Convenience of use
While the vast majority of other manufacturers are adopting the stick format for their stick vacuum cleaners, Vorwerk remains straight in its boots and still prefers the multifunction format for its new flagship Kobold VK7. But even if it is possible to use it in handheld vacuum mode, we feel that it was not designed for that. First of all, the weight of the VK7 without its suction head reaches 2.38 kg, which does not really encourage you to direct it in all directions to dust off the shelves. In addition, no accessory (even a simple long nozzle or a textile brush) has been provided, at least in its basic version.
The Kobold VK7 in handheld vacuum mode.
The VK7 is therefore mainly intended for cleaning floors and you have to attach its suction head to it, which can easily be described as massive. Another qualifier suits it perfectly: heavy. Indeed, it weighs 1.61 kg and the weight of the entire VK7 peaks at 3.99 kg, fortunately supported mostly by the ground. It is nevertheless a vacuum cleaner of almost 4 kg to push and pull, which can be tiring if the cleaning session drags on. However, the suction head makes work easier, as it is extremely flexible. So you never skid, even when the turns are very tight.
The Kobold VK7 in ground vacuum mode.
The pivoting handle of the VK7 proposes to respond to one of the main faults of stick vacuum cleaners; clutter. Folded up, it saves space in height to facilitate storage in a closet. In this position, it also serves as a handle to precisely use the device in hand vacuum cleaner mode, but as we have seen, we have known less bulky and lighter for this use.
A wild Kobold VK7 appears!
On the handle, we find the main power button as well as the power dimmer. It is easy to switch from one to the other since the keys fall perfectly under the thumb, which is not always the case. In addition, a last button, on the inside of the handle, allows you to activate the boost mode from time to time; when the pressure is released, it deactivates. We master the whole thing in two stages, three movements.
Another element that improves the user experience, the electronic display placed quite low on the device – without it being annoying – is of good size. So there is no need to squint to read it and know what percentage of battery is left. Admittedly, Dyson is more precise and more telling by giving an estimate of the remaining autonomy to the nearest second since the V11 Absolute, but the indications of the VK7 allow you to calmly plan your cleaning session. In addition, Vorwerk has thought of reversing the numbers to prevent the user from confusing a “50” with a “02” in the heat of the moment, for example.
On this photo, of course, you should read 99% and not 66%.
Vorwerk has given in to the sirens of connectivity and we can therefore pair the VK7 via Bluetooth on a smartphone. The features then available will not revolutionize the genre, even if the adaptation of the suction power according to the type of surface to be cleaned can be of some service. You can also access an activity and maintenance report to monitor the next operations to be carried out. Finally, the following-sales service and consumable supplies part is very extensive to buy back easily.
Some screenshots of the app. © Vorwerk
As a multifunction stick vacuum, there is no need to attach a wall tie bracket, although one is provided. To recharge, simply connect a proprietary socket to the back of the VK7. Note that a battery charger is included in the box. Everyone can therefore choose the method that suits them to give a boost to their vacuum cleaner.
Aspiration
If we can find a lot of things to complain regarding the Kobold VK7, it makes everyone agree when it comes to talking regarding its suction performance.
On thick carpet, in normal mode, it recovers 100% of the waste in one minute. Without even engaging the boost mode and using “just” the maximum suction power, 100% of the waste is recovered in 30 seconds. Other than the Roborock H7, no other stick vacuum has done better.
On thin carpet, the floor is immaculate in just 30 seconds, even at the lowest power level.
The same observation can be made on hard ground: 30 seconds of cleaning are enough to obtain immaculate ground, whether the Kobold KV7 is operating in normal or maximum mode.
Interview
Since the Kobold VB100, Vorwerk has not seen fit to change its disposable dust bag system. We therefore find the same advantages and the same disadvantages as in October 2019.
Disposable bags are therefore very hygienic, both during vacuuming (the material does not escape from its enclosure) and when emptying, since you never put your hands in the dust. What does not spoil anything, access to them is very simple – the cover is easily removed – and the removal or installation of a bag is not more complicated. The other side of the coin is that you have to buy bags quite often, their volume not exceeding 0.8 liters. For your information, they are sold in packs of 6 for €15 on the official Vorwerk website. But above all, a lot of materials are used in their manufacture. Between the envelope, the various plastics and rubbers which are not clipped or screwed but heat-sealed, their recycling seems far too complicated to us to be really carried out.
The interior of the Kobold VK7 exposed.
As we said before, the dust is perfectly contained in the bag. During our filtration test, the twenty grams of cocoa that we made him swallow might not disperse in the air circuit or on the pre-filter. The latter, not washable, is therefore relatively spared and it is not necessary to change it too often. On this subject, note that it can also be found on the Vorwerk site, sold for €6 each.
The dust bag is made of multiple materials.
Regarding the maintenance of the brush, or rather the brushes, it is very simple. It can be released without any special tool. After having removed them without any difficulty, we replace the duo in the respective locations without more trouble.
Points forts
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Performances d’aspiration.
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Very silent.
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Simplified maintenance thanks to dust bags.
Weak points
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Heavy.
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Arrives very quickly out of breath.
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Bags to buy regularly, and which are little or not recyclable.
Conclusion
How does grading work?
Some aspects of the Vorwerk Kobold VK7 seem to come straight from the 70s, such as the multifunction format or the dust bags that are difficult to recycle. However, its suction performance and its noise management anchor it completely in the 2020s. We have obviously known stick vacuum cleaners with a much more interesting performance/price ratio, but this VK7 is a completely recommendable device, capable of performing its mission effectively on all surfaces.