Flex 24V 1.6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac Review: A Portable Shop Vac That Really Sucks

Introduction

When Flex rolled out its 24V line, one of the most intriguing releases was a compact wet/dry vac: the Flex 24V 1.6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac. It is small, cordless, and packed with features that are usually reserved for much larger, corded shop vacs. The headline attraction is a reverse flow function that keeps the filter clear for consistent, powerful suction, something rarely seen in a vacuum this size at this price point.

After putting it through unboxing, setup, and a full round of suction tests, here is what stands out, and what you should think about before buying.

Design and Build

Right out of the box, the vac feels compact but substantial. The hose is pliable and has a pleasant, weighty feel to it. The tool weighs 7.3 pounds, so it is genuinely portable, and a shoulder strap is included, which lets you throw the vac over your shoulder while you move between tools like sanders and saws.

On-board storage keeps all attachments organized and within reach: a brush tool, an adapter, a utility nozzle, and a crevice tool all clip onto the body. The power head drops down into the canister and locks into place, and the hose locks in with a satisfying click. One small tip: make sure the hose is on the suction side, not the blower side.

Key specs:

• Dry capacity: 1.6 gallons
• Wet capacity: 0.8 gallons
• Max airflow: 41 CFM
• Water lift: 42 inches
• Nozzle diameter: 1-3/8 inches
• Weight: 7.3 pounds

Filtration and Bag System

The pleated filter is one of the better design choices here. Because it does not dip down into the canister, the full canister capacity remains usable. It is also washable, which prolongs its life.

The vac also supports a dust bag, and running the bag in conjunction with the filter keeps fine particulate out of the air and protects the pleated filter. There is one caveat to check in the instructions: filters and bags are not always meant to be used together, so read the manual for your configuration. If you plan to vacuum water, the filter stays in place but the bag has to come out.

Flex rates this as a HEPA filter setup when combined with the bag, which helps capture more particulate and keep it out of the filter.

Battery Options and Speed Modes

The vac runs on Flex’s standard 24V batteries, including the newest pouch lithium cells. Two speed modes are on board: an eco mode that extends runtime when endurance matters most, and a boost mode for maximum suction.

A practical pairing is an 8Ah battery for longer run sessions, or a 2.5Ah battery if you want to keep the rig light and tight. Anecdotally, there seemed to be slightly more oomph with the larger battery, but both sizes got the job done.

Suction Performance

Testing started with small fasteners, using the bag in place. The vac handled them well, though it picked up larger fasteners a bit more easily than smaller ones. Running the same test without the bag, the fasteners were picked up noticeably quicker, which suggests the bag adds a little restriction.

With the crevice tool, speed one handled corners fine, but speed two really evacuated sawdust. Even filled to capacity, the vac kept sucking. With the utility nozzle fitted, it moved from light debris to heavier material without complaint.

The Sand Test

The toughest challenge was roughly two pounds of sand in the deep grooves of a rubber utility mat. At full speed, the vac made quick work of it, collecting slightly under two pounds with a small amount of spillage. Notably, the suction seemed strong enough that sand was being pulled through toward the filter, which is a good sign of raw suction power for a vac this size.

Who This Vac Is For

This is a great little vacuum if you do service calls, need to run in and run out, want to stay very clean, and move from area to area frequently. Its portability is its biggest benefit and, arguably, its biggest weakness: the small canister means more frequent cleanings. If you skip them, you could be blowing through filters faster than you would like.

Warranty

Flex backs the vac with a five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty covering tools, batteries, and chargers. On top of that, Flex extended its founders warranty: buy the tool today and register it within 30 days, and you get a lifetime warranty instead of the five-year coverage. That is a genuinely generous deal in this category.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The portability trade-off is the main thing to weigh. The 1.6-gallon dry capacity is fine for quick cleanups, but heavy debris jobs will mean emptying the canister often. Running with the bag improves air quality but slightly reduces pickup of the smallest debris. None of these are dealbreakers, but they define what this tool is: a portable cleanup machine, not a full shop vac replacement.

Buying Advice

If your work involves moving between job sites or rooms and you want a cordless vac with real suction, washable filtration, and an unusually strong warranty, this Flex is easy to recommend. Pair it with a larger capacity battery for runtime, keep the bag in for clean work, and empty it regularly to keep the filter breathing freely.

Conclusion

The Flex 24V 1.6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac earns its place as a portable, well-engineered cleanup tool. Reverse flow filter cleaning, eco and boost modes, washable HEPA-style filtration, and a lifetime warranty option are all features you rarely find in a vac this small. For service pros and anyone who values portability, it really does suck, in the best possible way.