The ES8249 S might be the best Panasonic electric shaver on the market, especially when price is a big factor.
Fortunately I've had a chance to use this Panasonic razor and I've enjoyed it quite a bit. Not only do I believe
it's one of the best Panasonic shavers, but it's probably one of the top foil shavers available today.
Let's jump right into our Panasonic ES8249 S review and try and explain why this shaver is rated so well.
Table of Contents:
What's in the box
Cleaning station set up
Manually cleaning
Shaver design and specs
My shaving experience
Final thoughts
Video review
Before we open the box, I want to clear up some confusion regarding other similar models. There are so many
similar shavers and model numbers that it can be quite hard to keep track of them all.
For starters, the Panasonic ES8249 "S" is the same model as the ES8249 "K". The only difference is that the K
model is black.
The Panasonic ES8109 S is a very similar model except it only has 3 blades where the ES8249 has 4 blades.
Lastly, the Panasonic ES8103 S is the exact same razor as the ES8109S which is 3 bladed, except it does not come
with any cleaning station.
We'll touch on these distinctions again when we analyze the price of each model.
OK, now that we've covered that, let the Panasonic electric shaver review actually begin!
What's in the Box
Enter the Panasonic ES8249 S.
Here is a full list of items you will find when you order this men's electric shaving model:
Panasonic ES8249 S Razor
1 Panasonic Cleaning Cartridge
Traveling Case
Electrical Cord
Water Tank
Cleaning and Charging Base
Set of Instructions
Cleaning Station Set Up - HydraClean
The HydraClean cleaning and charging station on this Panasonic electric shaver is a good size. It's not too big and should
fit nicely in most bathrooms.
With many of the top shaving units, the cleaning station is a major selling point and quite a luxury item. I
personally love the fact that you can just drop your shaver into the charger and press a few buttons to clean,
dry and charge your shaver.
In the time that I've used this cleaning system I've had no issues whatsoever. Each cleaning session takes about
1 to 1.5 hours and there's always the option of cleaning it manually if you're short on time.
When you buy this Panasonic electric shaver you are supplied with 1 Panasonic cleaning cartridge. The product name is the Panasonic WES035P Vortex HydraClean Shaving System Solution Cartridges. Technically
this should last you 1 month if you were to clean your shaver daily. However many people can stretch this to
several months by regularly cleaning the shaver manually.
With every shaver I personally use, I just use the cleaning station each time, but many people want to reduce
the cost of buying new cartridges. So using the cleaning base every other shave can help you do this.
You can
buy a set of 3 new cartridges for a retail price of $15 so there is an added expense, but it's not too bad.
Remember, there's always an added expense of buying new disposable blades and shaving cream when you're not
using electric shavers.
Initially setting up the cleaning base will require you to fill up the water tank and attach it to the back of
the unit. This should be fully rinsed and washed out every time you change a cleaning cartridge.
The cleaning cartriges that are used with the Panasonic ES8249 S are not alcohol based. What this means is that
they won't dissolve when the cleaning station isn't being used. In the instructions manual it's stated that they
expire within 6 months of purchasing, but this is still an advantage over other cleaning cartridges which can
dissolve within about 8 weeks of opening them.
Using the cleaning base is pretty straightforward, but requires a bit more effort than some other similar
models. On the right side of the cleaning base there is a select button. When you finish a shave and put the
Panasonic electric shaver into the cleaning unit, pressing the select button will allow you to cycle through
different options. You can clean, dry and charge the shaver, or do any combination of the three. Once you have
chosen a specific option, the unit with start operating in 5 seconds. To cancel an operation simply remove the
plug from the wall.
Manually Cleaning the Shaver
If you're traveling or trying not to use up all your cleaning cartridges, you're going to need to manually clean
your shaver. Keeping a nice clean shaver will definitely help improve the lifespan on these types of products.
There are two main steps to cleaning this Panasonic electric shaver manually. The first step which is not always
necessary is to apply some water and hand soap to the outer foil. Once this is complete, pressing down the on and
off button for 2 seconds will put the shaver into sonic mode. Running the sonic mode for about 20 seconds should
clean the shaver thoroughly.
Next step is to remove the foil cap by pressing down on the button on either side of the shaving head. Running
the inner blades under running water while in sonic mode again will help rinse the shaver clean. You should also
rinse off the foil cap as well. Using a cloth to gently remove any water drops and letting the shaver dry is the
last step to manually cleaning the Panasonic ES8249 S.
Shaver Design and Specs
The shaver will probably feel quite small if you have large hands but don't be fooled by its size. This shaver
packs a lot of power which is delivered through its 4 blades.
The shaving head pivots side to side and up and down which allows you to shave all the contours of your face
effectively. I found this Panasonic electric shaver to perform exceptionally well on my neck area. I had no
irritation at all on my neck which is something I always experience when using disposable razors.
The Panasonic ES8249 S is also equipped with a pop up trimmer which is useful for trimming down side burns.
Overall the design and power of this shaver is excellent and I was quite impressed the first time I used it.
My Shaving Experience
I must say I have been pleasantly surprised at how well this shaver has performed.
After using some of the top shavers from Braun I did not expect this shaver to be comparable, but it has been.
Within 2 or 3 days my facial hair grows in pretty thick so I try and shave everyday or at least every other day.
In the past if I left it for a few days I would have to buzz it down with a beard trimmer then use a disposable
razor.
Now, with this Panasonic electric shaver, 2 or 3 days growth is not really a problem. I prefer to shave everyday
or every two days because it's much easier and produces absolutely no irritation, but if I miss a few days this
shaver has no problem getting the job done.
If you have thick facial hair it's usually recommended to shave quite often if you don't want to use a beard
trimmer. Like I said this shaver will get through some thick facial hair, but it takes longer and will require
you to go over certain areas a few times. This is what can lead to a bit of irritation.
Overall the shave was great. It produces a nice smooth finish both with and against the grain. There's really
nothing bad to say about the actual dry shaving experience. Like most other models, if it's your first time
using an electric shaver you will probably take a few weeks to get used to it.
The only thing I didn't like was the wet shaving. Some people like to wash their face before shaving with some
nice warm water and get all lathered up. This Panasonic electric shaver allows you to do this because it's
completely water resistant.
Personally, this is not for me. I tried it once and didn't really like it. I should probably try it a few more
times and give it a chance, but I'm just so happy with the dry shaving I don't really want to give it up.
The main reason I didn't like the wet shaving was because it was a bit messy for me. It was hard to see which
areas were shaved and which areas needed a few more strokes. The end result was excellent, but I wasn't a big
fan of the process. It's probably something I should try a few more times.
That being said, a wet shave is something you should really try if you get this model. It's worth a shot and who
knows, you might really like it.
Final Thoughts
I strongly recommend the ES8249 Panasonic electric shaver.
It's a great shaver and overall great shaving experience. It is very comparable to some of the other top brands
like the Braun Series 7 790cc.
If you're looking for an electric shaver this is definitely a top product and I'm positive you won't be
disappointed.
The retail price on this Panasonic razor is $249.99, but don't worry, you don't have to pay that much! This
shaver is sold for much cheaper and one of the best sales prices for this model is found at Amazon.com where you
can buy it for $127.99
At this price this shaving unit is a really great buy and again I strongly recommend it.
Now, if price is going to be a major factor in your buying decision there are some other cheaper options which we
mentioned earlier:
The Panasonic ES8109S is the same shaving system except with just a 3 bladed shaver.
The Panasonic ES8103S is the 3 bladed razor without the cleaning station.
Both of these options are much cheaper and will still deliver a nice smooth shave.
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