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I take great pride in my beard. The old adage that facial fuzz is simply make-up for men is, in my case, true. It strengthens my jawline, increases my sense of masculinity, and gives me something to caress as I ponder life's mysteries. Given all that, I've gone to great lengths to test out the best electric shavers to keep my cheeks and neck as pristine as possible. From Braun to Remington, dozens of razorblades have passed over my chin, but I can only truly say I've enjoyed using one: Panasonic's new Series 900S.
The diminutive, travel-friendly shaver punches well above its tiny weight when clearing unwanted hair from my face and is now one of the first things I pack when heading out on trips. Honestly, it shouldn't take much consideration when you realise it's only slightly larger than an Apple AirPods 2 case and weighs less than the Oral-B iO10 electric toothbrush, which I also can't leave behind.
I didn't expect too many seismic shifts in the design of an electric shaver, but then it never dawned on me that a pebble-shaped foil shaver that fits snuggly in the palm of my hand is, in many ways, better than the oversized hourglass shapes we're used to. Having tested the shaver over many trips across the country over the Christmas break, I now won't travel anywhere without it.
Any shaver worth its salt should be powerful enough to eliminate pesky stubble from your chin without leaving a stinging razor burn in its wake, and many top-tier options like the Braun Series 9 Pro can do this. However, I am truly impressed with the Panasonic 900S' capability to deftly slice through my rough chin hair's growth from its lithe stature.
The foil strip comprises five blades that slice at 70,000 motions a second, which is more than enough to handle your 5 o'clock shadow, but if you've left your trim longer than a few days, the internal motor can detect the density of hairs as you shave and ramp up the power to get the job done.
In practice, this meant I could shave spontaneously as and when I noticed scruff getting out of hand without fear that my cheeks would be left sore and itchy. Around my beard, it kept my skin silky smooth, though I should mention it will definitely not like being pulled over longer, beard-length hair, so be precise if you're using it to trim up the neck or detail along the edges of your beard.
The waterproofing is handy for shower shaving, which presents a great opportunity to shave your body if you prefer a completely hairless aesthetic below the neck, too. A pop clutch releases the foil blades making it incredibly simple to clean and also means you can buy replacement blades and swap them out as needed.
We mentioned it looks similar to an Apple AirPods case, but it also charges similarly, with a USB-C port on the back to top it up. This makes it great for topping up on the go and further lends itself to fast-paced modern travellers who are still keen to keep the whiskers away. Add in the foil blade cover and you've got yourself the perfect grooming tool for your 2025 trips.
All of this is great, but my big issue is the price. At just under £300 (which is heavily discounted from the original RRP), it's a spenny companion for your travels alone, and there are more affordable travel-friendly options available if money is a deal-breaker. Philips' OneBlade and the Kemei Foil are excellent choices for less than £50, for example.
Aside from its frustratingly high price point, Panasonic's Series 900S electric shaver is a dream grooming tool for travellers. The pebble shape is easy to store unobtrusive in your washbag and it actually looks rather handsome (something I didn't picture myself saying about an electric shaver). Panasonic has built a shaver for the modern user here, with USB-C recharging, full waterproofing, replaceable blades and premium quality, all packaged up in a device no bigger than your palm.
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