Panasonic ES-LV97-K811 5-Blade Shaver Wet & Dry Rechargeable

I bought this a while ago after spending a LONG time researching shavers and wanted to wait to write a review just in case i found something I didn't like. I'd previously had Braun but they just never really shaved that close for me, I've also tried rotary shavers which don't suit me at all. I wouldn't normally spend this much on a shaver but after reading reviews online I decided to take a punt, and i'm glad I did. It gives me the closest shave I've had with an electric razor. I've also started to use a Pre shave lotion which actually makes the whole procedure much nicer - its a smoother and cleaner shave than without. Battery life hasn't been a problem as I just return it to the charging station after use, which also doubles as a cleaning station. You get 1 sachet of cleaning solution with the shaver, which is tiny, but you mix with water and it lasts a surprisingly long time. Just return the shaver to the cradle, press the clean button and leave it to it. It even dries the shaver afterwards. Some people have complained that the head gets hot during extended use but I can honestly say i've not encountered this. I see it as an investment in comfort and efficiency, and I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone looking for a 1st class electric shaver.

After using a Braun series 5 (two blades) for quite a few years on both head & face, I thought it was time for an upgrade. After much research the two products that had caught my eye after been mentioned time and time again were the Panasonic ARC 5 or the Braun series 9. I bought both to test. Ill try gloss over a few things to get to the main bit: Packaging: Both are excellant, nothing too fancy, but functional. Draw Looks: I think overall the Braun is the nicer looking for most folks, and it certainly feels nice. Though for me, the ARC 5 has an edgyness. For me its a winner for the ARC. Cleaning: Both very good, both cleaning systems work very well though the ARC 5 can be cleaned manally really nicely. Again I prefer the aesthetics of the ARC 5 in the cleaning base, plus the cleaning solution lasts longer and is much cheaper to replace. Win again for the ARC The juicy bit, the bit we all really want to know......the cut: Both perform excellant, but there are some differences that are rather important. I say this as to me it seems like Braun prefer a nice smooth shave that is less likely to irritate those with sensitive skin. I dont have sensitive so I didnt gain much from this side of the device. The Panasonic ARC 5 goes for the complete opposite, almost ignoring sensitive skin, with the sole aim of getting as close a shave as possible with a foil electric shaver. So how did it do? I kid you not, the ARC 5 surpassed my expectations. It literally felt as close as what id imagine a razor shave would do. It cut through the other side of my face/head hair with no issue, requiring far less repeat "go overs" with the device. For me, it was an easy win for the ARC5. This isnt to knock the Braun series 9, I think that is an excellant shaver, but if your goal is to get as close as possible, then its quite simply the ARC5. Now just for testing purposes (and tidying some tough to reach areas i guess) I also bought a Gillette Fusion5 ProGlide Razor, just to see how close these electric shavers got. Goingeach side in parts were the shavers went, I couldnt actually feel any difference on the ARC side. Id assume that the shaver has taken some more fair hair with it as there was some on the razor, but there was a noticeable diffference on the Braun side. So clear win for the ARC 5 in relation to closeness of the shave. Only negatives of the ARC 5 i guess are: Size...Having 5 blades on the top does add some bulk, so will require some adjustment for your routine. Though having those 5 blades, with the 30 degree angle that they have gives you that super close shave with convenience. Noise...I didnt find its nosiey, but its an annoying noise compared to the Braun. This wouldnt put me off suggesting this as a product to buy though. Overall, Id say if your in the market for a high end electric foil shaver (if your shaving your head, FOIL is the only way, not rotary) then the Panasonic ARC 5 is the way forward. It comes with everything you need for an amazingly close shave. Im aware they have released a new set of foil catridges that are labeled for another upcoming shaver, but they are also compatable with this shaver and help with sensitive skin. This product is well worth a buy, I couldnt be more impressed.

Dong a great job but needs to get little closer at times, the cleaner is really useful and does a great job, the price of the liquids need to use with the cleaner is not, arrived with a EU plug, why can they never send the right one, its cost them a star.

I was a Phillips user for most of my life but due to the poor quality of their replacement blades I decided to give this a go. It takes a little getting used to but I now get a clean shave and the razor is of a very high standard and quality. The razor and the cleaning system is a little noisy but the cleaning system does work well. It washes and dries the shaving head. I tried a wet shave and it feels smooth and no razor burn.

I spent a lot of time looking at shavers and eventually thought I would try this one because the price was extremely good at the time. I am not disappointed at all and am actually very impressed. It shaves extremely close, probably as good as a razor. Having 5 blades means it does it quickly and without much effort. I did buy a Philips 9000 series which actually looks so low quality and cheap in its build, whereas this does look stylish. However, the main purpose of anything is not necessarily to look good, but to perform well and this outperforms the Philips in my opinion. The cleaning station is useful, but 1 aspect I do not like is when it has finished cleaning (which takes 10 minutes), it takes 80 minutes to do the drying cycle. The only way to stop it is to switch it off at the mains and back on. A poor design in that aspect. The one concern I did have and still do have is the overall running costs in the future. The blades are ridiculously priced, about £50 for a new unit at the time of writing, but I shall have to see how long they last until needing to be changed. £35 seems to be an average price for new head/blades for the named manufacturers (Philips, Braun,etc.) so it is not massively expensive in comparison, but I think it is an unacceptable way of them getting money within the industry and not just Panasonic. I bought it at £120 so I was happy to try it and see how it goes. For overall shaving performance I absolutely recommend it, just a shame about the cost of future blades.

An absolutely amazing shaver and a total game-changer! I had a beard for nearly 11 years before finally deciding to get rid of it. I initially went back to traditional manual wet shaving, but I was constantly getting terrible razor burn. Switching to this Panasonic 8000 ES 5-Blade series has completely solved that problem. I love that it gives you the option for both a wet and dry shave. Using it as a wet shaver has completely stopped my razor burn, while still giving me a remarkably close, clean shave. There is absolutely nothing I can fault about it. It's a truly great product that I highly recommend to anyone with sensitive skin.

What I like: • Unbeatable smooth shave. I have thick facial hair, and it works very well. • Easy to use: Just shave. • Easy and comfortable to hold • Low Noise • The washing unit makes cleaning super easy. Just pop it in the unit and press the button. It also charges the unit, so no more running out of power. • Comes with a handy travel case that fits well. Keep in mind: • Replacement blades are on the pricey side, at around £50 a set, but they are supposed to last for 1-2 years. • I previously had an older Panasonic ES8249, which lasted me 12 years and was a 3-blade system. Although, this 5-blade Panasonic ES-LV97 is a big upgrade; it's not amazingly better, so a 3-blade might be good enough for people with less thick hair (or people with thick hair who don’t mind spending an extra few minutes shaving). • While the washing unit is great, it takes 80 minutes to do a wash, and the first 10 minutes can get loud! • The manual of the Panasonic ES-LV97 says the battery only lasts for 3 years. However, my previous ES8249 said something similar, and I got 10 years out of it (and then a further 2 when I changed the battery myself, which wasn't that hard).

I simply can not believe how bad and what a terrible shave this gives for slightly under £150,it is very noisy and despite cleaning it and fully charging it every day and not being very hirsute, it gave a very bad shave, cut me several times and I still had to go over it again with a razor blade, on the few occasions when I did not shave for two days, the shaving quality was even worse even though I always use shaving gel recommended for an electric razor and I still got razor burn as I had to continually go over my entire face, chin and neck and then use a razor blade as well. This is now confined to a drawer and I have gone back to using Gillette Blue 3 razor blades.

استخدمت ماكينة براون Series 5 لمدة عام وكانت جيدة. بعد تجربة باناسونيك ES-LV97-K811، لاحظت فرقًا كبيرًا في السرعة والدقة، الحلاقة أصبحت أنظف وأكثر راحة. أنصح بها بشدة. ملاحظة: القابس المرفق من نوع C (أوروبي) وليس UK كما هو مذكور، وقد تحتاج إلى محول

Sono rimasto a bocca aperta , incredibile la silenziosità e l'efficacia di questo rasoio , pulito, non serve ripassare e riduce in particelle finissime i peli tagliati, considerate che io vengo da un Braun serie 7 che già reputavo difficile da superare.

This is my second Arc 5 Panasonic shaver, the first one lasted me 10 years. It is still working but I decided to buy a newer model. The LV97 is basically identical to more expensive models in respect of shaver parts, only the external materials and look differs. Excellent shaving experience, really close with minimal effort. Some irritation on my cheek skin after the shave, but I noticed if I don't apply too much pressure while shaving, it is not there. I hope I get another 10 years out of this one.

Best shaver

Il rasoio è un prodotto indubbiamente valido: le recensioni parlano chiaro, ed anche se l'esperienza con la lametta resta comunque a mio parere insostituibile (sì, neppure questo la eguaglia) tra i rasoi elettrici questo modello merita senz'altro un posto d'onore per l'accuratezza e delicatezza della rasatura; per non parlare della base igienizzzante, che lubrifica ed asciuga le lame in automatico e fa realmente la differenza. Sono però rimasto amareggiato perchè la mia sensazione che la scatola fosse stata già aperta (data dalla mancanza della spazzolina, accessorio importante) è stata poi confermata addirittura dalla presenza di peli di barba sul rivestimento di tela esterno del corpo macchina. Io non farò il reso: ho igienizzato il prodotto prima di usarlo, e deciso di tenermelo. Però è grave che l'utente non sia stato informato, magari con la classica formula 'scatola aperta', dello stato del proprio acquisto: specialmente considerando il costo tutt'altro che contenuto dello stesso.