors and carpet
  • Decent length power cord – 25 feet
  • Capable of above the floor cleaning
  • Strong 700-watt motor
  • Post motor filter provides another layer of filtration but it does not have HEPA filtration
  • Very affordable

Cons

  • Lacking in attachments
  • No HEPA filtration
  • Does not swivel
  • No cord rewind
  • Prone to tipping over
  • Will struggle cleaning stairs

What to expect from the Shark Navigator NV105?

To make this vacuum lighter, they had to shrink the whole vacuum. So expect a narrower cleaning path (around 9.25 inches) and a smaller dirt cup.

The smaller sized (around 1.8 dry quarts) dust cup and shorter power cord make this better suited for small to medium-size homes. But power is still there thanks to the 700-watt motor.

Features

 

Tools for above-floor cleaning

The Shark Navigator is also capable of cleaning above-floor areas thanks to the flexible hose and attachments.

It comes with the 2-in-1 crevice/brush tool and upholstery/pet tool. Both of these are capable of cleaning different types of upholstery.

But reach won’t be as good because of the short hose.

Cord Length

The power cord is 25 feet long and it does not come with cord rewind.

Filter Clean up

There are two main filters located on top of the dust cup, a foam filter, and a felt filter and a post-motor filter (non-HEPA filter).

Here’s how to access them and also how to empty the dirt cup.

Dust cup and filter clean up

The filters do eventually wear out over time since it is made from foam. Fortunately, replacement filters are available in Amazon, so there’s no issue with these parts if it wears out.

Shark NV105 replacement filters

If you’re planning on purchasing a filter, I do suggest going with the kits available online as these contain all the filters in the NV105 and that includes the HEPA filter that needs to be changed every two to three months to maintain performance.

Warranty

The NV105 comes with a 3-year Euro-pro warranty.

Bare Floor Performance

You can use this on both bare floor and carpet because the brush roll can be turned on and off.

Since it nozzle has low clearance, expect this to have a plowing effect when you run it over larger debris like crushed crackers or coffee beans so you may have to use the wand for that but other than it will do just fine picking up debris.

Carpet Performance

It is equipped with a motorized brush roll so deep cleaning carpet should not be a problem. Remember that it has a narrower cleaning path compared to its larger cousins so you’ll need more passes to clean a larger room but suction should not be a problem with this. But the good news is, the narrower head will go in areas that a bigger upright cannot so it can be an advantage as well.

Also, it does not have swivel steering so maneuverability suffers a bit but it weighs less than most other uprights so this makes up for that.

Upholstery Performance

Cleaning upholstery with the NV105 should not be a problem because it comes with an upholstery tool that should be able to pick up tough to remove dirt on fabric upholstery.

For leather upholstery, you can use the combination crevice/brush tool to pick up loose dirt and dust.

For above the floor cleaning, you can attach these tools on the extension wand or handle like so.

Above the floor cleaning

Pet Hair Removal

With the motorized brush and pet hair attachment, this vacuum is capable of cleaning pet hair on carpet and upholstery.

Consumers have also validated this with praises on how the NV105 tackled pet hair.

Product Specifications

ModelShark Navigator NV105
AttachmentsCombination crevice / dusting brush tool

Pet/upholstery tool
Cord Length25 feet
Auto Cord Rewind
No
Motorized brush
Yes
Brush on/off switch
Yes
Swivel
No
Headlight
No
Filter clogged indicator
No
Full bin indicator
No

Dirt container is transparent so you can see if it's full
Bagless
Yes
Multi-surface
Yes
Self propelled
No
Net weight10.6 pounds
Shipping weight16.3 pounds
Hose lengthapprox. 15-1/2"
Cleaning Path9.25"
Overall reachN/A
Dirt capacity1.8 dry quarts (real usable capacity)
Filter type1-foam and felt filter (on top of the dirt cup)

1 post motor filter
Power700 watts
Voltage120 volts
Manufactured inChina
Warranty3 years
PriceCheck Price

What do consumers say?

Since this is a relatively new product there aren’t a lot of reviews (less than 20 so far).

And from what I’ve read most of the consumers loved how this lightweight upright performed on their floors whether it was bare floor or carpet.

They liked it because even if it weighed just over 10 pounds, it still had very good cleaning power – enough for a medium-sized home with both carpet and hardwood (or any other bare floor surface).

It may struggle for larger homes because of the narrow cleaning path and the smaller dirt cup.

People who had back problems will benefit from this lightweight upright as well as folks who are concerned with storage space. Since it isn’t as bulky as a full-sized upright vacuum, you don’t need to set aside a lot of space to store this.

Yes, there were complaints about very poor suction but that could be the result of poor maintenance. Shark does provide consumers instructions on how to remove blockages from the hoses.

Does the Shark Navigator NV105 Provide Good Value?

The NV105 is one of the least expensive Shark upright vacuums available right now. And despite not having the high-end features that the newer Navigator series vacuums have, it does bring a lot to the table.

One of the biggest selling points of this vacuum is obviously the price. Not many options at this price range offer the performance that the NV105 does especially on carpet.

If you live in a home with lots of it, then this budget upright should be on your watchlist.

There are some issues with regards to the quality as I’ve read in the reviews so there is due diligence needed when it comes to maintenance. But that’s a common issue with budget vacuums so that is to be expected.

The Verdict: Who Should Buy the Shark Navigator NV105?

The Shark NV05 is an excellent option for people looking for an inexpensive upright vacuum capable of cleaning carpet.

However, it lacks the premium features of the newer Navigator series vacuums, but the low price makes up for the lack of versatility.

The removable hose gives this vacuum the ability to clean upholstery and stairs to an extent, but it will not match the Shark vacuums that have the Lift Away feature in terms of reach.

This vacuum has its limitations such as the lack of the Duo Clean feature so don’t buy this if your planning on cleaning hard floors. The lack of swivel hinders its maneuverability but the lightweight design makes up for it.

4 Reasons why you should consider the Shark Navigator NV105

  1. Inexpensive upright option: Very few upright vacuums in this price range offer the kind of performance that the NV105 brings to the table.
  2. Great for cleaning carpet: The stiff bristles on the brush plus the agitation make this an excellent option for cleaning carpet.
  3. Lightweight and compact: This upright weighs just 10.6 pounds which the same as other cordless stick vacuums such as the Hoover Linx Stick vacuum.
  4. Decent dirt capacity: No, it wouldn’t hold as much dirt as its larger siblings like the Shark APEX, but for the price, the 1.8 dry quart capacity is decent even for medium size homes.

Click here to learn more about the Shark Navigator NV105.

Lightweight Upright for Small to Medium Size Homes
  • Ergonomics - 90%
    90%
  • Surface Cleaning - 92%
    92%
  • Quality - 91%
    91%
  • Design - 90%
    90%
  • Value - 95%
    95%
92%

Summary

The Shark NV105 is an excellent option for people looking for a lightweight upright vacuum capable of cleaning floors. Since this model does not have the Duo Clean head, it is more suitable for cleaning carpet floors. However, this upright doesn’t have the bells and whistles as newer navigator series vacuums so don’t expect a lot of versatility. But for the price, it is a bargain, in my opinion.

Recommended Reading

About the author: Garrick, the visionary behind Cordless Vacuum Guide, brings over a decade of hands-on expertise in cordless vacuum testing to his insightful reviews showcased on this platform. Beyond his passion for empowering consumers with informed choices, he cherishes precious moments with his family, exploring global cuisines and exploring different horizons with his beloved wife and son. Follow him on Youtube, Tiktok, Facebook, and Instagram.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Ca King Apr 19, 2017 @ 16:19

    Where an I find replacement filters?

  • Ruth Cox May 21, 2017 @ 16:42

    I like my vacuum but need filters

  • Jane Sep 9, 2017 @ 16:04

    Is it ok to wash the inside of the dust cup with soapy water without ruining any parts?

  • Don Davis Oct 25, 2017 @ 2:24

    Do a google search for Shark NV100/NV105 filters. They are available for $8.95 plus shipping. Or ccontact customer service at 877-581-7375. They seem to pleasant and eager to help The filter part No. is XFL100.
    Good luck.

  • Joelle McLauchlan May 17, 2019 @ 13:08

    I use the Shark NV105 and it has done a great job in getting dirt and hair off the floor but one major problem is that the attachment for it does not fit the end of the hose at all! Also that attachment is one piece instead of two. There is no way that will fit to the hose at all! The cup is small but it is a vac for a small area. I like Sharks because they are easy to clean and operate. But the attachment is a big loss.

  • Rose Jul 10, 2019 @ 16:20

    Are there any notable differences between the NV105 & NV106 models (besides color)?

  • sandy Jul 30, 2019 @ 23:50

    I love my Shark Navigator 105!
    I’ve had it more than a year and bought one for my Granddaughter. I love that I can take the main part off, empty and wash it, comes out like new just washing w a little soap and warm water, every corner inside of cup come completely clean. I also gently wash filters w a little soap & rinse clear. Let set on towel overnight and snap it all together in am.