Panasonic ES8078S Vortex HyrdraClean Wet/Dry Shaving System
|
List Price: Category: Health Care See more product details |
|---|
(Click here)
Customer Reviews of Panasonic ES8078S Vortex HyrdraClean Wet/Dry Shaving System
Customer Review: The next generation
Summary: 5 Stars
I've owned a Panasonic ES8066 for 5 or 6 years now and totally love it. It was time for a new screen and blades though, so I started shopping for them online. Along came this deal. It was about $20 more than the screen and blades would have been, but I thought, what the heck - self-cleaning, pivot design and 3,000 more RPMs than my current model - let's give it a shot. Man, am I glad that I did!!! This sucker rocks. My ES8066 would require multiple passes in those hard-to-reach areas (like between my jawbone and earlobe) and I would still find missed whiskers... Not anymore. This razor gets them all on the first pass. Also, I tend to let my beard go from Thursday to Monday morning (and anytime I don't otherwise "have" to shave) so it can get pretty unruly with extra long growth. I used to dread the first pass with my ES8066 because, without fail, some of those hairs would get yanked instead of cut - OUCH! I hated that aspect but felt it a small price to pay for such a clean, close shave. Once again, that extra 3,000 RPM that this razor gives me over what my old one did has put an end to all of those "OUCH" moments. I recently let my beard grow out even longer than normal over vacation and, much to my surprise, when it was time to mow it down, not a single whisker was pulled - just cut, smooth as a baby's bottom.
I won't be throwing out my ES8066 - it still runs like brand new. Nope, I'll be passing it along to my oldest son in a year or two (with a new screen and blades). It's too good a razor to throw away, but it's not nearly as good as my new ES8078S!!!
Customer Review: Great shaver from a razor convert
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a great product, but even with greatness comes caveats. First thing is first, this product works but NOT right away. It took around 3 weeks for the shave to come out right, before then I looked liked a half-shaven monster. I recommend shaving right AFTER a shower, because your whiskers are standing up.
After the "conversion" to electric I am believer. Shaves are just as fast as razor and ALMOST as smooth. There are still rough spots that won't come off, but thats the tradeoff for being able to shave anywhere. I share a bathroom with 4 other people, and I can not afford to stay and shave with a razor all the time. Being able to shave in my room and just as quickly is great. I shaved for a good 10 years before I got this product, and I am just as happy as I was before.
Pros:
-convenient, shave anywhere easily
-save money on razors and shaving cream( although you can use shaving cream, there really is no difference)
-relatively cheap for a high quality electric
-easy to clean using soap and water under a tap
-less irritation in long run
Cons
-not as smooth as a razor, might still have spots
-adapting takes time, up to 4 weeks
- need to "rub" your skin with the electric for it to work(can be irritation for some, but eventually it feels smoother)
-doesn't work that well in shower
One last recommendation is to use some sort of finishing lotion to make your face feel better after a shave.
Customer Review: It's ok...not much more.
Summary: 3 Stars
I've been using this razor for just about a year now after buying it as an Amazon Gold Box special. The blade is due for replacement, but I believe it's time to move along to another machine.
The pros:
It's inexpensive as far as decent electric razors go.
The shaving head is shaped to allow the razor to get in everywhere. I prefer the closeness of Norelco razors, but that edge that surrounds the discs on all of them prevents the razor from being able to get under my nose.
It provides a decent shave over most of my face, a passable shave over part of it, and a horrible shave over other parts.
The cons:
If I don't pre-clean the head before using the HydraClean base, the cartridge is only good for about eight uses. With pre-cleaning by holding the running unit under water with the cap off and rinsing the cap, the cartridges last a month or so.
After a bit shy of a year, the head is starting to dull. Now, it pulls instead of cuts (ouch!).
It's very slow. I have to pass the razor over certain areas of my face upwards of a dozen times from various directions to get a smooth shave. I can shave with a regular razor and wash off the excess shaving cream in close to half the time it takes to shave with this razor.
The cleaning cycle takes forever. I'm pretty sure the Panasonic has run more while being cleaned than it has while actually shaving.
Customer Review: Very nice, expected more - Waste of money
Summary: 3 Stars
Update after 3 weeks. The cleaning system barely cleans. The only way I can shave my neck is to run several passes in different directions to get it all.
I've only shaved with this razor 4 times so far.
The first time, I shaved wet, with regular shaving cream. It was very messy and took a very long time. I also slashed my neck in a few places rather bad.
But, the shave was very smooth.
Second time, I shaved dry and this was when I realised that this shaver works well only when shaving against the grain ! This is my first electric shaver and all my life I've never shaved against the grain as I don't want to have to deal with in-grown hair roots on my face.
Third time I shaved wet and it still was very messy and took about 15 mins to shave. Got a couple cuts as well but pretty minor
Now I only shave dry as it takes about 5 - 8 mins and I don't get any cuts either. The only thing that is painful is that I have to shave against the grain for it to even work. This makes it very hard to use on the neck as I have hair growing in many different directions thus requiring me to go back and forth repeatedly in several directions and angles to get a smooth shave.
The cleaning apparatus makes a hell of a noise and does not clean that well either. Just soap and running water does a better job of cleaning.
Customer Review: Panasonic is great, but foil shavers yank hair
Summary: 4 Stars
Just wanted to add one thing not mentioned, for those who haven't used a foil-type shaver. If you go for over 2-3 days without shaving, you'll have to use the trimmer to cut the hair down to a stubble before using the shaver, unless you enjoy having your facial hair violently yanked out. This happens most often on your neck, due to the hair growth angle.
However, I also have an older Panasonic foil shaver and it doesn't do this. Before getting the Hydraclean, I was using the Panasonic to cut the hair down to stubble, then finished with a rotary Norelco. I'd hoped this new one would allow me to get rid of those two old shavers, but for some reason, it pulls more than any razor I've ever seen.
Also, the short life (4 weeks claimed, 6-8 in practice) of the cleaning cartridges is a downside. They may be relatively inexpensive, but monthly "service charges" to shave is an annoyance. It's also a main reason why I stopped using razors.
All that aside, Panasonic is a high-quality, full-featured brand. The old Panasonic wet/dry I mentioned is going on 10 years old and still works great with the original foils and blades. Even the battery holds a charge for days on end.
This shaver is definitely a cool gadget. Its ability to be used as a wet/dry shaver is a plus. It's pricey, but well worth it if you want to buy a shaver and keep it for the next decade.