Best Foil Shavers

Best foil electric shavers for all budgets

There are two types of men's shavers: foil and rotary. Foil shavers use oscillating blades that are tucked behind perforated foils, while rotary shavers use two to three spinning circular blades. Some users prefer foil shavers because they tend to provide a slightly closer shave. Experts say that neither type is necessarily better; rather, it's a matter of personal preference.

Many reviewers say name-brand shavers tend to be better than their off-brand counterparts because they have features  -- such as vibration, long battery life and greater flexibility -- that buoy their performance, comfort and durability. For the most part, reviewers say these extra bells and whistles are worth the price premium.

Overall, we saw the best comments for the Braun Series 7 shavers. Editors at Shavers.com, an online shaving shop and blog, say that the line of shavers reigns supreme and that no other manufacturers have been able to "keep strides" with the Braun Series 7 line. Braun's big innovation in these shavers is the motor, which generates 10,000 vibrations per stroke. Although a vibrating electric shaver might seem gimmicky, owners posting comments to Amazon.com, the Electric Razor Rap forum and other websites say the Series 7 shavers really do provide a slightly better, more comfortable shave. Editors at ShavingStuff.com, an enthusiast website that reviews several men's shavers, say that the Series 7 "shaves close with no pain or pulling of whiskers." Experts say that the vibrating action lifts stubble away from skin, making it easier to cut. The heads of the Series 7 shavers also have twice the flexing angle of earlier shavers, providing a closer and more comfortable shave around tricky areas, such as the chin and Adam's apple. Testers say the body of the Series 7 shavers is easier to grip than that of the step-down Braun Series 5 shavers, and they are quiet.  

Two of the three shavers in the Braun Series 7 line come with a clean-and-renew base that cleans, lubricates, dries and charges the shavers. All three shavers also can be rinsed under running water. The cordless Series 7 shavers can be used with a travel cord for recharging; the Lithium-ion batteries provide about 50 minutes of shave time from a 60-minute charge, and they have the first Energy Star-rated batteries for an electric shaver. All Braun 7 Series shavers offer settings for sensitive skin and an intense setting to customize the shave for different parts of the face. The main drawbacks are the shavers' price and the cost of refill cartridges (*Est. $14.50 for three) for the cleaning base, which needs changing about once a month.

The top-of-the-line Braun Series 7 790cc (*Est. $230) comes with a fast-clean mode that can clean the shaver in just 25 seconds and an LCD status monitor. The step-down Braun Series 7 760cc (*Est. $210) lacks the extra-fast cleaning mode, and it has LED lights instead of an LCD display. Both professional reviews and consumers posting at Amazon.com and other sites are enthusiastic about both models and give them high marks for ease and closeness of shaving, ease of cleaning and noise level. Of the two, we recommend the less expensive 760cc because reviewers say the performance of both shavers is identical, making the Braun Series 7 760cc a better value. The least expensive model in the series is the Braun Series 7 720s-4 (*Est. $185) , which lacks the cleaning system. The 720s-4 is rechargeable, and it can be used with the included power cord. 

Reviewers say the Series 7's vibrating shaver head makes for a closer, more comfortable shave and is worth the extra money over the otherwise similar Braun Series 5 shavers. However, many reviewers also like the Series 5 shavers, which are less expensive. The Braun Series 5 550cc-4 (*Est. $160) earns the top spot among seven foil shavers tested by Choice magazine, an Australia-based consumer testing organization. Testers report 70 minutes of shaving time after a one-hour charge, 20 minutes beyond Braun's 50-minute claim for the Series 7. Among more than 20 owner-written reviews on Amazon.com, the Braun 550cc-4 earns an average rating of 4 stars out of 5. Most say it provides a close, comfortable shave and is easy to handle. There are a few detractors who disagree, saying this electric shaver doesn't shave close enough.

All Braun shavers are dry shavers, which means you can rinse them under a tap, but you can't take them into a shower or pair them with shaving cream. If you prefer a wet shave, consider a wet/dry electric shaver. Though there aren't many professional reviews of wet/dry shavers, Panasonic electric shavers get excellent reviews from owners at Amazon.com, where most models have garnered hundreds of user reviews.

Wet/dry foil electric shavers

The Panasonic Vortex ES8109S (*Est. $110) is for wet or dry use, and can even be used in the shower. It earns lots of positive feedback at sites that post user reviews like Amazon.com, where it averages 4.5 stars out of 5 in more than 400 reviews. Users say that the Panasonic Vortex gives a close shave without causing as much irritation as other shavers. However, one professional consumer-testing organization says it's very loud while shaving and cleaning, and owners report it tends to miss spots on the neck, especially around the Adam's apple.

Several owners compare the Panasonic Vortex ES8109S to comparable Braun shavers, noting that the Panasonic electric razor is significantly less expensive. The Panasonic Vortex electric razor includes a cleaning/charging unit that uses a special alcohol-free solution to clean the shaver. Some users complain that the cleaning cycle takes a while, but experts at ShavingStuff.com say the "built-in cleaning system keeps the razor in top shape." Cleaning cartridges last for a month and cost about $3.40 each, which is less expensive than comparable cartridges for Braun electric shavers.

The Panasonic Vortex's shaving head has a selector that adjusts the amount of pivot to the user's preference. Several owners posting to Amazon.com say the convex shape of the Panasonic Vortex's shaving head is better for shaving the neck and other tricky areas than the Braun Series 7's straight but flexible head. The Panasonic Vortex's linear motor operates at 13,000 rpm, and a 60-minute charge provides about 40 minutes of shave time. There's also a five-minute quick-charge feature. This Panasonic electric shaver also has a cord adapter for traveling. Panasonic offers a 30-day, money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty.

The Panasonic Arc IV Nano - ES8243A (*Est. $120) has a linear motor and pivoting head, but it has four blades, letting it cover more area in a single pass. The foils are also arced to provide a close but gentle shave. Reviews at Amazon.com are enthusiastic, with more than 600 owners contributing to an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. Many owners say the Arc IV Nano is a comfortable shave, though some report that it doesn't work well on the neck. The Panasonic Arc IV Nano Vortex ES8249S (*Est. $140) is the same, but it comes with the HydraClean self-cleaning system.

A newer addition to the Panasonic lineup, the Multi-Flex ES-LA63 (*Est. $165) , adds a vibrating head with a 14,000-rpm motor. It has two motors in the shaving head -- one that moves the blades up and down and another that moves them from side to side. Like the Arc IV, the Multi-Flex has four arced blades, allowing it to cover more surface area. It can be used wet or dry, with or without shaving cream. The Multi-Flex ES-LA63 performs well in a comparison conducted by one consumer testing organization, earning a score of "very good" for ease of use, ease of cleaning and noise level. More than 200 owners posting to Amazon.com contribute to a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars overall. Owners say the ES-LA63 electric shaver provides a very close shave that rivals that of a manual razor and doesn't irritate sensitive skin. Many also say they are impressed with how easy it is to clean; a cleaning mode allows users to rinse it under running water while it vibrates to help to clear debris.

The step-up model, the Panasonic ES-LA93 (*Est. $250) , includes a self-cleaning stand as well as the same vibrating cleaning mode. The ES-LA93 gets top marks from the U.K's Which? magazine, where it takes fourth place among 23 electric shavers. Testers say it is easy to use and the vibrating head lifts difficult-to-remove stubble, resulting in a very close shave. Testers also like the pop-up trimmer that gives a "precise finish" to sideburns and beards. Reviewers say the Panasonic ES-LA93 shaver is a bit noisy, however, and very expensive. Both the ES-LA63 and ES-LA93 electric shavers have an illuminated LCD display that indicates battery status and reminds users when to clean the shaving head. It takes one hour for a full charge that lasts for up to 14 shavings.

If you're looking for a good electric shaver under $50, AnnaAndKristina.com recommends the Panasonic ES-SA40-K Rechargeable Wet/Dry Shaver with Floating Head (*Est. $30). Anna Wallner and Kristina Matisic, hosts of the syndicated Canadian talk show "The Shopping Bags," enlist several testers to try each of four models for three weeks. In general, rotary shavers seem to work better for rounder faces or denser beards, but foil shavers are favored by the testers with thinner hair and more angular faces.

The Panasonic ES-SA40-K doesn't compete with more expensive models for speed (the motor runs at 8,800 rpm), but most reviews indicate it does the job well and does not irritate skin. About 90 owners weighing in on Amazon.com contribute to an average rating of 4 stars out of 5. It also maintains an average of 4.5 stars out of 5 in more than 50 reviews on Walmart.com. About three-fourths of Amazon.com reviewers and 95 percent of those posting to Walmart.com say they're pleased by the close, comfortable shave and wet/dry functionality of the Panasonic ES-SA40-K Rechargeable Wet/Dry Shaver. A slide-up trimmer shapes sideburns and mustaches, and cleaning is as simple as running it under water. One major downside is charging time; an 8-hour charge lasts through about seven three-minute shaves. Nonetheless, most owners say the battery holds a charge well. A number of users say this electric shaver doesn't work well on longer hair (a full day or two of growth) and isn't the best at navigating tricky areas like the chin and neck. A travel pouch and AC adaptor are included, and the Panasonic Rechargeable Wet/Dry Shaver comes with a one-year warranty.

Travel shavers

Most major brands offer a variety of electric shavers designed specifically for travel. Owners posting to Amazon.com say the compact Braun MobileShave M-90 (*Est. $24) may be budget-priced, but it doesn't skimp on functionality. The MobileShave M-90, formerly known as the Braun PocketGo P-70, maintains an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 in more than 100 reviews. Owners say they like it for travel as well as for midday touch-ups at work or the gym. It also has a wide floating foil, offers a pop-out long-hair trimmer and can be rinsed clean under the tap. The Braun M-90 travel shaver runs on two AA batteries, so you don't have to lug around a charger. Some users suggest using rechargeable batteries to cut down on replacement costs.

Most users say they are impressed by the MobileShave M-90's close shave, and a few even say they use it as their primary home shaver. A twist-open cap protects the foil; during use it functions as an extension to the handle for a better grip and easier maneuverability. Critics say the MobileShave M-90 doesn't shave close enough or isn't adequate for shaving the neck and other contoured areas. A few say it's completely useless, and there are a handful of complaints that the foil doesn't seem durable.