Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet/Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System
001 4 Ok , so this is my third Panasonic wet / dry shaver in about 5 years and , by far , this one is the best one yet . I've experimented with other manufacturers ' shavers over the years , including Brauns , Norelcos and Grundig shavers , but I've ultimately found nirvana , ok , not quite nirvana , but a most pleasant shaving experience with Panasonic shavers . I love Panasonic's shavers because I like being able to shave in the shower with an electric shaver and a little glycerin based shaving foam ( Gilette Series foam in the long silver tube works best for me and doesn't gum up the shaver like gels do ) . I swear , this unbeatable combination ( i.e . , shower steam , Panasonic wet / dry shaver and Gilette Series foam ) shaves me closer than even the best blades that Gilette offers ( at present , the Gilette Fusion ) with far less irritation and with no annoying little cuts in conspicuous locations around my face and / or neck .
Just to review , my first Panasonic wet / dry was great and served me well for about 3 years , but when the Panasonic models came out a few years ago with the Vortex cleaning systems , I just had to have one , so I moved on to the model ES8078 wet / dry shaver . The ES8078 served me well for a year-and-a-half - until I dropped that bad boy in the shower earlier this week ! ' Nuf said . It didn't break into a zillion pieces or anything , but the motor just stopped working . ( It's actually kinda funny because I was so preoccupied with ensuring the safekeeping of that little shaver ever since I brought it home , chiding my poor wife for even looking at it wrong , and then my dumb arse drops the dang thing in the shower . AAARGHHHH ! ! ! ) Anyhow , after a quick review of the top of the line shavers from various manufacturers currently available ( including the new Braun Pulsonic models ) , I opted to go for the latest offering from Panasonic . Even though the new Brauns cost $100 more than the Panasonics , their motors are still slower , and you still can't shave with ' em wet . For the uninitiated , higher motor speed = faster moving blades = less friction = less irritation . Panasonics have consistently had the highest motor speed available in any electric shaver .
I've shaved with the new ES8109S shaver for a few days now , and my first impression after the very first shave was that I got a very close shave ( consistent with the performance of my prior Panasonics ) and , try to understand this , my face did not FEEL as though I had just shaved . It may sound a little odd , but you know how your face feels sensitive to the touch after you typically shave ? Well , that sensation , at least for me , was far less apparent after shaving with the new Panasonic . Heck , maybe it's the new curved blade and foil assembly that reduces irritation or something . In this respect , the new ES8109S actually outperforms Panasonic's prior top of the line offering ( the ES8078 ) and actually causes even less shaving irritation than that model ( which itself wasn't all that irritating to begin with ) . Also , much like the prior models , the little pop up trimmer on the side of the new shaver is great not only for trimming sideburns ( which I actually never use it for ) , but also for capturing those awkward little hairs that lie flat or may be becoming ingrown . The latest model is also quieter than the last model and has a more substantial feel to it while holding it .
Oh , one more thing , the ES8109S comes with Panasonic's latest iteration of its Vortex Cleaning and charging base , which is slightly different from its prior models , but appears to use the same cleaning cartridge . The Vortex quietly cleans , lubricates and even fully recharges your shaver for you ( alternatively , you can just plug the power cable for the Vortex directly into the shaver to recharge it ) . The cleaning / lubricating solution in the Vortex consists of a slender cartridge containing a detergent based solid that becomes activated when it mixes with water in the Vortex base . The cleaner is not alcohol-based , so it does not evaporate over time like the Braun cleaning solution does - along with the money you'll spend on their big , expensive refills .
In summary , I highly recommend the Panasonic ES8109S shaver to persons like me with sensitive skin that is prone to irritation ( I know you're thinking , Why didn't he just say that from the outset ? ) Hope this review helps !
LONG TERM UPDATE ! - Well , I've had 8109S for almost one full year now and it's still going strong . I've noticed it's become slightly less efficient at capturing the few hairs on my cheeks that tend to lie flat , so it's about time for the annual changing of the foil , which I know ( based on past experience with Panasonics ) will restore the shaver to its fullest hair capturing & cutting potential . One tip I have about cleaning the razor - I shave and rinse clean my shaver every day , and I only clean it in the Vortex when it needs charging which , for me , is about once every two weeks . This cuts down on the usage of the cleaning cartridge . The need to clean your shaver will depend in large part on what you shave with ( I use a foam , which tends to rinse cleaner than creams and gels ) . Also , one more tip regarding the cleaning cartridges in the Vortex cleaning system - you DON'T HAVE TO replace the cleaning solution at the manufacturer recommended interval . You can definitely get away with using them longer . I tend to use them until the service light on the Vortex base turns on , then I change the cleaning cartridge and water in the Vortex and it's good to go . I'm only on my third cleaning cartridge in the year I've owned the razor .
EVEN LONGER TERM UPDATE ! - Well , it's a little over a year-and-a-half since I purchased this shaver , and it has died on me . It all started about two weeks ago when I noticed that it was holding less of a charge between chargings , i.e . , I could get progressively less and less shaves per charge . Then the display started giving unintelligible readings that did not correspond to the charge level . Then , today , I go to try to turn on the shaver and no response . All in all , this shaver performed exceptionally well throughout it's lifespan and , considering the price of next-best option Gillette Fusion blades , was far less expensive , and less irritating , over time than shaving with blades . I have to admit I thought it would've lasted me a little longer than it did as past Panasonics I've owned have lasted longer . Now , I could try to have this thing repaired for some astronomical price , only to have it stop working again . Or , I could take this opportunity to purchase Panasonic's latest offering , the Arc IV Nano Men's Wet / Dry Rechargeable Shaver , which I've scoped out and seen positive reviews of here on Amazon . I think I'm going to go with the new Panasonic , but this time without the Vortex cleaning base as this was the 2nd Panasonic shaver I've owned ( one of which I dropped ) that I am now stuck with a useless Vortex cleaning base . Happy shopping !
002 4 My 3 + year old Braun 7526 Syncro with Clean and Charge finally had enough . Prior to that was a blade preceeded by a Norelco .
Lets jump back a few years and share my history . . .
I have always broken out with razor burn and ingrown hairs on my neck for as long as I started growing facial hair . Cheap razors were terrable so I asked for an electric . The Norelco made it easier to shave but still had the issues . Several months later it was back to the blade . Someone suggested a foil shaver and , after much hesitation , I purchased the Braun . Wow ! What an improvement over the blade and rotory shavers . I have been happily using it daily for almost 4 years . Dare I say . . . almost enjoy shaving . Razor burn is almost non-existant unless you grind away in an area for too long a time ( come back to the area 15 minutes later helps ) , ingrown hairs are 98% cured , and it shaved closer than a rotory with only a few passes . A win / win combination . The cleaning system is great except when away from home and you have to do it manually .
That brings us to the present . . .
The Braun has hit the snooze button and no longer wants to get up in the morning with me . After many hours of research I thought I wanted another Braun . . . their top of the line Pulsonic model . Almost bought one based on a few blogs on the web . I did cringe at the asking price of $250 - $300 suggested retail . I have always enjoyed Panasonic products and noticed this razor at half the asking price of the Braun . It seemed too good to be true , but Panasonic products have never let me down yet . I gave it a try , knowing I could try it for 30 days and send it back if unhappy . I had nothing to lose .
I have had it a week now and nobody is taking this shaver away from me . I dare you to compare the 2 razors back to back and honestly say the Braun is worth double the price . They are , in my opinion , in the same class . The Panasonic is quieter both shaving and in the cleaning stand . It shaves closer and cuts more hair on the first pass , eliminating a 3rd or 4th pass . The Braun would sometimes knick my adams apple or lip and I have tried to get the Panasonic to do it but it wont ( call me stupid ) . Since I dont have to shave 3 , 4 , or 5 times on my neck , the razor burn is gone . The ingrown hairs are 99% gone ( I have had only one this past week ) . The cleaning gets the blades cleaner and they smell soapy clean and not chemically clean . The best part , a bonus if you will , is the Panasonic is water-resistant . Not only can you rinse the head off underwater at home or on the road , but you can shave in the shower or use shaving creams or lotions ( gels are not recommended ) . The top of the line Braun can be rinsed under water but not used wet or with creams or lotions . The only drawback I could find is the travel bag they supply . I was hoping they could have supplied a better case to hold the cord and shaver for extended trips . Not a big deal though , on a big trip . . . I will have a big suitcase so I'm sure there will be plenty of room in there for a cord .
In conclusion , a great shaver with all the current technology and features offered by the competition at a reasonable asking price .
EDIT - MONDAY JANUARY 21 , 2008
Since purchasing , this razor still continues to be my favorite . I have now started using it wet by warming my face with hot water , then applying a Neutragena shaving cream . The results are better . It shaves more hairs on the first pass , the cream eliminates any friction , and gives me the closest shave yet with an electric ( some areas of the face feel like I shaved with a blade ) .
EDIT - SUNDAY JANUARY 18 , 2009
Still loving it and using it everyday . However , the wife ran it through the front load washer tonight . It is now very clean . Still runs but needs a new set of blades . For added measure and the price of new blades and foil , I found a really good deal on the ES8228S shaver . The only difference between the two is the ES8228S adds a zippered vinyl travel case ( vs cloth bag with draw strings ) and the head has independent floating foil ( each of the 3 foils is on their own suspension to track the curves of the face better ) .
004 4 I chose to buy this shaver after reading a lot of online reviews and receiving a discount program with Panasonic . Initially i was excited about the shaver and its advanced technologies , but when i received the shaver , i was actually a little bit disappointed .
Personally , i desire a shaver that's comfortable , thorough , and fast ( as in completing a shave ) . This shaver only covers the comfort part for me . My facial hair grows rather quickly in various places on my face ( i'm not a caveman but i would consider myself hairy for a young Asian male ) . I used to have a Phillips / Noreco shaver and it got the shaving done quick and thorough , although it wasn't nearly as comfortable as this Panasonic shaver .
The fancy technologies on this shaver are all cool and useful but I would have to shave the same area on my face for about 4 - 5 times to get a complete shave ( keep in mind electronic shavers aren't as thorough as regular shavers ) . I wouldn't have spent $120 + on this if I had tried it out in a store first . On a side note , NEVER order from Panasonic website direct , because they are incompetent and they even charged me an item that i didn't order on my credit card . How crazy is that ?
005 4 If you're an intelligent shopper you're doing some research comparing different shavers and brands . You probably read all of the bad reviews of the new Norelco shavers , and now you're probably between two shavers : the Panasonic ES8109S , and the Braun Pulsonic 7 series .
They're both great shavers , and in the end you'll be pretty happy with both . But the Panasonic has several key advantages for you to consider . . .
1 ) Braun's superior pulsonic technology makes 10,000 strokes . Panasonic's makes 13,000 , for shaving , and a blistering 17,000 for cleaning purposes .
2 ) Braun's retail price is over twice that of Panasonic's .
3 ) Braun's shaver CANNOT be used in the shower . The 8109S can . In fact , it's fully immersible , if you feel like shaving underwater ! : p
4 ) Braun's foil is straight , with a flexible head . The Panasonic's head is also flexible , but has a convex foil , which makes shaving under the neck much easier .
5 ) Both have a nifty cleaning mechanism for their shavers . To the best of my knowledge , the only way the Braun dries the shaver is with a heating element . The Panasonic not only dries your shaver with heat , but also a fan to really air it out . My shaver is bone dry once the drying cycle is over . Also , the cleaning solution for the Panasonic is alcohol-free , which prevents breakdown of plastics and water seals .
. . . I've owned three Norelco wet / dry shavers , and this is my third Panasonic . I gave the offering from Braun a hard look , but already knowing what kind of quality to expect from Panasonic for half the price , I decided shelling out crazy money for the Pulsonic just wasn't worth it . In the end , I not only saved money , but got my hands on a real gem of a shaver : easily the best I've ever owned , and the closest shave I've ever had . I highly recommend using this shaver with a glycerin-based shaving gel , such as those by Gilette or Nivea with MicroTec . Hands down , the closest shave you'll ever get in such a short amount of time .
008 4 I've tried them all . I've tried electric shavers that were half this price , and I've tried electric shavers that were more than double this price . I've gone with the top of the line Braun's , Philips Norelco's , and Remington's . I had to return all of them . For an electric shaver , this model was the best by far . It's easy to use and easy to clean ( with the cleaning solution OR with soap and water ) . I love how it can be used dry ( my usual method ) or wet as well ( in the shower if I'm in a hurry ) . I love how the charge lasts for days if I'm traveling . I love how it's fun to use . And most importantly , I love ( and my girlfriend especially loves ) , how smooth my face feels after using it .
I had used regular razors for years before deciding to give electrics a try . The decision was mostly based on the fact that I hated how time consuming a task I found shaving to be . The only razors that I found got close enough to my skin , had expensive cartridges that needed to be replaced way too often because of how fast my thick stubble dulled them . Eventually , I just kind of stopped shaving regularly . I didn't necessarily like keeping a beard , but I disliked shaving even more , so I just stopped . After a while , when I noticed people started assuming I was about ten years older than I actually am , I decided I better start shaving again . And so this time , I decided to try the electric route .
After going through the gauntlet with pretty much every other high and low end electric shaver out there , I decided to try this Panasonic ( a decision I made from reading these reviews on Amazon actually ) . That was a great decision . Immediately , I noticed the difference between this and all the other razors I tried . It seems that 13,000 RPMs does apparently make a difference . It gave me a cleaner , faster shave than any of the others . I don't know why exactly , maybe it was simply because I feel that it actually works , but I even have fun using it .
As far as how well it works . On my face , it definitely gives the closest shaves I've ever had . It hands-down beats every electric shaver AND regular razor that I've ever used . On the neck however , it does seem to continually miss some spots , and just can't quite adapt to the topography of my Adam's apple . It's not too bad , but on days that I have important meetings / interviews , I do have to go over my neck with a regular razor just to make sure everything is perfect . These instances are few and far in between , and for everyday use though , this is the tool to shave with .
009 4 After 24 years of shaving with a blade I switched to a electric razor , this was not really my choice as I received one for Christmas .
I recently retired from military service and started to grow a goatee ( its like mandatory for retirees ) , my wife watched me struggle every morning trying to use a blade to get the edges of the goatee just right with out slipping and taking to much off .
On christmas day I opened my razor and off I went to shave , I knew that she bought it and had not shaved for 3 days , I have a heavy beard and thought that this would be a good test for it . The razor had a 10% charge on it out of the box and according to the manual that should be enough for 2 shaves . I can say that it was enough for a very long first shave . I have learned that using a electric razor it is more important that shave every day instead on leaving my beard over the days I don't need to shave . The first shave I got was very good , it did miss a few hair on the neck as they were long and of course neck hairs tend to lay flat . theses were removed on next few shaves .
Normally by the end of the week my face hurts and this is the main reason I did not shave on my time off . So far my face and neck do not hurt and no bleeding from the blade .
I am a convert to the electric , I might have to shave more often but the relieve of the pain is great .
the cleaning system is very nice I put it on clean and leave when I need the razor again it is cleaned and dry ready to go . nice !
Over all I would recommend this razor to anyone .
010 4 I bought this model after reading a number good reviews about this shaver . I finally put it to test last night and I wasn't impressed with the job .
Don't get me wrong . The shaver has all the bells and whistles - the fancy base unit , nano technology blades and the nice sturdy shaver etc . Right out of the box I was very impressed with the unit . The thing even charged very quickly . The problem started the moment I turned on the shaver . This is the loudest shaver I have ever used . Now I can live with the noise as long as the shaver gets the job done . The first few strokes and I was impressed with its performance . It did give me nice clean shave on the sides of the face . The moment I started shaving my neck the problem started .
It just couldn't shave the parts of my neck . The performance was way worse than even my trimmer . It just can't shave the neck . After about 15 minutes of struggle I gave up . My skin got irritated and I had to switch back to my regular gillete fusion . I felt really bad paying so much for it yet completing the job with the razor .
My initial experience was not good but I intend to try one more time before returning the it .
011 4 My credentials : 40 yrs . shaving ( the 1st 25 years only with a blade . ) I was so obsessed with closeness that I used to shave with a badger brush and shaving soap using a Hoffritz single blade . ( This is as close as a barber's straight blade . )
I have tried just about all the shavers since then . Remingtons , Norelcos ( through the Bond , James Bond model ) , all the Brauns through the Activator , and the last 3 or 4 Panasonic models .
Braun , with its interceptor blades , convinced me that shaving electrically was quicker , less bloody , and more comfortable than my blades , along with an acceptable shave .
Panasonic's shavers convinced me that shaving with an electric could come very close to the quality of a blade . However , there was always a problem . The first few ultrasonics I had had terrible batteries . Another one went dead after a year ( and had the reputation for doing that too ) . And the last one ( I'm too lazy to look up that number ) was a step backwards and never shaved very close .
I got the ES8109s for around $86 here at Amazon before Christmas and was delighted . It fit perfectly in my hand , had the closest shave I have experienced so far , was good around the neck , and was comfortable . I always liked the cleaning system but cleaned and charged my shaver in the cleaner only once a week ( every Sunday ) . Daily , I would brush out the whiskers .
Unfortunately , after only 3 months , I already felt that the blades needed to be replaced . After 6 months , I can barely get an acceptable shave at all , having to go over and over the same area and still not get a close shave . This is not acceptable since ( it seems to me at least ) Panasonic's replacement blade / screens are the most expensive . The Brauns always lasted me between 18 months to 2 years .
I am now debating whether to give this shaver one more try by replacing the blades or try a Braun 360 instead . ( I refuse to buy the Braun Pulsonic since they feel very cheap in the hand , in my opinion , and have integrated blades / shaver screens that cannot be cleaned out with a brush . ) This is really frustrating since Panasonic makes wonderful shavers but always appears to have an Achille's heel .
013 4 From experience with other electric shavers , this one blows away the competition.Listed below are the advantages
1 - Overall the contour shape of the shaver fits in the contour of your hand.This gives an excellent grip . Bonus feature , the unit is very very light .
2 - The flexibility to use dry / wet is a plus . Unlike Braun , this shaver gives the flexibility to shave in the shower , with a gel or dry shave whereby giving the end user total flexibility and convenience . However when using a gel , it shaves super close , and can rub on the skin , which can lead to skin burns . Dry / wet is good enough .
3 - The nono technology are phenomenal . I feel its better than shaving with a Mach3 . The skin feels soft after a shave . However , one has to run the shaver over the neck more than once to reach the contour areas . It gets them . Braun didn't even come close , no matter how many passes you made .
4 - The indicator shows a tap sign when the trimmer needs to be cleaned . Just run it under the tap and whola in 20 secs , the shaver is clean .
5 - One negative feature is the inability to shave when the unit is being charged . I guess this is a safety feature .
So overall . . . A + + for closeness of shave , as good as a blade .
Practical , flexible , looks nice and blows away the competition . Now tell me how many shavers can you buy that does all this for under $100 ( 2007 Dec price on Amazon )
014 4 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 .
016 4 I have owned electric shavers for the past 20 years . I prefer the wet / dry ones and have owned Panasonics and Norelcos . I would occasionally switch back to a blade because I couldn't find an electric that even came close to a blade but I would always switch back to an electric for the convenience . My last Norelco Advantage died last week after 7 years of use . It never quite gave a great shave but I liked the fact that it could use lotion and be used in the shower . After looking at the reviews on Amazon , I ordered the Panasonic ES8109S .
After using it for one day , I can tell you that it shaves as close as a blade . I couldn't believe it and the fact that I can use shaving cream is great . It feels very solidly built and I like the lcd screen that tells you the charge level .
Not a complaint but just a word of caution . This thing is alot louder than my norelco Advantage . I get up earlier than my wife and if I didn't use a separate bathroom , I can guarantee that she would wake up after I start it up . If you are use to a foil razor , it may not be much louder but compared to a round bladed razor , it is a wake up call .
The cleaning / charging station feels very solid as well and the cleaning / dry cycle is not really that loud . The fan in the dry cycle is actually very quiet . The cleaning uses a detergent cartridge with water from the tap instead of an alcohol solution . One cartridge will last for 30 cleanings . Amazon sells them in a 3 pack for about $11 .
Overall , I would highly recommend this razor . Panasonic got it right with this one .
018 4 I'm an older gentleman with a grey semi-heavy beard who has to shave everyday . I prefer a clean shaved face over any type beard , even a two day weekend stub . I'm on blood thinners so for years I had to give up shaving with a blade and use an electric razor for obvious reasons .
My last shaver was the Braun 360 , pretty much happy with it and I was going to purchase another one until I read the reviews on the Panasonic ES81095 . Boy am I glad that I purchased the Panasonic over the Braun , there is no comparison to the shave quality not to mention the noise level being reduce and the overall cost .
I like how the shaver fits your hand , your face contours and overall closness of shaving . In fact I look forward to using my new Panasonic every morning .
020 4 I have been using a Norelco for as long as I can remember and was satisfied with it thinking that this was as good as it gets with an electric . It was never as good as a blade but I figured that was good enough for me . Well when my last Norelco died after only a year I decided to try another . I purchased an Braun series 400 from walmart and the thing was not right , so I took it back and got another one . When this one was the same as the first I started looking and found the Panosonic wet / dry . All of the reviews were very good so I decided to order one from Amazon . When it arrived I took it in a started to charge it , and one of the first things I noticed was that the cleaning solution was not combustible like the Braun and that made me feel a bit better . Another thing I liked is that the Panosonic charged quickly and I could leave plugged in unlike the Braun which should only be plugged in when charging .
Now it was time to test the Panosonic in the critical shave test . I am glad to report that it passed the test with flying colors . I was surprised to find how smooth a shave it gave . The first test was dry , and then the next cut I used it wet with shaving cream . Either way ya go , this Panosonic does exactly what it says it will do . I shave twice a day and it is great being able to use it in the shower .
I have been using it for about a month now and I like it as much as I did the first day I got it . It looks like shaving with a Norelco again is not in my future as it never cut as good as this Panosonic does either wet or dry .
The only negative is that when the self cleaning function is on it makes enough noise to keep me awake , but being the genius I am it only took me two times to just close the bathroom door so I could not hear it in the bathroom .
At a better price than the Braun and about the same as the Norelco the Panosonic gives a better shave hands down .
After ordering it a Amazon.com I was happy with how quickly it was shipped and at my front door .
022 4 I am a recent convert from Gillette Mach 3 , which i have been using for over a decade . I never believed that any electric shaver would come close to the comfort and closeness of using a blade , since i have a very thick and extensive beard growth . For the same reason dry shaving never worked for me . My problem with blades was that i always ended up getting a 5 ' O Clock shadow . Hesitantly i decided to try this Panasonic shaver after reading the reviews here - WOW ! ! what a difference ! I still use lather / foam to shave with this shaver and the shave is so close that the 5 O clock shadow always shows up late : ) by as much as a whole day !
This shaver has given me the closest shave ever and my face feels so smooth even when feeling against the grain . Very highly recommended to all who are hesitant to move from blades to electric . I would highly recommend use of lather for the closest possible shave .
EDIT : After 3 months of daily use , i feel that i dont get a shave as smooth as i initially got when the blades on this were new - i have an extensive growth , and always shave wet with lather . Even though , the shave is still better than what i used to get shaving with Mach 3 - just not as good as the first month of shaving - i am thinking i will try putting a new blade - that may help - but then this will be a more expensive a proposition to use as a blade system .
024 4 First a liitle background , I haven't used an electric shaver in 10 years and always shaved with a razor . I don't have to be as close shaved as I used to and have been lazy about shaving I thought an electric would get me to trim back the stubble a little more . Having said that . . .
This thing shaves incredibly close , very sleek and comfortable to use . I generally like it .
The only drawbacks I have encountered is being that my wife and I are on opposite schedules it seems a little on the loud side and forget about using the cleaning mode if you want to keep it quiet . It seems to take a long time and is very noisy as it goes through its cycles , but i don't clean it all the time and just wait until everyone is up or out of the house when I do use that mode .
Last but not least , neck hairs seem to be a problem for it requiring mulitple passes .
if it was a little quieter and didn't need so many passes over the same problem areas I would give it 5 stars because it really does shave close .
029 4 I have owned Braun shavers for years and have been very happy with them . When it was time to replace my old shaver I wanted to try something that did not require ongoing purchases of cleaning cartridges which were adding up with the Braun after several years . So I tried a rotary and hated it , within 3 months I was looking for something better .
I had always thought of trying the Panasonic as they're products are usually pretty good from my experience . This shaver is no exception , it is the best shaver I have owned . Being able to use it wet is a great feature - the shave is very close and does not irritate your skin . The price for the Panasonic has always been fairly high but this is a great deal and well worth it .
the cartridges are not cheap but they seem to last a long time because they are not alcohol based . The cartridges contain a soap that mixes with water you put into another canister . I run the clean cycle after every use and the first cartridge is still in use after a month or so . I do pre-rinse after every use before putting it in the cleaner .
Battery life is pretty good . I have not travelled with it yet but expect you could get at least 5 days of use without a recharge probably 7 or 8 days .
032 4 I purchased the ES8109S Vortex after reviewing several brands and reading hunderds of reviews . First use , perfect shave . Yes it misses a few hairs under the chin , but I have never owned an electric that didn't . It is the nature of how they work . A few passes , perfect .
I am shaving my head daily . It works great in the shower with a little soap . Smooth as a blade , takes about 4 minutes for whole head . I would highly recommend this shaver for those who want an electric option for head shaving . Looks like I'm getting 5 shaves ( face and head ) on a charge .
I have read a lot about the noise from this and other panasonics . I did not mind the noise . It was not as loud as I expected after reading the reviews .
My preference , clean the shaver under water most days . run it through the cleaner once a week .
034 4 The ES8109S has really exceeded my expectations in every way . It is a beautiful piece of hardware , well balanced with perfect fit and finish . I have a very thick beard , and it shaves so close my face is like baby skin , and with no irritation .
After using this for several weeks I've discovered a shaving method that really takes advantage of this wonderful machine .
1 ) Wash face , leave wet . Apply shaving cream ( I use Edge Gel ) .
2 ) Turn on hot tap water . Turn on shaver , rinse in hot water while it's on , then start shaving
3 ) Periodically dip the ( running ) shaver under the hot water . The hot , wet blades melt the gel on your skin and help you to get a really close and comfortable shave .
4 ) Repeat step 3 until there's no more gel on your face , then give it one last good rinse before setting it in for a daily cleaning / charge . Your cleaning cartridges will last longer because the shaver is already pretty clean when you start the cycle .
You will be rewarded with a pleasurable , close and comfortable shave that compares to going to the barber shop for a hot towel / straight razor professional shave . You will never get that with the architec or pulsonic shavers .
035 4 I got this electric shaver to shave the back of my neck . I had more than a bit of skepticism about how it would perform on my face . I had a Norelco electric shaver back in the 90 ' s and wasn't really that impressed . This electric shaver is AMAZING .
It's been over a month now and I literally have not picked up a regular razor since getting this thing . The shave I get really is as close as my regular razor . The best part is that I can get to all the tough spots without accidentally drawing blood .
I would highly recommend this shaver
037 4 I was skeptical about another electric razor . My last one did not shave closely and would not cut some of the fine hair on my neck under my chin . Because I am taking Chemo treatments for cancer , my doctor told me to use an electric razor to avoid cuts . My immune system is low and I risk infections .
The first time I used the razor I was really impressed . I used a shaving cream on my face and started shaving with the Panasonic ES81095 . When I finished , my skin was smooth and I could not feel any stubble at all . It felt as smooth as a babies face ! I have used it for about three weeks and noticed that if I skipped a day , my face feels like I had already shaved that morning . My wife couldn't tell I had not shaved the second day . I seems the razor cuts below the skin surface by pushing up the hair follicles as it shaves .
049 4 I used to take the time to shave with a blade - various types - from Bic disposables to the more expensive and advanced multiple blade models . The shaves were always close , but I have always found my neck and mustache area to be tough to shave closely without abit of razor burn or a nick . My beard is medium heavy , although I am no Geico Caveman or Robin Williams .
I have also had almost all brands of electrics , from the best models of Norelco , Braun , Remington , etc . Rotary head shavers always cut my neck up , whether they have sensitivity adjustments on them or not . Always . Anyhow , many hundreds of dollars later , I decided to try one of the Panasonic linear wet / dry shavers I had seen advertised for so long . I had 30 days to try it , so I thought I had nothing to lose except a little shipping charge back if it was a dud .
Many shaves later - first dry , then with a little shaving gel , I am very happy with this shaver . It provides , after a few gentle passes , a shave I think is as close as any blade ever gave me , without burning me . It's a cinch to clean , and since I don't travel much , working only uncorded does not bother me at all . Battery life is fine . Unlike some reviewers , I am not bothered by the hum or high pitched noise it makes . If you want very fast speed and use an electric shaver , expect abit of noise . Compared to my father's old shaver I recall , this is very , very quiet . If the noise bothers you , either use a blade or perhaps listen to music while you're shaving .
I am glad I did not spend extra money for the model with the self cleaning business . Why take up extra counter space with something to put this in , at extra cost , when this is so simple to clean my six year old grandson could do it ? This works great , takes up little space , has a nice easy to read display , charges fast , and unless I run into serious problems ( although with a 2 year parts and labor warranty I am not worried ) in the next year or more , I am sure it can be handled and I might by that time upgrade it . I like the feel in my hand also .
Bottom line : If you like electric shavers , don't mind a fast motor slight humming noise , like a close shave with options of wet or dry shaving , and don't want to worry anymore about razor burn or bumps or not getting a close shave , then this is the shaver for you ! I would skip the higher end models with self cleaning , since this is so easy to clean , but that's up to you . I look forward to the next improvement on this shaver , but until then I am happy , I got it for less than $100 . , and if I change in even two years , I got more than my money's worth !
051 4 Well let me start by saying I have owned many electical shavers before that I thought were wonderful , but this one unlike the others , really is .
For years I have had issues with severe razor bumps . No matter what I have tried I just could not get them to go away , the in-grown hairs were horrible . I have tried salves , electric , manual , and just about everything else , this shaver however , has reduced the red marks and bumps on my neck almost completely .
When it comes to negative thoughts ? I really can't think of any at all .
053 4 Best electirc razor I have ever owned . Great batterly life with smooth , close shaves without irritation . Easy to maintain and clean .
Outstanding product .
055 4 For most of my shaving life I have used blades but have have also used a couple of Norelco electric shavers in the past .
The idea of a wet dry electric shaver appealed to me and the reviews of the Panasonic were on balance pretty good so I decided to give it a try .
I'm happy with it . I have to go over my face a few times but it gives a close comfortable shave . I use it wet , usually with King of Shaves shaving oil on my face . Used wet there is no skin irritation .
Although the shaver did not indicate a need for it , I used the Hydraclean system . It is a little noisy but appears to do a satisfactory job .
It's possible over the long run it would pay for itself since razor blades are so expensive ; but by the look and feel of it if you drop it on anything but a well padded surface it would be destroyed .
057 4 I was using Panasonic linear shaver for years , but finally the battery would not hold the charge and I decided to buy a new model .
My new ES8109S is absolutely great !
It shaves very close and it is not as loud as my old one .
The Hydra Clean feature is fantastic !
It's like brand new every time I clean the shaver .
Panasonic did not disappointed me .
Great product . Would highly recommend to anyone .
058 4 I'd been using a Braun Activator for almost 5 years until just recently when it started to poop-out and self destruct on me . I tried switching to a blade just to save a few bucks , but I could find no combination of products or techniques that did not result in severe irritation on my neck .
Recently , I was at a major club / warehouse store and saw this shaver on sale for $99 . I had never used a Panasonic shaver before , but the price was right and I liked that it had the self-cleaning system like my old Braun . Also , the box claims that it has the sharpest blades and one of the fastest motors among its competitors . I don't know how true those claims are , but here is my experience so far :
Pros :
I am very impressed with this shaver after about one week . As a direct comparison to my old Braun , the results of the shave are as good as ever . Nice , close shave with practically no irritation . However , it seems to one-up the Braun in one very interesting way - the motor never bogs down in the heavy sections of my beard . My old Braun had to be slowly and gingerly moved around my chin hair or else it would struggle , and this happened even with a brand new cutting block and foil . The Panasonic seems to have no issue at all with the chin beard . It just cruises right through the thickest parts with no signs of struggle . And that means less effort on my part , which I appreciate .
Cons :
The cleaning and drying selections on the stand aren't incredibly intuitive , however . My old Braun just had to be plopped into its stand and it figured out what it needed to do on its own . The Panasonic has options for a few different modes , but I'm not sure which is the best method yet . The instruction manual is pretty useless in this regard as well .
The cleaning solution may only last a couple of weeks depending on how often you use it . The more you use it , the longer it should last ( what ? ) even if that's only one month tops . The Braun's solution could last for 3 months usually .
Panasonic also claims that the foil and cutting block should be replaced every 12 months . That combo costs $50 ( from the manufacturer , could be cheaper through another source ) whereas the Braun block and foil were good for 18 months and cost around $40 - 45 dollars to replace . Not a huge difference , but perhaps something to consider .
Also , it sounds like some others here have had issue with the durability of these shavers . I thought my Braun's run of almost 5 years was pretty decent . Hopefully the Panasonic can make a similar run .
Conclusion :
Given the results of the shave so far , I am thoroughly impressed with this product . Considering that I paid $99 ( plus tax ) , and it shaves as close and comfortably as my old $250 Braun , I don't think I could do any better . I would highly recommend this shaver .
062 4 I shave my head as well as my face , and this linear Panasonic shavers
are a favorite among the cue-ball set . It took me just two years to
wear out a prior Vortex Linear shaver . One of the blade-holders
broke loose . I briefly tried a top-of-the-line Braun , and returned it .
The Nano-line is definitely an evolutionary improvement compared to
the Panasonic Linear units of the past couple of years .
What you lose ( for shaving your head ) is a bit of width and flatness
that seemed to help make quick work of head-shaving .
On the other hand , the shave is even better - - - the sound alone tells
you this is a very fine cut . It's a zing as opposed to the old
chopping sound . And the clippings in the razor or more like dust
than bits of whiskers . These new blades are * sharp * . One touch with
a fingertip proves it .
The razor is quieter than the older linear models , which will be a
relief to some .
The cleaning unit is improved as well . The power tower is gone , and
the process is quieter .
It remains to be seen how blades and foils hold up to the extra
acreage .
064 4 This is my third electric shaver in eight years . My first was a Braun Syncro 7526 ( with a cleaning stand ) , which I bought back in January of 2001 . The second is a Norelco 7885XL , bought in January of 2004 . I wrote a review of both those electric shavers here at Amazon . Both of them are still working . The Braun has had its set of foil and cutter replaced a few times over the years . Basically , I replace my shavers after four years of daily use to upgrade to newer technology . My newest electric shaver , the Panasonic ES8109S , is the subject of this review .
This Panasonic is a versatile shaver . Unlike my previous electric razors , this one can be used wet . Basically , you can use it with your shaving cream , just like a regular blade razor . And like a typical electric razor , you can use it dry . You can clean it with soap and water , or you can use the cleaning stand . The 8109S gives you choices .
Ok , you're thinking , This Citan has been using an electric razor for eight years . I'll buy whatever he recommends . He's the new electric razor guru , the next best thing to God . A Stud among us ! . Now , I appreciate your vote of confidence , but I am no electric razor guru . And definitely not a God . Stud maybe . . .
So , what has been the closest shave of the past eight years ? There was a period of about 4 - 5 months during those eight years when I took a break from the electric razor and tried a Gillette Mach 3 . I started with the typical shaving gel and found that the Mach 3 shave was only marginally smoother than the Braun Syncro's . Eventually , I decided to try using a shaving brush and a shaving soap with the Mach 3 . And that my friends , gave me the best shave of my life ! However , it was also messy and probably wasteful of hot water . Not to mention the fact that the replacement blades for the Mach 3 were somewhat expensive . You see , to get the best ( and most comfortable ! ) shave out of a blade razor , you have to replace the blade often . Once a week , in my case . Once you feel the razor tugging , it's time for a new blade . So , I went back to the electric razor and have not looked back since . And no , I do not have the courage to try a straight razor !
This Panasonic shaves better than the old Braun and the old Norelco . It is the most comfortable of the three . Perhaps because the ultra-fast blades lessen the chances of the razor tugging on your beard . The beard gets sheared off before the razor can move . Hence , you will not even feel the slightest pull . I wanted to try how the Panasonic will perform when used with a shaving soap . Using a shaving brush , I whipped up some foam on a mug , wet my face with hot water , and lathered it on . Under those conditions , the Panasonic gave me the best shave that I can remember . In fact , I now shave at night , before bed . The shave is so good that my face is smooth all throughout the next work day .
Now , does it make sense to use a shaving brush and a shaving soap with an electric razor ? Probably not , as that defeats the need for convenience . Citan would be late for work if he did this in the mornings ! . I will most likely go back to dry shaving very soon . But I just wanted to see the potential of the Panasonic .
How does it shave dry ? Very good . The best of any electric shaver that I have tried . But you will have to try it for yourself . The ergonomics are fine for me . If you have a prominent Adam's apple , you may be better off with a blade razor . The larger heads of the electric razors might make it hard to maneuver around your Adam's apple .
The cleaning stand is terrific ! The razor comes out clean and recharged . It also leaves an oily film on the foil for lubrication . While the razor can be cleaned with tap water and soap , I really do recommend the use of the cleaning stand . The cutters on this Panasonic oscillates very fast , against the foil . I am not an engineer , but I suspect the Panasonic has a greater need for lubrication than most other foil razors due to its faster speed .
My face did not require any adjustment time to get used to this shaver . I went from a Norelco 7885XL ( rotary type ) to this Panasonic with no issues whatsoever . Maybe your experience will be different . I have visited many shaving forums and message boards over the years . And there are some people who will always have trouble shaving , no matter the system they choose . I hope you're not one of those .
I recommend this shaving system to anyone who wants to try a new electric razor . The Panasonic wet-dry shavers are very versatile .
065 4 When I buy something I want the best I can afford . You'd think that was normal , but a lot of people seem unable to * shop * and just buy whatever's convenient . The Net makes pretty much everything easy to buy so why not do your research and spend money wisely ? That's why I love Amazon reviews .
Rather than hit every good and bad point about this product I'm going to give some info on me and why I bought it so people in similar circumstances can get an idea of whether it'd be good for them . I can't compare it to others in this price range because I haven't tried them .
In the past I've used Braun and Remington electric razors ( cheap ones in the $25 - $35 range ) but have mainly used blades , in recent years the rather effective Mach3 . But children shouldn't be allowed in the men's grooming section at stores since I want to curse like a sailor every time I buy refill blades !
Plus to put it as simply as possible , I have bad skin . I had bad acne as a teenager and its been back again in recent years though at least slightly better . So between treatments and bad genes my face is usually broken out to some extent and alternately greasy or dry . And the skin is always sensitive . Regardless of razor , shaving cream / gel , technique , or schedule the irritation of shaving just made things worse . And I always got cuts and red marks on my neck .
I wanted to try an electric razor again and in making an effort to solve my problems I read almost all the reviews on Amazon . They all started to run together and I was prepared to spend $200 + if it was going to get the job done . But after reading I didn't think $200 was going to get me any more than $100 . This is a wet / dry razor which I hadn't really thought about . It looked to be the only well rated one around $100 which was probably because its not Panasonic's most recent model .
It really does work pretty good . I'd say the shave is very nearly if not as close as I've been able to get with a blade . I did not see a big improvement from the first day to the 30 days later they tell you to get used to the razor . But its working well so that's fine . I don't use it in the shower since I'd be sure to lose a sideburn without a mirror . I do rinse it frequently while shaving and will use it slightly wet to get a stubborn spot . Its comfortable to hold and seems well-built . The size of the head makes the trimmer harder to see then my old electrics but I don't use it that often .
I wanted a charging / cleaning station but haven't really been able to tell if the cleaning makes much of a difference . I thought people that complained about the noise were overreacting , but the cleaning cycle is noisy . I set it to run just before I leave for work . Its also got a noticeable hum when charging so I occasionally unplug it but it charges fast enough that its usually always at 100% anyway . My face is definitely less irritated than with a blade .
I'd definitely recommend this razor and didn't give it 5 stars simply because I couldn't compare it with others to be sure it absolutely deserved a top rating .
068 4 I bought the Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System , at age 50 ( still young in my book ) . It is my first electric razor . I did a good bit of research and was looking at another razor which has commercials being aired all day long . This commercial claims that it really gets the neck very well and the new design allows for an overall new electric razor experience .
Well , I have been shaving for some time now and I like a very close shave . I use a wonderful Body Shop shaving cream and a great set of blades and razor . I get incredibly close , it is amazing , though it takes a long time ; and , occasionally it will leave my neck a bit rough and red . Still , it works wonders . However , with my job and the amount of travel I do , overnight flights , right into meetings and so on , I wanted a way to clean up a bit , and fairly fast . The electric razor seemed like a good place to start .
So , I researched the razor described above , from the commercial , and while its overall rating was quite good , the negatives were real and very concise , especially about its lack of quality in the neck area , the very thing it was selling so hard .
I continued to read reviews , mostly on Amazon , but also other places and I kept coming back to the Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver . The reviews were positive , it scored slightly higher than the one being advertised , it was said to handle the neck very well , that it was quiet , held a charge , plus it also had the self cleaning device , if one wanted to use it . And , of course , it could work in the shower , with my favorite shaving cream , or without .
It also was much less expensive due to a great Amazon sale . I went for it . I fell in love the first time I used it . That time I used my shaving cream . The next time I did not and for just over a week now I have used it in the dry mode . I have not gotten irritation , though I moisturize right after shaving .
It handled the neck better than I expected , the cheeks and side burns come out much smoother than I though an electric razor could get . This razor has a number of options , a number of ways to clean it , including the self-cleaning / charging system ( doing both at once ) . It has a nice pivot and the very finely crafted foil glides across the face , at least my face .
I did NOT buy it because of the money , I was prepared to buy the one advertised and $70 more . But , with the special , well , that was the tipping point , though how it worked and the reviews were the deciding factor . Also , if I am not pleased with something , if it doesn't live up to its advertising , I will return it ( always politely , but return none-the-less ) .
If you are looking for your first electric razor or a replacement , I strongly suggest you give this a try . Amazon is a great place for just this purpose . Their policies allow a great deal of freedom when shopping and it works to the buyers favor . I will NOT be returning this razor . I know it hasn't been long , but I can tell already , this is a winner . Take a shot - try it . I believe you will be pleased . No matter what you buy , good luck in your shopping .
070 4 This is my 2nd Panasonic shaver and it's just as good or better than the first . My first shaver lasted about four years and had one blade / screen replacement . It got to the point that the batteries wouldn't hold a charge and the shaver wasn't running at full speed . I was sad to see my older razer go since it had the great induction charging that was the halmark of older Panasonic razors . I started my search for a new shaver and came across this shaver . I was skeptical at first about the cleaning system since I hate spending money on crap that I don't need . After reading reviews on the shaver , plus the discount Amazon had , I took the plunge .
It's like I have my old shaver back . It goes through my face hair w / out shuddering and leaves my face smooth . I also like that the cleaning carts are only about $12 for three of them . From other reviews I have read you don't have to change the water once a month . You can wait till the light comes on and then change it .
Overall , it's a great buy and I'm looking forward to more years with another wonderful razor .
071 4 Panasonic has a winner with this shaver . Have owned a series of Panasonic electric shavers over the years and this is the best one ever . The shave is smooth and quick . The recharge is very quick . If you run out of charge , 10 minutes in the charger will do enough to give a full shave . The new motor is far less noisy than the older models - - you do not need ear protection anymore !
The charge indicator is now in percent and is very accurate - - no more LED lights that tell you nothing . The cleaner function looks interesting but I have not used it yet . I usually just rinse the shaver using the hot water from the tap and sometimes remove the shaver head cover to rinse inside . I always use shaving lather and it seems to help since it lubricates the skin of the face and makes the shaver slide easier .
If you like an electric shaver , this is a good ( though a bit expensive ) choice .
074 4 EDIT :
Before , I gave this product five stars , but since then it has proven to be less-than-durable and become unreliable and started to give my skin bumps and irritation . The thing that locks the cover over the blades became loose and sometimes the cover would pop off in the middle of shaving , and other times it literally cut me !
I have since switched back to a regular razor .
076 4 Now , I suppose if you buy this razor thinking it's going to cure diseases , fix your car , or get you that long sought-after menage a trois , then your expectations are too high and you're going to be disappointed . Reading some of these reviews , I was prepared to find your average electric razor .
This is the third electric razor I've owned and second Panasonic . I look at these Brauns and Remingtons and they just don't seem to be worth it . Especially Brauns . $200 or more for a razor ? ! Seriously ?
I use electric razors because my beard requires hot steam treatment prior to shaving with a regular razor . It seems like no matter what I do , whether it's using special shaving cream , hot wash cloths on my face , the finest disposable razors , etc , that I get nicks , ingrown hairs , and general irritation if I use a regular disposable razor . So , I turned to electric razors .
No , you don't get as close a shave as you would with a disposable . But , if you didn't know that , then you've never used an electric razor before . However , all of that being said , this is the best electric razor I've ever used . I've used it for over a month now and am extrememly satisfied with it . The shave is close and smooth . The razor is easy to use and versatile . As I said , I have a tough beard and sensitive skin . This razor does the best job with those weird little hairs on my neck and has yet to give me an ingrown hair .
It's not one-pass shaving that's for sure . But , then , I don't know an electric razor that is . But it is pretty fast , I think . And smooth . The pivoting head is easy to use . And , the flip trimmer on the back can take care of those pesky longer neck hairs as well as trip up side burns . I even use it to even out my mustache and goatee between trims .
The charger / cleaner is easy to use and does a great job . I wish it was faster . I love the complaints about the noise it makes . I mean , seriously ? Where do you live , in an isolation chamber ? For those of us that live in cities near other people and stuff , I don't think this is noisy . It certainly isn't nosier than my television . But , I used this for over a month and cleaned the razor each day . The filter lasted around 30 days , as advertised . My razor was always clean and ready to use the next morning .
I think this is an excellent razor . And , with the discount Amazon is giving , I think it's a no-brainer to buy it . I got the whole thing with another coupon for $75 . Maybe that's why I like it so much . In any case , it really is the best razor I ever bought . So glad I got it . Too many nitpickers around here complaining about stuff that doesn't matter .
079 4 Hello ,
I bought this product to shave my head i had moles that kept getting cut with my regular razor . This product has been working great for me . It takes a little longer than shaving to get all the areas done but it does a good job . It works everywhere good except for my neck somtimes i have to carfully strech my skin and go agenst the gain to get the neck . the cleaning feature works great and i would recomend this product .
080 4 I've used Braun shavers for a few years , and prior to that Norelco . The cleaning system for the Braun always irritated me , due to the evaporation of the solution . However , it was giving me a very close shave until , I believe , the battery finally lost enough power . Despite the cleaning problem , I was willing to buy the $200 + Braun shaver since I like their foil system . But I've always wanted to try a wet / dry shaver , and Amazon had this razor on sale for $88 , so I thought I'd give it a try . I was really suprised how well the shaver works wet . The foil system is very similar to the Braun , and its easy to clean either with the cleaning unit or under water . Plus the cleaning solution seems to last forever - its been about 6 weeks and I haven't had to buy a new cartridge .
So why 4 stars ? It doesn't work very well dry , so you have to spend extra time in the shower in the morning and buy gel for a close shave . Because the blade and foil are very sharp and have a high RPM , you get cuts periodically . . . just like a blade ! Also , my cleaning unit will only clean if I unplug it and plug it in again . Very odd design . Finally , I've never seen those cleaning cartridges for sale anywhere , which is kind of annoying .
083 4 I had to write a review on behalf of this razor and all the buyers out there . I spent several days reading reviews on razors and I was trying to decide between this one and the > $200 braun's . I got an epiphany and decided to give panasonic a try . This is my third razor . What I used to do with the other two is within the week use the electric razor and during the weekend / going out with girlfriend or special events use the regular razor ( mach 3 ) .
no need to do that with this one ; Its powerful , very close shave even on dry skin . Completely recommended , no down side yet 2 months out . Price is good compared to the other one .
086 4 Either wet or dry , this shaver didn't do a good job for me . I wasn't able to get a close shave at all . The last straw was when I did one of those side by side tests . I shaved with an old dull Gillette razor on half my face and this thing on the other . The powerless , old blade won hands down . My wife saw the difference immediately .
The above , of course , were my results and it may have a lot to do with my facial make up . However , there were other things that I disliked :
- - When the shaver is at full charge it blinks all the time . I found that pretty annoying in the middle of the night if I happened to have the bathroom door open .
- - One of the reasons I got the shaver was to save money in the long run on blades . However , the cleaning cartridge doesn't have a long life and would have cost me as well .
- - The cleaning system takes about an hour and is pretty noisy .
- - I found the shaver screen got hot pretty quickly , even when using it wet .
So , for me , it didn't work too well . I've shipped it back and gone back to my old blade razor .
087 4 I bought this shaver as replacement of an older Panasonic with linear motor , and I am pleased with the shaver itself . It probably works even better than the old one when it was new , and it weighs less , costs less ( made in China ) , and looks more stylish . The induction charger of the old model has been replaced by a more ordinary one with a small plug , which consumes less space and weight in my suitcase , and which probably saves production costs as well as energy costs ( I think it is more efficient than the induction charger ) . The only feature of the shaver that should be improved is the fold-out trimmer , which is even smaller than its predecessor and doesn't look and feel as if it has been designed for frequent use .
What I don't like is the included cleaning device . I didn't expect such an advanced device with a built-in electric dryer etc . Since I am not planning to use it ( cleaning by hand may be less fun for some people , but it seems to be more effective and it definitely costs less effort , time , and energy ) , I could probably have saved a considerable amount of money by selecting one of the Pansonic shavers that come without the cleaning device .
088 4 I am used to Gillette Mach3 for last 5 years or so and wanted to try something new that is maintainence free . I decided to try this one based on many positive reviews from users & a positive fan following over here . However , I am little disappointed with the results .
I just got the shaver and tried it three times since . The facial shave seems to be quite good either on wet or dry shave but lot of neck hair were left even after 4 - 5 passes . No irritation or razor burn or nicks ( normally caused by Gillette Mach3 ) on the face even after 2 - 3 consecutive attempts . frankly it feels quite good for the face !
However the experience on shaving the neck hair is totally opposite . It almost started bleeding after so many tries but I could not get a clean shave on the neck at all .
I am in a fix here . I will try it for a few more days and then will decide whether its a keeper .
Any suggestions are welcome , as I really don't want to return it .
092 4 This is the closest shave I've experienced with an electric razor . My last razor was a Braun 5000s with the charging / cleaning station . It worked fairly well , but always irritated my neck .
This razor is softer , smoother , quieter , and I've had no neck irritation . The foil is on a set of springs and gives in a bit so it's a softer touch and a closer shave . I'd recommend it . I love the LED feature that tells you how charged it is , when you need to clean it , etc .
I'm pleased as punch with this razor .
097 4 I don't think I need to spend a ton of time giving this the lauds and laurels it deserves , but it does deserve them . This was my first experience with a wet / dry razor , and it works very well . It is a bit louder than the electrics I've had in the past ( I think this is due to the exceptionally fast rate the blades move at ) , but if you use it in the shower the noise isn't as bad as you'd think . I guess the bigger concern is the extra water wasted if you shave in the shower .
Back on track , almost as smoother as with a regular razor , but without all the extra irritation on the neck . Best electric I've used ( I've had braun and norelco models in this similar quality / price range and this is the best so far ) .
106 4 As the title mentions spending higher than average on a product doesn't always mean you will get a higher than average product . And in my opinion the Panasonic ES8109 is one of those cases .
For the positives :
Very fast smooth motor , much more comfortable shave overall compared to the $30 shavers I have used in the past . It comes with a built in trimmer to edge up around hairlines / etc which is always a plus , but even standard on the cheaper models . The LCD display is neat and gives an accurate measurement of the battery life remaining in which I start to charge it around 10% . Speaking of charging it does come with one of the fancy smancy self cleaner's ' ala ' more profit for Panasonic on accessories ( need's cartridges ) .
For the negatives :
Honestly , I could swear I've gotten a closer shave with the Panasonic ES4026NC ( $25 Shave mind you ) . The upside of the ES8109 is that is does to a better job at getting neck hairs , but still has yet to impress me . For the most part I have to work at it to get most hairs , about 95% at best . It still cannot get all of them and this is the biggest downfall on top of the OK quality shave , really nothing to brag about on this shaver . Also the first cartridge didn't even last the whole month , and this was after hearing someone being able to use it twice over . I reinserted the cleaner cartridge to see if I could get more out of it but ran into a couple problems . The first being that yes , the cartridge was really used up , after it was done ' cleaning ' quite a bit of hairs were still around the razor . Secondly , the station will not let you select the clean option once it recognizes a dirty cartridge . All in all on the clean / charge station , I honestly think its a waste of a plug and money on cartridges . And as a funny little side note , the adapter plug does make an annoying high pitched squealy noise . Of course it's not loud and is inaudible probably more than 4 feet away in a quite room , but still , sounds like cheap parts to me .
And there you have it , take my opinions as you will but I just find for the price this shaver sells at , far exceeds what it can actually do . Like I said it isn't all bad but at the end of the day I rate this shaver as It's OK .
110 4 Went from 6 year old Braun to this and couldn't be happier . Very little razor burn and the time it takes for me to shave has been cut in half , even when shaving after a week or 10 days . Used to take 15 - 20 minutes to shave with the Braun and now it takes a little over 10 minutes for the same kind of shave . This trimmer gets even closer than the Braun , and I have had very little razor burn ( the Braun was bad ) . Wish I hadn't put off this purchase for so long . I actually like shaving again ! My only complaint about it is the cheap travel bag . My old Braun pouch will work with this razor and power supply though . . .
124 4 This was my first shaver , I got it after extensive research on which shavers to get .
The first time I tried it , It took me a while to get use too and took me about an hour to shave my beard off . My hair was long so it wasn't to bad and I never had to re-rinse or clean off the hairs like i did with a traditional wet shaver .
Keeping it short is a different story when it come to speed . its pretty quick once the hair is short . The next was a bit difficult cause it is hard to get the exact direction my hair is going .
As for irritation , i did not get to much of that other then it pulling my hair once or twice while it was long .
Also don't force it on your face to get a closer shave unless you want a burn mark on your neck ( learned that the hard way lol . )
If you keep going over the same spot gently ( not baby gently but you know , normally . ) you should be able to get a really close shave .
At times i find my self really impressed on how close of a shave I get from this bad boy . but they are off days where I guess i don't put in the effort for a close shave and i keep a 5 o'clock shadow after shaving . I am unsure why i get different results even now but I think that is more my fault then the item cause I have gotten some pretty damn close shaves with this thing .
after a few tests using this razor dry I decided to grow out my bread and try it wet . Granted i did not have a mirror in the shower but it did not work as well as i hoped it too . It did shave my bread off after a while but it took a lot longer then i expected . I concluded that it is better as a dry shaver .
The cleaning system works great though , although its a bit noisy but hey at least i can make it do that while i go to work , so I don't have to listen to it : )
This is my first electric shaver so I cannot comment about how loud it is or how big it is , although it was bigger then i originally .
thought .
I got this product in June , and I am really happy with the purchase and I believe it is well worth it .
4 / 5 stars .
128 4 This was my first attempt to use an electric shaver after about 10 years of conventional shaving . The shaver is unable to give me a clean shave especially around the curvy area just below the chin . I tried both dry and wet modes but couldn't get it to do my job . Applying more pressure causes a pain on the skin . If you are looking for a clean shave this is not the one . Next I'll probably try philips or go back to conventional : (
The trimmer and self-cleaning features are good but main functionality is broken , so doesn't matter .
133 4 I bought this from Amazon and I just received it today .
My first impressions are WOW ! and AMAZING ! and UNBELIEVABLE so far .
This is the absolute closest shave I've ever gotten from an electric shaver . It's so close that my skin is baby smooth just like after I shave with a blade . There are a few spots that are still slightly stubbly , but those same spots give me fits with a blade anyway , so it's no big deal .
I'm hoping that after a few weeks when my face gets used to this method of shaving , that those spots will become less of an issue . If not , no biggie . At least I'm not nicking myself and bleeding profusely . lol
I'll try to remember to update the review as time goes on , to give further impressions later on .
I also bought the Braun Series 7 790 CC before I saw this one on Amazon , but I'm not even going to try that one . You can't use it wet , so forget it . Since I can't return it to Amazon , I'll have to sell it on Craigslist at a loss , or something . . . oh well . . .
* * Update 3 / 25 / 09 * *
Still loving this shaver . I have no complaints at all .
One tip , read the instructions before using the cleaning thing on the base . You HAVE to add water to it . There's a plastic tub in the back of the base that you take out to add the water . I didn't read the instructions at first , but thankfully I didn't ruin the thing with my stupidity . ; )
141 4 This razor gave me a shave equal to or better than any shave I've gotten without using a regular blade ( even a somewhat dull blade ) .
My beard is probably average ; not too thick , not too thin . If I don't have anything special going on I can go two days after shaving with a blade with only the mustache / goatee area looking kind of scraggly on the second day . But I have to shave every day when using an electric .
I've only had three electric razors in over 30 years of shaving ; a cheap rotary non-cordless Norelco , a Braun 6520 and now this one . I have also used a blade between razor purchases , when the razors needed new parts and on special occasions just because it looks better .
The Norelco may or may not have done a better job on my neck due to the rotary heads but overall I recall it giving me an average to poor shave even after replacing the heads . The Braun gave me a great shave and I would still be using it if I were not concerned about how much longer the battery would last . It used to provide about ten shaves per charge but now it's down to maybe four . Since the Braun needed a new screen and blades I figured the money would be better spent buying a new razor . Braun has priced their razors out of the range I'll pay for shaving my face so I read the reviews and bought the Panasonic .
The Panasonic has been great for the two weeks I've used it . After the first two or three uses I noticed my neck was kind of itchy which has since subsided . I suspect it was due to pushing too hard or maybe my face just needed to get used to the new razor . Or maybe it had nothing to do with razor , who knows . It is a little louder than the Braun or at least a different pitch but I don't think that it would be any more liable to wake someone up in an adjacent room .
The power button certainly is in an odd place where I suspect most men put their thumb when shaving and I did shut it off by mistake once . To avoid that from happening a minor change in how you hold the razor is required which is to shift the thumb closer to the head where at least Panasonic thinks your thumb should be . I like to hold the razor so that it does not touch the palm of my hand and only my thumb and fingers are gripping it but I have tried a golf club grip a few times which worked fine but will take some getting used to .
I have only shaved dry and probably won't use it wet , with or without lather . I have also not used the cleaning feature yet but I do like the base for charging and to have somewhere to put the razor when not in use . I suspect the cleaning feature will be useful if and when I use it but the documentation shows the razor can be easily cleaned with soup and water under the faucet . Either way , it will be nice to be able to thoroughly clean it and not have to rely on the dumb little brushes .
All in all I have no complaints about this razor and I would recommend it to anyone who does not expect a shave as good as a regular blade . If there's an electric razor out there that does that good of a job I would like to know about it . Until then , I'll be happy using this one .
142 4 I purchased this Panasonic razor after reading the reviews thoroughly for the Panasonic and most other razors offered by Amazon . I've been using a blade for decades , but decided to try an electric razor to see how close it comes to the excellent shave provided by a blade .
My first purchase was a Norelco Arcitec . I used it for 3 weeks , and sent it back ( thanks Amazon for your return policy ! ) I had to shave several times a day - and it just wasn't worth it .
Back to the Panasonic . THIS is the one to buy . I had a Braun that I used once in a very long while , but the Panasonic excels in comparison . The noise from operation is fairly quiet , and very tolerable . Best of all , the motor provides a linear performance throughout the battery's charge , and doesn't drop off as the battery charge is diminished . It is equally effective at a 10 percent remaining charge as it is at 100 percent .
The head floats , or can be locked in place , similar to a shock absorber - a great feature . I like the feel of the floating head , as it makes it very comfortable and equalizes pressure . If I need it , I can lock the head , but have rarely found the need . It's a very comfortable razor .
I purchased the Panasonic when Amazon was having a great sale , and ended up paying about $75 for it - a bargain .
Cleaning is done by using the cleaning fluid in the charger , which works well , or by putting a small amount of liquid soap on the razor and letting it run until it foams . I'll probably use that latter method the large majority of the time , and the cleaning fluid once in a while to ensure it's nice and clean .
I'd recommend this razor for the person who prefers a blade , but wants to try something different . It's a wet / dry razor , and I've used it both ways - and it works great !
I received the razor just before a trip to Alaska for my son's wedding . We were only going to be there 3 days , however the SeaTac airport snow closure resulted in our being stranded for 9 days before we could fly home . The battery held the charge the entire time , and worked well - good thing , since I left the charger at home .
The side burn trimmer is excellent , and very handy in trimming unruly hair - I'd imagine it would do a great job for trimming mustaches , although I don't have one . The razor handles the sensitive neck area very well , and does an excellent job .
I couldn't be happier with this product . An excellent value for the Amazon price !
144 4 My Facial Background : I have very sensitive skin , I've never been able to shave more than once a week due to skin irritation because I would get those water pimples that would make the area painful if I shaved against the grain with a razor or by using those electric razors from the 90 ' s . Luckily I never suffered from Razor burn or Ingrowns . Due to that I learned to shave never going against the grain with a razor and that has let me shave my face twice a week problem free , if I shaved more than twice . . . skin irritation .
Then I recieved this bad boy as a Father's day gift and now after a couple of months usage I have to say I'm pretty impressed ; electric razors have come a long way . I won't say this is a miracle razor , because it isn't , but it allows me to shave my face against the grain for a much closer shave than I was getting with my razor with the grain . That now allows for a smoother feeling and I look better til my next shave . I also have noticed that I can shave my face more frequently as well , every other day bringing it to 3 times a week instead of the 2 before hand . Altho I will admit that I also use Neutrogena after shave lotion which helps out greatly .
What I mean by no miracle razor , is that if you have sensitive skin , it isn't going to cure it . It has allowed me an extra shave a week and my face feeling smoother than my previous method , but I still can not shave every single day because I will get irritated . I'm not knocking the razor , it's awesome , just making sure you are realistic in your expectations .
The benefits this electric has provided me has made me retire my razor permanently . I defintely recommend giving this razor a try , especially if you tried electrics in the past and thought they were garbage , times have changed my friends !
147 4 My wife bought this razor for me for my birthday . I've used it for about 3 months now and I love it . I am in the military and close shaves are a must . Unfortunately , I have very dark and coarse facial hair , and electrics have never cut it well ( especially the neck ! ) . I used to use a Mach 3 because that was the only was to get a decent shave . I got tired of the constant nicks , cuts and razor burn , so I was on the lookout for an electric . I looked at the top-of-the-line models from Braun and Norelco before I came across this razor . Thank goodness ! The price is excellent for the quality of the razor . Plus , you get the cleaning system which is very nice as well . The best feature of this razor is the wet / dry capability . I use it in the shower with shave gel and get nearly as close a shave as I would with a blade with NONE of the irritation . It does a decent job dry as well . I am extrememly pleased with this product .
153 4 This electric razor will shave you close to a blade razor . You don't even feel it cutting . At first I thought that was weird after using a Nokia Series 7 with rotary blades . The Nokia always left my skin irritated due to constant running of the razor on one spot to get all the hair .
The Panasonic will get them with 2 or 3 runs . You can run it deeper and more if you want to get the closest shave and it will not irritate you . It's simply amazing .
Some additional features are water based cleaning base ( cheaper refills ) , super accurate sideburn trimmer , and nice display . This razor's price is also a winner . To my understanding it shaves as good or better then high end Brauns or Nokias , but it has half initial and ongoing costs .
156 4 After about a week of research . . . ( mercy ! ) , I purchased the ES8109S and it's fantastic . I was comparing the Braun Pulsonic and this particular model and made the right choice as the ES8109 is working great and it's as close to a shave as possible .
I was using an older model Panasonic ES8066 that is still working , but I wanted an update and took all the time needed to make a decision that makes sense .
A concern that I did have with these shavers was the large looking docking / cleaning stations . I found that you don't have to use the station all the time as you can plug the station's electrical cord directly into the shaver for charging purposes .
I read that the sound can be loud - but no louder than the razor I'm replacing , so there's no issue I have there .
Don't second guess yourself , try it out and make your own decision as skin types do vary .
Note : It may take a bit of time for your face to adjust to an electric shave . The first time around for me , it looked like I was attacked by my girlfriend .
Good luck
166 4 Tried this shaver for a couple weeks . Tried to let my skin ' get accustomed ' to a foil shaver . After those two weeks , the shave was still as bad as the first day . No matter what I tried , I couldn't get it to shave the sides of my neck properly . I went over the same areas dozens of times , making my skin practically raw , and it failed to provide a clean shave . In places where it did shave , my skin felt sensitive and inflamed afterwards . It did give a good shave in some areas but most still felt rough . And then there was my neck that just didn't work at all .
The cleaner is nice , although quite loud and pretty cheap-looking . I didn't get the feeling it would last very long .
This may work for some people but it didn't work for me .
171 4 shaves okay but it feels like you have nothing in your hand .
if you drop it even on a soft surface the possibilities of damage are endless . the cleaning mode is extremely loud and annoying . i've used panasonic electric razors for many years , this one is more of a toy than a mans grooming tool .
overall i think i might go back to using a braun or an older model panasonic if i can find one .
172 4 I got this device after using my dad's ES8077S ( which is also a great shaver mind you ) . I get a closer shave using this guy than a blade , let me qualify that . . . I am susceptible to getting ingrown hairs when I shave against the grain , so I don't . Shaving with the grain is a quick , easy and painless process however you don't get anything resembling a close shave ! My solution ? I use the ES8109S in the shower with a little bit of soapy lather and I get a comfortable , quick and dead close shave ( especially when compared to using a blade ) . The LCD display is overkill in my opinion but I guess they have to justify $130 somehow . Remember , you have to shave everyday when using an electric to see optimal results .
I have to agree with a previous reviewer however regarding noise . The shaver itself is not very loud in my opinion however the cleaning process is a noisy one . I'd give this product 4.5 stars but have not been given that option so I am rounding down .
A great Shaver !
173 4 I've had a braun self cleaning razor for years and found that after a while it ripped the hair out of my face ! ( Ouch ! )
To be honest it was good for the first 3 months and after that . . . . eh .
The Panasonic ES8109S Vortex rocks !
Smaller , easier to handle , wet & dry shave , closer shave .
I can honestly say . . . I have switched my brand loyalty .
184 4 I have no complains about this shaver . Very good quality as expected from Panasonic .
The neatest thing about it is the care of it - cleaning - you just put it in the cradle push a button and the next time you use it is nice and clean .
192 4 I bought this as a gift for my husband 2 years ago . Amazon was having a special deal , so the product with the charger / cleaning system was only around $80 . I don't think I would pay $180 for it , but I'd say it's worth at least $120 .
He uses it dry , but has also used it wet on occasion and it works equally well . Very nice , close shave , and still using the original blades . Doesn't change the cleaning cartridge until the light goes on - - in contrast to the recommended changing which is much more frequent - - and this seems to be working quite well . No noticeable reduction in performance or ability to hold charge and it has been used nearly every day for 2 years .
At first I thought the cleaning system was a little over the top , as rinsing and tapping usually work just as well to clean out a razor , but I have to admit that the HydraClean system is really cool and seems to improve the blade life ! It certainly has all the bells and whistles and makes for an excellent gift - - I highly recommend this razor .
196 4 This product was a good buy . While it did not provide as close of a shave as I hoped for , it did not irritate my face and cleanup was easy . It takes about five minutes to fully shave with this product , I have found that I have to go over areas of my face multiple times .
The cleaning function of the base works well , but it is very noisy and takes a long time . The battery life of the shaver is more than adequate , it should last for between five and seven shaves .
Although this product is touted as suitable for wet use , I found that the shave quality suffers greatly unless you rinse off the shaver and your face every couple passes .
Overall a good product with a moderate price .
214 4 I bought this after having nothing but problems with a Braun . I went through 2 cleaning bases ( and had to pay for the replacement even though it was supposed to still be covered under warranty ) .
The Panasonic is a joy to use - wet or dry it gives an excellent shave . With the Braun , I had to keep a razor in the shower to touch up my neck and jawline . The Panasonic gets everything .
My only complaint ? I wish the cleaning solution smelled like citrus but I'm willing to give that up for a razor and cleaner that actually works .
215 4 I bought a refurbished ES8109 shaver on Ebay . So far , after 2 weeks of using it , I'm thrilled .
I've been using electric shavers for over 15 years . During that period , I've almost exclusively used rotaries . However , I kept buying new ones because they either broke , shave quality wasn't good , etc . I was most recently using a Norelco shaver ( Speed XL I think ) with a jet clean unit . I never was crazy about the shave it gave me , and the cleaning unit was messy and eventually stopped working . Very frustrating . I liked having a cleaning unit , so I decided to give the Panasonic a try . With my very first shave I could tell a huge difference . A nice close shave with little to no irritation . It even worked well the tough spots ( like on the neck ) . My face never felt so smooth . I also love being able to shave in the shower again ( all the wet / dry shavers I've used in the past died in 1 - 2 years , hopefully not this one ) . And the cleaning unit was awesome . Easy to use , not messy like the Norelco one , and it even dries the razor . The cleaning solution is pretty cheap on Amazon too ( about $10 for a 3 month supply ) .
One suggestion . I've been using shave oil ( try American Crew , or Kiehl's Shave Oil ) and it's worked very well . I tried shaving one day with Edge Gel , and maybe it shaved too close . I ended up with a lot of irritation , even drew some blood in places . My face felt like it was burning . I went back to the shave oil again , and voila , another great shave .
006 4 I was going to buy the Braun Pulsonic until I read the reviews here and on other Web providers . They convinced me the 8109 was worth the purchase . Note that this shaver is the same as their more expensive 8228 except for a wood trim and case color on the latter . Out of box set up took 10 minutes to read and do . Charged up fully in 30 minutes even tho literature says up to an hour . Wet shaves are great but even dry this shaver is without pulling and takes little effort for a shave second only to a blade . Putting in a new cartridge every month for the cleaning system is a minor nag but you can also rinse in tapwater . With a great shave , the ability to go into the shower with you , and a price well below The Braun , Panasonic has the winner here . To be fair , I did not shave with the Pulsonic and took the recommendation of others who had .
201 4 Never used electric razor until now . Panasonic exceed my expectations , and glad I chose one with wet and dry capabilities . First shave is the most difficult . Once the hair adapts to new type of blade , shave is very smooth . Superb performance .
028 4 After 1 month of using this shaver , I'm convinced it is the best I've ever used . I've been using a Norelco 8865 XL for several years now , and I was pretty happy with it . But if I had to shave 2 days in a row , it was a very uncomfortable experience , with a lot of irritation on my neck . And I also have always used a foil type shaver , currently a Remingtom Titanium and earlier a cheaper Braun , because I couldn't use the 8865 to square off my sideburns with a nice straight line , or get a couple spots under my nose and lower lip . So if I traveled , I either had to take 2 shavers along or try to make due with the Norelco . The Remington gave a decent shave , but it would actually draw tiny dots of blood around the edges of my mouth , which is a bit too close for comfort . Also , I'd use it very sparingly on my neck , as it wasn't as comfortable as the floating triple heads on the Norelco .
Now everything has CHANGED ! I've found one shaver that does it all in the Panasonic 8109 . I think it's amazing . I'm not sure why , but this shaver does not irritate my neck area at all . I don't mean less irritation than the other 2 , I mean NONE ! I really can't feel a difference on my neck where I did and didn't use the razor . And the shave I get is nice and close . I've never used a blade in my life , so I have no idea how it compares , but it shaves me as close as any shaver I've ever used . This is a shaver and not a magic wand , so it does require several passes to get a clean shave . But I believe anybody who complains that it doesn't shave clean with 1 pass has just never used electric before . I'd love to hear about the electric shaver that can shave clean in one pass , I don't believe it's possible . And I also feel that the poor craftsman blames his tools , and this tool will allow a very good shave when used correctly .
As for the self cleaning stand , I'm less enthusiastic . It does work as advertised and is a nice addition , but if price was my biggest concern I would get the lower model Panasonic without the HydraClean . I got mine for $108 , minus a $30 instant rebate so it only cost $78 . The next model down was $79 with no rebate , so taking the HydraClean version was a no brainer . And it is a cool little toy that does work well , it just isn't a necessity like with the Braun 360 . You can put some soft soap into the heads & let them clean themselves because water can't hurt this shaver , unlike the Braun .
In conclusion , I'd say the number 1 reason I like this shaver so much , is because after 30 years of hating shaving and the irritation I knew I was going to feel , I actually don't mind shaving any more . Shirt collars don't cause discomfort because the skin feels fine . And shaving 2 days in a row is no longer a dreaded experience , it is actually okay . I would give this shaver 5 stars , but the battery life is a little shorter than my Norelco and I'm saving that 5 stars for a magic wand that I can just wave over my beard and it disappears .
007 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I've tried them all . I've tried electric shavers that were half this price , and I've tried electric shavers that were more than double this price . I've gone with the top of the line Braun's , Philips Norelco's , and Remington's . I had to return all of them . For an electric shaver , this model was the best by far . It's easy to use and easy to clean ( with the cleaning solution OR with soap and water ) . I love how it can be used dry ( my usual method ) or wet as well ( in the shower if I'm in a hurry ) . I love how the charge lasts for days if I'm traveling . I love how it's fun to use . And most importantly , I love ( and my girlfriend especially loves ) , how smooth my face feels after using it .
I had used regular razors for years before deciding to give electrics a try . The decision was mostly based on the fact that I hated how time consuming a task I found shaving to be . The only razors that I found got close enough to my skin , had expensive cartridges that needed to be replaced way too often because of how fast my thick stubble dulled them . Eventually , I just kind of stopped shaving regularly . I didn't necessarily like keeping a beard , but I disliked shaving even more , so I just stopped . After a while , when I noticed people started assuming I was about ten years older than I actually am , I decided I better start shaving again . And so this time , I decided to try the electric route .
After going through the gauntlet with pretty much every other high and low end electric shaver out there , I decided to try this Panasonic ( a decision I made from reading these reviews on Amazon actually ) . That was a great decision . Immediately , I noticed the difference between this and all the other razors I tried . It seems that 13,000 RPMs does apparently make a difference . It gave me a cleaner , faster shave than any of the others . I don't know why exactly , maybe it was simply because I feel that it actually works , but I even have fun using it .
As far as how well it works . On my face , it definitely gives the closest shaves I've ever had . It hands-down beats every electric shaver AND regular razor that I've ever used . On the neck however , it does seem to continually miss some spots , and just can't quite adapt to the topography of my Adam's apple . It's not too bad , but on days that I have important meetings / interviews , I do have to go over my neck with a regular razor just to make sure everything is perfect . These instances are few and far in between , and for everyday use though , this is the tool to shave with .
044 4 My husband recently needed to take the prescription cumadin , a blood thinner , and was advised to purchase an exectric shaver . I logged onto Amazon and reviewed many different electric shavers , concidering many brands and price ranges . The customer comments that were submitted for this product were very positive and were in fact better that the comments for some of the higher priced selections . I ordered the shaver and received it very quickly . My husband is absolutely satisfied with the shavers ability to hold a long charge , its self cleaning performance , as well as the results of using it , as he obtains a very attractive clean shave . I would reccomend this product to others .
046 4 I bought this wet / dry shaver , and I've never had such a close shave with any other tool . My wife has remarked more than a few times how close my shave is and how effective the product has worked . I also like the clippers that it comes built-in with , allowing me trim my burns in one quick shot . Overall a great product . I'll stand behind this again and again .
048 4 Everyone has a different experience with this product because everyone's face is different . My experience with this shaver is pretty bad . It does a horrible job overall especially around the neck area . Even the trimmer is not that great when compared to some cheap trimmers .
105 4 My husband has very sensitive skin and he is pleased that it does not irritate his face . He says that it works best when used with shaving cream . He likes the cleaning feature , although it took him a while to get used to it - the directions weren't as good as they should have been .
114 4 This is a fantastic razor . My husband uses it in the shower . It shaves so close with never a nick ! EXCELLENT RAZOR .
077 4 Bought this to replace a middle-of-the-road , one-year-old Braun 4775 . The shave quality on this Panasonic is WAY better than the Braun . Compared to a brand new , out of the box blade , the blade will shave closer . But compared to a blade that is a couple of days old , this is at least equal , and compared to a four day old blade , the Panasonic is superior . I do get a few nicks from this each day , but none are enough to need to do anything to staunch the bleeding or otherwise address the issue ( which is more than I can say for a 3 day old blade ) . I use it wet with shaving cream , but not in the shower , since I have no place to put it in the shower when I'm not shaving . Not a perfect shave , but over time , will be far more economical than buying two expensive blades a week . I've also had it 3 weeks and have not used up the first cleaning cartridge yet , and I clean it daily , so that seems to be good too .
067 4 I've been using a Remington 3 blade electric for years . I've preferred to use in the shower but never wanted to spend + $100 to get a good one . Lighten deal + $30 off , I picked this up for $49 . Great deal ! Great shaver .
072 4 I've been using a blade since I was 18 years old . For the years before that , it was a hand me down Norelco rotary from my dad . The wet shave option on the Panasonic is better than my blade . I used Mach 3 then switched to one of the 5 blade razors a few months ago . The Panasonic does a better job in less time . It only took a few days for my skin to get used to the electric razor . This unit has exceptional quality and the charging / cleaning base outstanding . I love everything about this shaver and highly recommend it to everyone .
081 4 I too have tried many different brands over the years . This shaver is the best I've ever used . Not quite as close as a blade but close enough . It actually shaves my neck smooth which is something that I've only been able to do with blades . The best part is the complete lack of irritation . I have a very sensitive neck and I have yet to need any lotion to sooth irritation . I shave in the shower so the fancy cleaning system is pretty much a waste of space but I do love the Lithium-Ion battery technology . The only shortcoming is the lack of a lanyard . I've dropped more than one slippery shaver in the shower over the years . They generally don't tolerate too many drops to the tub floor before they fail ! If they can put a lanyard on a fancy digital camera they can put one on a fancy shaver !
084 4 This electric shaver is the best of the many I've had through the years . It is super fast , and doesn't pull or irritate my skin . It's easy to clean by holding under hot water from the facet , or by using the stand with a cleansing solution . I have owned electric shavers , including almost all brands , for over sixty years , and I recommend this one for its ease of use , being solidly built , and for doing as advertised .
089 4 So I was a skeptic about the high-end shavers . But a friend compelled me try it by arguing that the self cleaning feature made for a better and more consistent shave . He was right ! I've tried other brands ( typically more bulking than the Panasonic ) , but the size , feel and cut of this shaver is surprisingly awesome . Really well designed and consistent . Worth every penny . Get one and see for yourself .
145 4 I have always had extremely sensitive skin and was only able to tolerate shaving with a razor once a week . This is the first electric shaver I've had , but I read reviews before buying this one . It definitely lives up to the reviews written about it . It delivers a comfortable , clean , and quick shave . I have even been able to shave daily which makes my wife extremely happy . The price was better than the In store best price at the major retail stores , and the shipping was extremely fast .
216 4 This is the best shave I've ever experienced from an electric shaver . I use it with shaving cream and it works amazingly . Give it about a week so that your skin gets used to the high power blades before you comment on the quality of the shave . Once your skin adapts to the shaver you don't have to be as gentle and skin irritation is minimal . I would reccomend this to anyone in a heartbeat . Self cleans like a champ and the little sideburn trimer on the back is high powered too !
108 4 For me this shaver shaves better dry . I have tried it in the shower with and without shaving cream , and my face looks fine til I get out of the shower and notice several missed hairs , especially on my neck . It lists on here that it shaves in 1 pass , not so much.It takes 2 - 3 times as long to shave with this razor then it does with a standard razor . On the flip side , it does shave to the skin once I make several passes and I get far less razor burn and zero cuts with this Panasonic . I did get a smokin ' deal on here though and shipping was fast . It should pay for itself quickly , considering I was paying out the rear for replacement Quattro blades for my Schick . I don't see how manufactures can charge around twenty bucks for a 4 pack of Quattro type blades for a standard razor . I was buying them off of Ebay for way cheap and way more . Then , a few weeks ago , I looked on Ebay to buy more Quattro blades and found no good deals , so I bought this Panasonic ! After reading several reviews and seeing that most of you were rating this razor at 4 - 5 stars , I bought it ! It does the job even though it takes longer then a standard razor , but will save you a lot of money in the long run ! !
112 4 I have used this razor now for three months . Hard to imagine being happier . I have owned about half a dozen electric razors over the past 25 years and this one is by far the best . It gives the closest shave I have ever had . Also gives the fastest shave ; taking fewer passes over my beard than any other electric I ever had . The battery is good for well over a week . The handle is a pleasure to hold . Out of habit I still manually clean this razor every day , and so have only used the HydraClean system once . It seemed to work fine and was easy to use . I literally have no complaints about this product .
169 4 I have had this product about 2 months . It is my second electric razor , first being a Braun that lasted me 7 years . It gives a pretty close shave around the mustache and goatee chin area . It does not shave well next to my ears or on my neck . This is what really disappoints me about this product . I have to take a disposable razor to finish the job . Positives are that it cleans well and a charge lasts a long time .
155 4 I bought my husband this shaver after seeing how much time and money he was spending on the Mach 3 blades . His old shaver had run it's course a while ago and he had gotten used to using the disposable blades . Time to teach an old dog new tricks ! Hesitant at first , I told him the reviews were very good and asked him to try it . Now he uses it every day . . . works well with his sensitive skin and it's quick and easy . He said it's the closest shave he's gotten with an electric shaver .
100 4 I have been looking for a good electric shaver for a few years now . This does the job . Great product .
140 4 I bought this item for my husband who has very sensitive skin and boy does he love it ! ! ! I looked at all the electric razors and what brought me to this one was that it was wet and dry . He got it early to make sure it did not break him out and has not stopped using it . He uses it everyday and it does not break him out . The cleaning unit isn't that bulky as some others . This one is the best buy out of all
194 4 Great shaver , cuts close and easy to keep clean even without the hydraclean system . I would recommend to others .
158 4 Well , the previous Panasonic shavers that I have had haven't been all bad . . . . lol . Actually quite good , but I confess I used them in the shower to shave down my beard , and then shaved with a razor . I rarely , if ever , had a razon burn or cut doing this . And I have owned about 6 Panasonic razors in the past 15 years .
This model , however , is the best I have tried . For the first time I can actually use it without using a blade afterwards . It's that close . The nano technology really works .
I was skeptical about the Vortex cleaning system . . . . . but it seems to work pretty well . I dont ' think that you have to clean it everyday . . . . my strategy is to clean the shaver when I need to recharge the battery . . . . . so it reduces my cleaning time and expense to about 4 times a year .
The unit is lightweight and a pleasure to shave with , and the digital readout on battery life helps me decide whether to take it with me on business or recharge it prior to leaving . It is definitely the best Panasonic I have tried . . . . . and waaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper on Amazon vs . Sharper Image , btw .
026 4 Shaves very closely without irritating the skin . Used wet with lather it glides very smoothly but doesn't seem to shave any closer than dry , and using it wet takes extra time fussing with lather and cleanup so I usually just pick it up and shave without water . The cleaning unit has a complex cycle that whirs and clicks for over an hour , but it cleans the shaver well . This shaver is much less expensive than the top-end Braun , which I haven't tried , but I'm glad I bought this one as I don't see how an electric shaver could perform much better .
030 4 This is the second Panasonic shaver I have owned . This one is far superior to the previous one . The shave is extremely close . I really like the cleaning system that comes with this shaver . I just rinse it off when I am done , put it in the charger / cleaner and it is ready to go when I need my next shave . A couple of notes . If you have not used an electric shaver before or in awhile it will take your face awhile to get use to it . I have also found that this shaver shaves so close I wash my face AFTER shaving to make sure I don't get any ingrown hairs . Might sound silly but this shave is that close . I also reccomend that you don't use shave cream with this shaver . I use Williams Lectric shave before shaving . I found it difficult to get the shaver really clean when using a shave cream . One great feature is that you dont have to use the cleaner if you don't want to or can't . An example would be if you are on vacation . Just rinse it off when you are done !
039 4 This shaver is simply increadible . I have never been happy with an electric shaver until now . It shaves close and fast , with no irritation . . . . even when using it dry . It does everything it the description says . I , like many others here , have used all major brands , but Panasonic has set a new standard . . . . the others have a lot of catching up to do .
042 4 I have a very tough beard . Usually , I have to shave with an electric razor first and then use a blade to finish it up . I have been trying different razors of all brands and costs for years , and nothing ever worked . Until now . This razor is incredbile . Even if I don't shave for a few days , it takes off everything clean and smooth . And I don't need to touch up with a blade afterwards . I am still shocked how well it works . In fact , this is the only review I have ever written on anything I purchased . That is how much I like this .
078 4 Bought this as a replacement to a four or five year old Panasonic wet-dry . Improvement over the old one , but not sure if its due to the shaver or just new blades . Haven't gottten around to the cleaner device thingy . Not sure if I ever will . But I have come to love the Panasonic shavers over the years . I use use it daily ( or almost ) .
082 4 A little better then the travel shaver from Braun ( as close shaving capability ) and the best so far from everything I tried . Better than any plastic shaver with 4 - 5 blades on a very stubborn beard . Very good cleaning device . The bad , but not that bad : an annoying operating sound ( as a huge mosquito ) and pretty noisy cleaning .
094 4 I have been wet shaving for the past 25 years , and have only tried two electric razors , which were very uncomfortable for my face . I have very sensitive skin and a thin build , so it is hard for an electric razor to shave my chin and neck .
The Panasonic Vortex solves both of these problems with a little bit of difficulty on the later . The razor has a little difficulty under my chin on my upper neck , so I normally wet shave this area , which seems to always have a few hairs that escape the Vortex , about once every three days . This also keeps any ingrowns from forming in that area . I believe this issue is more personal and wouldn't let it affect the review .
The Vortex is easy to clean under the faucet , but it also comes with a charging / cleaning base , which works very well . The razor will alert you when it needs cleaning or charging with a small screen .
099 4 Before I purchased this Panasonic Vortex shaver , I used a Braun shaver with cleaning system . This Panasonic shaver cuts closer and smoother than the more expensive Braun shaver . Also , you can use it in the shower unlike the Braun one . The shaver is light and easy to hold . If you're looking for a quality shaver , I highly recommend this product .
102 4 I bought this for my hubby for Christmas and he loves it . No more going over the same spot over and over again .
126 4 Bought this as a gift for my son who prefers electric shavers . He reports that he is very satifisfied ( he is not shy about speaking his mind if he is not ) . He likes the cleaning feature and the trimmer and gets a good close shave . I read that this razor can be noisy but I have not heard that complaint nor have I heard the razor making noise from his bathroom .
131 4 So I was totally stoked on this product when I ordered it . I have wanted a wet / dry electric for a long time and had been using a basic Braun model before . Upon the first time I used the Vortex , I felt like I was using a shaver I had already been using for six months . I literally have to go over my face in all directions multiple times to get a clean shave and still this thing misses a decent amount of hair . I guess I can't give a full review of this thing until a few months down the road when I see how the blades hold up . If it works as good as it does now , great . If it works like my Braun that has a year old blade does , then I will be unsatisfied . I would have kept the Braun had the automatic cleaner part of it not broken .
139 4 This shaver is great . I bought it for my partner and he loves it . The way it shaves in the shower is great for him . The cost was high ( retail ) but I found that Amazon had the best price and trust me , I looked everywhere ! ! I think the cleaning solution cartridges are a bit overpriced and he may not use them all the time but the shaver is a dream . It's hard to find a wet / dry shaver that works well but this one is great !
143 4 I have shaved with a regular razor and a rotary razor and this is by far the most comfortable and least irritating shaving device I have used . I shave after I shower and with shaving cream and its a close comfortable shave every time . This razor is very ergonomic and comfortable in hand . Super fast recharge and very efficient cleaning cycle . I have only had it for a week so I cant say anything about its longevity but so far so good ! ! Worth the buy , excellent price for this shaver !
146 4 This is the best overall electric razor I have ever owned . I have had Norelco and Remington before and I have been using a Norelco wet / dry shaver in the shower for the past three years . For those who are not used to it shaving in the shower can take some adjustment . The difference between Norelco and Panasonic was immediate . Closer shave , less irritation . I'm sold on Panasonic . I no longer need to keep a blade razor for trimming and touch up . This unit does it all .
149 4 I have used a razor blade type shaver ( two & four blade ) for over forty years and thought I was getting a good shave . The fact is that this electric shaver beats the razors hands down and it does it without burning my face . The automatic cleaning cycle is very nice as well . I let it clean the shaver every third day . I use an inexpensive electric pre-shave and that works just fine . I do not shave with this electric shave in the shower , but could if I wanted to do so .
151 4 Been using this shaver now for 2 weeks and I love it ! Used for both the head and face . Works exceptionally well to shave the head - wet or dry . As with all electric shavers , it has difficulty with neck hair . The cleaning system is fantastic - used about every 3 - 4 days to clean the shaver . An excellent value in this price range . In fact , I would put it up against the $180.00 Braun in all aspects !
157 4 Item is completely as described . It works well in water and cleans easily . I havent set up and used the cleaning / charging stand . I have simply kept the shaver plugged into the wall . It is the best electric razor I have owned but I havent yet tried the Braun unit to compare . I have gotten chafed by having to run the shaver over stubbly areas too many times ; But at the price this unit is more than satisfactory .
168 4 I gave up electric shavers years ago but tried this on a lark and am impressed . I think the abiltiy to use in the shower is a big plus . I still have trouble shaving my neck and the far sides of my jaw . I hope that will change as my face adjusts to electric shaving . I have noticed that i have less shadow at teh end of the day , suggesting that I am getting a closer shave than baldes . I read somewhere that blade shaving looks closer at first because it causes the skin to swell , but that wears off after a short period of time . That could well be true . I'm sticking with this electric .
177 4 Owned for over a year and still working great . Provides a close shave , trimmer works fine , battery requires little charging . Best electric razor I have owned.Only con to the razor is it is rather loud .
181 4 I am mostly a blade guy and have been dissappointed with electrics over the years but decided to give this one a try . The shave actually is close , the operation is smooth , and it is quiet enough that you can hear it cut the hairs !
188 4 I am 71 and was finding it increasingly difficult to shave with a razor as beard was not only grayish white but harder to cut . Perhaps any electric shaver would be better than what I was doing . So based on reviewers comments on Amazon I purchased this shaver and observe that not only do I get a closer shave , which surprised me , but a more comfortable shave .
199 4 I had gone back to a Braun shaver for awhile , but really didn't like the shave . In my estimation , the Panasonic shevers are the best and this particular model balances cost with function quite nicely . Gives me a close shave , plus I really like to be able to shave in the shower . Use a non-foaming gel for best result and clean shaver regularly and you will have no problems . Highly recommend ! !
205 4 This was on my son's wish list so I bought it for Christmas . He really loves it and comes with high recommendations .
206 4 I love this product and would recommend it to a friend . Shaves as close as a blade and much more comfortable .
210 4 I've been using this shaver for over a month now and it is by far the best shaver I have ever used . I have sensitive skin and this shaver has been truly amazing since the get-go . For years I've used very expensive Norelco's and they don't even compare . . . the Panasonic is a great investment . The closeness of the shaver is far better than I anticipated , Sharper Image was right giving this thing an award .
212 4 This is the best electric shaver that is sold . I recommend this to all . It is at a cheap price . Excellent ! !
162 4 Ok , after using the ' cheaper ' offerings in the Norelco brand of shavers for the last 20 + years I wanted to upgrade . After reading all the positive reviews here I thought I'd give this one a try . It is cheaper than the Braun and the arcitec and rates just as good ( if not better ) . I knew I'd have to give my face a chance to ' adapt ' to the foil vs . the Norelco rotary blades . Well after 28 days this shaver is going back . It has not been able to shave nearly as close as my 8 year old Norelco and this shaver has a design flaw . The Panasonic shaver has no collector for the beard clippings . If you hold the shaver just right you will get shaver clippings all over your face , your clothes , your sink , etc . I had to follow up with a razor after each and every shave . The Panasonic was never able to properly shave my chin . I can't comment if it is this shaver or this type of shaver ( foil ) . I did read in a consumer's report where it's best to stick to one type of electric shaver , so I may be destined to stay with a rotary shaver . Regardless , with this Panasonic I was covered in clippings at the end of each morning's shave and I don't find this acceptable .
118 4 It seems to do the job ; however does not seem to shave as close as my old electric ( cheaper Remington ) shaver . The 5 o'clock shadow seems to come a little sooner . . . . but again , its doing the job for the most part . Probably just stick with cheaper shavers in the future .
122 4 i use it on my legs and i have to say it's pretty good . the charge lasts for two legs , but mine are short with course hair : ^ ) if you have amazon women legs and your hair is course you may have to charge it once more ( takes about a ten to fifteen minutes to recharge ) . i am very happy with the purchase - it really gives you a smooth shave .
175 4 It is a solid product . Close shave . Quiet compared to my past electric razors . The cleaning process takes about 45 minutes after each use . No complaints after using it for about 30 days .
Ouch . I was excited as a kid on christmas when this thing got to my house , and made the mistake of attempting to shave with it dry , since I didn't have time for a shower . It did a fine job on my face . My neck looked like somebody had tried to lynch me , and it took about 4 days for the cuts and the razor burn to heal . My fault though , even back when I used a Norelco it was a cool skin model and I didn't use it unless I had just showered . That left me with razor burn too . Disappointed , I figured I'd wait it out to see what happened .
2nd Shave : WOW ! ! ! Well , after waiting three days for my face to heal up , I showered , splashed on some lectric shave , and mixed some Edge Advantage Revitalizing Cream with an even amount of Neutrogena razor defense shave cream and had at it . Face was WAY smoother in a short period of time . The neck still burned , but this time I was prepared with post shave lotion and that helped out greatly . Also , allowing the lectric shave 30 - 45 seconds on the neck and face before applying the cream helped me get a LOT closer on the sides of the neck , under the jaw , and on the face . I was pretty happy with that shave , and thought that once my neck , and particularly my adams apple got used to it , this thing would be awesome . So I went looking for slicker , longer lasting shave gels and other things to help set my beard up , leading me to shave 3 .
3rd Shave : This one wasn't as good as the second , but not as bad as the first . After buying some neutrogena razor defense face scrub ( for use before shaving ) and some Nivea For Men HI-PERFORMANCE X-TREME shaving gel I figured I'd have the winning combo nailed . Wrong . The foam was thick , which I'm sure gunked up the blades resulting in me having to go over my face and neck more , resulting in more irritation . To make matters worse , that pre-shave scrub only seemed to dry my skin out , which coupled with some razor bite and an alcohol based pre shave did not end well . I did , however , notice that despite how my neck FELT , it looks like it's improving with every shave in terms of adapting to the irritation . Still not AS CLOSE AS A BLADE WITHOUT THE IRRITATION ! ! like so many of these companies claim .
I will probably come back to this review later to update it , but for now all I can say is that the performance of the shaver is EXTREMELY important to me , over aesthetics , cleaning systems , and all that other stuff . My beard isn't super thick , but it's definitely thick enough to ware down Gilette Fusion blades by the third shave , and after the fourth the blade is useless . That said , after just a shower and either of the previously mentioned shave creams ( neutrogena or edge advantage ) I was getting the most absolutely perfect shave you could think of or envision .
In comparison , I am still letting my skin get used to this . I've had this new shaver for a week , and I've used it three times . My skin DOES seem to be adjusting , but it seems to be extremely important that you first have the razor cleaned , as the shaving solution also acts as a kind of lubricant , or so it seems . Second , DON'T use this thing dry if you have issues with electrics beating up your neck . My old norelco did this , and even the perfect gilette fusion nicked my neck every now and then at the adams apple , same spot this thing is having issues . Thirdly , use a thin shaving cream or gel that stays slippery . Clinique and Billy Jealousy , as well as Zihr , are all supposed to have great ones that provide excellent razor glide , although they are expensive , and I haven't yet tried them . Edge advantage seems to no longer be in production , which is unfortunate . Neutrogena razor defense cream has worked well for me though . Thin is important though , as a thick gel will clog the razor . Fourth , a pre-electric solution like Lectric Shave , Afta , or any of the others out there seems to make a difference . I can't feel it on my skin until after the shave when I notice how much smoother my face is compared to when I don't use it . Lastly , get a really really good soothing after shave balm . Neutrogena's isn't bad , but it doesn't cool . Nivea is supposed to have a good cooling one , and again Billy Jealousy is supposed to have good after shave balm as well . If you feel like spending 22 dollars on it , I have heard rave reviews for the clinique post shave healer .
Ultimately , I bought this razor to save money on fusion blades , which are costing me a reasonable chunk of cash . That and the fact that I love different electronic gadgets and this thing fit the bill and sounded great , so I took the plunge .
It is NOT as thorough as a razor in my opinion , nor is it as fast . That said , I have still only had it for 6 days , and have only used it three times . Stubble seems to grow back quicker , which would infer the shave isn't as close . Despite this , my face feels smooth as velvet after use , despite some irritation . The irritation is a major issue though on the neck and adams apple . My neck is shaved just fine , my adam's apple is tough though , and the razor burn on both afterwards exceeds my face . In the end though , a good post shave lotion can take care of that quickly . Cheaper than buying tons of blades , but more irritation if you aren't used to electrics . Also , the money you spend trying to find the right kind of pre shave , during the shave , and after shave lotions could add up quickly .
These are my opinions , everybody has a different beard type , different skin type , etc . I have a friend who's been shaving for the past 8 years with a braun syncro and has no issues with it , and gets close . He started using it at 14 though and hasn't stopped , so I imagine he's used to it . I used a rotary electric from 13 to 15 and then went back to a blade until last week , a little less than two months from my 22nd birthday , and my face is having a tougher time . But , amazon does give you time to return this thing , so if you want to , try it . If it doesn't work , back it goes , if it does , then you're set , so you don't have anything to lose .
EDIT : After the fourth shave I've had enough . The razor does a nice enough job on the face , but it murders anything below my jaw line . After two light passes with it on my neck I began bleeding and was left with a big red smile looking mark from one side of my neck to the other . Again . Also , with all the passes needed to actually cut the hairs , shaving with this razor took me FAR longer than with a blade , so back to blades I go . Apparently with a brush , rubbing alcohol , a dry cloth , and a dry place to store your razor you can extend the blade life by two to three times it's usual life . Sounds like that's what I'll be doing from now on . I really wanted this razor to be awesome and do what it said it does , but frankly it falls well short . I don't know who Panasonic is kidding when they talk about one pass shaving .
015 4 Here's my situation , I'm fair skinned and somewhat acne prone .
I've used a top of the line Braun in the past , which extremely
irritated my skin . Switched to the old mug soap and top of the line
razors from Mach3 to Fusion , but for me , cuts way to close and at times would leave me in a bloody mess .
My next venture was with the Philips Norelco Advantage and then the updated Cool Skin . These worked well . . . . . . . . . . but still not 100%
So while reading the reviews here , and seeing that there was a 30 day money back guarantee , I figured I'd give it a try . I hoped that this time , with the technology advancements , I'd have a winner . Well , here it is ! This is absolutely the best shave I ever received from any electric shaver . . . . . PERIOD ! This thing is incredible , no irritation
immediately after shaving and no skin breakouts the next day . I use it strictly in wet mode and it does what it's supposed to do , and does it well . From the other popular brands and more expensive price tags , this shaver is an under rated sleeper .
THANK YOU PANASONIC ! ! ! ! !
021 4 First , a little background on my shaving history . I started around 14 with my Dad's standard rotary electric shaver , which he claimed was all I'd ever need to get the job done . In a sense , he was right ; the shaver got the job done , but I now know that it takes a truly great product to get the job done WELL . I dabbled a bit with blade shaving but found it to be impractical and often painful . It was just not worth the extra effort to achieve a minor improvement in closeness . So I did what most men do : Take their dad's advice and continue on a path of a daily ritual of mediocrity and indifference . I used to dread waking up knowing that the task lay before me , just wanting to blink my eyes and have it be over . No longer . This product truly did change my whole perspective .
Turning on this razor for the first time summoned a response akin to what an aviation engineer must have felt when he heard a jet engine for the first time . . . wow . The 13,000 RPM blades emit a futuristic whir that almost say Shave with me , you won't be sorry . And you won't . This was my first experience with a foil shaver so I was a bit dubious about their supposed performance . However , that soon passed after my first shave . I have NEVER had a shave as close or as painless . The combination of the swivel head that contours over your face with the high RPMs of the blade that capture even the toughest hairs make for an extremely close , comfortable shave . This thing is what George Jetson uses in the morning before he hops in his spaceship . . . it's that good . After I shaved with it the first time I could not stop running my hands over my face in amazement , and I still can't . If you've shaved with a rotary your whole life , you will not believe the difference in performance this foil razor gives . So as to not be long winded , the moral of the story is : Close , comfortable , convenient shave at a reasonable price . I can't compare it to some of the higher end competition , but I can say I couldn't imagine getting a closer shave than this ( so why pay an extra $100 to test that theory ? ) .
Some Tips I've Learned After 3 Months of Use :
- For the closest , most comfortable shave possible with this shaver , shave after your stubble has had 2 days to grow and shave with shaving gel / cream and hot water like a blade . I do mine in the shower . The 2 days of growth allows the shaver to capture the hairs much more easily and the gel helps give a comfortable , smooth shave . Follow up with an aftershave balm . I follow this ritual : After shaving Friday morning , I usually don't shave again until Monday morning , after which I get an amazing shave that puts a smile on my face and prepares me to face the challenges of the work week .
- For daily shaves , use a pre-shave solution and shave dry . This is convenient and allows for maximum day-to-day performance .
- Use the cleaning base after EVERY shave . When shaving dry , take the foil off and rinse out all the hairs before putting it back into the cleaning base . The most important thing this cleaning base does to your shaver is LUBRICATE . If you notice after the cleaning cycle is over , take the foil off and look at the blades in the light . The liquid on the blades is lubricant , and it will help tremendously to provide a smoother , closer shave as well as preserve the life of the blades . As a matter of fact , try an experiment . Rinse the blades and let them dry , then put the foil back on and turn on the shaver to listen to the blades . Now do the same after the shaver has been through a cleaning cycle . You will notice that without lubricant the blades actually give off a slight grinding , abrasive sound barely noticeable to the ear . It is noticeable to the face . . . trust me . Always use a properly lubricated shaver when you can . By rinsing after shaving and then putting your shaver in the cleaning base , you will prolong the life of the cleaning cartridges .
- To best shave the sides of your cheeks along the jawline up the sideburns , I've found that pulling the skin to make it tighter actually doesn't result in the closest shave . Instead , move the shaver over the skin without stretching it . This makes the skin kind of roll underneath the shaver , then the 13,000 RPM blades make short work of the hairs .
This pretty much wraps it up . I don't usually review products here on Amazon , but I do when I find them particularly noteworthy and I have something of substance to offer consumers . If you're still wondering whether or not to get this razor , take Nike's advice . . . Just Do It . Your face will thank you .
125 4 I had an electric shaver a long time ago . The razor's got dull so I stopped using it and started shaving
the old fashioned way - - in the shower while my face was nice and wet ( believe me you get a good shave that way ) .
I tried this Panasonic at my cousin's house one morning and had to have one . I don't think it shaves as close
as a regular razor , but it shaves pretty damn close - - if you're in a hurry , you can take the thing with you and shave in the
car .
Over all , I like it . WHAT'S ALSO GREAT IS YOU CAN SHAVE IN THE SHOWER WITH IT ! !
161 4 I switched over to this model of electric shaver last week because I was sick and tired of spending 15 dollars on 4 gilette fusion razor blades that were only lasting me 4 shaves before destroying my face . Knowing that Panasonic shavers were available for using wet with lotion , and having tried one dry ( which I was decently impressed by ) I decided to take the plunge and order this thing for 100 dollars .
1st Shave : Ouch . I was excited as a kid on christmas when this thing got to my house , and made the mistake of attempting to shave with it dry , since I didn't have time for a shower . It did a fine job on my face . My neck looked like somebody had tried to lynch me , and it took about 4 days for the cuts and the razor burn to heal . My fault though , even back when I used a Norelco it was a cool skin model and I didn't use it unless I had just showered . That left me with razor burn too . Disappointed , I figured I'd wait it out to see what happened .
2nd Shave : WOW ! ! ! Well , after waiting three days for my face to heal up , I showered , splashed on some lectric shave , and mixed some Edge Advantage Revitalizing Cream with an even amount of Neutrogena razor defense shave cream and had at it . Face was WAY smoother in a short period of time . The neck still burned , but this time I was prepared with post shave lotion and that helped out greatly . Also , allowing the lectric shave 30 - 45 seconds on the neck and face before applying the cream helped me get a LOT closer on the sides of the neck , under the jaw , and on the face . I was pretty happy with that shave , and thought that once my neck , and particularly my adams apple got used to it , this thing would be awesome . So I went looking for slicker , longer lasting shave gels and other things to help set my beard up , leading me to shave 3 .
3rd Shave : This one wasn't as good as the second , but not as bad as the first . After buying some neutrogena razor defense face scrub ( for use before shaving ) and some Nivea For Men HI-PERFORMANCE X-TREME shaving gel I figured I'd have the winning combo nailed . Wrong . The foam was thick , which I'm sure gunked up the blades resulting in me having to go over my face and neck more , resulting in more irritation . To make matters worse , that pre-shave scrub only seemed to dry my skin out , which coupled with some razor bite and an alcohol based pre shave did not end well . I did , however , notice that despite how my neck FELT , it looks like it's improving with every shave in terms of adapting to the irritation . Still not AS CLOSE AS A BLADE WITHOUT THE IRRITATION ! ! like so many of these companies claim .
I will probably come back to this review later to update it , but for now all I can say is that the performance of the shaver is EXTREMELY important to me , over aesthetics , cleaning systems , and all that other stuff . My beard isn't super thick , but it's definitely thick enough to ware down Gilette Fusion blades by the third shave , and after the fourth the blade is useless . That said , after just a shower and either of the previously mentioned shave creams ( neutrogena or edge advantage ) I was getting the most absolutely perfect shave you could think of or envision .
In comparison , I am still letting my skin get used to this . I've had this new shaver for a week , and I've used it three times . My skin DOES seem to be adjusting , but it seems to be extremely important that you first have the razor cleaned , as the shaving solution also acts as a kind of lubricant , or so it seems . Second , DON'T use this thing dry if you have issues with electrics beating up your neck . My old norelco did this , and even the perfect gilette fusion nicked my neck every now and then at the adams apple , same spot this thing is having issues . Thirdly , use a thin shaving cream or gel that stays slippery . Clinique and Billy Jealousy , as well as Zihr , are all supposed to have great ones that provide excellent razor glide , although they are expensive , and I haven't yet tried them . Edge advantage seems to no longer be in production , which is unfortunate . Neutrogena razor defense cream has worked well for me though . Thin is important though , as a thick gel will clog the razor . Fourth , a pre-electric solution like Lectric Shave , Afta , or any of the others out there seems to make a difference . I can't feel it on my skin until after the shave when I notice how much smoother my face is compared to when I don't use it . Lastly , get a really really good soothing after shave balm . Neutrogena's isn't bad , but it doesn't cool . Nivea is supposed to have a good cooling one , and again Billy Jealousy is supposed to have good after shave balm as well . If you feel like spending 22 dollars on it , I have heard rave reviews for the clinique post shave healer .
Ultimately , I bought this razor to save money on fusion blades , which are costing me a reasonable chunk of cash . That and the fact that I love different electronic gadgets and this thing fit the bill and sounded great , so I took the plunge .
It is NOT as thorough as a razor in my opinion , nor is it as fast . That said , I have still only had it for 6 days , and have only used it three times . Stubble seems to grow back quicker , which would infer the shave isn't as close . Despite this , my face feels smooth as velvet after use , despite some irritation . The irritation is a major issue though on the neck and adams apple . My neck is shaved just fine , my adam's apple is tough though , and the razor burn on both afterwards exceeds my face . In the end though , a good post shave lotion can take care of that quickly . Cheaper than buying tons of blades , but more irritation if you aren't used to electrics . Also , the money you spend trying to find the right kind of pre shave , during the shave , and after shave lotions could add up quickly .
These are my opinions , everybody has a different beard type , different skin type , etc . I have a friend who's been shaving for the past 8 years with a braun syncro and has no issues with it , and gets close . He started using it at 14 though and hasn't stopped , so I imagine he's used to it . I used a rotary electric from 13 to 15 and then went back to a blade until last week , a little less than two months from my 22nd birthday , and my face is having a tougher time . But , amazon does give you time to return this thing , so if you want to , try it . If it doesn't work , back it goes , if it does , then you're set , so you don't have anything to lose .
EDIT : After the fourth shave I've had enough . The razor does a nice enough job on the face , but it murders anything below my jaw line . After two light passes with it on my neck I began bleeding and was left with a big red smile looking mark from one side of my neck to the other . Again . Also , with all the passes needed to actually cut the hairs , shaving with this razor took me FAR longer than with a blade , so back to blades I go . Apparently with a brush , rubbing alcohol , a dry cloth , and a dry place to store your razor you can extend the blade life by two to three times it's usual life . Sounds like that's what I'll be doing from now on . I really wanted this razor to be awesome and do what it said it does , but frankly it falls well short . I don't know who Panasonic is kidding when they talk about one pass shaving .
189 4 This shaver is great when dry . That is , it is comparable to my Braun 7526 . Except that it is much more ergonomic due to its light weight and design . And it has a wet shave option , which means that it can be cleaned under running water , as well . For wet shaving with a cream , I strongly recommend forgetting Gillette , Neutragena , Nivea , etc . A great choice is the classic Italian
Proraso Shaving Cream 5.2 oz ( 147 g )
. It is high-quality , long-lasting , and reasonably priced . Or , if you don't need or want shaving cream but still want a wet shave with a dry shave option , try
SHAVE SECRET SHAVING OIL - THE BEST SHAVE EVER ! 18.75ML
. This product is truly amazing and has given me the best results . Most importantly , make sure to give your skin adequate time to adjust to a new shaver .
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I almost never write reviews , so why am I writing one now ? Because I think a lot of people will benefit from what I have to say . I've been using the Norelco Spectra 8894XL rotary for years . I guess if it's good for 007 it's good enough for me . Movie advertising really does work . Before that I was a blade person . I still use the blade occasionally when I want a smooth shave .
The Norelco never could come close to the blade even with the Spectra set to the closest shave setting . So why did I go to the electric shaver . Speed and convenience . Don't need to worry about packing shaving cream when I fly . It still always took at least 6 minutes for the Spectra to do a reasonable job . Three to four years ago , when I had to replace the Spectra blades I thought I would take a look at the foil shavers . I went on to Amazon and read the reviews . There really did not appear to be a major difference between the rotary and foil products . Each had enough offsetting pluses an minuses so I didn't really see a clear winner . I stayed with the Spectra .
Finally , a few weeks ago my Spectra battery died . I opened up the case , saw that the battery was basically soldered to a circuit board . Thanks a lot Norelco . Time to look at some alternative options . First thing I did was go to Amazon . They have the most thorough reviews for these types of products on the web . Reviews from a lot of other web sites are basically copy and pasted from Amazon . After I read the reviews , and looked at the distribution of ratings , it appeared that the Panasonic foil product line was getting consistently higher reviews vs other foils and the rotaries . When you see the number of reviews rated 5 or 4 vs the number at 1 or 2 , and the 5 / 4 ' s outnumber the 1 / 2 ' s by almost 9 to 1 , it's time to start paying attention . And this wasn't just for the Panasonic foil I bought , which was the ES8109S , but all of the Panasonics were getting consistently high reviews . One recommendation , Amazon , is you should come up with an average rating number . Just helps a little , especially if there are a large number of reviews .
I settled with the ES8109S . Best price for the features and technology , including the cleaning unit . Just $20 more than the bare bones shaver . If the cleaner becomes a pain , just don't use it . For $104 on Amazon , it was worth a try . Got the shaver yesterday . I read the directions . Panasonic needs to hire some better technical writers . Their instructions are in a treasure map format . It's all there , but you need to cipher to break the code . Just a few more sentences and better organized layout , and I think they could sell more units , especially if people download the manual before they buy a product . I have an advanced engineering degree and it still took me an inordinate amount to time to figure out what the hell they were talking about . What's a course ? Replace that word with sequence and use some other American English words in some other instances and the manual will be more readable . Panasonic , hire some good American English technical writers . Please .
Finally , I set up the shaver and the cleaner while heeding all the warnings delineated in the manual . Nothing blew up or smoked , or spilled . That was a good sign . Charged the unit overnight and tried it out in the morning . I was more than impressed . How can I make up for all the time I lost using the stupid Spectra ? It took me less than half the time , under 3 minutes , to get a shave that was far better than what the Spectra will ever be capable of , and that's coming from a foil virgin . FYI , I don't have a very heavy beard , but enough to frighten the cat in the morning . Face burn , not a problem with this unit . The shave rivaled the blade . Rotary users , take a look the this Panasonic line next time you're in the market . The learning curve is non-existent . I was a little reluctant making the change to a foil , and I'm glad I switched .
012 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
From experience with other electric shavers , this one blows away the competition.Listed below are the advantages
1 - Overall the contour shape of the shaver fits in the contour of your hand.This gives an excellent grip . Bonus feature , the unit is very very light .
2 - The flexibility to use dry / wet is a plus . Unlike Braun , this shaver gives the flexibility to shave in the shower , with a gel or dry shave whereby giving the end user total flexibility and convenience . However when using a gel , it shaves super close , and can rub on the skin , which can lead to skin burns . Dry / wet is good enough .
3 - The nono technology are phenomenal . I feel its better than shaving with a Mach3 . The skin feels soft after a shave . However , one has to run the shaver over the neck more than once to reach the contour areas . It gets them . Braun didn't even come close , no matter how many passes you made .
4 - The indicator shows a tap sign when the trimmer needs to be cleaned . Just run it under the tap and whola in 20 secs , the shaver is clean .
5 - One negative feature is the inability to shave when the unit is being charged . I guess this is a safety feature .
So overall . . . A + + for closeness of shave , as good as a blade .
Practical , flexible , looks nice and blows away the competition . Now tell me how many shavers can you buy that does all this for under $100 ( 2007 Dec price on Amazon )
017 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I'm an older gentleman with a grey semi-heavy beard who has to shave everyday . I prefer a clean shaved face over any type beard , even a two day weekend stub . I'm on blood thinners so for years I had to give up shaving with a blade and use an electric razor for obvious reasons .
My last shaver was the Braun 360 , pretty much happy with it and I was going to purchase another one until I read the reviews on the Panasonic ES81095 . Boy am I glad that I purchased the Panasonic over the Braun , there is no comparison to the shave quality not to mention the noise level being reduce and the overall cost .
I like how the shaver fits your hand , your face contours and overall closness of shaving . In fact I look forward to using my new Panasonic every morning .
019 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I have been using a Norelco for as long as I can remember and was satisfied with it thinking that this was as good as it gets with an electric . It was never as good as a blade but I figured that was good enough for me . Well when my last Norelco died after only a year I decided to try another . I purchased an Braun series 400 from walmart and the thing was not right , so I took it back and got another one . When this one was the same as the first I started looking and found the Panosonic wet / dry . All of the reviews were very good so I decided to order one from Amazon . When it arrived I took it in a started to charge it , and one of the first things I noticed was that the cleaning solution was not combustible like the Braun and that made me feel a bit better . Another thing I liked is that the Panosonic charged quickly and I could leave plugged in unlike the Braun which should only be plugged in when charging .
Now it was time to test the Panosonic in the critical shave test . I am glad to report that it passed the test with flying colors . I was surprised to find how smooth a shave it gave . The first test was dry , and then the next cut I used it wet with shaving cream . Either way ya go , this Panosonic does exactly what it says it will do . I shave twice a day and it is great being able to use it in the shower .
I have been using it for about a month now and I like it as much as I did the first day I got it . It looks like shaving with a Norelco again is not in my future as it never cut as good as this Panosonic does either wet or dry .
The only negative is that when the self cleaning function is on it makes enough noise to keep me awake , but being the genius I am it only took me two times to just close the bathroom door so I could not hear it in the bathroom .
At a better price than the Braun and about the same as the Norelco the Panosonic gives a better shave hands down .
After ordering it a Amazon.com I was happy with how quickly it was shipped and at my front door .
023 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
First a liitle background , I haven't used an electric shaver in 10 years and always shaved with a razor . I don't have to be as close shaved as I used to and have been lazy about shaving I thought an electric would get me to trim back the stubble a little more . Having said that . . .
This thing shaves incredibly close , very sleek and comfortable to use . I generally like it .
The only drawbacks I have encountered is being that my wife and I are on opposite schedules it seems a little on the loud side and forget about using the cleaning mode if you want to keep it quiet . It seems to take a long time and is very noisy as it goes through its cycles , but i don't clean it all the time and just wait until everyone is up or out of the house when I do use that mode .
Last but not least , neck hairs seem to be a problem for it requiring mulitple passes .
if it was a little quieter and didn't need so many passes over the same problem areas I would give it 5 stars because it really does shave close .
025 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
Shaves very closely without irritating the skin . Used wet with lather it glides very smoothly but doesn't seem to shave any closer than dry , and using it wet takes extra time fussing with lather and cleanup so I usually just pick it up and shave without water . The cleaning unit has a complex cycle that whirs and clicks for over an hour , but it cleans the shaver well . This shaver is much less expensive than the top-end Braun , which I haven't tried , but I'm glad I bought this one as I don't see how an electric shaver could perform much better .
031 4 I have had problems shaving since I hit puberty . My skin is extremely sensitive . Ingrown hairs and infections have become a mainstay in my life . The only product that worked was the Mach 3 razor . . . on its best day , it did not give me the best shave . Last week on a clinical rotation , I had one of the doctors look at my neck . Sychosis barbae is what he diagnosed . I was put on antibiotics to clear up this infection . That was my last straw . My roomate was so kind to let me use his Panasonic because the Mach 3 would have caused some serious damage . I have never had a shave like that in my life . I immediately ordered this model and have been a happy customer for 5 days . My infection has cleared up , and this shaver is nothing short of amazing . My facial hair grows in softer , and I am able to shave every day if need be ( unlike every 2 to 3 days with the Mach 3 ) . I would highly recommend this product to anybody . Having the HydraClean is great too . If you are on the fence about purchasing this shaver . . . buy it without hesitation !
033 4 Ok , here are my initial thoughts after four days of use . I bought this razor based mainly on the positive reviews I read here . A bit about my shaving history . First of all I have a fairly heavy beard coming from a Welsh background . For a couple of decades now I had mainly used Norelco rotaries including a high end Speed-XL for the past few years . It would do a sorta ok job on the face and cheeks although no semblance of being as close as a blade but refused to cut the long hairs in the neck . So I would use that as a first shave and then touch up the rough spots in the shower with a blade . Why even use an electric at all ? Also because of my sensitive skin by using the blade , I had to skip shaving the next day . About four or five years ago , I tried a Braun Syncro shaver , a foil type like the Panasonic . Where it cut , it cut closer then the rotary but left huge gaps , particularly on the neck and I never could seem to get all the hair no matter how many passes I made . So I was skeptical that the Panasonic , another foil shaver would really be better .
From the first day I used this shaver , I knew it was going to be my best electric razor ever . Mowed right thru the hair getting most in the first pass and I shaved my entire face all within a a couple of minutes . Did a great job on the neck as well although the hair was not too long to begin with as I had shaved the previous day . The heads look somewhat similar to the Braun Syncro but for whatever reason , the performance difference between the two is like night and day . In the ensuing four days , it has only gotten better . Already my neck has become de-sensitized enough so I know I'll be able to shave every day . After I finish , it feels in most areas as close as a blade although truth be told , it's not quite because the five o'clock shadow creeps in a bit earlier in the day then it did when using a blade . However as mentioned , I can now shave every day and I think I could shave more then once a day if need be , something I never thought would be possible .
The biggest drawback ? The NOISE ! It whines like a little jet engine ! It is be far the loudest shaver I have used , louder then the Braun and way louder then the Norelco rotary . I live in a condo with my bathroom wall facing another unit and I really hope the noise is not bleeding thru . That is something Panasonic needs to work on and I think I will let them know about it . That is why I'm cutting back on my rating a bit . Performance wise I'd give it a solid four and a half stars .
I just used the cleaner setup tonight and it did a fine job . I don't see the need to use it every day . I just tap the hair out after each use and I think using this setup just a couple times a week will be fine .
If my mind changes significantly after more use , I'll edit my review . Things I want to try is a wet shave in the shower and to skip a day and see how it handles the extra growth but right now I'm happy I bought the razor as long as the noise isn't bothering my neighbor .
036 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I was skeptical about another electric razor . My last one did not shave closely and would not cut some of the fine hair on my neck under my chin . Because I am taking Chemo treatments for cancer , my doctor told me to use an electric razor to avoid cuts . My immune system is low and I risk infections .
The first time I used the razor I was really impressed . I used a shaving cream on my face and started shaving with the Panasonic ES81095 . When I finished , my skin was smooth and I could not feel any stubble at all . It felt as smooth as a babies face ! I have used it for about three weeks and noticed that if I skipped a day , my face feels like I had already shaved that morning . My wife couldn't tell I had not shaved the second day . I seems the razor cuts below the skin surface by pushing up the hair follicles as it shaves .
038 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
This shaver is simply increadible . I have never been happy with an electric shaver until now . It shaves close and fast , with no irritation . . . . even when using it dry . It does everything it the description says . I , like many others here , have used all major brands , but Panasonic has set a new standard . . . . the others have a lot of catching up to do .
041 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I have a very tough beard . Usually , I have to shave with an electric razor first and then use a blade to finish it up . I have been trying different razors of all brands and costs for years , and nothing ever worked . Until now . This razor is incredbile . Even if I don't shave for a few days , it takes off everything clean and smooth . And I don't need to touch up with a blade afterwards . I am still shocked how well it works . In fact , this is the only review I have ever written on anything I purchased . That is how much I like this .
043 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
My husband recently needed to take the prescription cumadin , a blood thinner , and was advised to purchase an exectric shaver . I logged onto Amazon and reviewed many different electric shavers , concidering many brands and price ranges . The customer comments that were submitted for this product were very positive and were in fact better that the comments for some of the higher priced selections . I ordered the shaver and received it very quickly . My husband is absolutely satisfied with the shavers ability to hold a long charge , its self cleaning performance , as well as the results of using it , as he obtains a very attractive clean shave . I would reccomend this product to others .
045 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I bought this wet / dry shaver , and I've never had such a close shave with any other tool . My wife has remarked more than a few times how close my shave is and how effective the product has worked . I also like the clippers that it comes built-in with , allowing me trim my burns in one quick shot . Overall a great product . I'll stand behind this again and again .
047 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
Everyone has a different experience with this product because everyone's face is different . My experience with this shaver is pretty bad . It does a horrible job overall especially around the neck area . Even the trimmer is not that great when compared to some cheap trimmers .
050 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
Well let me start by saying I have owned many electical shavers before that I thought were wonderful , but this one unlike the others , really is .
For years I have had issues with severe razor bumps . No matter what I have tried I just could not get them to go away , the in-grown hairs were horrible . I have tried salves , electric , manual , and just about everything else , this shaver however , has reduced the red marks and bumps on my neck almost completely .
When it comes to negative thoughts ? I really can't think of any at all .
052 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
Best electirc razor I have ever owned . Great batterly life with smooth , close shaves without irritation . Easy to maintain and clean .
Outstanding product .
054 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
For most of my shaving life I have used blades but have have also used a couple of Norelco electric shavers in the past .
The idea of a wet dry electric shaver appealed to me and the reviews of the Panasonic were on balance pretty good so I decided to give it a try .
I'm happy with it . I have to go over my face a few times but it gives a close comfortable shave . I use it wet , usually with King of Shaves shaving oil on my face . Used wet there is no skin irritation .
Although the shaver did not indicate a need for it , I used the Hydraclean system . It is a little noisy but appears to do a satisfactory job .
It's possible over the long run it would pay for itself since razor blades are so expensive ; but by the look and feel of it if you drop it on anything but a well padded surface it would be destroyed .
056 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I was using Panasonic linear shaver for years , but finally the battery would not hold the charge and I decided to buy a new model .
My new ES8109S is absolutely great !
It shaves very close and it is not as loud as my old one .
The Hydra Clean feature is fantastic !
It's like brand new every time I clean the shaver .
Panasonic did not disappointed me .
Great product . Would highly recommend to anyone .
059 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I have to use an electric unless I want to see blood . Closest shave I've ever had with an electric . Easiest way for me to tell is at the end of the workday , less 5 o'clock shadow . My beard is tough , medium density ; it grows rapidly and it's grey so less is better and it is noticeably less with this shaver . I wouldn't hesitate to go to a business diner without a second shave after using this , not the case with the brand X I tossed after using the Panasonic .
I wanted to try a shaver with a cleaning system . An electric razor is useless after about a week unless it's disassembled and thoroughly cleaned . Takes 15 - 20 minutes to do it right and it's nuisance . But I refuse to pay $200 to $300 for an electric razor when I know the battery will die in a year or so . I typically pay $60 for an electric razor but the reviews on this and Panasonic's reputation prompted me to go upscale . Good decision .
Pros : Close shave , nice battery state indicator , relatively quiet , trimmer only runs when it's in the up position , center blades knock down the long stuff . Rinses out so cleanly with just the faucet , I'm not sure it really needs the cleaning system but that works well too . The floating head is probably nice for some people : I don't care for it so it has a locking feature to disable the float . I get a minimum of 10 days between charges . Optionally recharges with just the cord ; good for extended travel .
Cons : takes just a little longer to get a close shave and works better if I move the shaver slowly over stretched skin . Cleaning system is a little bulky so you wouldn't travel with it but as above , I'm not sure it's needed . I actually keep the cleaning system in my workshop and only the razor in the bathroom .
I'm sure it works if you want to shave in the shower ; where I live the cost of water would make that a luxury I don't chose to afford so haven't tried that .
Update : after seven months , I bought a second one for travel , makes sense for me . AND I discarded the Panasonic cleaning system . It tends to leave the shaver with an unpleasant smell and the second unit came with an insert that recommended just a drop of dishwashing soap inside the head , put the head back on and run it briefly in turbo mode and rinse . Takes maybe 15 seconds and it's clean and fresh . Easier , cheaper , faster and less bulky than the factory cleaning system .
061 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I shave my head as well as my face , and this linear Panasonic shavers
are a favorite among the cue-ball set . It took me just two years to
wear out a prior Vortex Linear shaver . One of the blade-holders
broke loose . I briefly tried a top-of-the-line Braun , and returned it .
The Nano-line is definitely an evolutionary improvement compared to
the Panasonic Linear units of the past couple of years .
What you lose ( for shaving your head ) is a bit of width and flatness
that seemed to help make quick work of head-shaving .
On the other hand , the shave is even better - - - the sound alone tells
you this is a very fine cut . It's a zing as opposed to the old
chopping sound . And the clippings in the razor or more like dust
than bits of whiskers . These new blades are * sharp * . One touch with
a fingertip proves it .
The razor is quieter than the older linear models , which will be a
relief to some .
The cleaning unit is improved as well . The power tower is gone , and
the process is quieter .
It remains to be seen how blades and foils hold up to the extra
acreage .
066 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I've been using a Remington 3 blade electric for years . I've preferred to use in the shower but never wanted to spend + $100 to get a good one . Lighten deal + $30 off , I picked this up for $49 . Great deal ! Great shaver .
069 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
This is my 2nd Panasonic shaver and it's just as good or better than the first . My first shaver lasted about four years and had one blade / screen replacement . It got to the point that the batteries wouldn't hold a charge and the shaver wasn't running at full speed . I was sad to see my older razer go since it had the great induction charging that was the halmark of older Panasonic razors . I started my search for a new shaver and came across this shaver . I was skeptical at first about the cleaning system since I hate spending money on crap that I don't need . After reading reviews on the shaver , plus the discount Amazon had , I took the plunge .
It's like I have my old shaver back . It goes through my face hair w / out shuddering and leaves my face smooth . I also like that the cleaning carts are only about $12 for three of them . From other reviews I have read you don't have to change the water once a month . You can wait till the light comes on and then change it .
Overall , it's a great buy and I'm looking forward to more years with another wonderful razor .
073 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
EDIT :
Before , I gave this product five stars , but since then it has proven to be less-than-durable and become unreliable and started to give my skin bumps and irritation . The thing that locks the cover over the blades became loose and sometimes the cover would pop off in the middle of shaving , and other times it literally cut me !
I have since switched back to a regular razor .
075 4 Hint : If you skip a couple days , try a blotting motion to pre-cut the longer growth . Its like loading a tree branch into a wood-chipper !
Rich , Naperville , IL
085 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
Either wet or dry , this shaver didn't do a good job for me . I wasn't able to get a close shave at all . The last straw was when I did one of those side by side tests . I shaved with an old dull Gillette razor on half my face and this thing on the other . The powerless , old blade won hands down . My wife saw the difference immediately .
The above , of course , were my results and it may have a lot to do with my facial make up . However , there were other things that I disliked :
- - When the shaver is at full charge it blinks all the time . I found that pretty annoying in the middle of the night if I happened to have the bathroom door open .
- - One of the reasons I got the shaver was to save money in the long run on blades . However , the cleaning cartridge doesn't have a long life and would have cost me as well .
- - The cleaning system takes about an hour and is pretty noisy .
- - I found the shaver screen got hot pretty quickly , even when using it wet .
So , for me , it didn't work too well . I've shipped it back and gone back to my old blade razor .
090 4 I have used Braun shavers since 1955 , with brief exceptions for a Phillips ( didn't shave ) and a Remington ( loud and rough ) . Therefore , it took some really positive reviews and a great Amazon price to tempt me into this one . I have now used it for a month . It is quick , relatively quiet , smooth on the skin and leaves said skin just about as smooth as the proverbial baby's bottom . I am thrilled with it . The HydraClean system is not as good as Braun's , but hey : by then you are shaved .
091 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
This is the closest shave I've experienced with an electric razor . My last razor was a Braun 5000s with the charging / cleaning station . It worked fairly well , but always irritated my neck .
This razor is softer , smoother , quieter , and I've had no neck irritation . The foil is on a set of springs and gives in a bit so it's a softer touch and a closer shave . I'd recommend it . I love the LED feature that tells you how charged it is , when you need to clean it , etc .
I'm pleased as punch with this razor .
093 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I have been wet shaving for the past 25 years , and have only tried two electric razors , which were very uncomfortable for my face . I have very sensitive skin and a thin build , so it is hard for an electric razor to shave my chin and neck .
The Panasonic Vortex solves both of these problems with a little bit of difficulty on the later . The razor has a little difficulty under my chin on my upper neck , so I normally wet shave this area , which seems to always have a few hairs that escape the Vortex , about once every three days . This also keeps any ingrowns from forming in that area . I believe this issue is more personal and wouldn't let it affect the review .
The Vortex is easy to clean under the faucet , but it also comes with a charging / cleaning base , which works very well . The razor will alert you when it needs cleaning or charging with a small screen .
096 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I don't think I need to spend a ton of time giving this the lauds and laurels it deserves , but it does deserve them . This was my first experience with a wet / dry razor , and it works very well . It is a bit louder than the electrics I've had in the past ( I think this is due to the exceptionally fast rate the blades move at ) , but if you use it in the shower the noise isn't as bad as you'd think . I guess the bigger concern is the extra water wasted if you shave in the shower .
Back on track , almost as smoother as with a regular razor , but without all the extra irritation on the neck . Best electric I've used ( I've had braun and norelco models in this similar quality / price range and this is the best so far ) .
098 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
Before I purchased this Panasonic Vortex shaver , I used a Braun shaver with cleaning system . This Panasonic shaver cuts closer and smoother than the more expensive Braun shaver . Also , you can use it in the shower unlike the Braun one . The shaver is light and easy to hold . If you're looking for a quality shaver , I highly recommend this product .
101 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I bought this for my hubby for Christmas and he loves it . No more going over the same spot over and over again .
104 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
My husband has very sensitive skin and he is pleased that it does not irritate his face . He says that it works best when used with shaving cream . He likes the cleaning feature , although it took him a while to get used to it - the directions weren't as good as they should have been .
107 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
For me this shaver shaves better dry . I have tried it in the shower with and without shaving cream , and my face looks fine til I get out of the shower and notice several missed hairs , especially on my neck . It lists on here that it shaves in 1 pass , not so much.It takes 2 - 3 times as long to shave with this razor then it does with a standard razor . On the flip side , it does shave to the skin once I make several passes and I get far less razor burn and zero cuts with this Panasonic . I did get a smokin ' deal on here though and shipping was fast . It should pay for itself quickly , considering I was paying out the rear for replacement Quattro blades for my Schick . I don't see how manufactures can charge around twenty bucks for a 4 pack of Quattro type blades for a standard razor . I was buying them off of Ebay for way cheap and way more . Then , a few weeks ago , I looked on Ebay to buy more Quattro blades and found no good deals , so I bought this Panasonic ! After reading several reviews and seeing that most of you were rating this razor at 4 - 5 stars , I bought it ! It does the job even though it takes longer then a standard razor , but will save you a lot of money in the long run ! !
109 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
Went from 6 year old Braun to this and couldn't be happier . Very little razor burn and the time it takes for me to shave has been cut in half , even when shaving after a week or 10 days . Used to take 15 - 20 minutes to shave with the Braun and now it takes a little over 10 minutes for the same kind of shave . This trimmer gets even closer than the Braun , and I have had very little razor burn ( the Braun was bad ) . Wish I hadn't put off this purchase for so long . I actually like shaving again ! My only complaint about it is the cheap travel bag . My old Braun pouch will work with this razor and power supply though . . .
111 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I have used this razor now for three months . Hard to imagine being happier . I have owned about half a dozen electric razors over the past 25 years and this one is by far the best . It gives the closest shave I have ever had . Also gives the fastest shave ; taking fewer passes over my beard than any other electric I ever had . The battery is good for well over a week . The handle is a pleasure to hold . Out of habit I still manually clean this razor every day , and so have only used the HydraClean system once . It seemed to work fine and was easy to use . I literally have no complaints about this product .
113 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
This is a fantastic razor . My husband uses it in the shower . It shaves so close with never a nick ! EXCELLENT RAZOR .
115 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I use mine for head shaving in the shower . It's not as close as a blade , but I can also touch up afterwards . Quality product from a quality name .
117 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
It seems to do the job ; however does not seem to shave as close as my old electric ( cheaper Remington ) shaver . The 5 o'clock shadow seems to come a little sooner . . . . but again , its doing the job for the most part . Probably just stick with cheaper shavers in the future .
119 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I love the close shave I can get with this shaver . I am also impressed with the HydraClean system as it is a big improvement from their old models . The clean shaver icon takes to long to come on and I much prefer the reminder on the Braun models however this shaver is way superior in every other . I am sure it will out last my LAST Brauns 90 day life span . Great quality , battery life , high speed motor and sharp blades make any Vortex Panasonic a good choice .
120 4 I love the close shave I can get with this shaver . I am also impressed with the HydraClean system as it is a big improvement from their old models . The clean shaver icon takes to long to come on and I much prefer the reminder on the Braun models however this shaver is way superior in every other . I am sure it will out last my LAST Brauns 90 day life span . Great quality , battery life , high speed motor and sharp blades make any Vortex Panasonic a good choice .
121 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
i use it on my legs and i have to say it's pretty good . the charge lasts for two legs , but mine are short with course hair : ^ ) if you have amazon women legs and your hair is course you may have to charge it once more ( takes about a ten to fifteen minutes to recharge ) . i am very happy with the purchase - it really gives you a smooth shave .
123 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
This was my first shaver , I got it after extensive research on which shavers to get .
The first time I tried it , It took me a while to get use too and took me about an hour to shave my beard off . My hair was long so it wasn't to bad and I never had to re-rinse or clean off the hairs like i did with a traditional wet shaver .
Keeping it short is a different story when it come to speed . its pretty quick once the hair is short . The next was a bit difficult cause it is hard to get the exact direction my hair is going .
As for irritation , i did not get to much of that other then it pulling my hair once or twice while it was long .
Also don't force it on your face to get a closer shave unless you want a burn mark on your neck ( learned that the hard way lol . )
If you keep going over the same spot gently ( not baby gently but you know , normally . ) you should be able to get a really close shave .
At times i find my self really impressed on how close of a shave I get from this bad boy . but they are off days where I guess i don't put in the effort for a close shave and i keep a 5 o'clock shadow after shaving . I am unsure why i get different results even now but I think that is more my fault then the item cause I have gotten some pretty damn close shaves with this thing .
after a few tests using this razor dry I decided to grow out my bread and try it wet . Granted i did not have a mirror in the shower but it did not work as well as i hoped it too . It did shave my bread off after a while but it took a lot longer then i expected . I concluded that it is better as a dry shaver .
The cleaning system works great though , although its a bit noisy but hey at least i can make it do that while i go to work , so I don't have to listen to it : )
This is my first electric shaver so I cannot comment about how loud it is or how big it is , although it was bigger then i originally .
thought .
I got this product in June , and I am really happy with the purchase and I believe it is well worth it .
4 / 5 stars .
129 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
As far as electric razors go , this one is up there in terms of efficiency and comfort . There's only one significant drawback , it's LOUD . Loud to the point where you worry about waking people up if you use it early in the morning .
132 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I bought this from Amazon and I just received it today .
My first impressions are WOW ! and AMAZING ! and UNBELIEVABLE so far .
This is the absolute closest shave I've ever gotten from an electric shaver . It's so close that my skin is baby smooth just like after I shave with a blade . There are a few spots that are still slightly stubbly , but those same spots give me fits with a blade anyway , so it's no big deal .
I'm hoping that after a few weeks when my face gets used to this method of shaving , that those spots will become less of an issue . If not , no biggie . At least I'm not nicking myself and bleeding profusely . lol
I'll try to remember to update the review as time goes on , to give further impressions later on .
I also bought the Braun Series 7 790 CC before I saw this one on Amazon , but I'm not even going to try that one . You can't use it wet , so forget it . Since I can't return it to Amazon , I'll have to sell it on Craigslist at a loss , or something . . . oh well . . .
* * Update 3 / 25 / 09 * *
Still loving this shaver . I have no complaints at all .
One tip , read the instructions before using the cleaning thing on the base . You HAVE to add water to it . There's a plastic tub in the back of the base that you take out to add the water . I didn't read the instructions at first , but thankfully I didn't ruin the thing with my stupidity . ; )
134 4 I have owned several electric shavers over the years , but so far this one is my favorite . It was very well designed , easy to grip and use . Keeping it maintained is very simple , either using the HydraClean system or just regular liquid soap .
I have never used a wet / dry version before , but so far I am enjoying the ability to use it in the shower , it works much better than a dry shave .
Just keep in mind , if this is the first electric shaver for you , it is NOT as close as a razor shave , not even a little bit . It will take a few weeks for it to go a really good job on your face . If you can wait out the two or three weeks , this type of product is for you , otherwise , stick to the razor .
135 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
The Panasonic ES8109S provides me with an excellent shave . I rate it 4.5 stars . However , I have stored the elaborate cleaner and charger ( overkill ) under my bathroom sink , and I use the simpler charging and cleaning methods that the instructions offer as equally acceptable options .
148 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I have used a razor blade type shaver ( two & four blade ) for over forty years and thought I was getting a good shave . The fact is that this electric shaver beats the razors hands down and it does it without burning my face . The automatic cleaning cycle is very nice as well . I let it clean the shaver every third day . I use an inexpensive electric pre-shave and that works just fine . I do not shave with this electric shave in the shower , but could if I wanted to do so .
150 4 This is hands down the best electric shaver I ever have had . It shaves my face better than a regular razor . The results are amazing ! The best part is when I am done , I just put it in the cleaner unit and it takes care of getting it ready for my next use . Also , I like the large digital display of the power level . . . I can read it clearly without my glasses .
If you want the best shave you can get regardless if it's electric or not , this is the shaver for you . You will love it just like I do .
152 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
This electric razor will shave you close to a blade razor . You don't even feel it cutting . At first I thought that was weird after using a Nokia Series 7 with rotary blades . The Nokia always left my skin irritated due to constant running of the razor on one spot to get all the hair .
The Panasonic will get them with 2 or 3 runs . You can run it deeper and more if you want to get the closest shave and it will not irritate you . It's simply amazing .
Some additional features are water based cleaning base ( cheaper refills ) , super accurate sideburn trimmer , and nice display . This razor's price is also a winner . To my understanding it shaves as good or better then high end Brauns or Nokias , but it has half initial and ongoing costs .
159 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I debated a long time on whether to buy an electric shaver again after many years of being a blade boy ! I got tired of not getting even one decent shave from G . . . . . . e blades ; I used to get maybe up to 10 decent shaves from a blade , but now the blade quality is so bad , to me , that even the first blade shave is uncomfortable ; nicks , scrapes , etc . . So . . . I bought this Panasonic ES8109S and after using it a few times to perfect my technique and learning what the shaver can do and how it does it , all I can say is I'm VERY satisfied with it . I use a shave gel and it helps keep my face smooth and soothed after I shave . It's great this shaver can be used in the bath / shower or with water at the sink ! The cleaner / dryer / charger it comes with I'm very happy with too , it does a good job and I don't find it loud , as one reviewer mentioned . Reading the reviews it's apparent most people swear by it and a few swear at it ! To each their own I guess ! Not all things work well for all people . . . ( Personally , I recommend it ! )
163 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I almost never write reviews , so why am I writing one now ? Because I think a lot of people will benefit from what I have to say . I've been using the Norelco Spectra 8894XL rotary for years . I guess if it's good for 007 it's good enough for me . Movie advertising really does work . Before that I was a blade person . I still use the blade occasionally when I want a smooth shave .
The Norelco never could come close to the blade even with the Spectra set to the closest shave setting . So why did I go to the electric shaver . Speed and convenience . Don't need to worry about packing shaving cream when I fly . It still always took at least 6 minutes for the Spectra to do a reasonable job . Three to four years ago , when I had to replace the Spectra blades I thought I would take a look at the foil shavers . I went on to Amazon and read the reviews . There really did not appear to be a major difference between the rotary and foil products . Each had enough offsetting pluses an minuses so I didn't really see a clear winner . I stayed with the Spectra .
Finally , a few weeks ago my Spectra battery died . I opened up the case , saw that the battery was basically soldered to a circuit board . Thanks a lot Norelco . Time to look at some alternative options . First thing I did was go to Amazon . They have the most thorough reviews for these types of products on the web . Reviews from a lot of other web sites are basically copy and pasted from Amazon . After I read the reviews , and looked at the distribution of ratings , it appeared that the Panasonic foil product line was getting consistently higher reviews vs other foils and the rotaries . When you see the number of reviews rated 5 or 4 vs the number at 1 or 2 , and the 5 / 4 ' s outnumber the 1 / 2 ' s by almost 9 to 1 , it's time to start paying attention . And this wasn't just for the Panasonic foil I bought , which was the ES8109S , but all of the Panasonics were getting consistently high reviews . One recommendation , Amazon , is you should come up with an average rating number . Just helps a little , especially if there are a large number of reviews .
I settled with the ES8109S . Best price for the features and technology , including the cleaning unit . Just $20 more than the bare bones shaver . If the cleaner becomes a pain , just don't use it . For $104 on Amazon , it was worth a try . Got the shaver yesterday . I read the directions . Panasonic needs to hire some better technical writers . Their instructions are in a treasure map format . It's all there , but you need to cipher to break the code . Just a few more sentences and better organized layout , and I think they could sell more units , especially if people download the manual before they buy a product . I have an advanced engineering degree and it still took me an inordinate amount to time to figure out what the hell they were talking about . What's a course ? Replace that word with sequence and use some other American English words in some other instances and the manual will be more readable . Panasonic , hire some good American English technical writers . Please .
Finally , I set up the shaver and the cleaner while heeding all the warnings delineated in the manual . Nothing blew up or smoked , or spilled . That was a good sign . Charged the unit overnight and tried it out in the morning . I was more than impressed . How can I make up for all the time I lost using the stupid Spectra ? It took me less than half the time , under 3 minutes , to get a shave that was far better than what the Spectra will ever be capable of , and that's coming from a foil virgin . FYI , I don't have a very heavy beard , but enough to frighten the cat in the morning . Face burn , not a problem with this unit . The shave rivaled the blade . Rotary users , take a look the this Panasonic line next time you're in the market . The learning curve is non-existent . I was a little reluctant making the change to a foil , and I'm glad I switched .
165 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
Tried this shaver for a couple weeks . Tried to let my skin ' get accustomed ' to a foil shaver . After those two weeks , the shave was still as bad as the first day . No matter what I tried , I couldn't get it to shave the sides of my neck properly . I went over the same areas dozens of times , making my skin practically raw , and it failed to provide a clean shave . In places where it did shave , my skin felt sensitive and inflamed afterwards . It did give a good shave in some areas but most still felt rough . And then there was my neck that just didn't work at all .
The cleaner is nice , although quite loud and pretty cheap-looking . I didn't get the feeling it would last very long .
This may work for some people but it didn't work for me .
167 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I gave up electric shavers years ago but tried this on a lark and am impressed . I think the abiltiy to use in the shower is a big plus . I still have trouble shaving my neck and the far sides of my jaw . I hope that will change as my face adjusts to electric shaving . I have noticed that i have less shadow at teh end of the day , suggesting that I am getting a closer shave than baldes . I read somewhere that blade shaving looks closer at first because it causes the skin to swell , but that wears off after a short period of time . That could well be true . I'm sticking with this electric .
170 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
shaves okay but it feels like you have nothing in your hand .
if you drop it even on a soft surface the possibilities of damage are endless . the cleaning mode is extremely loud and annoying . i've used panasonic electric razors for many years , this one is more of a toy than a mans grooming tool .
overall i think i might go back to using a braun or an older model panasonic if i can find one .
174 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
It is a solid product . Close shave . Quiet compared to my past electric razors . The cleaning process takes about 45 minutes after each use . No complaints after using it for about 30 days .
176 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
Owned for over a year and still working great . Provides a close shave , trimmer works fine , battery requires little charging . Best electric razor I have owned.Only con to the razor is it is rather loud .
178 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I am completely satisfied with the Panasonic ES8109S Wet / Dry Shaver . It provides a very close shave either wet or dry . I shave my head so the shaver has been challenged . I can say that it shaves my head much better than I expected . It is truly as close as a razor . It is easy to clean and recharges quickly . I get about 6 head / face shaves with each charge . The pop up trimmer makes this razor a complete grooming tool . The HydraClean system is great for cleaning the unit when I am in a hurry and don't want to take the time to clean it by hand . The versatility of the charger / cleaner is a plus . This is a great product and I highly recommend it . Especially to the men that also shave their heads .
179 4 I am completely satisfied with the Panasonic ES8109S Wet / Dry Shaver . It provides a very close shave either wet or dry . I shave my head so the shaver has been challenged . I can say that it shaves my head much better than I expected . It is truly as close as a razor . It is easy to clean and recharges quickly . I get about 6 head / face shaves with each charge . The pop up trimmer makes this razor a complete grooming tool . The HydraClean system is great for cleaning the unit when I am in a hurry and don't want to take the time to clean it by hand . The versatility of the charger / cleaner is a plus . This is a great product and I highly recommend it . Especially to the men that also shave their heads .
180 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I am mostly a blade guy and have been dissappointed with electrics over the years but decided to give this one a try . The shave actually is close , the operation is smooth , and it is quiet enough that you can hear it cut the hairs !
183 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I have no complains about this shaver . Very good quality as expected from Panasonic .
The neatest thing about it is the care of it - cleaning - you just put it in the cradle push a button and the next time you use it is nice and clean .
185 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
Gives a great close shave . I use it to shave my head . Fast and easy . Works great ! Liked it so much , I bought my brother one !
187 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I am 71 and was finding it increasingly difficult to shave with a razor as beard was not only grayish white but harder to cut . Perhaps any electric shaver would be better than what I was doing . So based on reviewers comments on Amazon I purchased this shaver and observe that not only do I get a closer shave , which surprised me , but a more comfortable shave .
190 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
Good quality item , sent fast by Amazon ! I recently started my year-long deployment to Afghanistan and wanted a good shaver that charged and cleaned . And this is that ! Thank you .
193 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
Great shaver , cuts close and easy to keep clean even without the hydraclean system . I would recommend to others .
195 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
This product was a good buy . While it did not provide as close of a shave as I hoped for , it did not irritate my face and cleanup was easy . It takes about five minutes to fully shave with this product , I have found that I have to go over areas of my face multiple times .
The cleaning function of the base works well , but it is very noisy and takes a long time . The battery life of the shaver is more than adequate , it should last for between five and seven shaves .
Although this product is touted as suitable for wet use , I found that the shave quality suffers greatly unless you rinse off the shaver and your face every couple passes .
Overall a good product with a moderate price .
198 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I had gone back to a Braun shaver for awhile , but really didn't like the shave . In my estimation , the Panasonic shevers are the best and this particular model balances cost with function quite nicely . Gives me a close shave , plus I really like to be able to shave in the shower . Use a non-foaming gel for best result and clean shaver regularly and you will have no problems . Highly recommend ! !
200 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
Never used electric razor until now . Panasonic exceed my expectations , and glad I chose one with wet and dry capabilities . First shave is the most difficult . Once the hair adapts to new type of blade , shave is very smooth . Superb performance .
202 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I have been using the new shaver for several weeks now and I can safely say that I have never had a better shave in my life . My last Panasonic was a present given to me by my Son for my birthday in 1988 . It still works fine today , but I thought that I should retire it after 22 years and try a new Panasonic . I'm glad I did ! ! !
204 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
This was on my son's wish list so I bought it for Christmas . He really loves it and comes with high recommendations .
207 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I've only been using this shaver for 2 weeks so far but I'm extremely happy with it . The main thing about it is that it does not tug and scrape on my face and so I don't feel all beat up after my shave . I have only used it in the shower and I use a shaving oil and it all works very well .
209 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I've been using this shaver for over a month now and it is by far the best shaver I have ever used . I have sensitive skin and this shaver has been truly amazing since the get-go . For years I've used very expensive Norelco's and they don't even compare . . . the Panasonic is a great investment . The closeness of the shaver is far better than I anticipated , Sharper Image was right giving this thing an award .
211 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
This is the best electric shaver that is sold . I recommend this to all . It is at a cheap price . Excellent ! !
213 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
I bought this after having nothing but problems with a Braun . I went through 2 cleaning bases ( and had to pay for the replacement even though it was supposed to still be covered under warranty ) .
The Panasonic is a joy to use - wet or dry it gives an excellent shave . With the Braun , I had to keep a razor in the shower to touch up my neck and jawline . The Panasonic gets everything .
My only complaint ? I wish the cleaning solution smelled like citrus but I'm willing to give that up for a razor and cleaner that actually works .
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
This is my third electric shaver in eight years . My first was a Braun Syncro 7526 ( with a cleaning stand ) , which I bought back in January of 2001 . The second is a Norelco 7885XL , bought in January of 2004 . I wrote a review of both those electric shavers here at Amazon . Both of them are still working . The Braun has had its set of foil and cutter replaced a few times over the years . Basically , I replace my shavers after four years of daily use to upgrade to newer technology . My newest electric shaver , the Panasonic ES8109S , is the subject of this review .
This Panasonic is a versatile shaver . Unlike my previous electric razors , this one can be used wet . Basically , you can use it with your shaving cream , just like a regular blade razor . And like a typical electric razor , you can use it dry . You can clean it with soap and water , or you can use the cleaning stand . The 8109S gives you choices .
Ok , you're thinking , This Citan has been using an electric razor for eight years . I'll buy whatever he recommends . He's the new electric razor guru , the next best thing to God . A Stud among us ! . Now , I appreciate your vote of confidence , but I am no electric razor guru . And definitely not a God . Stud maybe . . .
So , what has been the closest shave of the past eight years ? There was a period of about 4 - 5 months during those eight years when I took a break from the electric razor and tried a Gillette Mach 3 . I started with the typical shaving gel and found that the Mach 3 shave was only marginally smoother than the Braun Syncro's . Eventually , I decided to try using a shaving brush and a shaving soap with the Mach 3 . And that my friends , gave me the best shave of my life ! However , it was also messy and probably wasteful of hot water . Not to mention the fact that the replacement blades for the Mach 3 were somewhat expensive . You see , to get the best ( and most comfortable ! ) shave out of a blade razor , you have to replace the blade often . Once a week , in my case . Once you feel the razor tugging , it's time for a new blade . So , I went back to the electric razor and have not looked back since . And no , I do not have the courage to try a straight razor !
This Panasonic shaves better than the old Braun and the old Norelco . It is the most comfortable of the three . Perhaps because the ultra-fast blades lessen the chances of the razor tugging on your beard . The beard gets sheared off before the razor can move . Hence , you will not even feel the slightest pull . I wanted to try how the Panasonic will perform when used with a shaving soap . Using a shaving brush , I whipped up some foam on a mug , wet my face with hot water , and lathered it on . Under those conditions , the Panasonic gave me the best shave that I can remember . In fact , I now shave at night , before bed . The shave is so good that my face is smooth all throughout the next work day .
Now , does it make sense to use a shaving brush and a shaving soap with an electric razor ? Probably not , as that defeats the need for convenience . Citan would be late for work if he did this in the mornings ! . I will most likely go back to dry shaving very soon . But I just wanted to see the potential of the Panasonic .
How does it shave dry ? Very good . The best of any electric shaver that I have tried . But you will have to try it for yourself . The ergonomics are fine for me . If you have a prominent Adam's apple , you may be better off with a blade razor . The larger heads of the electric razors might make it hard to maneuver around your Adam's apple .
The cleaning stand is terrific ! The razor comes out clean and recharged . It also leaves an oily film on the foil for lubrication . While the razor can be cleaned with tap water and soap , I really do recommend the use of the cleaning stand . The cutters on this Panasonic oscillates very fast , against the foil . I am not an engineer , but I suspect the Panasonic has a greater need for lubrication than most other foil razors due to its faster speed .
My face did not require any adjustment time to get used to this shaver . I went from a Norelco 7885XL ( rotary type ) to this Panasonic with no issues whatsoever . Maybe your experience will be different . I have visited many shaving forums and message boards over the years . And there are some people who will always have trouble shaving , no matter the system they choose . I hope you're not one of those .
I recommend this shaving system to anyone who wants to try a new electric razor . The Panasonic wet-dry shavers are very versatile .
003 4 I've been using this Panasonic electric shaver with nano blade technology ( ES8228 or ES8109S ) for the past 2 months and love it . Without exaggeration , it gives me the closest shave ever , and I've been using the top of the line electrics from Norleco and Braun for over 20 years . I have compared the Panasonic shaver with nano blades with the Braun Pulsonic and Norelco Arcitec and found that the Panasonic gives me the closest shave . Dry shaving will also give you a close shave . You won't regret this foil beauty , and you can't beat the price .
063 4 This review is from :
Panasonic ES8109S Vortex Wet / Dry Shaver with Nano Technology and HydraClean System ( Health and Beauty )
This is my third electric shaver in eight years . My first was a Braun Syncro 7526 ( with a cleaning stand ) , which I bought back in January of 2001 . The second is a Norelco 7885XL , bought in January of 2004 . I wrote a review of both those electric shavers here at Amazon . Both of them are still working . The Braun has had its set of foil and cutter replaced a few times over the years . Basically , I replace my shavers after four years of daily use to upgrade to newer technology . My newest electric shaver , the Panasonic ES8109S , is the subject of this review .
This Panasonic is a versatile shaver . Unlike my previous electric razors , this one can be used wet . Basically , you can use it with your shaving cream , just like a regular blade razor . And like a typical electric razor , you can use it dry . You can clean it with soap and water , or you can use the cleaning stand . The 8109S gives you choices .
Ok , you're thinking , This Citan has been using an electric razor for eight years . I'll buy whatever he recommends . He's the new electric razor guru , the next best thing to God . A Stud among us ! . Now , I appreciate your vote of confidence , but I am no electric razor guru . And definitely not a God . Stud maybe . . .
So , what has been the closest shave of the past eight years ? There was a period of about 4 - 5 months during those eight years when I took a break from the electric razor and tried a Gillette Mach 3 . I started with the typical shaving gel and found that the Mach 3 shave was only marginally smoother than the Braun Syncro's . Eventually , I decided to try using a shaving brush and a shaving soap with the Mach 3 . And that my friends , gave me the best shave of my life ! However , it was also messy and probably wasteful of hot water . Not to mention the fact that the replacement blades for the Mach 3 were somewhat expensive . You see , to get the best ( and most comfortable ! ) shave out of a blade razor , you have to replace the blade often . Once a week , in my case . Once you feel the razor tugging , it's time for a new blade . So , I went back to the electric razor and have not looked back since . And no , I do not have the courage to try a straight razor !
This Panasonic shaves better than the old Braun and the old Norelco . It is the most comfortable of the three . Perhaps because the ultra-fast blades lessen the chances of the razor tugging on your beard . The beard gets sheared off before the razor can move . Hence , you will not even feel the slightest pull . I wanted to try how the Panasonic will perform when used with a shaving soap . Using a shaving brush , I whipped up some foam on a mug , wet my face with hot water , and lathered it on . Under those conditions , the Panasonic gave me the best shave that I can remember . In fact , I now shave at night , before bed . The shave is so good that my face is smooth all throughout the next work day .
Now , does it make sense to use a shaving brush and a shaving soap with an electric razor ? Probably not , as that defeats the need for convenience . Citan would be late for work if he did this in the mornings ! . I will most likely go back to dry shaving very soon . But I just wanted to see the potential of the Panasonic .
How does it shave dry ? Very good . The best of any electric shaver that I have tried . But you will have to try it for yourself . The ergonomics are fine for me . If you have a prominent Adam's apple , you may be better off with a blade razor . The larger heads of the electric razors might make it hard to maneuver around your Adam's apple .
The cleaning stand is terrific ! The razor comes out clean and recharged . It also leaves an oily film on the foil for lubrication . While the razor can be cleaned with tap water and soap , I really do recommend the use of the cleaning stand . The cutters on this Panasonic oscillates very fast , against the foil . I am not an engineer , but I suspect the Panasonic has a greater need for lubrication than most other foil razors due to its faster speed .
My face did not require any adjustment time to get used to this shaver . I went from a Norelco 7885XL ( rotary type ) to this Panasonic with no issues whatsoever . Maybe your experience will be different . I have visited many shaving forums and message boards over the years . And there are some people who will always have trouble shaving , no matter the system they choose . I hope you're not one of those .
I recommend this shaving system to anyone who wants to try a new electric razor . The Panasonic wet-dry shavers are very versatile .
127 4 I have extremely sensitive skin ; therefore , I needed to have a wet / dry shaver that would protect my skin and still offer an extremely close shave . Well , this is the product . I did quite a bit of research before purchasing , and I'm glad I did . I'm very pleased with the Panasonic ES8109S .
136 4 The Panasonic ES8109S provides me with an excellent shave . I rate it 4.5 stars . However , I have stored the elaborate cleaner and charger ( overkill ) under my bathroom sink , and I use the simpler charging and cleaning methods that the instructions offer as equally acceptable options .
137 4 I got a very good deal on the ES8109S Vortex , which makes it easier to appreciate . It's not perfect , but then again I never found a razor that could shave my thick beard perfectly . I still have a hard time with the neck area , but otherwise it's a fine tool . I recommend it .
160 4 I debated a long time on whether to buy an electric shaver again after many years of being a blade boy ! I got tired of not getting even one decent shave from G . . . . . . e blades ; I used to get maybe up to 10 decent shaves from a blade , but now the blade quality is so bad , to me , that even the first blade shave is uncomfortable ; nicks , scrapes , etc . . So . . . I bought this Panasonic ES8109S and after using it a few times to perfect my technique and learning what the shaver can do and how it does it , all I can say is I'm VERY satisfied with it . I use a shave gel and it helps keep my face smooth and soothed after I shave . It's great this shaver can be used in the bath / shower or with water at the sink ! The cleaner / dryer / charger it comes with I'm very happy with too , it does a good job and I don't find it loud , as one reviewer mentioned . Reading the reviews it's apparent most people swear by it and a few swear at it ! To each their own I guess ! Not all things work well for all people . . . ( Personally , I recommend it ! )
164 4 I almost never write reviews , so why am I writing one now ? Because I think a lot of people will benefit from what I have to say . I've been using the Norelco Spectra 8894XL rotary for years . I guess if it's good for 007 it's good enough for me . Movie advertising really does work . Before that I was a blade person . I still use the blade occasionally when I want a smooth shave .
The Norelco never could come close to the blade even with the Spectra set to the closest shave setting . So why did I go to the electric shaver . Speed and convenience . Don't need to worry about packing shaving cream when I fly . It still always took at least 6 minutes for the Spectra to do a reasonable job . Three to four years ago , when I had to replace the Spectra blades I thought I would take a look at the foil shavers . I went on to Amazon and read the reviews . There really did not appear to be a major difference between the rotary and foil products . Each had enough offsetting pluses an minuses so I didn't really see a clear winner . I stayed with the Spectra .
Finally , a few weeks ago my Spectra battery died . I opened up the case , saw that the battery was basically soldered to a circuit board . Thanks a lot Norelco . Time to look at some alternative options . First thing I did was go to Amazon . They have the most thorough reviews for these types of products on the web . Reviews from a lot of other web sites are basically copy and pasted from Amazon . After I read the reviews , and looked at the distribution of ratings , it appeared that the Panasonic foil product line was getting consistently higher reviews vs other foils and the rotaries . When you see the number of reviews rated 5 or 4 vs the number at 1 or 2 , and the 5 / 4 ' s outnumber the 1 / 2 ' s by almost 9 to 1 , it's time to start paying attention . And this wasn't just for the Panasonic foil I bought , which was the ES8109S , but all of the Panasonics were getting consistently high reviews . One recommendation , Amazon , is you should come up with an average rating number . Just helps a little , especially if there are a large number of reviews .
I settled with the ES8109S . Best price for the features and technology , including the cleaning unit . Just $20 more than the bare bones shaver . If the cleaner becomes a pain , just don't use it . For $104 on Amazon , it was worth a try . Got the shaver yesterday . I read the directions . Panasonic needs to hire some better technical writers . Their instructions are in a treasure map format . It's all there , but you need to cipher to break the code . Just a few more sentences and better organized layout , and I think they could sell more units , especially if people download the manual before they buy a product . I have an advanced engineering degree and it still took me an inordinate amount to time to figure out what the hell they were talking about . What's a course ? Replace that word with sequence and use some other American English words in some other instances and the manual will be more readable . Panasonic , hire some good American English technical writers . Please .
Finally , I set up the shaver and the cleaner while heeding all the warnings delineated in the manual . Nothing blew up or smoked , or spilled . That was a good sign . Charged the unit overnight and tried it out in the morning . I was more than impressed . How can I make up for all the time I lost using the stupid Spectra ? It took me less than half the time , under 3 minutes , to get a shave that was far better than what the Spectra will ever be capable of , and that's coming from a foil virgin . FYI , I don't have a very heavy beard , but enough to frighten the cat in the morning . Face burn , not a problem with this unit . The shave rivaled the blade . Rotary users , take a look the this Panasonic line next time you're in the market . The learning curve is non-existent . I was a little reluctant making the change to a foil , and I'm glad I switched .
182 4 I have been using the Panasonic ES8109 for about 7 months now . Prior to this I was a Norelco user for nearly 25 years . Why did I decide to try something different ? I found that over the last 10 years or so the quality of the Norelco products and the shave I received were both decidely in decline . Even right out of the box , the Norelco shave quality was marginal , and my face still felt like 100 grit sandpaper after working it over for 5 minutes . The Panasonic was an entirely different story . I have always used a dry shave , and the Panasonic gave me a smooth shave in the same amount of time .
I use the Panasonic hydrasonic cleaning device that came with it whenever the shaver gets around a 60 - 70% charge on it , which in my case is about 5 shaves . It still is giving me a great shave . The sideburn trimmer does a better job than the Norelco and operates at a higher trimming speed . I am on my third box of cleaner inserts for the cleaning unit , and each insert seems to last about 3 weeks . I bought the replacements through Amazon . The unit restores the shaving head unit and screen to their original condition . I have not noticed any deterioration of the blades so far , unlike the Norelco that seemed to fade after 4 - 5 months and you had press very hard to get even a marginal shave !
I would recommend this shaver for a good , close shave . I'm impressed with the quality of workmanship .
