To preface, this shaver is the first electric shaver I've used in probably a good decade. I had a cheapie Norelco years and years ago when I first hit puberty, but I quickly changed to razors. My reasons for doing so were just about the reasons of everyone who prefers razors: My beard grows thick and quick, and within a week I've usually got a good "crumb catcher" going. Beyond that, razors are just the smoothest shave you'll get, even with the risk of nicks and razor-burn.
After finding this on a deal through Amazon, somewhere in the low $90's I believe, I felt like it was time to try electrics once again since shaving every other day was a losing battle for me and I had resorted to once a week grooming. I figured for the price, it better be pretty darn good - $90 (on sale) is no small drop in the bucket for me when it comes to this stuff.
Well, I set aside my favorite blade (Mach 3 Turbo for me) and prepared for the worst. Like every new shaving method, it takes about a month for the beard to adjust, and the first shave wasn't entirely pleasant (as I recall from my previous foray with electrics a decade ago).
But, now speaking about 4 weeks into it, I can honestly say I'm impressed. On my cheeks and face, it's almost impossible to tell between the razor and Panasonic's little beauty. I've tried it in the shower (yes, it is completely waterproof) and with shaving cream and all sorts of lubricants, but for my thick beard I found that it just didn't get close enough and took too long with all the water and creams. My favorite method, I've found, is dry shaving at the end of the day/beginning when your face isn't so sensitive, and just running the blades under some cold water now and then (both to clean them momentarily, lubricate your skin just a tad, and keep them cool - the blades do get hot) while simultaneously moving it in small circles over the area you want shaved (almost like brushing your teeth).
There are still a few trouble spots underneath my chin and on my neck that are difficult to get without stretching my skin quite a bit, but they were problem areas even when I was using a razor.
What's more, and this is definitely my favorite attribute; with the method above there's so little irritation (only on the outskirts underneath my chin) that I don't feel like I've been mauled by some ravenous feline after shaving! It's fantastic. Particularly above the chin, I can barely tell it's cutting the hairs, and don't feel bothered even during the process.
The base itself fits in a corner, is fairly compact (about the size of one of those scented candles in a jar), and does its job well. The cleaner does not use alcohol to clean, but a detergent solution that uses water housed in a small tank also in the base.
And to top it off, you're looking at a cheaper upkeep than blades. The detergent packs are cheap ($15 for a set of 3, each one lasts a month), and you need to replace the foil (once a year, with the blades once every two years (~$50 for both foil and blades). So that's $110/year max for shaving, compared to $180/year for cartridge blades.
If there are any Cons for me, it would be the following:
-While in operation it is a tad loud. Not annoyingly so, but it's a very high frequency pulsating noise (that you won't notice in about 30 seconds into the shave), but afterwards (especially if you shave in a smaller room) everything sounds distorted because of it for about a minute.
-The cleaning base is also a little noisy. You won't hear it down the stairs or anything, but if you're in the next room and this buzzing keeps coming up, it's the base and the shaver cleaning itself.
-The same button that turns the shaver on also turns on the "manual cleaning" mode if you press it for 5 seconds. This is NOT a shaving mode, but a cleaning mode to use when you don't have the base. I have not had any trouble with it accidentally changing modes so far, but the manual does warn that the cleaning mode is not designed for shaving.
Overall, I've had a rather pleasant and refreshing experience with the shaver. While occasionally I may return to razors if I need that ultra-smooth shave (black tie events), this thing is now my bread and butter. It does a grand job once you're used to it, and I can't imagine going a full week without shaving again. The only area this thing has left to surprise me in is how long it lasts without being recharged as I haven't had any extended trips, but I don't see it failing me there either (I use about 20-30% of the battery per shave, at about 7-minutes a shave).
I highly recommend it for anyone who's looking at an electric shaver and is pondering whether it's worth the ~$100 investment. I found it to be.Get more detail about Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet/Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System.
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