We found it to be far more agile than the Dyson V7 Trigger, for example, which is bulkier and struggles in tight spots. But the trade-off is that the Hoover holds around 75% less dirt than the Dyson, so you need to empty it much more frequently. Unfortunately, this is an unnecessarily messy task (more on that later). To empty the bin you have to hold down the button on the top, and then snap the vacuum in half. You then need to detach the filter from inside the bin before you can empty the debris. Yes, this Hoover has a battery that’s easy to remove from the handle of the vacuum. Replacement batteries are available, which gives peace of mind if the battery fails in the future. Hoover H-Handy 700 Express Review Verdict

YOU'RE spoilt for choice when shopping for a handheld vacuum cleaner these days, with the latest model we've got our hands on being the Hoover H-Handy 700 Express.Handheld vacuum cleaners can be rather basic, forgoing accessories for simplicity. The H-Handy 700 avoids this, instead including a single crevice tool attachment, which has a two-way brush that slides up and provides you with either a brush or an upholstery tool. For most people, this is sufficient for trapping dirt particles – particularly during small cleaning jobs. But if you have severe dust allergies, a HEPA filter is more effective than an EPA filter. For example, the Shark WV200UK uses a HEPA filter and has a similar design to the H-Handy. There also aren’t multiple power settings. A lower suction option would have been useful for extending battery life, but this isn’t an option.

We don't have a fancy tool to measure the exact power the Hoover delivered in testing, but it seemed like enough for small jobs around the house. It’s easy to grab from the cradle, due to the grip-friendly rubber handle. The wand shape of the vac is intuitive and simple to move around thanks to its minimal weight. Hoover has also incorporated magnets into the motor design to reduce vibrations, although we found it hard to say how much difference this really makes. With that said, the H-Handy can still be useful for small dry spills inside your car. It’s certainly more convenient than a regular vacuum cleaner – just don’t expect to deep clean your car with it. For car cleaning, take a look at our guide to the best car vacuums instead. Stairs A downside to the Hoover’s design is the fiddly 3-in-1 attachment. You have to adapt the setup each time to change to the accessory you want, which is less convenient than having separate tools. This is a small issue though – and makes storing the attachment easier. If I have one minor complaint it’s that you don’t get a wider tool with this model, so larger areas can take a little longer to clean.Even so, the attachments available can reach right into the many corners and edges on a staircase. And the battery should give enough run time to manage a whole flight, depending on how thorough you are. Pet Hair The Hoover is stored with the handle facing up, so it’s easy to grab in a cleaning emergency, and turning it on also activates the LED headlight. It doesn’t use a trigger switch like Dyson cordless vacuums, so you don’t need to hold it down to maintain power. Manoeuvrability and Ease of Use The short run time is also apparent when cleaning a car interior. You’ll need to act fast to get a whole car cleaned before the battery runs out. And, unless your car is already very clean, it will involve several empties of the dust canister. It comes with a two-in-one attachment that has an extendable dust brush as well as a regular suction nozzle which is easy to switch around mid-clean. We thought the Hoover H-Handy 700 Express looks and feels like a premium vacuum from the moment you unbox it. It has a streamlined design, similar to the Shark WV200UK, and feels solid. Plus it has a stylish metallic front panel for added chic.

Hoover says the H-Handy will go for 12 minutes from full charge, which may not sound like a lot, but it's actually more than you'll get from comparable models from Shark.We liked that it out-performed Shark's rival cleaner, the WV200UK for battery life, although we found their cleaning capabilities to be pretty similar. The nozzle is the main cleaning head on the Hoover H-Handy. Without any motorised brushes or attachments, it relies on suction power rather than any form of agitation. Competition is growing in this area, however. If you have a Vax ONEPWR vacuum cleaner, then the Vax ONEPWR Cordless Hand Vac comes barebones (no battery), and offers up to 25 minutes of runtime; it also has a bigger bin. It’s half the price of the H-Handy 700, making it a bargain for ONEPWR owners. It seems like decent value as a stylish cleaning accessory, although there are cheaper, more rough and ready handheld vacuums to be found.