Braun Waterflex Review: Is the NFL’s Official Shaver Any Good?

The Braun Waterflex is the official electric shaver of the NFL , which explains why it’s becoming more and more popular each day. According to research on the market share per company, this Braun is the worlds number one foil shaver brand. This popularity is for a good reason, Braun is known for producing some of the most reliable and effective foil shavers on the market.

The Waterflex is aimed at the average consumer who doesn’t wish to spend over $100 on their shaver but still expects an excellently close shave from a product that is waterproof.

Design: More Than Just Waterproof?

It’s all in the name, Waterflex, the main selling point of the Braun Waterflex is that it can be used both wet and dry. Although, this is becoming industry standard across most price points, some competitors are still unable to be used wet.

The Waterflex is everything the average man would want from a shaver, it’s purposefully non-complicated, it’s simple and attractive, it shaves excellently and it’s reasonably priced.

Braun has done an amazing job to create the Waterflex and it’s shown in their sales figures.

In this review of the Braun Waterflex we’ll first discuss the product itself and describe the components, before moving on to give some critics of its performance. Finally, we will conclude whether this is worth buying or not.

Body and Handle

Looking at the shaver itself you’ll notice that it is un-intimidating, it has a gentle blue color that surrounds an attractive grey middle. The color scheme is excellent and one of the better looking shavers that we’ve seen.

In the middle of the device you’ll find the power button which can be used to switch the shaver on and off. The entire handle appears to be made out of plastic which is a little disappointing and we would have preferred to have seen some metal composite. However, it’s becoming standard for all shavers to be plastic these days, likely because of cost and weight requirements.

The head of the shaver is where the real action happens, as with almost all of Braun’s shavers the Waterflex is a foil shaver. It can swivel up to 33 degrees which will allow the shaver to effortlessly contour around your jaw for a comfortable and easy shave. There doesn’t appear to be multiple directions of movement which is unfortunate, but at this price range it’s hard to complain too much.

Optiblades and Cutting System

The blades themselves are called “Optiblades” and were specifically designed by Braun to allow their shavers to more easily capture hair, meaning that you can not only cut the hair closer to the skin but also it prevents you from having to shave over the same area multiple times. They are created from a surgical-grade steel that will prevent rust and will stay sharp for thousands of hours.

With a 3-stage cutting system, the Waterflex can ensure that hair of any length is cut the first time around. The biggest upset you’ll notice with cheaper shavers is that they struggle to catch longer hairs and when they do you’ll have been running over the same spot multiple times. For those of us with sensitive skin this can become an issue as the constant rubbing can cause serious irritation. With a shaver like Braun’s Waterflex this issue should be greatly reduced or removed all together.

Unlike some competitors you’ll notice that it has an attached trimmer which can be used to neaten up your sideburns or to trim your beard hair. The reality is that most men won’t bother using this feature, but regardless it’s nice to have. The long-hair trimmer cuts at a similar level to the main shaver and glides through any hair. It’s hard to go wrong with a trimmer attachment, it cuts the hair well and that’s about it!

On the front of the device there is a small LED display which is used to let you know how much power the battery has. This is particularly useful for those of us who travel and want to ensure that we have enough power to leave the charger cable at home.

Lithium-ion Powered

This LED battery is powered by a powerful Lithium-ion battery that claims to have no loss of capacity even after repeated charging. This is really quite outstanding. One of the main complaints that we see of electric shavers is that after a year the battery fails to hold a charge. We haven’t tested Braun’s claims, but if we can indeed see no loss of usable capacity after repeated recharging then that’s really outstanding. It’s become more common for high-end shavers to have these batteries, but at this price range it’s still rare.

Not only that, but they claim that with only 1 hour of charging time you’ll be able to get a full 45 minutes of shaving time. That’s a great ratio and ensures that even if you forget to charge your Waterflex you’ll be able to charge up quickly and shave before leaving the house.

Inside of the box you’ll find the shaver itself, a useful protective cap, the charging plug and a handy cleaning brush. Unfortunately, that’s it. It would have been great if they could have provided a travel bag or maybe some other accessories. But when that’s our main complaint it’s a good sign that we like a product!

Conclusion: Is it Worth Buying the Braun Waterflex?

In conclusion, we love the Waterflex. If you’re looking for a foil shaver that was designed by a world-leading company, that’s waterproof, attractive and provides an excellent shave then look no further. The Waterflex isn’t perfect. It doesn’t come with any accessories or a charging dock, but what Braun has saved in costs they’ve been able to pass on to the consumer. The Waterflex is available at a very reasonable price and that’s the primary reason why it’s growing in popularity.