Hoover 300 3in1 Cordless Vacuum: agile, dual LED lights and brushless motor, H-FREE 300 HOME HF322HM

Product Information

While anything that comes with screws instantly sounds fiddly – and it would be better if you didn’t need to use a screwdriver at all – you’ll only need to screw on two parts, both of which are hooks on which you hang the stretch hose.

We’d have liked to have seen a larger bin capacity and a less bulky vacuum head, but the runtime and lightweight design do well to outweigh any negatives. The C300 cordless vacuum cleaner from Hoover houses all its workings, including motor, battery and filters, in the floor-head. That really makes it a cordless upright cleaner with no hand-held cleaning option, although you do get a tube, detail tools and a handle that doubles as an extension tube. The accessories clip on-board, and with the telescopic handle fully down, it’s compact and easy to store in low cupboards such as under the sink. If you’re on the look-out for both of these things, then this model may well be worth considering. What is a First Look? Hoover was once such a big name in the vacuum cleaner world that here in the UK the brand basically supplanted ‘vacuum’ in the lexicon. But as much as we all talk about our hoovers, these days you’re probably more likely to think of Henry or Dyson when it comes to buying your next vacuum.verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ When it comes to really busting the dust, the right vacuum cleaner can be a lifesaver. We share our first impressions of Hoover’s new H-Free C300+. There’s no doubt that the 3-in-1 tool is convenient, especially since it handily clips onto the machine, but performance-wise it isn’t great. The soft brush was fine, but the short and wide crevice tool wasn’t likely to go in anything you could describe as a crevice, plus the upholstery tool was basic. The tool was also a bit fiddly when it comes to switching nozzles, making it feel rather cheap. Tech Advisor's Deputy Editor, Dom covers everything that runs on electricity, from phones and laptops to wearables, audio, gaming, smart home, and streaming - plus he's a regular fixture on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.

Hoover is more than just Henry, that much is true. So when we were asked to try out their latest creation, the cordless H-Free C300+, we jumped at the chance. The adjustable handle is a nice touch, providing plenty of height options, and the grip is comfortable. The machine works with the handle fully collapsed into the lower section, making it suitable for the most vertically challenged adult or even a child. The handle reclines very low to the ground, allowing easy access under obstacles such as the sofa. That’s countered to an extent by the bulky floor-head – which, at about 14cm tall from the floor, is going to limit how low an obstacle the vac can get under.Out of the box, the C300+ looks a little old-fashioned with an unexciting grey and blue design, especially when compared to the slimmer H-Free 700. But, of course, looks aren’t everything. One area where the H-Free does better is in weight – at 2.2kg it’s noticeably lighter than Dyson and Philips equivalents, bested only by the 1.5kg The C300+ is designed to ‘care for modern families’ – it’s for those of us who want to accomplish as much cleaning as we can in as little time as possible, which basically means all parents ever. While we weren’t that impressed with the dusting brush, we found both the crevice and upholstery tools really powerful (less so in eco mode, of course), which is great if you’re regularly grappling with pet hair and skirting board dust.

Grey in colour and complemented with the deep-red Hoover logo on the front, the H-Free C300 looks neat and compact for an upright cleaner. With hard-floor, carpet and Eco modes, it promises comprehensive floor cleaning around the home and a super-long run-time – up to an hour on the Eco setting. Buttons are located conveniently on the front, below the telescopic handle that doubles as an extension tube for extra reach when using the detail tool. A full charge took us just over 6 hours, as the manual suggested. That’s a seriously long time and clearly not going to see multiple cleaning sessions in the same day. Then again, if the Hoover does deliver on its promised 60 minutes run-time, that shouldn’t be a problem.The Hoover certainly looks great, is simple to use and relatively affordable compared to some of the higher priced battery upright cleaners available. However, its performance is a bit of a let-down. The battery lasted only a third of the 60-minute suggested time if you use the most effective full power and carpet mode and, even then, it didn’t deliver the best cleaning results, so you’re better off with something on our Best cordless vacuum cleaner list. The brush bar saves the day with effective carpet cleaning, but low suction power overall and the poorly designed hose and tool system left hard floors, stairs and detail cleaning tasks wanting. At 3.4kg and 60 minutes respectively, it’s one of the lightest vacuums on the market with one of the longest battery lives, which will likely be very attractive to families who need a reliable model with a good battery that's light enough to lug up and down even the steepest of stairs. The H-Free C300+ may look a little industrial at first sight, but it feels sturdy, performs really well and, crucially, won’t break the bank. Boasting a runtime of around 60 minutes (yes, you read correctly) and a weight of just over 3kg, the C300+’s specs certainly sound impressive.