Handheld vacuum cleaners are unsurprisingly handy. Demand has soared for one of these small appliances this year so when the opportunity came up to try out the Hoover H-Handy 700 Express we couldn't wait to get our hands on it (pardon the pun).
I've put it to good use in my home, challenging it with all sorts of fluff, dust and grim. During testing I've considered everything from how easy the vac is to set up, how easy it is to use and to get to the bottom of the whether or not it is worth your while getting one in your home, too.
Keep scrolling to see how we got on, then check out our best handheld vacuum cleaner buyers guide for more top-rated handy vacuums.
Hoover H-Handy 700 Express specifications
- Operating time: 12 minutes
- Charge time: 3 hours
- Dust container capacity: 0.15 litre
- Power: Lithium battery
- Weight: 0.64kg
- Dimensions: H41.8 x W6.6 x D6.9cm
- Guarantee: 1 year
- Tools included: 3in1 tool, includes crevice tool, dusting brush and furniture nozzle
The Hoover H-Handy 700 arrives in a compact, well laid out box
Setting up the Hoover H-Handy 700 Express
When the Hoover H-Handy 700 Express is delivered to you, it will be in a box (as above) all neatly laid out with a combination of small cardboard boxes around parts such as the 3in1 tool or plastic bags. Having a bit of my own war on plastic going on at home, we could probably do without the plastic, if I'm being completely honest, but if you can recycle it in anyway that would (always) help.
After all the unwrapping you'll see that there are some instructions (as below) on how to connect the charging cable to the base stand. Don't do what I did here and ignore the instructions because it is a massive faff trying to understand how, or what, you're supposed to do otherwise. It is simply enough, after reading the instructions; just slot the plug through the hole in the stand. It's then ready to receive the vac for it's first charge.
Hoover H-Handy 700 set-up instructions
Upon slotting in the battery to the top of the main body you'll find that it does have a little juice in it when you hit the power button. However, for me, I like to always be prepared so since I'd already set up the charging base I just popped the vac on so I could be sure it's fully charged for when I need it. Oh and it's also recommended by Hoover that the vac is charged for at least 24 hours before it's first use so it was good thinking on my behalf. It will take up to three hours to fully charge which is shown to be in progress when the power button flashes blue, and it'll be on blue (colour) when fully charged.
Using the Hoover H-Handy 700 Express
The H-Handy 700 Express can be used with or without it's 3in1 tool so I found it super versatile on various surfaces throughout the home. For instance, I didn't use the attachment when I was vacuuming large surface areas such as the car seats but I did use the attachment for vacuuming various areas of the stairs (the harder to reach places!)
Each of the three attachments can be separated, if you wish, by holding down a sliding button on the attachment you need. You have a crevice tool, dusting brush and furniture nozzle to choose from depending on the task in hand. I got on best with the crevice tool and dusting brush in my household which sucked up whatever lay in it's way, even the fluffy dust which surrounded it.
The dusting brush and light is super useful for low light levels around the home, in those tricky places
Talking of suction, it's really REALLY good. And it doesn't lose suction throughout it's entire 12 minute duration, nor is it affected by using any of the attachments. What you will find is, however, is that because it vacuums up everything and anything (given the chance) the 0.15 litre dust container will get full pretty quickly so I would advise emptying, and checking the filter, regularly. You'll know when it reaches max capacity because it will turn itself off so no more debris can be removed, which is useful but can be annoying when you're so close to finishing the task in hand.
You'll see that there is a useful light which is turned on so long as the vac is turned on, which is handy for areas where there are low light levels such as under the sofa or where sunlight doesn't quite beam down enough in certain areas of the home. And then when the battery does run out on you (which is will because 12 minutes isn't long), the vac will just stop with no warning.
Charging and maintaining the Hoover H-Handy 700 Express
When it's time to refuel the vac just pop it back onto it's charging stand. It will fully recharge in three (or so) hours time but of course you can use it before then, just don't expect it to run for much longer than a few minutes. The 3in1 tool will sit nicely behind the charging vac so it's all kept together and ready for when it is next required.
The Hoover H-Handy 700 sitting on its charging base with attachments behind it
To get the most out of the H-Handy 700 Express is would be a good idea to empty the container and remove any fluff from the attachments at the end of each use. There's also a filter which could do with a shake and a dust off every now and then, too.
How does it compare?
To compare with the Beldray Revo Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner review which I wrote up earlier on in the year, this vac has a slightly larger dust container and is quicker at charging. However, it is double the price which puts it up there with other brands such as Shark (which admittedly I'm yet to test) but it gives an idea of the market Hoover are going after with this model.
In the range there is also the pets model. The H-Handy 700 Pets also comes with the 3in1 tool but has a bonus innovative accessory with a motorised nozzle. This is said to make removing pet hair and allergens super quick and easy from sofas, armchairs and textile surfaces. Sounds like an option worth exploring if you have furry friends in the home.
Our verdict
All in all, this is a very good handheld vacuum cleaner which would be really good to have around the home for a quick vacuum of those hard-to-reach areas. It's competitively priced with a price tag of around £99, offers super suction and is easy to use. It's just missed out on getting one extra star because, for me, I would have found it useful if the dust container was a bit bigger and the battery life longer.
About this review and our reviewer
Jennifer Oksien is our Appliances Editor across the homes titles at Future. This means that she spends her days working with appliance (and mattress) brands to ensure that you get the best products for your home. She lives in a Victorian terrace which is undergoing an unintentional renovation so whilst stripping back walls, ceiling and floors (etc!) she visualises how the space can be best used with a suite of gadgets, gizmos and home comforts to make home life that little bit more streamlined.
As with all our reviews the Hoover H-Handy 700 Express has been tested first-hand in our home, using it just as you would so you know exactly what you are buying. The products are given to us free of charge and we test them for as long as possible before sending them back to the brand, unless we are able to keep it as we are with this vac. This means that we can continue to use the product which gives us the opportunity to return to our reviews for updating, so you can keep up-to-date with how it's fared over a period of time.
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