Hoover HFX Cordless Vacuum Review: Corner Genius

Value When Reviewed

Not out there within the US

Hoover’s HFX can attain locations different vacuums can’t. With its Nook Genie mode that’s designed to get into awkward spots, the HFX is the most effective vacuum we’ve examined for cleansing cluttered areas.

Design & Construct

• Three cleansing modes
• Compact storage mode
• Giant dustbin

Purchase the HFX and also you’ll get loads of stuff. A lot stuff, in truth, that it’s initially tough to determine how every part suits collectively.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

That’s as a result of the HFX is a modular vacuum that you should use in certainly one of three formations: as an everyday carpet or laborious flooring cleaner, with an anti-tangle brush bar and LED headlights; as a handheld, with both a combi brush or crevice software; and as a full-size vacuum optimised for corners, edges and tough bits.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

The instruction booklet that comes with it’s equally difficult. Whereas it’s amply illustrated with the kind of blandly reassuring footage you see on airplane security playing cards designed to alleviate your worry of dying by fireball, there are simply so many illustrations that it’s not notably useful till you decipher what’s occurring.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

When you do, the HFX is simple to place collectively and use – however keep in mind that there are loads of elements to retailer. Nonetheless, it comes with a stand you may wall mount and a drawstring bag for equipment. And the vacuum itself can fold in half for extra compact storage. Break it down and a carry deal with seems for straightforward portability.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Nonetheless, it’s removed from the lightest vacuum we’ve used. With the principle cleansing head on, its weight is a hefty 3.65kg/8lbs. This makes it heavier than Dyson’s flagship Gen5detect – though the vacuum head does assist to assist its weight in use. However we wouldn’t suggest it for aged or frail customers. Nonetheless, for those who’re utilizing it in nook cleansing mode, it weighs solely 2.4kg/5.3lbs, which is absolutely very mild.

It additionally has a capacious, 1.2-litre dustbin that pushes out mud as you open it. The very best bit about that is that it opens like a pump motion shotgun – one thing that I’m fortunately not too mature to take pleasure in. Nonetheless, it’s a very lengthy bin and for those who’re vacuuming up loads of pet fur, it can doubtless get trapped and also you’ll need to dig it out with a chopstick.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Will the HFX final? The vacuum is pretty robustly made however I did have points with the dustbin jamming a few instances and I didn’t all the time discover it simple to click on the elements into place.

Efficiency & Options

• Cleansing timer show
• half-hour most runtime
• 3.5 hour charging time

The HFX is snug to carry, with a moulded grip. It’s easy to make use of as nicely. Simply above the grip are three buttons you may simply attain along with your thumb: energy, turbo and mode.

Flip the vacuum on and also you’ll instantly see the variety of minutes of vacuuming time you’ve got left, proven on a transparent digital show.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

When you’ve got the principle cleansing head connected, press the mode button and you may swap between laborious flooring and carpet cleansing. You’ll discover that the laborious flooring mode, being much less energy intensive, will permit you a few additional minutes of cleansing time. Should you don’t have the principle cleansing head connected, this button received’t do something.

The turbo button switches between the traditional and boosted energy. Use the common setting and also you’ll get round half-hour of cleansing time. This doesn’t evaluate nicely to top-of-the-line vacuums, which provides you with an hour of cleansing time. Nonetheless, in turbo mode, you’ll get 14 minutes, which is in keeping with – or higher than – high-spec fashions.

In commonplace vacuuming mode, it’s a reasonably stable vacuum cleaner – though stable actually is the phrase. It’s heavy in use and after some time, you may really feel the drag in your wrist and hand, despite the snug grip. It’s additionally not sensible at cleansing proper as much as edges – however this, in fact, is the place the Nook Genie mode is available in.

The headlights are good high quality, nevertheless. They actually illuminate pet fur, a lot in order that it’s extra environment friendly to hoover at nighttime to get a great clear. The anti-twist hair wrap fins on the curler are good as nicely, though it’s not a flawless system.

Take off the principle cleansing head, although, and it’s a totally completely different prospect. You don’t want to connect the Nook Genie – it’s already in place. On the finish of the cleansing nozzle are two tiny wheels, which make it very simple to manoeuvre. (Nonetheless, they’ll jam up with pet fur, which suggests you’ll have to get in there with some nail scissors periodically.)

The Nook Genie mode is the most effective motive to purchase the HFX. You’ll be able to vacuum down the aspect of the fridge, behind the couch with out dragging furnishings round, alongside skirting boards, and beneath chairs – all with out having to stoop. The suction isexcellent as nicely. I discovered that I most well-liked to maintain it on this mode for fast clean-ups.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Nonetheless, the top of the Nook Genie will make contact along with your flooring. It incorporates a velvet strip however there are two laborious plastic protrusions as nicely, and if these get scratched or broken, so will your flooring.

Hoover doesn’t present info on suction energy however the HFX does really feel efficient – particularly in Nook Genie mode.

Value & Availability

On the time of writing, the Hoover HFX is a reasonably dear purchase. It doesn’t strategy the likes of newer Dyson fashions however it’s firmly outdoors of the finances class, with an RRP of £449. You should buy it at this value from John Lewis, Amazon and Hoover.

We’d anticipate it come down in value to £349 eventually, during which case it’s a great purchase. On the time of writing, although, the best way to avoid wasting is to go for the Pets Version, which comes with an additional mini motorised cleansing head. It’s often priced at £469, but it surely’s at the moment on supply from John Lewis, Amazon or direct from Hoover for £369.

The Hoover HFX isn’t but out there within the US. For a extra reasonably priced small cordless which you could purchase in each the UK and the US, take a look at our evaluation of the Shark Detect Professional.

If this isn’t the vacuum cleaner for you, take a look in any respect of our high suggestions in our round-up of the most effective vacuum cleaners we’ve examined.

Must you purchase the Hoover HFX?

At its full value, we expect the Hoover HXF is a bit too costly for what it provides – particularly, we don’t suppose it’ll final so long as fashions such because the Halo Capsule X, which has the same value level. But when you should purchase it for much less and you’ve got a cluttered dwelling, or plenty of nooks and awkward spots that want cleansing, its usefulness might outweigh different issues and it might nicely be the proper vacuum cleaner for you.

Specs

• Weight: 3.65kg
• Dimensions: (H)112 x (W)20 x (D)25m
• Dustbin capability: 1.19 L
• Working time: 30 minutes
• Charging time: 3.5 hours