6 Best Compact Travel Shavers

1. Panasonic Arc5 Wet/Dry Electric Shaver & Trimmer for Men

Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5.0

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So, we have to come clean on this selection. There used to be an Arc 5 travel model from Panasonic, which was smaller and slightly more travel-friendly than their full-size shavers. But, even though we couldn’t find that model, we didn’t want to exclude the Arc 5 line from our list.

That’s because, despite being a full-size shaver, the Arc 5 is incredibly travel-friendly.

There are a couple of full-size shavers on our list. All of them are travel-friendly, even though they weren’t specifically designed for travel. When we come across them, we’ll make sure to note any weaknesses because the shaver isn’t a travel-specific device.

The Arc 5 is relatively compact, charges in an hour, and delivers a superior shave for an electric shaver. Not quite as close as a safety razor or going to the barber for a trim. But, that’s only to be expected from a safety razor.

This model also has the advantage of providing the same shave quality on the go that it would provide at home. Many travel shavers sacrifice shave quality in favor of being smaller and supporting a longer battery life.

There are two options for charging the battery on the Arc 5. A full charge, which takes approximately 1 hour and delivers 45 minutes of active shave time. Or, a quick charge, which takes only 3 minutes and will allow you to perform a quick shave or clean up the edges of your facial hair on the go.

The Arc 5 is also a wet/dry shaver. That means you can bring along shaving cream, important if you have sensitive skin. Or, you can shave in the shower and take advantage of the heat and water for a closer shave.

The head of the Arc 5 can shift in up to 16 different directions. That lets you get closer to your skin. You’ll have the same quality shave on tricky curves and angles of your face that you get on the flat, easy, spaces.

It’s also easy to clean and maintain. Since it’s fully waterproof, simply running it under a water faucet should be plenty.

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2. Philips Norelco PQ208/40 Travel Electric Razor (Best Value)

Editor’s Rating: 4.9/5.0

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This little shaver is specifically designed for travel. You can tell in just about every dimension of this rotary shaver. But, despite looking and feeling like a travel shaver, it delivers performance more like a full-size version.

The Philips Travel Shaver is slightly smaller than a cell phone and fully battery powered. That’s perfect for travel. Small enough to tuck into a carry-on and powered by highly accessible standard batteries.

It’s also clear that this is designed for travel since it includes a travel cap. The best way to prevent your shaver from turning on in your luggage is simply to remove the batteries. But, even turned off, clothing fibers and other debris can dull your shaver head, so the cap is a useful addition to its design.

If you’re worried about the first trip with this shaver, don’t be. Philips Norelco backs their travel razor with a 45-day satisfaction guarantee. If you take it with you and the shaver doesn’t perform up to your standards, you can return it.

You’re also covered by a 2-year warranty on the function of the shaver. That’s roughly the same as the standard warranty on a high-quality at-home electric shaver.

However, it does require a shaver brush to properly clean. The brush is included, but you do need to remember it every time you travel.

It’s also worth noting that this is a 2-head rotary shaver. Philips Norelco’s standard, for their non-travel shavers, is 3 heads. That means that this shaver won’t be able to get as close to your skin as a 3 head shaver, and it less gentle.

That said, we’ve still seen a lot of success with this shaver, even on sensitive skin.

Like most shavers, you will need to replace the heads on this shaver occasionally. They recommend replacing every 12 months. But you may be able to go longer if you are only using this as a travel shaver, don’t travel often, and are maintaining the shave head well.

Fortunately, replacement heads are easy to find and affordable.

Plus, since the blades are self-sharpening, you’ll always get a consistent, low-irritation shave.

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3. Green Apple Shaver Shavetech USB Rechargeable Travel Razor

Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5.0

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This little foil shaver is a highly compact option, that works best for men with fine or slow-growing hair. It’s incredibly convenient for business travelers since you can take it with you anywhere, all you need is a USB port to charge.

But, it’s a little simpler than many travel shavers and isn’t designed to handle very long or very coarse facial hair.

The single foil blade is reasonably comfortable and trims well. Cleaning is simple, just pop the top off the shaver and use the included brush to clean the cutting system. It also has a built-in cap that protects the foil and the cutters. (Plus, the cap makes it look like a small iPhone!)

In your hand, this is neither the most comfortable nor the least comfortable shaver. About the size of a smartphone, it’s similarly shaped. The plastic cover is sleek and feels durable in your hand. But there are no ergonomic curves or grip points. Still, for a quick touch-up shave, it’s a fairly comfortable device.

The biggest downside with this shaver is its flexibility. The single foil doesn’t move and flex well with your face, so you’ll need to move your hand and arm to create the angles you need. It’s also not designed for longer hair. We recommend using this shaver 2x a day to avoid pulling and missed hairs.

While coarse hair is a weakness of most foil shavers, it’s worth noting that this single foil shaver is particularly bad when it comes to coarse hair types. While it’s a good travel shaver option if you have relatively fine facial hair, we don’t recommend it to men with particularly coarse/thick hair.

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4. Braun M90 Mobile Shaver (Top Pick)

Editor’s Rating: 4.9/5.0

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Braun is one of the biggest names in reliable, comfortable, and effective foil shavers. So, we couldn’t resist when we saw that they were offering a solid travel option, designed to keep your facial hair perfectly groomed on the go.

This foil shaver also functions as a trimmer, thanks to a slide-out cutting guide. We will say that this guide is fairly shallow. If you’re rocking large chops or a long mustache, you may need a separate trimmer.

But, the foil itself is comfortable and effective. While not truly a wet/dry shaver, it does require that you shave dry, the M90 is waterproof enough to clean under running water. Better than most foil shavers for thick/coarse hair types. It also doesn’t have the failing of many foil shavers. The M90 effectively catches most long hairs, regardless of hair type, in a single pass.

Most users will not need to touch up their work as you go.

The M90 also features an innovative twist cap. Fully integrated into the shaver, the cap protects the foil when not in use, and extends the grip of the shaver slightly for added comfort. That extension is important since this is another very small shaver.

It’s also incredibly convenient for backpackers and international travelers. Instead of relying on a plug-in charger, the M90 is powered by 2 AA batteries. While battery-powered shavers usually offer a shorter shave time than rechargeable lithium batteries, the M90’s average battery life is an impressive 120 minutes (yes, 2 full hours) of shave-time.

This shaver got our Top Pick designation for several reasons. It’s a durable machine, backed by a well-known company. It’s small enough to travel with even the lightest travelers. It’s up to the challenge of camping and backpacking. The impressive battery life means you’ll get a lot of shaves out of one set of AA’s.

Overall, this seems like the most travel-friendly of the shavers on our list. It’s effective, affordable, and has impressive performance.

That said, it’s still a foil shaver, so we don’t necessarily recommend this shaver if your at-home shaver is a rotary.

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5. Panasonic Electric Travel Shaver (Best Budget)

Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5.0

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If you’re looking for a sleek, comfortable, and effective travel shaver for a bargain, this is a good choice. While many of the shavers on our list are highly affordable (including our Top Pick!), this is one of the most affordable selections we found.

Don’t worry though, we look at more than just price in selecting the Best Bargain product for any list. Just like our Best Value designation, the Best Bargain pick must perform like you paid more for it. This little travel shaver from Panasonic is convenient, well-designed, and even offers wet-dry function our Top Pick doesn’t.

It also features an impressive 90-minute battery life on 2 AA batteries. That means that, for many trips, you won’t need a second pair of batteries. For a greener solution, use rechargeable batteries. Bring 2 pairs just in case but leave the charger at home.

This is a good foil shaver pick if you have sensitive skin. Since it’s a wet/dry shaver, you can use it with shaving creams or gels. It’s waterproof enough to use for a quick touch up in the shower. It’s also fully washable under a water faucet.

They also include a soft pouch with this shaver. The pouch is big enough for the shaver, along with several travel-size grooming products. That means you can keep everything you need for a comfortable and effective shave in one place.

The Panasonic Travel Shaver also features an ergonomic design. One of the first things that’s often scrapped when designers are putting together a travel shaver is comfort in hand. Since it’s assumed that you won’t be using these shavers regularly, or for very long at one time, designers prefer to keep the designs small and make room for batteries and the motor without the curves and advantages of an ergonomic handle.

This shaver is comfortable enough to use full time, though we do understand if you prefer your rechargeable multi-foil shaver for everyday use.

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6. Remington Rotary Travel Shaver

Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0

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This is the last shaver on our list. While foil shavers are more popular, especially among travel-sized shavers, we wanted to make sure we got at least one more rotary travel shaver in. Don’t worry, though, we picked this one based on its quality and effectiveness, not its shaver style.

The Remington Travel shaver is the only shaver on our list that supports both battery-powered and corded operation. While you may need power adaptors for international travel, having the option of corded shaving means you’ll never be caught flat-footed in a pinch.

Rotary shavers are also traditionally better for coarse hair types and men with the thickest beards. The Remington Rotary shaver is a great option if you have a particularly whiskery hair type or a lot of hair. While it won’t shave as closely as a foil shaver, you’ll certainly be able to get close enough for good grooming standards.

The dual flexing heads help protect against skin damage and discomfort, while also letting you get a closer shave.

It offers 30 minutes of operation on a single charge. That’s a little light compared with the other shavers on our list. But, so long as you have access to an outlet, it’s not your only option. While this isn’t as good of a backpacking or camping shaver, it’s a good choice for businessmen and other professionals.

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