Miele Triflex HX1 Review

In this review, we’ll look at the Triflex HX1, Miele’s first and only cordless stick vacuum.

At first glance, it looks like a traditional stick vacuum, but it has two other configurations, which add to its versatility and give consumers more options.

Aside from using it as a traditional stick vacuum with the motor on top, it can be used in an upright configuration with the motor closer (my favorite) to the base and handheld.

I’ve put this vacuum through many tests and I’ll reveal the results in this review.

Introduction to the Miele Triflex HX1

Miele is a well-known brand for people familiar with vacuum cleaners, particularly bagged canister vacuums.

So when I saw this product, I was a bit surprised, but given the growing interest in cordless vacuums, it shouldn’t have been.

The Miele Triflex HX1 has a unique design, not common in full-sized stick vacuums.

Unlike other brands with the motor near the handle, it is close to the base. 

This configuration is similar to the Lupe Pure and Shark ION P50.

However, Miele offers two other options for consumers.

The next option is the stick vacuum mode, where the dustbin and motor are near the handle.

And lastly is the handheld configuration.

My favorite of the three is the upright setup since it offers the best ergonomics for cleaning floors.

With the bulk of the weight close to the base, it’s easier to move around.

The only reason you’d use the stick configuration (I think) is that you’ll need to transition to a handheld.

While the handle placement is ideal for cleaning floors, it isn’t ideal for handheld use, since you’ll have to carry most of the weight.

It’s not an issue cleaning flat surfaces, but it can be a challenge tackling vertical surfaces.

Different Triflex Options: HX1 vs. HX1 Pro vs. HX1 Cat & Dog

There are three other Triflex options (at least on Amazon).

The model I have is the base variant, the HX1. It comes with the three tools listed above.

1. Upholstery tool
2. Crevice tool
3. Brush tool

Next is the HX1 Cat & Dog, which is designed for pet owners.

It has the same toolset as the base HX1, but with the handheld electrobrush, Miele’s version of a mini turbo brush.

The HX1 Pro is the premium option with the LED-equipped nozzle, which Miele calls the “Multifloor XXL BrilliantLight.”

It also comes with an extra battery that doubles the run time from 60 minutes (claimed) to 120 minutes.

Dustbin design and capacity

Even with the upright configuration, the Triflex’s dirt volume is below average at only 0.5 liters.

It won’t hold much dirt, but I like its placement as an upright – another reason why I prefer using it in this configuration.

There are several layers of filtration, starting with this outer mesh layer.

Inside it are two filters – a primary cylindrical shaped filter.

And a smaller middle filter inside.

Miele says these are lifetime filters that are washable and provide 99.999% filtration.

However, it did not pass the fog test, and there were visible leaks in the exhaust.

Cleaning nozzle

Staying true to its roots, the Triflex utilizes a wide nozzle measuring around 11 inches—more than an inch wider than other brands.

This board width enables it to vacuum more debris than a narrower head, but at the expense of portability.

It won’t do well in tight spaces because of its protruding swivel mechanism.

Also, it prevents the Triflex from going under shallow-clearance furniture.

It only has a traditional brush roll, and while Miele says it’s “multi-floor,” I wouldn’t recommend it on hard floors.

The brush roll is on the slim side with stiff bristles, which is why it didn’t do well with longer hair strands (more on that later).

Also, it has a low-clearance inlet, which hinders its performance on hard floors.

Unlike Dyson torque drive attachments, which have two gates, Miele’s nozzle does not.

I tried it on this pile of Quaker Oats, and it didn’t pick up much.

Fortunately, it did better with other debris, but I’m pointing out that there are limitations.

Battery

The Miele Triflex has a detachable battery, making it easy to replace and extend run time.

You can get two batteries with the HX1 Pro, plus an extra charger.

Ergonomics and Usability

The Triflex HX1’s upright configuration is the most ergonomic mode. Its handle position is ideal for upright use, with the motor at the lower end.

This combination of factors lightens the load on top.

Another reason why I like its upright configuration is that you can store it vertically without a dock.

However, using it in its stick vacuum configuration will increase the handle weight, and it won’t stand on its own.

You’ll use it as a stick vacuum for only two reasons.

The first reason is that you need to clean under furniture. Relocating the dustbin towards the handle removes a significant roadblock, enabling it to go further.

And the second reason is that you’ll rely on it as a handheld extensively, since transitioning from stick to handheld is more straightforward in this form.

How long will the Miele Triflex HX1 run?

Miele uses a VART Li-ion battery rated at 2500 mAh with a claimed runtime of 60 minutes.

But please note that it is with the non-powered tool attached.

With the main nozzle, it lasted only 30 minutes on the lowest setting.

The good news is it deep cleans carpet as well in the middle setting as it does in the max setting, so the 21-minute figure is above-average.

How much power does the Miele Triflex HX1 have?

One aspect I was looking forward to testing with the Triflex is suction and airflow.

I used an anemometer, a water lift gauge, and a Y-gauge to assess how much it had, and it was decent.

First, let’s look at the airflow results.

It’s above average in the low and middle settings, but tapers off in the max.

This is confirmed in the cleaning results (up next), where the Triflex achieved nearly identical deep cleaning at the mid and max settings.

Suction tests were also above-average and even across the board.

• Water lift (direct): 22 foot pounds
• Y-gauge (unsealed): 19 foot pounds
• Y-gauge (sealed): 22 foot pounds

In my opinion, the unsealed result is the most accurate, as it has the fewest variables and represents the working suction of a vacuum.

It’s only behind the V11 Torque Drive and Outsize with the unsealed test, which I think is good company for a stick vacuum.

Related: Miele Triflex HX1 vs. Dyson V15 Detect

Cleaning Results

I tested the Miele Triflex HX1 with various debris, such as quaker oats, quinoa, pet litter, sand, coffee grounds, and hair.

First, let’s look at the overall results.

• Overall: 92.78%
• Hard floor: 77.75%
• Sand on hard floor: 100%
• Carpet: 99.77%
• Deep cleaning: 93.9%

The overall score is skewed by its poor performance in vacuuming Quaker Oats. Otherwise, the average would have been higher.

I was pleasantly surprised by how well it picked up on hard floors, which is rare for stick vacuums without a soft roller.

Hard floor results

• Quaker oats: 12%
• Coffee grounds: 99%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 100%

Despite its struggles with Quaker Oats, it did well with the other experiments, reaching above 99%.

Passes were clean, indicating a good seal and airflow to pick up debris.

Sand on hard floor result

Another surprise is how well it picked up sand, one of the most challenging things to clean on this surface.

It picked up an average of 100%, which is better than other stick vacuums with a soft roller attachment (Dyson V15 Detect, Shark Vertex Cordless, Tineco A11).

Hair wrap test on hard floors

Next, let’s look at how well the Miele Triflex resisted hair tangles. 

I tested it on hair strands between 5 and 9 inches long, and here are the results.

• 5-inch strands: 98%
• 7-inch strands: 84%
• 9-inch strands: 53%

It did well with five and seven-inch strands but struggled with nine-inch long hair.

The narrow roller is a factor in why it can’t resist long strands, plus it does not have any combs to untangle them.

I would not recommend this for cleaning long strands, but it would suffice for shorter strands.

Edge cleaning

Despite not having a soft roller tool, the Miele Triflex cleaned this area well, as you’ll see in the before-and-after photo below.

It was efficient, requiring only a few passes to achieve the result shown above.

Crevice pick-up test

Another experiment I did was a crevice pick-up test, where I scattered debris on this quarter-inch crevice.

The result above demonstrates the above-average airflow the Miele Triflex HX1 delivers.

Low pile results

• Quaker oats: 100%
• Coffee grounds: 98.6%
• Quinoa: 99.8%
• Pet litter: 100%

Cleaning carpets is where the Miele Triflex HX1 excels, thanks to its above-average airflow and brush-roll design.

You can see it at play with the high scores across the board.

The coffee grounds experiment may say otherwise, but the eye test reveals it picked up most of it and didn’t leave visible trace particles.

Mid pile carpet

• Quaker oats: 99.8%
• Coffee grounds: 100%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 100%

It cleaned mid-pile carpet better, at least in my experiments, with an average of close to 100%.

In the before-and-after shots above, you can see that the passes were clean and that there wasn’t any visible debris left.

Deep cleaning results

One surprise for me with the Miele Triflex is how well it picked up embedded sand in the middle setting (94.15%).

It actually had a higher average at the middle setting than at the max setting (92.65%), which is a head-scratcher for me, but it’s decent for this purpose.

Overall, it averaged 93.9% across the four tests I ran.

Hair wrap test on carpet

I also tested how well the Miele Triflex HX1 will resist tangles on carpet.

Surprisingly, it was better with shorter five and seven-inch strands but struggled with nine-inch hair.

• 5-inch strands: 100%
• 7-inch strands: 98%
• 9-inch strands: 37%

How noisy is the Miele Triflex HX1?

One issue with the Miele Triflex is its high noise levels, particularly when the main nozzle is attached.

It reached 80 decibels at the middle and max settings with the nozzle, one of the highest I’ve tested for stick vacuums.

But with suction-only tools, those figures go down considerably to more bearable levels below 80 decibels.

Availability of parts

Being a Miele brand, there won’t be an issue with parts availability, at least for stuff like the filter or battery.

However, don’t expect third-party manufacturers to offer Triflex components, since it isn’t as popular as Dyson.

You can purchase filters and batteries from Amazon or the Miele website.

Product Specifications

Where can I buy the Miele Triflex MX1?

You can purchase this vacuum from online stores like Amazon. Check the link below to get the latest pricing information.

• Miele Triflex HX1 on Amazon

Disclosure: I’ll earn a commission if you purchase through the link above, but at no extra cost to you, so it’s a win-win for us!

Does the Miele Triflex offer excellent value?

It depends on the variant you select. The base model, HX1, is the best value for me.

The price is at a sweet spot for the performance it delivers. You could argue that the Cat & Dog offers more, but it’s slightly overpriced, in my opinion.

To help you decide, here are some reasons you should go with this German-made stick vacuum.

4 Reasons to Purchase the Miele Triflex HX1

1. Excellent carpet cleaning performance: The Triflex HX1 is built to clean this surface well thanks to the wide nozzle and stiff bristles.
2. Deep cleans well: One surprise doing the tests is how well this product cleans embedded sand in the middle setting.
3. Self-standing feature: My favorite configuration is the upright mode, where it can stand on its own.
4. Easy to empty dustbin: I like the twist to open mechanism for emptying debris. It’s easy to use, and there’s no need to touch the dirt with your fingers.

The Verdict: Base Model is Excellent Value on Carpet

I’m pleasantly surprised with how well the Miele Triflex HX1 cleaned floors.

Aside from its struggles with Quaker Oats, it did well with other types of debris like coffee grounds, sand, and quinoa.

The lack of a soft roller attachment hurts its efficiency, but it still picks up debris.

On carpet, it shines with stiff bristles, above-average suction, and a good seal.

The base variant is, in my opinion, the best value for its floor-cleaning performance.

But I wouldn’t spend extra for the Cat & Dog model because its handheld ergonomics is less than ideal.

You could get a Dyson V11 Torque Drive for roughly the same price, which offers better overall cleaning performance and a larger dustbin.