As you might expect with such a compact vacuum cleaner, the cylinder is a bit smaller on the Hoover than the Dyson V8 Animal and the Shark IZ201UK, which means you’ll need to empty it more often. Hoover H-Free 500: out the box Over a couple of weeks, it became the vacuum cleaner of choice in our flat, working over carpet, tiles and floorboards.

H - Free HF522BH 001 - Vacuum Cleaner Help and Advice from Hoover H - Free HF522BH 001 - Vacuum Cleaner Help and Advice from Hoover

It’s got a special boost mode for carpets which starts the dust roller at the end of the head whirring round, and we found it worked well.In the case of the H-Free 500, we found Hoover offered a budget alternative to the top-end vacuum cleaners. If you’re renting a flat and you’ve got limited storage, you’ll appreciate how the Hoover folds up to a small size, although there’s also a wall mount if you’re inclined to store it that way.

Hoover H-FREE 500 Double Battery Cordless Vacuum Cleaner with

Coupled with the fact that it doesn’t require your finger to be pressed onto the trigger like a Dyson, we think this is now the best option we’ve tested if you’re looking for a vacuum that can double as a handheld cleaner for your car or upholstery.Or even What are the Top 10 affordable (best budget, best cheap, or even best expensive!!!) Hoover H-free 500 Spare Battery available? Etc. While the Shark IZ201UK has anti-hair wrap technology for this, you’ll have to break out the scissors every couple of weeks with the Hoover to cut free the hair on the roller.

Hoover Cordless Vacuum Cleaner with ANTI-TWIST™ (Single Hoover Cordless Vacuum Cleaner with ANTI-TWIST™ (Single

Its compact size makes it incredibly easy to use, whether you’re blitzing your whole home or dealing with small spills. While the G-Tech HyLite is smaller and can fit in a drawer, it isn’t significantly smaller than the Hoover H-Free 500. If you’re after a vacuum that you can fit easily out of the way, the Hoover H-Free 500 is by far the most powerful of the two. As we’ve mentioned, the Hoover won’t provide the same suction power as one of the more recent Dyson models. While the power isn’t a deal-breaker for us, if you’ve got a lot of carpets that need deep cleaning in your house, you might want to opt for a Dyson. For the money you’re spending, we think the Hoover H-Free 500 is a good investment. It’s almost half the price of a Dyson V8 Animal, but it’s certainly not half the vacuum.

Where to buy the Hoover H-Free 500

The controls on the Hoover H-Free 500 are clearly marked Credit: HOOVER Hoover H-Free 500: The verdict