VacTidy claims its mission is to 'keep your home tidy with less effort made', and as far as the VacTidy Blitz V8 goes, this is largely true. What I wanted from this vacuum was something easy to store and whip out quickly, so I decided to put it to the test to see if the promise of an effortless cleaning routine would be true. The brand is known for their robot vacuum, and this is their first foray into the cordless stick world, so it's interesting to see how it will compare.
Type: Bagless stick vacuum
Dustbin capacity: 1.2L
Suction power: 20kPa
Battery life: 35 minutes
Battery charging time: 5 hours
Power: Cordless
Attachments: Long crevice tool, dust brush
Suitable for: All floor types
Weight: 5.5 lbs
Storage: Freestanding
Warranty: 1 year
This all sounded very ideal, so I really put it to the test in my own home. I live in a flat with two other girls, and the amount of hair we find on our carpet is potentially more than you would find from a pet. This meant that just with daily use, the VacTidy Blitz V8 was really being put to hard work. I also tried out its maneuverability as well as crumb and dust test to see just how good the suction really is.
The VacTidy Blitz V8 is priced at $139, making it a great entry-level option, or a handy second vacuum to use day to day. It promises powerful cleaning modes, long-lastnig battery, an effective HEPA filtration system and versatile accessories which is a lot in a small and lightweight device. This is conveniently also everything I've been looking for in a vacuum cleaner, so it's the perfect opportunity to see if it truly makes my cleaning routine simpler.
Our review takes a closer look at the features and accessories the VacTidy Blitz V8 has to offer. We also test battery life, suction power, ease of use and set-up, to see how it performs across the board. So, could this vacuum make Top Ten Review's list of the best vacuum cleaners (opens in new tab)? Let's see what I thought.
Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: Design
The Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum has a super sleek design. It comes in black and green which wouldn't be my first choice, but it's inoffensive and modern looking. The main design is focused on the top section where the bin is located, alongside the battery and 'on' button. This is the heaviest section of the vacuum, but at just 5.5 lbs this isn't saying much.
After this, the vacuum continues down into an ultra-thin stick design. You have the ability to push the stick together so that it collapses in half which is great for vacuuming closer to the ground or for storing. I only have one full-length storage cupboard in my flat, so it was essential that this vacuum fitted into the (lack of) space I had on offer. Luckily, thanks to the collapsible feature I can squeeze it in just underneath the ironing board.
It's made of plastic which doesn't owe itself to a premium design, but this is also how it weighs so little, so it's a worthy sacrifice. It also comes with two nozzles; a long crevice tool and a dust brush. This isn't an advanced selection but I've found it has been all I need to vacuum my sofa and corners of a room.
It has a 1.2L dust capacity which is plenty to clean the entirety of a medium-sized flat - 3 medium bedrooms, a living area, and a kitchen. The design of this canister does make it tricky to empty though. It has an inner circle that means dust gets trapped around the back bend of the bin and you often need a tool to poke the dirt out.
Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: Features and accessories
The Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is push to start, which makes it so convenient to pull out of the cupboard and power up instantly. The one button will start it up, then if you press it again it has an increased speed. I kept the vacuum on this higher setting when I used it, especially for carpets. However, the carpets in my flat are very worn down and damaged so they do require more effort to clean. If you're mainly using this vacuum on hard floors then the lower speed should suffice.
The vacuum also comes with two attachments:
• A long crevice tool that easily attaches onto the end of the nozzle when you remove the brush base. I mainly use this for the buttons on my sofa and along the partitions between rooms. It's great for getting into the corners well and was also useful for targeting pine needles with greater precision around Christmas time.
• A dust brush that is designed for picking up dust on hard surfaces without scratching them. I haven't found too much use for this but it would be great if you have hardwood floors or blinds.
Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: Setup
The Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner comes packaged in a decently sized box. Each part was housed in a plastic bag which kept them from getting damaged, but I was happy to see there wasn't an excess of cardboard or polystyrene aside from this. There's still room for making the packaging 100% recyclable though, so it would be great to see some improvement in future models.
Aside from this, it was incredibly easy to set up. The top canister was separate to all of the other parts, so all I had to do was clip the extendable arm into this, then attach the roller base to the end of the nozzle. The push buttons on the extendable arm make it really easy to connect and disconnect, so not only was it quick to set up but it's also good for dismantling for storage. This took all of 5 minutes, so I was able to get it up and running instantly.
Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: Performance
Through daily use and specialized tests, I really put the Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner to the test. The biggest issue I face in my home is hair getting stuck to the carpets. Myself and my two flatmates each have long hair, so we find it clumped together on the stairs and throughout the house - it even picks up onto our socks. After trying the vacuum cleaner on areas with hair on them, I quickly realized it wasn't quite cut out for the job. After a minute or two of vacuuming nothing was getting picked up, so I checked the base of the roller. It was completely wrapped in hair and wound very tightly, so I had to cut this off with a pair of scissors.
This was disappointing to discover. The Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner doesn't claim to have any anti-hair wrap technology, but I was expecting it to be able to last longer than a few minutes.
Nicki Rodriguez, owner of Essex House Dolly, says that, "this type of vacuum is perfect for someone who lives either in an apartment or small house as it's lightweight, can easily be stored in a cupboard or hanging on a spare part of a wall where it can be left on charge."
"These types of vacuum are not suitable to use for a large home due to the battery pack not lasting long enough. I recently bought a corded hoover from a family I housekeep weekly where they only had 3 of these models. Continually swapping hoover battery packs was a nightmare and where they had dogs, it didn’t have the power to really suck up the hairs."
These hoovers fully charged only have a 35-minute run time which is perfect for a small property and I actually have one similar myself. I do find that their suction on carpets isn’t as good as a corded vacuum but for speed, they do the job. They are also very handy if you have small children at meal times as the nozzle attachment makes it easy to quickly hoover dropped food crumbs.
Nicola Rodriguez, Essex House Dolly
Aside from this, I tested it out on a pile of oats and a pile of flour. This was on hard flooring so it had a better base to start with, but it managed to pick it all up with ease. It plowed right through both piles without pushing it further across the floor which is quite impressive from a small cordless vac.
The good news is that this vacuum cleaner is on the quieter side, too. I could easily hear my friends over the noise and it isn't so loud that vacuuming at night would disturb my downstairs neighbors.
Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: Care and maintenance
Cleaning and emptying the canister was easy too. It has a push button on the bin that swings open when you press it, so make sure you're standing over the garbage can. It all fell out into the can without having to put my hand in there, although dust does get stuck in hard-to-reach back section after around a week's use.
Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: Price and availability
• RRP $139.00
Price wise, the Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is pretty good value. At under $150, it's a great lightweight cordless vacuum that works well in small homes or as a quick run around. There are a lot of other cordless vacuums on the market for around the same price, but if you wanted the confidence of a big name brand, then you're looking at spending a couple of hundred dollars more.
The Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is available to buy from Amazon (opens in new tab) so you can have it on your doorstep by the following day.
Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: User reviews
Overall, the Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner has positive reviews on Amazon (opens in new tab). It has an overall rating of 4.4 stars and 73% of the reviews are five stars. If we're looking at reviews by feature, the lowest ranking is suction power at 4.6 stars. This is still a very high rating though, especially for a more affordable device.
Most users comment on how lightweight it is, and how good the suction power is for vacuuming up food debris and cat litter powders. They also note how easy the battery is to charge as you can remove it from the machine and plug it in separately, so you don't have to worry about finding a dedicated charging spot for the whole vacuum.
One five star reviewer wrote: "It is perfect for a quick pick up of debris near the patio door as well as to clean there with the floor attachment. The suction is controlled by two options high and low. Inserting and detaching the included implements is quick and easy. Emptying the dirt canister is also quick and easy. The motor recharges quickly so one does not need to wait a long time. I charge the vacuum behind a door where it doesn't show instead of putting the charging bracket up on the wall."
Vactidy Blitz V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: Verdict
If you're in the market for an affordable, lightweight cordless vacuum that is easy to store, it's hard to find fault with the Vactidy Blitz V8. The compact nature of the design makes it ideal for living in a small apartment, and you can power it on instantly for daily speed cleans.
The only downside to me was the issue it had with hair wrapping. It doesn't claim to be good for pet hair, but even those without pets are likely to find themselves having to manually cut the roller free.
How does the VacTidy Blitz V8 compare to competitors?
Our overall favorite vacuum cleaner is the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, however, the VactTidy Blitz V8 is about $700 cheaper. With this price difference, and the difference in brand notoriety, it's hard to compare.
The VacTidy Blitz V8 will be a more economical choice, so whether you're in the market for your first cordless vacuum or you simply need a quick battery-operated device for daily refreshes, it's worth saving yourself some money where possible.
