Miele Triflex HX1 Cat and Dog for pet hair - 3 in 1 Cordless vacuum cleaner handstick, handheld and upright in one, with replaceable battery for up to 60 mins run-time - Obsidian Black (11410150)

Product Information

Miele's tech made the Trifle HX2 Pro a dream to use when transitioning from carpets to hard floors, with the level of suction remaining consistent. Manually switching between the speed settings was just as easy. We preferred the Eco and Max settings, since we have long-pile wool carpet in our home; the Min setting just didn't cut it for us. However, when switching settings, it took a second or so for the vacuum cleaner to power up or change gears – enough time to be noticeable – so this vacuum isn't as responsive as some other vacuum cleaners we've tested. It has the same toolset as the base HX1 but with the handheld electrobrush, Miele’s version of a mini turbo brush. Despite not having a soft roller tool, the Miele Triflex did well cleaning this area, as you’ll see in the before and after photo below.

In my opinion, the unsealed result is the most accurate since it has the least number of variables and represents the working suction of a vacuum. The floorhead also features a light strip along its front edge, which we found super-useful for lighting up areas under furniture, or revealing finer dirt on the hard floor in lower lit areas of the house. Note that this is only present on the Triflex HX2 Pro and Triflex HX2Cat & Dog models. Miele also includes a separate Hardfloor Care soft roller for use on hard floors and a Carpet Care roller brush for more delicate carpets and rugs. It does mean that you'll need to stop vacuuming to remove and swap out the bristle roller brush, but they're a good option for those who are particularly concerned about protecting their floors. In Australia the Miele Triflex HX2 range also includes the Triflex HX2 Performance, Triflex HX2 Racer and Triflex HX2 Cat & Dog Plus. Miele utilizes a VART Li-ion battery rated at 2500 milliamps with a claimed run time of 60 minutes. It won’t hold much dirt, but I like its placement as an upright – another reason why I prefer using it in this configuration.It also comes with an extra battery that doubles the run time from 60 minutes (claimed) to 120 minutes. Dustbin design and capacity Note that the vacuum's 0.5-litre dust container is small. Our upstairs wool carpets are relatively new, so we found that we were having to empty the container at least once between vacuuming that floor and the stairs and ground floor. The dust container also proved a little fiddly to empty; you need to remove the dust canister from the main unit and then twist open the lid to remove the filter and dirt. However, it did not pass the fog test, and there were visible leaks at the exhaust. Cleaning nozzle It comes with a swappable rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which lasts up to a quoted 60 minutes, along with a selection of cleaning attachments, which vary depending on the model you buy. As with most cordless vacuums it’s bagless but the dust collection bin is quite small, so you’ll have to empty it quite frequently. The narrow roller is a factor why it couldn’t resist long strands, plus it does not have any combs to untangle them.

The most ergonomic mode for the Triflex HX1 is its upright configuration. Its handle position is ideal to use as an upright with the motor at the lower end. Surprisingly, it was better with shorter five and seven-inch strands but struggled with nine-inch hair. This is confirmed in the cleaning results (up next), where the Triflex had nearly identical deep cleaning results in the mid and max setting. It only has a traditional brush roll, and while Miele says it’s “multi-floor,” I wouldn’t recommend it on hard floors. With a removable 2,500mAh, 25.2V lithium-ion battery – which plugs directly into the supplied mains adapter – and a filter you never need to replace, the Miele TriFlex HX1 is a practical beast. Indeed, if you shell out for the top model you also get a pair of batteries for your money, which means you can leave one charging while cleaning with the other, then swap over when the juice runs low.How does this compare with its rivals? It’s similar to the Bosch Serie 8 cordless vacuum we reviewed last year and better overall than the cheaper Vax Blade 4 but it lags behind the Dyson V8, V10 and V11. Self-standing feature: My favorite configuration is the upright mode, where it can stand on its own. Fortunately, it did better with other debris, but I’m pointing out that there are limitations. Battery The Miele Triflex is a cordless vacuum with top cleaning ability, but its premium performance comes with a high price tag. The good The Miele TriFlex HX1 doesn’t quite have the cleaning power to dislodge Dyson as king of cordless vacuum cleaners, but its adaptable layout certainly sets it apart from the crowd.