It feels sturdy and premium when in regular use, with the head turning easily with the necessarily one-handed operation to get under low obstacles like sofas and cabinets and to whizz around sharp corners. The first thing I noticed about the HF9 when putting it to the test is that it was noticeably lighter than the Shark Stratos (3.4kg compared to 4.07kg). If you struggle with mobility or carrying a heavy vacuum around for a long period of time, this might be a big help for you. I didn’t have particularly high hopes for the hard floor Cheerio test. The HF9 doesn’t have a soft roller, which is the usual path to performing well in this test. However, to its credit, Hoover’s floor head designers have built two funnels into the front of the head, which allowed the suction to capture some of the Cheerios and let them pass underneath.

It has many different names by many different vacuum brands, but this technology should, in essence, prevent you from needing to cut out hair from your vacuum head with a pair of scissors (gross, I know but we've all been there). The battery is a 4,000mAh unit, which takes around 3hrs 30mins to charge. It’s easily removable, so can be swapped with a second device if you have the dual battery model, and it can be charged either in situ when installed in the vacuum or separately. Throughout I've been comparing the Hoover HF9 to the Shark Stratos, as I think these two vacuums are close competitors. While I would say that the performance of the Shark Stratos may slightly tip the scales, the affordability and lightweight design of the HF9 makes it an option that I would tell anyone on a budget to go for, especially if you can find it at a discounted price.

There are even cute little headlights that genuinely help, particularly on hardwood floors, to make sure you’ve got all the dust in dark corners of a room.

Mollyis an Ecommerce Editor at Ideal Homeand covers all things appliance related, with an emphasis on vacuums and floorcare. She was kindly sent the HF9 by Hoover in November 2022, meaning she's had plenty of time to get to grips with it as part of her testing process. You can hold it with either hand to push around, operating all the buttons easily within reach of your thumb. It’s nice and simple. Granted, it might not have the odour-repelling features and the snazzy look of the Shark, but it's a solidly built vacuum that can banish dust and dirt from your space. It's also super user friendly, and fans of the Hoover brand will find the transition to cordlessness very freeing. Should you buy the Hoover Cordless Vacuum Cleaner with ANTI-TWIST™ HF9? The Milky Plant is an all-in-one blender and strainer with one job – to make excellent plant milk– but how does it compete with cheaper alternatives?In terms of size, the device is fairly standard, standing upright at 260 x 210 x 1,110mm (WDH). It weighs 3.4kg: the handheld unit is around 2kg, with the floor head and wand making up the remainder. The other consideration is that using 'Boost' mode on this vacuum means that battery life goes down to 12 minutes. It's a useful mode to have and one that I enjoy using in especially hair-prone areas, but make sure not to have it turned to 'Boost' all of the time if you're conscious of using up the battery. Care and maintenance The world’s first Alexa-powered cuppa maker works impressively well but comes with a few design disappointments An attractive and easy to use vacuum cleaner, the Hoover HF9 unfortunately can’t deal with ingrained fluff in carpet and has a flaw where it doesn’t always turn on even when charged.

The best thing about the Hoover HF9 is it can stand up on its own, unlike many cordless vacuums that you need to lay down or lean on a piece of furniture when you take a break There are even cute little headlights that genuinely help to make sure you’ve got all the dust in dark corners of a room We speak to self-confessed clean freak Emma Bunton and find out what part of her home she loves to clean every day! That’s down to the anti-twist design on the HF9’s head, which ensures cables, string and most importantly hair don’t remain wrapped around it. It works exceptionally well. The side-loading of the suction pipe has its pros and cons. Yes, you can empty it without removing attachments, but it means fluff and dirt needs to pass through a tight u-bend as it transitions from the upward pipe to the bottom of the collection bin.Another frustrating flaw is if I stored the Hoover unplugged – but still with a good amount of charge left – it often won’t turn on. The first few times it happened I thought the battery had run down, but on plugging it into the mains charger I saw it always had over 70% left, and would only turn on after it had been plugged in a few minutes. Ease Of Use - Simple, lightweight, easy to store, plus peace of mind with FREE 5-year warranty* (Exclusive to Hoover Direct) The attachments included with the Hoover HF9 are pretty standard issue, but all perform well. If you live with four-legged companions, you'll probably want to opt for the Hoover Cordless HF9 Pet version instead, which features a motorised mini turbo pets brush, for getting up dog hairs and any stubborn messes. If necessary, the HF9 can temporarily stand in a vertical position on hard floors if you need to pause cleaning for a moment. However, it can also stand up on its own, which makes it doubly useful on a practical level. Overall, plenty of suction and portability makes it the perfect cord-free vacuum cleaner, especially if you want the benefit of anti-tangle technology that can help with any pet hair issues you might have. Hoover HF9 cordless vacuum review: alternatives to consider

Shark WandVac 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner review: top handheld device for smaller jobs and awkward spots Its upstanding form helped a lot when storing the otherwise large device easily in a corner of my small flat instead of having to prop it up in a cupboard. However, it comes with a wall mount, if you can find a discreet spot to hang it up. When a brand is so big it becomes the common noun for the products it makes, you know it’s a big deal. But Hoover isn’t necessarily the vacuum cleaner market leader anymore, thanks to Dyson.Suction Power AW measured according to the IEC 62885-4:2020 with standard setting, from 3rd party laboratory. It’s never good to leave lithium-ion batteries constantly charging as it wears down the overall capacity of the cell much faster than regular use and charging. Because of this, I am put off recommending the HF9 wholeheartedly, along with its inability to slurp up stubborn fluff in carpets. Price and availability