Compare Kenmore Featherlite Lift-Up Vacuum vs Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum

It ships with a small but useful tool set (typically an upholstery tool and a multi-use 3-in-1/crevice-style tool). Reviewers generally describe the accessories as decent and sturdy rather than extensive.

Commonly described as coming with a practical set of basic tools (crevice and upholstery/wide upholstery tool; some variants add pet tools). Lift-Away makes these tools more useful for stairs and above-floor cleaning.

It includes a suction adjustment intended for thicker rugs or high-pile carpet, which can help prevent the head from feeling stuck. Direct high-pile performance testing is limited in these reviews, but the feature is viewed as useful.

Assembly is consistently described as quick and simple, usually involving snapping the handle, hose, and wand into place. Packaging includes instructions, but many reviewers say it is self-explanatory.

Bagless dustbin design with washable filters is a consistent theme. Capacity is described as adequate but sometimes smaller than competitors, while removal and reattachment are generally easy.

Bagless dust cup is generally considered easy to empty; some sources highlight an open/easy-to-clean canister design that supports long-term upkeep.

Several hands-on reviewers describe the plastics and overall build as solid for a budget vacuum. At the same time, long-term wear is not well documented, so durability confidence is good but not definitive.

High-pile/shag performance is a recurring weak spot: fixed height and head geometry can struggle to get on top of larger debris or can be harder to push on thick carpet compared with uprights with height adjustment.

Low-pile carpet pickup is consistently strong in testing-style writeups, often above average for the upright category at its price.

Carpet deep-cleaning is a highlight in multiple tests, including perfect or near-top results when pulling embedded sand from medium-pile carpet. Even more critical reviewers still describe carpet performance as slightly above average rather than poor.

Medium-pile carpet deep cleaning is often a highlight, with at least one lab-style comparison giving it top-tier embedded debris results in its price segment.

Reviewers often note an open airflow path and dustbin layout that helps prevent clogs. Hair and debris generally make it into the bin without frequent blockage, even though the brushroll may wrap long strands.

In head-to-head discussions, it is often positioned as a direct competitor to Shark Navigator-style uprights and sometimes preferred for hard-floor pickup. Premium uprights still win on sealing, crevice work, and sometimes overall refinement, and one lab review preferred the Shark Navigator at a similar price.

Often framed as outperforming many budget uprights and competing surprisingly well against pricier models in certain tests, but it generally trails modern premium heads on high-pile and specialized hard-floor pickup.

Controls are straightforward: floor mode selection (hard floor vs carpet), brushroll on/off behavior, and in some reviews a suction adjustment for thicker rugs. A few reviewers note performance depends on having the correct setting selected.

Controls are generally simple and include a brushroll on/off (or brush control) to transition between carpet and hard floors; lack of height adjustment is a repeated limitation for thick rugs/high pile and some large-debris situations.

The lift-up canister design is a major differentiator: multiple reviewers demonstrate detaching the canister for above-floor cleaning with the hose and tools. One lab review downplays the lift-away usefulness, so portability is helpful but not identical to premium lift-away systems.

Cord length is typically cited around 25 feet, which is usable but not class-leading. Some owners still find it longer than older vacuums and say it reduces outlet switching.

Cord length is generally reported as adequate/good for the class, with some comparisons noting premium or competing models can be longer; exact length varies by variant in sources.

It is a corded upright, so it will not match the grab-and-go convenience of cordless sticks. One reviewer explicitly mentions returning to a cord as the main annoyance, though good cord management reduces the friction.

Cord management gets positive notes thanks to a simple hook that keeps the cord out of your feet while vacuuming. It is not a cordless experience, but it reduces tangles and trip hazards.

Crevice and tight-groove pickup is a consistent weak spot, with multiple tests showing below-average results when extracting sand or grit from cracks. If deep crevice detailing is a priority, this is the most repeated limitation.

Crevice/crack pickup is repeatedly described as a limitation versus newer designs; some tests show below-average removal in crevice-style trials, making the wand more important for edges/cracks.

A two-motor system is claimed in at least one comparison review and is presented as part of its deep-cleaning capability. Regardless of motor configuration, reviewers often report strong carpet results for the price.

Ease of use is praised heavily by some testers who call it one of the most ergonomic vacuums they have used. A lab review scored it below average for ease of use, suggesting the experience can vary, but most casual reviewers find it simple and comfortable.

Edge cleaning is described as a strength in at least one detailed comparison, where it performed near the top at picking debris close to walls. This is not a heavily discussed category elsewhere, but the available evidence is favorable.

Edge/baseboard performance is variable: some sources say it cleans edges well head-on, but others note it can miss a small band near edges or struggle on parallel passes along walls.

Emptying is usually simple via a button release, and several reviewers say the bin design keeps mess and clogging manageable. Some note the bin is not huge, but day-to-day dumping is easy.

Repeatedly highlighted as having sealed HEPA/anti-allergen filtration that helps keep fine dust and pet dander contained instead of blowing back into the room. This is considered a standout feature for the price tier.

A key strength: sources describe a sealed system paired with HEPA filtration/Complete Seal-style containment, which improves dust/allergen containment compared with many budget uprights.

The floorhead uses relatively large intake gates and a compact/narrow head, which helps it swallow a wide range of debris sizes and reach tighter areas. The same design can reduce sealing pressure, which affects detail pickup.

Several reviews describe a decent hard-floor seal aided by a fabric squeegee, reducing scatter compared with some rivals. Still, the seal is not consistently tight across all surfaces, aligning with weaker crevice results and mixed hard-floor outcomes in some testing.

Pet hair on carpet is one of the strongest categories, with one lab test measuring roughly mid-90 percent removal and other reviewers describing near-perfect results. This is a key reason it is recommended for pet homes.

Hair pickup on carpets is generally solid for typical pet hair, but some testing notes clumping and that not all hair makes it fully to the bin in tougher trials.

Hard-floor hair pickup is generally reported as strong, especially when the brushroll is allowed to run to grab strands. Some users choose to keep the carpet setting on hard floors specifically to improve hair pickup.

Hair pickup on hard floors is generally described as effective for everyday pet hair, aided by strong suction and above-floor tools.

Most reviewers report that long human hair can wrap around the brushroll and requires manual removal, making anti-tangle performance below average. A minority opinion claims it handles tangles well, but the dominant theme is that hair wrap is a regular maintenance task.

Long-hair wrap is a consistent drawback across tests and reviews; owners should expect periodic brushroll clearing, especially with longer hair and heavy shedding households.

Fine debris on hard floors is generally good but not best-in-class; at least one test notes it can leave fine sand behind, requiring extra passes.

Hard-floor large-debris pickup is polarizing: multiple reviewers report excellent pickup with minimal snowplowing, while one lab review found it pushed cereal and scored poorly. Using the correct floor setting and the specific debris type being tested seem to drive the difference.

Large debris on hard floors/rugs can be mixed: it can handle many everyday pieces, but multiple mentions note pushing/scattering crummy or larger particles in some scenarios without height adjustment or a more modern head design.

The floorhead LED is widely appreciated for spotting debris in dark rooms, under furniture, and at night. It is consistently treated as a practical, high-value feature.

Hose reach is a common complaint in at least one lab review, and specs cited elsewhere put it around the mid-single-digit feet range. It works for stairs and upholstery, but tall ceiling corners may feel limiting.

Hose/wand reach is a common nit: multiple writeups mention wishing the hose were longer or the wand had more reach, which can limit above-floor range compared with some alternatives.

Routine upkeep is manageable with washable filters and an easy-to-clean bin, but brushroll hair wrap can add regular maintenance. Expect periodic filter care plus occasional brushroll cutting for long hair.

Maintenance is straightforward (wash/replace filters, keep bin empty), but brushroll hair wrap and periodic clearing are repeatedly mentioned as the main ongoing chore.

Swivel steering, light carry weight, and balanced handling are repeatedly praised, especially for weaving around furniture. A lab reviewer still rated handling strong but felt it was less maneuverable than the very best premium uprights.

Maneuverability is often a plus (notably swivel steering), though some testing notes it can feel stiffer than premium uprights and may require a bit more effort under strong suction conditions.

Noise impressions are mixed: one comparison test measured it as relatively quiet around the low-80 dB range, while another measured it slightly louder than average. Overall it is moderate and rarely described as painfully loud.

Noise is frequently described as relatively quiet for an upright; at least one test set places it among the quietest in its comparison group.

Onboard tool storage is convenient, with accessories kept on the vacuum for quick access. This supports quick transitions between floor cleaning and above-floor detailing.

Because it is bagless and uses washable filters, owners can avoid recurring bag purchases and reduce routine costs. You will still have periodic filter replacement and brushroll cleaning as part of ownership.

Overall sentiment is mostly enthusiastic, with several reviewers calling it a top budget upright and recommending it for everyday cleaning. The outlier is a lab-style review that does not recommend it due to average cleaning and hard-floor performance.

Packaging feedback is positive where mentioned, with parts arriving intact and well organized. No repeated complaints about broken pieces in transit appear in these reviews.

Multiple reviewers call it a strong budget pick for pet households thanks to sealed HEPA filtration and strong pet-hair pickup. The common pet-focused drawback is brushroll hair wrap when long hair is present.

Most reviewers frame it as a high-value upright in the roughly 100 to 200 dollar range and a frequent budget-category winner. One lab-style review felt similarly priced competitors delivered better overall results, so value depends on your floor types and priorities.

Repeatedly positioned as a standout value in the $100–$200-ish budget upright space, with performance and sealed filtration that often beat cheaper uprights and compete well for the price.

Lift-up style use can make stairs easier because the canister can be carried while using the hose and tools. However, one reviewer argues it is not a true lift-away experience, so expect some compromise compared with premium lift-away designs.

Lift-Away is repeatedly called out as making stair cleaning and above-floor cleaning meaningfully easier than standard uprights, though hose/wand reach can be a limiting factor depending on variant.

Power is strong for the price in several independent tests, with above-average sealed suction reported, but airflow and unsealed suction can be merely average because the floorhead does not always form a tight seal.

Suction and airflow are frequently described as strong for the price and consistent over time when maintained; several comparisons treat suction power as a primary reason it remains popular.

The biggest reliability note is that it is a relatively new model in the market, so long-term durability is less proven than long-running competitors. Reviewers who handled it often say it feels well made, but they still flag uncertainty about years-long ownership.

Support expectations are helped by commonly cited multi-year warranty coverage and broad parts availability; durability is often described as adequate but plastic-heavy.

Hardwood-friendly operation is noted: the brushroll can stop or be turned off on hard floors to reduce scratching risk. This makes it safer for delicate surfaces when you use the correct mode.

The LED headlight and relatively low-profile reach are repeatedly cited as helpful for cleaning under furniture and in dim areas. This improves real-world usability even when overall pickup varies by surface.

Above-floor cleaning is a strong use case thanks to the lift-up canister and included upholstery/crevice-style tools. Reviewers commonly use it for couches, corners, fans, and other hard-to-reach spots with good results.

No summary yet.

Most reviews emphasize versatility: it can switch between hard floors and carpets, detach for above-floor tasks, and use multiple tools. It is commonly positioned as a do-it-all budget upright rather than a single-purpose machine.

Versatility is a defining feature due to Lift-Away mode and above-floor usability; it’s commonly recommended for stairs, upholstery, and hard-to-reach areas relative to basic uprights.

Weight is a standout: reviewers repeatedly measure or cite roughly 11.6 to 12 pounds. This featherlight feel improves carry comfort, stair moves, and general maneuvering.

Usually described as lightweight for an upright and easier to carry than many competitors, supporting its budget-all-purpose positioning.