Cordless vacuums come in all shapes and sizes, and no one vac can handle every application. If you’re on the hunt for a more compact vacuum, take a closer look at what the Flex 24V cordless 1.6-gallon wet dry vacuum (FX5221-Z) has to offer.
Editor’s Note: Want more wet/dry vacuum coverage? Check out our Best Shop Vac article to get our top picks of the year!
Flex 24V Cordless 1.6-Gallon Compact Wet Dry Vacuum Performance
- 41 CFM
- 42 inches of water lift
- Two power modes
- Reverse flow filter cleaning
- Compatible with all Flex 24V batteries
- Washable HEPA filter
What immediately stands out to us is the water lift Flex is getting out this vacuum. The CFM is right in the range we expect compact vacuums to be. On the other hand, we normally see water lift numbers in the 25 to 30-in range, and Flex is getting 40% more than the upper end. What that means of you is that you can pick up heavier debris that similar size vacs might leave behind.
There are two power settings. Most of the time, high is the way to go. When the mess is lighter and you want more runtime out of your battery, there’s a low mode to work with.
There’s also a reverse flow function. If you feel like the suction is starting to drop, hit the reverse flow to clear debris from the HEPA filter. When it’s time to give the filter a full cleaning, it’s washable.
Flex 24V Cordless 1.6-Gallon Compact Wet Dry Vacuum Design
- 1.6-gallon dry collection
- 0.8-gallon wet collection
- 1 1/4-inch x 6-foot hose
- Onboard hose and accessory storage
- Available dust collection bags for the canister
Even though the title gives it away, it’s still worth mentioning that the dry capacity of this vacuum is 1.6 gallons. If you’re cleaning up wet messes, it drops to 0.8 gallons.
Some compact vacuums make storage a little tricky because you can’t store everything onboard. That’s not the case for Flex, though. The hose and nozzles all store on the vacuum so they’re there when you need them.
Price
- $119.00 bare tool only
- Lifetime warranty if registered by 12/31/23
You can pick the Flex 24V cordless 1/6-gallon wet dry vacuum at your favorite retailer for $119.00 as a bare tool. It comes with an 8-foot hose, 1 1/4-inch to 1 1/2-inch hose adapter, round brush, utility brush, crevice nozzle, washable HEPA filter, and carry strap.
There aren’t any kit options as of the time we’re writing. However, Flex did announce that its lifetime warranty program is extending. Just register your purchase by 12/31/23 and the Flex standard 5-year warranty extends for life.
Discover more Flex products by visiting the website!
