Pool Blaster Max Li: A Great Handheld Vacuum for Smaller Pools

Vacuuming a pool is an essential aspect of pool maintenance. While pool robots and other automated equipment make life easier, sometimes all you need is a quick sweep.

The Pool Blaster Max Li is a great pool vacuum for those with smaller, above-ground pools or for quick vacuuming by hand.

Pool Blaster Max Li Overview

The Pool Blaster Max Li from Water Tech is a cordless, handheld, and hose-free pool vacuum designed for simple pool cleaning and spot treatments. It works independently of your pool’s filter and pump, which makes it easier to use.

The vacuum head is 10.5″ wide which is larger than most other comparable cordless cleaners.

According to Water Tech, its lithium-ion battery lasts for about an hour and will fully recharge in about four hours.

Weighing at 5.5 pounds, it can easily be used as a handheld vacuum for easy-to-reach areas. It also attaches to a telescopic pool pole, but that must be purchased separately.

Overall, while it’s generally more expensive than its competition, it is a great option for above-ground pools and smaller in-ground pools.

If you have a large inground pool, it shouldn’t be used as the primary cleaner.

However, I found it to be a good supplementary vacuum to a robot or suction-side cleaner. In my experience, the convenience of being able to use it as a handheld and give the steps a quick vacuuming is a great little perk.

Pool Blaster Unboxing and Initial Thoughts

The Pool Blaster is composed of a few attachable parts aside from the vacuum itself.

The first thing that jumped out to me right away is that it’s pretty compact. I was honestly expecting something a little more bulky, but it is quite small. It’s also extremely light to carry.

Assembly and disassembly are pretty easy and straightforward that takes a few minutes. There are directions and a quick manual that gives concise directions if anything is confusing.

The vacuum head is pretty wide at 10.5″. The soft bristles and wheels allow for easy movement without scratching the pool surface.

Overall, the aesthetics and the pieces look and feel sturdy and well put together.

Charging The Pool Blaster

One thing I will mention is that charging the vacuum can be quite an adventure!

To make it completely waterproof, the charging port is exposed to the outside of the casing. This hasn’t caused any issues with charging.

It does take quite a bit more effort than I’d like to plug the charger into the port.

It comes with a specialized adapter (as seen above) that has plastic two clips on the side that should snap into the charging port.

I have found it fairly difficult to snap into place. You definitely will need to use two hands to position it into the port.

When charging, I highly recommend checking it every once in a while to make sure it is still clipped in. I don’t know if it’s a worn piece, but the snaps can and do release from the port.

Looking at other reviews, this seems to be common issue among users.

In terms of charging, multiple tests from a completely depleted battery does fully recharge around four hours.

Performance of the Pool Blaster Max Li

Using the Pool Blaster is pretty straightforward. Make sure to read the directions as it states to turn the vacuum on before submerging it in the water.

The lightweight and compact design makes it pretty easy to maneuver in the pool, even in my deep end which exceeds eight feet.

Vacuuming With the Pool Blaster

I will say the suction ability of this vacuum exceeded my expectations. It worked just as well as my suction-side vacuum in terms of the dirt, debris, and leaves it was able to pick up.

The filter bag is very thick as well, so very little escapes it once it gets sucked in.

The first thing you will notice is that it is pretty noisy, even when cleaning a pool’s deep end (you can hear the humming in the video above). This isn’t uncommon with these types of cleaners, and it’s nothing that you can’t get used to while cleaning.

I really, really, enjoy being able to use it as a handheld device. My steps can be pretty awkward getting a vacuum on them, but the Pool Blaster makes it much easier to get done.

Size of the Filter Bag

Where this seems to struggle is being used in larger pools. It’s not about the ability to clean the pool, but more so the size of the filter.

While the hour charge hasn’t been an issue, the filter bag is pretty small and does require multiple disposals if you want to utilize the full suction throughout the cleaning.

Water Tech isn’t necessarily wrong when it says it is suitable for any size pool, it will take much longer compared to vacuums that use the pool’s filter and pump.

Cleaning and Storage

When taking the Pool Blaster out of the pool, make sure you turn it off right away and let it fully drain out. You’d be surprised how much water is in the vacuum itself.

Dumping and rinsing the filter bag is very easy. A couple of spray downs with a hose will get rid of any excess dirt and grime left over.

Because it is small, I can easily store it in one of my pool boxes on the deck until the next use.

Reliability

When I used this as my default vacuuming device for a swim season, I had no issues to report regarding the performance and reliability of the Pool Blaster.

This has been my third swim season with the Pool Blaster, and aside from some charging issues, it’s been fairly stable.

Even though I don’t use it on a weekly basis today, it still turns on and runs without a hassle.

Drawbacks

As I mentioned before, I don’t really recommend it if you have a larger pool. The filter bag is just too small, and the hour charge might not be enough to clean a big, inground pool.

Also, while the vacuum head is larger for a handheld vacuum, it’s quite a bit smaller than an average suction-side vacuum.

While I personally use it to supplement my pool vacuum, there are cheaper options for quick spot cleans.

This brings me to my next point. At $199, it is pretty expensive for a handheld vacuum compared to other devices. Add the fact that it does not come with a telescopic pole, and that is an additional expense.

However, in my experience, it vastly outperforms some of the cheaper models. So, in this case, you truly do get what you pay for.

Verdict: A great Pool Vacuum For Smaller Pools

Ultimately, the Pool Blaster Max Li exceeded my expectations from a cleaning and suction perspective. I believe it is a worthwhile investment for those with an above-ground pool and smaller inground pools.

Vacuuming isn’t a luxurious task, but it must be done! It’s a good and reliable device to use in your weekly maintenance tasks.