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The Short Verdict
Shark wins for most American homes in 2026, while Kenmore wins for a specific kind of buyer. Shark makes lighter bagless uprights with self-cleaning brushrolls and strong everyday pickup. Kenmore makes heavier bagged vacuums with sealed HEPA filtration and dedicated pet tools that are hard to beat for allergy households and heavy pet hair.
So the real question is which trade-off fits your home. Allergies, several pets, and mostly carpet? Look at Kenmore. Want a lighter vacuum you can grab, empty, and put away without buying bags? Shark is the easier daily driver.
Head-to-Head Spec Table: Flagship Models Compared
| Spec | Kenmore Elite 31150 (Upright) | Kenmore Elite 81714 (Canister) | Kenmore 600 Series 81615 (Canister) | Shark Navigator NV360 (Upright) | Shark Vertex AZ2002 (Upright) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Bagged upright | Bagged canister | Bagged canister | Bagless upright, Lift-Away | Bagless upright, Powered Lift-Away |
| Weight | 26 pounds | 22 pounds | 22.6 pounds | About 12.5 pounds | 16.38 pounds |
| Motor / power | 3D Inducer Motor | 2-motor system | 12 amps; suction of at least 183W at the hose end | 1,200 watts, 10 amps | 1,344 watts |
| Filtration | Triple HEPA | HEPA, traps 99.97% of debris | HEPA, traps 99.97% of dirt | Sealed HEPA, washable filters | HEPA, Anti-Allergen Complete Seal |
| Dust capacity | Bagged | Bagged | Bagged | 1.2-quart dust cup | 1-quart dust cup |
| Cord length | Not listed consistently across retailers | 26 feet, retractable | 28 feet, retractable | 25 feet | 30 feet |
| Pet tool | Pet Handi-Mate | Pet PowerMate | Pet PowerMate | Upholstery and crevice tools | Self-cleaning pet power brush |
The Kenmore Lineup
Kenmore has been a familiar American vacuum name for decades, and its current lineup still leans on the classic formula that made it popular: a bagged machine, a strong motor, and a HEPA filter. The bag is the point. It holds dust, dander, and pet hair inside a sealed bag, so emptying the vacuum does not send a puff of dust back into the room. For allergy sufferers, that matters as much as suction.
Kenmore Elite 31150 Pet Friendly Upright
The Kenmore Elite 31150 is the brand’s flagship bagged upright. It weighs 26 pounds, uses a 3D Inducer Motor, and carries Triple HEPA filtration with a Pet Handi-Mate tool for upholstery and stairs. It has a telescoping wand, a 5-position height adjustment, and three cleaning tools. It suits a carpet-heavy home, but it is heavy to carry up stairs.
Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Canister
The Kenmore Elite 81714 is a bagged canister built for pet owners. It weighs 22 pounds, runs a two-motor system, and uses an enhanced HEPA filter system that traps 99.97% of debris, including dander, dust, pollen, and bacteria. It comes with a motorized Pet PowerMate, an Ultra Plush nozzle, an aluminum telescoping wand that extends to 10 feet, and a 26-foot retractable cord.
Kenmore 600 Series 81615 Pet Friendly Canister
The Kenmore 600 Series is the value pick in Kenmore’s canister range. It weighs 22.6 pounds, runs a two-motor system with a 12-amp motor, and lists suction of at least 183W at the hose end. It has a 14-inch cleaning width, a 28-foot retractable cord, a HEPA filter that traps 99.97% of dirt, and a Pet PowerMate with a Pop-N-Go brush. It offers the Elite 81714 formula for less.
The Shark Lineup
Shark, part of SharkNinja, built its reputation on bagless uprights that are light, maneuverable, and easy to maintain. The signature feature across the range is Lift-Away: the dust cup and motor detach from the floor head so you can carry the pod up stairs or clean upholstery without dragging the whole upright. Higher-end models add DuoClean PowerFins, a soft front roller paired with a PowerFins brushroll, and a self-cleaning brushroll that resists hair wrap.
Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV360
The Shark Navigator NV360 is the budget-friendly entry point and one of the most popular Shark uprights ever sold. It weighs about 12.5 pounds, runs a 1,200-watt, 10-amp motor, and has a 25-foot cord, a 1.2-quart dust cup, and a sealed HEPA system with washable filters. It includes upholstery and crevice tools, swivel steering, and a brushroll shutoff for bare floors.
Shark Navigator Lift-Away ADV LA301
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away ADV LA301 is a step up from the NV360. It keeps the Lift-Away design, HEPA filtration, and swivel steering, with stronger pet hair pickup for carpets and hard floors. It is the middle ground: still affordable, still light, and better equipped for a home with pets.
Shark Vertex Powered Lift-Away AZ2002
The Shark Vertex AZ2002 is Shark’s flagship upright here. It weighs 16.38 pounds, runs a 1,344-watt motor, and has a 30-foot cord, a 1-quart dust cup, a 12-inch cleaning path, and a 5.5-foot hose. Its DuoClean PowerFins system pairs a PowerFins brushroll with a soft roller, and its self-cleaning brushroll helps prevent hair wrap. It also has Powered Lift-Away, a HEPA filter with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology that traps 99.9% of dust and allergens 0.3 microns or larger, and a self-cleaning pet power brush.
Key Differences Between Kenmore and Shark
Bagged vs. bagless
This is the biggest practical difference. Kenmore’s flagships are bagged: a bag captures fine dust and allergens and lets you throw the whole sealed bag away, which is cleaner for allergy households but adds the cost of replacement bags. Shark’s flagships are bagless: you empty a clear dust cup over a trash bin and wash the filters, which costs nothing extra but can expose you to a small puff of dust.
Canister vs. upright
Kenmore’s best models are canisters, which suit hard floors, stairs, and cleaning under low furniture, because the wand is light even though the body is heavy. Shark’s best models are uprights with a Lift-Away pod, which are faster for large carpeted rooms and easier to store.
Weight and maneuverability
Shark wins this one clearly. The Navigator NV360 weighs about 12.5 pounds, and even the powerful Vertex AZ2002 weighs 16.38 pounds. Kenmore’s Elite 31150 weighs 26 pounds, and its canisters weigh 22 to 22.6 pounds. That gap shows up every time you carry the vacuum upstairs.
Pet hair
Both brands take pet hair seriously, but they attack it differently. Kenmore uses motorized pet tools — the Pet PowerMate on its canisters and the Pet Handi-Mate on its upright — that agitate carpet and upholstery to lift embedded hair. Shark uses a self-cleaning brushroll and DuoClean PowerFins to pick up hair without wrapping it around the brush. For a full guide, see our roundup of the best vacuums for pet hair.
Filtration and allergies
Both brands offer HEPA filtration, but Kenmore’s claim is stronger on paper: its enhanced HEPA system traps 99.97% of debris, while Shark’s Anti-Allergen Complete Seal with a HEPA filter traps 99.9% of dust and allergens 0.3 microns or larger. The bigger allergy difference is the bag: Kenmore’s sealed bag keeps dust contained, while Shark’s bagless cup must be emptied by hand.
Suction and cleaning power
Direct suction comparisons are difficult because the brands publish different figures. Kenmore lists at least 183W of suction at the hose end for the 600 Series, while Shark lists 1,200 watts for the Navigator NV360 and 1,344 watts for the Vertex AZ2002. Watts and hose-end suction are not the same measurement, so do not compare them directly.
Maintenance and running costs
Shark is cheaper to run: no bags to buy, and the HEPA and foam filters are washable. Kenmore costs more over time for replacement bags and filters, though a bagged Kenmore is more hygienic to maintain, since you rarely touch the dirt.
Which Is Better for Whom?
Pet hair: For heavy pet hair on carpet and upholstery, Kenmore has a slight edge thanks to its motorized pet tools. For everyday pet hair across mixed floors, Shark is easier, because its self-cleaning brushroll resists hair wrap and the Lift-Away pod makes stairs and furniture simple.
Allergies: Kenmore wins. A sealed bag plus a HEPA system that traps 99.97% of debris is the strongest containment story here. Shark is still a good allergy choice, especially the Vertex, but its bagless dust cup must be emptied by hand.
Hard floors: Shark wins. The DuoClean PowerFins system on the Vertex pairs a soft roller with a PowerFins brushroll, and the Navigator’s brushroll shutoff stops the brush from scattering debris on bare floors.
Carpet: This one is close. Kenmore’s two-motor canisters dig deep into carpet pile, while Shark’s Vertex counters with DuoClean PowerFins and a 12-inch cleaning path. For deep-pile carpet, Kenmore has a small advantage; for low- and medium-pile carpet in a large home, Shark is faster.
Stairs and small spaces: Shark wins. The Lift-Away pod detaches so you can carry a light pod up the stairs instead of wrestling a full upright or dragging a canister body.
The quick picks: Choose Kenmore if you have allergies, heavy pet hair on carpet, and a mostly carpeted home. Choose Shark if you want a light vacuum for mixed floors and stairs. Pick the Elite 81714 for the best Kenmore canister, the Vertex AZ2002 for Shark’s most powerful upright, the Navigator NV360 for the best-value Shark, and the 600 Series for Kenmore’s formula at a lower price.
If you are still comparing Shark with other brands, our Shark vs Hoover breakdown covers a closer upright-to-upright fight, and our Shark vs Bissell comparison is useful if you are weighing Shark against another bagless brand. For a broader shortlist, our roundup of the best upright vacuums puts both brands in context with the rest of the market.
Pros and Cons: Kenmore
Kenmore pros
- Sealed bagged design keeps dust and allergens contained
- HEPA filtration traps 99.97% of debris on leading models
- Motorized Pet PowerMate and Pet Handi-Mate tools excel on pet hair
- Two-motor canister system with strong hose-end suction
- Long retractable cords, up to 28 feet on the 600 Series
Kenmore cons
- Heavy: 22 to 26 pounds for flagship models
- Replacement bags and filters add ongoing cost
- Canister body can be awkward on stairs and in small rooms
- Fewer lightweight upright options than Shark
- Bagged design means you must keep spare bags on hand
Pros and Cons: Shark
Shark pros
- Lightweight: about 12.5 pounds for the Navigator NV360
- Bagless dust cup with washable HEPA filters, so no bags to buy
- Lift-Away pod makes stairs and upholstery easy
- Self-cleaning brushroll resists hair wrap
- DuoClean PowerFins clean hard floors and carpet in one pass
- Long cords, up to 30 feet on the Vertex AZ2002
Shark cons
- Bagless dust cup must be emptied by hand and can release dust
- Smaller dust cup than a Kenmore bag, so more frequent emptying
- HEPA claim of 99.9% is slightly below Kenmore’s 99.97%
- Vertex is heavier than the Navigator at 16.38 pounds
- No sealed bag for allergy-sensitive disposal
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kenmore better than Shark?
Neither brand is better for everyone. Kenmore is better for allergy households and heavy pet hair on carpet. Shark is better for most other homes, thanks to its lighter weight, bagless convenience, and self-cleaning brushroll.
Are Kenmore vacuums good for pet hair?
Yes. Kenmore’s pet models come with a motorized Pet PowerMate on canisters and a Pet Handi-Mate on the Elite upright, both designed to lift embedded hair from carpet and upholstery. The bagged design also traps pet dander inside the bag.
Are Shark vacuums good for pet hair?
Yes. Shark’s Vertex AZ2002 has a self-cleaning brushroll, DuoClean PowerFins, and a self-cleaning pet power brush. Shark’s advantage is maintenance: the brushroll resists hair wrap, so you spend less time cleaning the vacuum itself. For a deeper comparison, see our guide to the best vacuums for pet hair.
Do Kenmore vacuums use bags?
Yes, the flagship Kenmore models in this comparison are bagged. That seals dust and dander away, which helps allergy households, but it does mean buying replacement bags over time.
Do Shark vacuums use bags?
No, the Shark Navigator and Vertex uprights in this comparison are bagless. They use a clear dust cup you empty over a trash bin, and washable HEPA and foam filters. There are no bags to buy, but empty the cup regularly and wash the filters on schedule.
Which vacuum is lighter, Kenmore or Shark?
Shark is lighter. The Shark Navigator NV360 weighs about 12.5 pounds and the Shark Vertex AZ2002 weighs 16.38 pounds, while the Kenmore Elite 31150 weighs 26 pounds and the Kenmore Elite 81714 canister weighs 22 pounds. For the lightest options overall, see our roundup of the best upright vacuums.
Final Verdict
Kenmore vs Shark comes down to containment versus convenience. Kenmore contains dust and allergens inside a sealed bag with a HEPA filter that traps 99.97% of debris. Shark makes vacuuming easier: lighter machines, a bagless bin, a detachable Lift-Away pod, and a brushroll that cleans itself.
For most homes in 2026, Shark is the better buy. The Navigator NV360 is light, affordable, and capable, and the Vertex AZ2002 adds power for larger homes with mixed floors.
But if allergies or heavy pet hair drive your decision, Kenmore is the better buy. The Elite 81714 canister is the pick for pet owners who want sealed HEPA filtration and a motorized pet tool, and the 600 Series offers the same formula for less. If you want light and easy, buy Shark. If you want sealed and thorough, buy Kenmore.