TL;DR
Wahl's vacuum beard trimmer promises a clean shave with minimal mess, and while it cuts hair effectively without pulling, its plastic build and noisy operation are a bit disappointing. The vacuum feature, touted for 96% hair capture, is less impressive on a thick beard, and the collection chamber's delicate opening mechanism raises durability concerns. You'll get a decent trim with its various combs, but it can't get as close as some competitors, and the fixed-length combs feel less convenient. Is this Wahl trimmer the ultimate grooming upgrade? Dive into the full review to find out!
Celebrating 15 years with a full beard, I was eager to evaluate the vacuum-equipped beard trimmer from Wahl, a well-known American company.
Upon unboxing, the trimmer presents a visually appealing design. However, the construction feels somewhat plasticky upon handling, lacking the expected heft.
Testing on a substantial beard revealed the trimmer’s effective and comfortable performance. The blades cut cleanly without pulling hairs. The unit includes a variety of attachment combs for different trimming lengths. A notable drawback, however, is the reliance on detachable plastic combs; an integrated, adjustable system (similar to that found on the Panasonic SB40) would offer a more convenient user experience. Furthermore, the Wahl Vacuum Trimmer‘s cutting range of 2-12 mm does not allow for as close a trim as our current reference trimmer.
As the name, Wahl Vacuum Trimmer, implies, the device incorporates a vacuum system designed to capture hair clippings. The packaging claims a 96 percent capture rate. In practice, this claim appears optimistic, particularly when trimming a long, coarse beard. Hair does escape, and the collection chamber fills rapidly. The chamber’s removal and emptying process, which involves detaching the compartment and opening the lid with a plastic “snap,” raises concerns about long-term durability. The vacuum function may perform adequately for light beard maintenance, potentially achieving the stated 96 percent capture rate. However, the trimmer’s noise level is considerable, becoming noticeably loud when used close to the ears for trimming sideburns.
In conclusion, the Wahl Vacuum Trimmer offers effective and comfortable trimming performance, warranting consideration. However, given its identified shortcomings and a price of 1200 SEK, a more refined and quieter operation would be expected.
Review Highlights: Q&A
How well does the cutting performance hold up on a thick beard?
The Wahl Vacuum trimmer provides effective and comfortable cutting performance on a substantial beard. Its blades cut cleanly without pulling hairs.
Does the vacuum system actually collect all hair clippings?
The vacuum struggles with long, coarse beards, allowing hair to escape while the collection chamber fills rapidly. It performs better for light maintenance, but the plastic snap lid raises durability concerns.
What trimming lengths are available with this device?
The trimmer includes detachable plastic attachment combs covering a cutting range of 2 to 12 mm. It does not feature an integrated adjustable dial, preventing very close trims.
Is this trimmer loud during operation?
The noise level is considerable. The device becomes noticeably loud when trimming areas close to the ears, such as sideburns.
