Oftentimes, the hardest part of traveling is deciding what you really need for your trip and what you can easily leave behind. Whether you’re the type who totally overpacks or you always forget something important and end up at a convenience store, you know that looking your best is important to you. Traveling is no excuse to let your facial hair grow in patchy, and you definitely don’t want to be without your favorite grooming and shaving tools – but perhaps you still haven’t found quite what you’re looking for. Rest assured you’ll feel much more confident when it comes to packing the perfect travel razor for your next getaway. We’ve done all the hard work for you, researching the top brands on the market, and we’re happy to share our top picks for the best travel shaver we could find.
Table Of Contents
- 1 Best Travel Shaver Comparison Table
- 2 1. Best For a Close Shave: Merkur Razor Travel Razor
- 3 2. Best Ergonomic Design: Panasonic ES3831K Electric Razor
- 4 3. Best Dual Motor: Panasonic ES-LA63-S Arc4 Electric Shaver
- 5 4. Best Flexible Head: Panasonic ES-CV51 Arc5 Electric Razor
- 6 5. Best Cartridge Razor For Travel: êShave 5 Blade Travel Razor
- 7 6. Best Balanced Shaver: êShave 3 Blade Travel Razor
- 8 7. Best Battery-Operated Shaver: Philips Norelco PQ208/40 Travel Electric Razor
- 9 8. Best Flexible Foil Shaver: Braun M90 Electric Razor
- 10 Buyer’s Guide
- 11 Frequently Asked Questions
- 12 Conclusion
Best Travel Shaver Comparison Table
#1 Editor’s Choice
Merkur Razor Travel Razor
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- Straight cut
- Closed comb
- Storage case
#2 Editor’s Choice
Panasonic ES3831K Electric Razor
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- Cordless
- Wet or dry
- Ergonomic grip
Panasonic ES-LA63-S Arc4 Electric Shaver
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- 4 blade
- 14 shaves per charge
- Pop up trimmer
Panasonic ES-CV51 Arc5 Electric Razor
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- 5 blade
- Cordless
- Wet or dry shaving
êShave 5 Blade Travel Razor
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- 5 blade
- Collapsible
- Holds Gillette Fusion blade
êShave 3 Blade Travel Razor
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- 3 blade
- Collapsible
- Holds Gillette Mach3 blade
Philips Norelco PQ208/40 Travel Electric Razor
Read Full Review
- Battery operated
- Self-sharpening blades
- Rotary heads
Braun M90 Electric Razor
Read Full Review
- Foil shaver
- Precision trimmer
- Battery powered
1. Best For a Close Shave: Merkur Razor Travel Razor
Editor’s Choice #1: Merkur brand shavers are known for providing a seriously close shave, without irritating your skin, and the Merkur Razor Travel is no exception. Whether you have light stubble or a thick beard, these shavers have a fixed blade and a closed comb head, giving you an impressive straight cut you’ll notice every time. Just try and stop touching your face after a good shave with this mobile shaver. We dare you.
Compact Design & Portability
Compact design and portability is a must when it comes to travel shavers. The Merkur Travel shaver was designed to break down into two durable yet small pieces, allowing you to easily and effortlessly disassemble and reassemble it. It also comes with a leather carrying case that fits both in the palm of your hand and any size bag you may be traveling with.
Pros
- Perfect for a shave on the go
- Fits standard double edge replacement blades
- Closed comb head
- Slant bar
- Breaks down into 2 pieces
Cons
- The handle may be too short for some users
2. Best Ergonomic Design: Panasonic ES3831K Electric Razor
Editor’s Choice #2: When it comes to comfort, the Panasonic ES3831K Electric razor wins our award for having the best ergonomic design for all users and it has a sure-touch design which makes it easy to control whether you’re in front of the sink or in the shower. And that’s why we think it’s the best electric shavers for travel on our list.
Powerful
The Panasonic ES3831k electric travel shaver has a remarkable 8,500 rpm motor drive to deliver a powerful shave over the entire length of its floating head. These foil razors grasp each facial hair individually in their stainless steel foil blades as they rotate, cutting them down at the base of the follicle in one pass. It doesn’t matter which hand you use to shave, because this electric travel shaver is contoured to fit snugly in either hand – and it’s wet dry making it even more convenient to shave on the go.
Pros
- Single blade system
- Easy to clean
- Wet or dry shaving
- Takes two AA batteries
- Lightweight and portable
- Protective cap
Cons
- Certain areas are easier to shave than others
3. Best Dual Motor: Panasonic ES-LA63-S Arc4 Electric Shaver
One of the most impressive features of the Arc4 men’s electric razor is the 10-stage LCD indicator. Not only does it let you know what charge is remaining, it also informs you about the power status and when it’s time to change the blades. The guesswork is gone when you travel with this rotary shaver.
Power & Performance
Let’s face it, when you use anything electric for shaving, you want power and lots of it. The Panasonic ES-LA63-S Arc4 Electric Shaver has a hyper performance dual motor that lifts and holds hair tightly in the 4 foil blades while providing a staggering 14,000 cuts per minute. It’s truly powerful, leaving your face soft and smooth after every shave, one of the best electric options out there.
Pros
- Great for traveling
- Hyper performance dual motor
- Built-in beard trimmer
- Wet dry
- 10-stage LCD indicator
Cons
- Battery drains quickly
4. Best Flexible Head: Panasonic ES-CV51 Arc5 Electric Razor
The Panasonic ES-CV51 Arc5 Electric razor is built with an incredible, multi-flex pivoting head with 5 foil blades. While most foil heads are typically straight, the Panasonic Arc5 flexes with the contours of your neck, jawline, chin, cheeks and lips.
Pop-Up Trimmer
The Panasonic Arc5 automatically adjusts its cutting power based on the density of your facial hair in the different areas of your face, and these shavers also feature a convenient pop-up trimmer so you can trim your mustache, goatee or chin strip to whatever length you prefer. It’s easy to pop the trimmer out for a quick styling and just as easy to pop it back in.
Pros
- Pivoting foil razor
- 5 ultra-sharp blades
- Built-in trimmer
- Wet dry convenience
- LCD battery status indicator
Cons
- May need several passes in certain areas
5. Best Cartridge Razor For Travel: êShave 5 Blade Travel Razor
The êShave 5 Blade Travel Razor is made of high-quality components making it the best cartridge shaver on the list. Unlike most of its competition, the êShave 5 Blade handle is not made of flimsy plastic. Instead, the handle is made of cast metals and hand-turned Lucite, making it a solid alternative to many of the cartridge shavers on the market.
Collapsible
The best feature of the êShave 5 Blade is that it’s completely collapsible. Removing the blade is a cinch and detaching the head is as simple as a quick twist as soon as you’re done shaving. And all three parts of the shaver fit in the metal canister that’s provided, making these shavers ideal for travel.
Pros
- Mobile shaver
- Glides with shaving cream
- Comfort design
- Collapsible
- Fits in metal canister
- Holds Gillette Fusion or ProGlide blades
Cons
- Need to change blades often
6. Best Balanced Shaver: êShave 3 Blade Travel Razor
The êShave 3 Blade wins our recommendation for the best balanced shaver on the list because it effortlessly combines style and function. We’re not sure if you’ll appreciate the comfortable, ergonomic handle or the sleek, modern vibe more, but we do know that you’ll enjoy shaving on the go with this balanced shaver.
Ease Of Use
Another feature we love about the êShave 3 Blade Travel Razor is its ease of use. Changing blades is incredibly simple and it holds Gillette Mach3 replacement blades. So if you accidentally forget your extra blades at home, you can find them easily in any local convenience store while you’re traveling the globe.
Pros
- Collapsible shaver
- Any skin type
- Ergonomic handle
- Sleek, modern design
- Uses Gillette Mach3 replacement blades
Cons
- Head can break off if dropped
7. Best Battery-Operated Shaver: Philips Norelco PQ208/40 Travel Electric Razor
The Philips Norelco PQ208/40 Travel Electric Razor makes the cut for the best battery-operated shaver on our list. Powered by two AA batteries, this electric travel razor can provide up to a 60 minute shave. Plus, it works well with rechargeable aa batteries so the cost savings just keep adding up.
Long-Lasting Rotary Blades
Another benefit of the Phillips Norelco pq208 Travel Electric Razor is how long the rotary blades last. They are self-sharpening and designed to last about a year before having to be switched out. Plus, these rotary shavers also come with a blade cover and a cleaning brush to keep the blades sharp and clean.
Pros
- Close shaves
- Floating head
- Cleaning brush included
- 60 min battery life
- AA batteries
Cons
- Needs to be cleaned with a brush
8. Best Flexible Foil Shaver: Braun M90 Electric Razor
While many foil shavers on the market have a foil blade that rotates, the Braun M90 Electric Razor for Men features a flexible foil blade that also contours to your face. This results in a much closer shave as you move it across your jawline, chin and neck.
Trimmer
Having a beard trimmer already built-in is a huge advantage of travel shavers. And the Braun M90 mobile shaver comes with a precision trimmer that is perfect for keeping facial hair longer in the mustache and sideburn areas. Furthermore, the Braun M90 mobile shaver has a unique smartfoil design which captures hair growing in all different directions.
Pros
- Flexible foil shaver
- Smartfoil design
- Twist cap
- Washable under running water
- AA batteries included
Cons
- Needs multiple passes in some areas
- Replacement parts are expensive
Buyer’s Guide
You certainly wouldn’t want to go to all of the trouble of buying a new item just to find out it’s missing important features that you were counting on. So here is our list of the more important things to consider.
What To Look For In A Travel Razor
Having an idea of what to look for in a travel razor is an important first step before you start shopping for one. Just like other products you use on a regular basis, travel shavers are designed with specific features that vary from one travel shaver to the next. See also the Best Safety Razor Reviews
Type Of Razor
There are 5 different types of shavers available on the market today — disposable, cartridge, safety, electric, and straight edge — but not all of them are great for traveling. While each has its own pros and cons, the three that we recommend for travel are cartridge, safety and electric razors.
Keep in mind that disposal, cartridge, and electric razors are the only types of shavers that are allowed in a carry-on bag. Safety razor handles can also be in a carry-on bag, but the blades must be in a checked bag, just like straight razors, according to the TSA.
Straight Razors Vs Safety Razors, what is the difference? Click to find out.
Size & Weight
When looking for a new travel razor, don’t forget to keep both the size and weight in mind. You should select a razor that will easily fit in your hands without being either too big or too small. Both longer and wider razors are ideal for people with larger hands, while shorter and narrower razors are designed for people with smaller hands. Plus, having an option that’s too light makes it harder to keep your grip on it, while having one that’s too heavy can make your strokes clunky.
Performance
The performance of travel razors is not the same from one brand to the next either. Both the quality of the materials used and the type of blade are key factors in how well each one performs while you shave.
You’ll want to find a razor that provides a close shave, but also one that doesn’t irritate your skin – all travel versions should be compact and easy to store.
Rechargeable Vs Battery Powered
When it comes to electric travel razors, you’ll want to figure out if you prefer one which is rechargeable or one that is battery powered. There are pros and cons to each option, so there is no right or wrong choice for everyone.
Rechargeable razors come with a cord, so there’s no need to replace any batteries. However, while traveling overseas you may need to also bring an adapter to make sure that your charging cord will work. And there’s always the possibility that your razor dies in the middle of shaving with a rechargeable version.
Travel Lock
Travel locks are another important feature to have on an electric razor. A travel lock will keep your button in the off position so that it won’t turn on by accident. Travel locks not only prevent your razor from running until it dies, but they also prevent it from making noises or damaging any of the other items in your luggage – the best travel electric shavers will have one.
Protective Cap
Many razors also come with protective caps which cover the blades so that it doesn’t get damaged while you’re traveling. Shaving with a dull blade can lead to skin irritation, so you should use a protective cap whenever you’re storing it. Plus the cap will keep your razor clean and free of dust or debris. Read our tips for removing nose hair and check out the Best Nose Hair Trimmers review by clicking the link.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Travel Shaver?
The best travel shaver is one that provides a close shave, is compact and easy to store and comes with all of the features that you’re looking for. When choosing the best travel shaver, you’ll want to look for one that is the type of razor you prefer, such as a cartridge, safety or electric, and is the appropriate size and weight. If you choose a cartridge or safety, finding one that fits standard blades is important. If you select an electric razor, you’ll want to be sure it comes with a travel lock and a protective cap.
How Do You Travel With A Razor?
The best way to travel with a razor is to purchase a travel razor because they’re specifically designed to be compact and easy to store while you’re on the go. You’ll want to pack it in a secure case or cap so that you don’t nick yourself while unpacking, so that the blades don’t cut any of your other personal belongings and so that the blades don’t get dulled, dusty or dirty while in your luggage. If you’re planning on flying, make sure to check the TSA requirements for traveling with razors.
How Do You Look After Your Travel Razor?
The easiest way to look after your travel razor is to maintain it on a regular basis. After each shave, rinse or brush the hairs away from the blades, dry it out thoroughly and store it in a case away from other personal care items. You also want to make sure to change the blades as often as recommended, so that you get close shaves with little to no skin irritation. Lastly, refrain from letting other people use your travel razor to shave as it can lead to an infection.
Conclusion
Don’t rush out the door on your next trip without packing wisely or thinking about where your next good shave is coming from. All the travel shavers on our list have their own pros and cons, but there were two clear winners. The Merkur Razor Travel razor provides a surprisingly close shave, and the compact design and portability make it easy to pack. Moreover, the Panasonic ES3831K electric travel shaver is by far the best travel electric shaver due to its ergonomic design and intense power. We think either of these options is a great choice for the best travel shaver for your next adventure.
