Best Foil Shavers

Dry and wet/dry foil electric shavers

Overall, we saw the best comments for the Braun Series 7 shavers (formerly the Braun Pulsonic). The big innovation in these shavers is the motor, which generates 10,000 vibrations per minute. This shaver's head has twice the flexing angle of earlier shavers, and testers say its body is easier to grip than that of the step-down Braun Series 5 shavers (formerly the Braun 360 Complete). Overall, reviewers say the Braun Series 7 does about as good a job as any foil shaver on the market, and it's quiet to boot.

The two shavers in the Braun Series 7 line come with a clean-and-renew base that cleans and charges the shavers at the same time. The cordless Series 7 shavers can also 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-qualified batteries for an electric shaver. The main downsides are the shavers' price and the cost of refill cartridges (*Est. $6 each) for the cleaning base, which needs changing about once a month.

The top-of-the-line Braun Series 7 790cc (*Est. $230) comes with the clean-and-renew base (with a fast-clean mode) and an LCD status monitor. The step-down Braun Series 7 760cc (*Est. $215) includes the base unit but not the extra-fast cleaning, and it has LED lights instead of an LCD. Of the two, we recommend the less expensive 760cc because reviewers say the performance of both shavers is the same, making it a better value.

As noted, the Braun 360 Complete line is now the Braun Series 5. Reviewers say the Series 7's vibrating shaver head is worth the extra money over the Series 5, with most testers saying that the vibrations do make for a closer, more comfortable shave. However, many reviewers like Series 5 shavers, which are less expensive.

Another solid option is the Braun Series 1 190 (*Est. $50). The Braun Series 1 190 (formerly the Braun Free Control 1775) gets high scores from experts and users. The Braun Series 1 is more basic than the Braun Series 7 or Braun Series 5; it doesn't vibrate, and there's no clean-and-charge base. This electric shaver uses a free-float shaving system with a single floating extra-wide foil. A one-hour charge provides up to 30 minutes of shaving time from two NiMH batteries (the shaver operates with or without a cord), and there's a slide-up trimmer as well.

All Braun shavers are dry shavers. 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.

The Panasonic ES8109S Vortex HydraClean Linear Pivot Shaver (*Est. $110) is for wet or dry use, even in the shower. It scores well with lots of feedback at consumer-review sites like Amazon.com, and its predecessor, the Panasonic ES8077S, is recommended by 3Luxe.com as one of the top electric shavers.

The Vortex includes a cleaning/charging unit that uses a special nonalcohol solution to clean the shaver. Some users say the cleaning cycle takes a while and can be loud. Cleaning cartridges last for a month and cost about $5 each, which is a bit less expensive than cartridges for Braun.

The Panasonic's pivoting head has a selector that adjusts the amount of pivot to the user's preference. The linear motor operates at 13,000 rpm. A 60-minute charge provides about 40 minutes of shave time, and there's a five-minute quick-charge feature. This shaver also uses the cord adapter when traveling. Panasonic offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty.

Another Panasonic Vortex shaver, the ES8228S (*Est. $130), is receiving good user reviews on Electric Razor Rap, Amazon.com and elsewhere, but is a touch more expensive than the ES8109S. Both models have arc-shaped foils and adjustable pivoting heads. The triple blades are sharpened using nano technology, although no reviewers explain clearly how this works.

The Arc IV Nano Vortex ES8243 (*Est. $160) is Panasonic's latest introduction to the market. Much like earlier Vortex shavers, it has a linear motor and a pivoting head, but it has four blades to cover more area in a single pass. The foils are also arced to provide a closer but gentle shave. Reviews at Amazon.com are enthusiastic, with many saying the Arc IV Nano Vortex is a comfortable shave, but some say it doesn't work well on the neck. Panasonic Arc IV Nano Vortex ES8249 (*Est. $220) is the same, but comes with a HydraClean self-cleaning system.

The Remington MicroScreen MS2-390 (*Est. $55) gets good reviews from experts and users for its solid construction and affordable price. It is a basic electric shaver without any bells and whistles, but one test found that it performs nearly as well as the highly rated Braun Series 5 570cc (*Est. $175), for a fraction of the price. Users at Amazon.com are also generally pleased with the shaver and say that you can't beat it for the price. Several say it gives a close shave and holds its charge for several days at a time. Many owners complain, however, that it is very loud and that the pop-up trimmer is too bulky to be of much use.

Travel shavers

All major brands offer a variety of electric shavers designed specifically for travel. One highly rated model in this category is the Braun PocketGo P-70 (*Est. $15). This small unit, formerly known as the Braun 370 PocketGo, is named the best travel shaver by Electric Shaver Service, and it's also a favorite at Amazon.com and Epinions.com. The Braun P-70 runs on two AA batteries, has an extra-narrow shaving head with platinum-coated foil and offers a pop-out long-hair trimmer.