Panasonic Arc IV Nano Shaver (ES8243) Review

[Sly Red]

I received my new Panasonic Arc IV Nano from Amazon.com on Thursday and used it for the first time Friday morning.  Plan to use it again this morning.  As I've said before, with the Panasonic shavers prep is everything.  I used my standard routine (wet shave) with the ES8243.  The new shaver has four blades as opposed to my old 8043 which just has three.

Total charge time was very fast.  The ES8243 fully charged in about an hour.  The shaver body has a nice shape and fits the hand much like my 8043, so there was not much change there.  The shaving head was a bit different.  I'm still getting used to keeping the maximum shaving surface against my head to shave the most hair in fewer passes.

The shaving power is incredible.  You can literrally hear the ES8243 mowing down the hair as it glides across your scalp.  I have to make several passes up the back of my head and I still did not get any irritation.

In my opinion the Panasonic ES8243 was a worthwhile upgrade over my 8043.  After using an electric for a couple of years it's probably cost effective to replace it with a new shaver as opposed to replacing blades and foils anyway, due to cost of parts.

~$125 plus shipping from Amazon.com

[SBG Math Guy]

Thanks for the review SimplyRed
Maybe I will upgrade mine in a few months.  I am excited about this.

[BReady]

Hey, Red.

How close does it shave your head?  I've noticed on mine (I got a crappy walmart 20 dollar special electric razor) that it shaves way closer than clippers, of course, but it doesn't shave it slick like your face.  Maybe it's just me not being able to shave worth a crap, but I am thinking it has to do with the shaver as well.  Do you feel stubble once your finished?  Every now and then if my razor is dull and I'm between paychecks (time's are tough man..), I use my electric razor to buzz my head.  So, I was thinking if I buy a nice razor like your Panasonic, I can shave w/ it between Mach 3 shaves.

BReady

[Mikekoz13]

Thanks for the info Red!!

[Sly Red]

Hey, Red.

How close does it shave your head?  BReady

Bill, the Panasonics will shave your head practically as smooth as a blade.  I offer this caveat, though.  Use a good oil and shave cream/gel and shave wet in the shower.  Rinse the blades with the foil off frequently to remove clippings and you'll get a great shave.

Red

[buddha]

I found a place on-line called PremiumStore.com that has the ES8243K (black) for $84.99. This is a factory serviced unit with a 90 day warranty (I purchased a 2 year extended warranty for $9.95). Some people are not confident in refurbished units, clearly I am not one of them, I have had a good result with purchasing factory rebuilts of just about everything including starters, etc. The unit that I bought does not have the cleaning/recharging base although the store offers these (mo' money). I have read reviews of these that say the recharging/cleaning base is unnecessary and may even border on dangerous as, apparently, the cleaning solution is flammable.
When I get mine I will review it on this thread if that's OK with Red.

[buddha]

OK, here's the deal. I got my ES8243 at about 7pm (central) and registered my warranty. Then I plugged it in. True to the description I read the shaver was fully charged in an hour.
For the first shave I used Williams Lectric Shave. I did not wash my dome prior to the shave. I turned the shaver on and got just a slight hum, much softer than my Braun. I started at the back of the skull and went against the grain. This was the easiest shave I have had with an electric. There was no pulling or tugging, I never had to force the shaver, it seemed to glide over my dome. I did the sides and top in that order. I never used to get a good result on top of my head with the Braun, there was always stubble left behind. When I ran my hands over my head after the shave my dome was damn near as smooth as shaving with a blade. There was no irritation, either.
I have to say that I started off my sly life as a blade man. I only used an electric as a fill-in, or when I was in a hurry. I believe that I am a changed man. I can see using the 8243 as my main shaving tool from now on.
Clean up was a breeze, a cup of lukewarm water with a little shot of Dawn Anti-bacterial dish soap mixed in. Hold down the "on" button for about 2 seconds and the shaver kicks into turbo mode for about 20 seconds. I submerged the shaver head in the solution and at the end of the turbo cleaning cycle the shaver shut itself off. A cool water rinse of the blades and guard and a surface dry with some terrycloth and I was done.
Next time I will try it with lather just to see the difference.
Good call, Red. This shaver is definitely THE BOMB!

[DogStar Guy]

I really appreciate the double review.
Have a feeling I too might use this method at least some of the time.

Added it to my Amazon wish list.
Now I just gotta save my pennies.

Have a good day my friends,
Eric

(Day 3 haven't shaved it yet, but I will, promise.)

[buddha]

OK, today I used the 8243 in the shower with HB Head Slick. This shaver has made a believer out of me. I felt like I definitely got as smooth a shave as I ever did with a blade but, just to be sure I had my wife run her hands over my head and critique my result. Her response:
"It's as smooth as a baby's tooshie!"
What more needs to be said?

[DogStar Guy]

OK, today I used the 8243 in the shower with HB Head Slick. This shaver has made a believer out of me. I felt like I definitely got as smooth a shave as I ever did with a blade but, just to be sure I had my wife run her hands over my head and critique my result. Her response:
"It's as smooth as a baby's tooshie!"
What more needs to be said?

I am one SICK puppy!
I just ordered this with Monday delivery from Amazon!

I am going to need a second "medicine cabinet" in my bathroom just for my head shaving materials!

You guys are what we call enablers!

Be well my friends,
Eric

[Razor X]

I'm thinking of trying something like this if I continue to have skin problems.  It may be kinder to my scalp than the blade.  I'd still want to use the blade on the fringe area; though.  I'm not sure I want to spend $125 for something to shave the 25 hairs that I still have left on top.

[buddha]

You guys are what we call enablers!

Be well my friends,
Eric

We do what we can.

[rabiddecoder]

Alright, I’ll admit it.  I’m a newSLY here and maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about but if your goal is a dome without the slightest trace of stubble, the Panasonic ES8243 needs to be your weapon of mass destruction!!  I’ve used it on my dome for 3 days, my face for 1 month and it puts all other razors and shavers out to pasture.  If I was the CEO of Norelco, Braun or Remington, I’d be VERY concerned about the mortality of my company.   I’ve got most of my head hair and it’s still thick as well as very tough, wirery, fast-growing facial hair but the Panasonic is over-engineered for such a lowly, Neanderthal challenge.  Reach out and touch that glowing thing in front of you where you are reading these words and move your hand from side to side.  The sensation you’re feeling is exactly how your dome will feel once you use the ES8243.  It’s that awesome! 

I’m nowhere near a physicist and for reasons I can’t comprehend, shaving in the shower really prepares the vermin-stubble for complete and total annihilation. My best guess is that it’s got something to do with the steam but I’m not quite sure what that is.  In fairness to the Headblade and other disposable, cartridge-type razors , I’m a new SLYguy here so my experience shaving my head with a manual razor doesn’t even make it into novice territory.  My first few attempts with the Headblade were successful but they did leave my scalp irritated, flakey and I ended up with what I’d call, dome-zits.  So far, the Panasonic ES8243 has far out performed any manual razor that I’ve used and it left no irritation or zits. 

The following routine is what I use order to achieve my “monitor dome” and if you comply, you’re sure to end up with the same results as this SLY.
   
During your regular shower routine massage some hot water on your scalp once or twice for a few seconds.

Towards the end of your shower regimen apply 10 drops of “Shave Secret” shave oil (you can get this at Wal-Mart for 4 bucks) into your scalp.  This should take about 8 seconds

Rub a conservative amount of Headblade Headslick on to your dome.  This should take about 7 seconds and when you do this, you’re really going to feel the stubble rear its ugly head. 

Fire up the Panasonic and applying minimal pressure, mow the vermin stubble against the grain like a drunken landscaper that slipped nitric oxide into his Toro “Z Master- 74915”.

This process will take about 5 minutes and during the vermin eradication -
   The Panasonic will easily destroy whatever stubble you had and you will hear it do so.
   Use your fingers to feel for any missed areas and go over them.  The missed sections of stubble will feel like sharks tooth while the acceptable areas will feel like a squeegee testing ground.
   Once satisfied, towel off and apply a healthy dose of Headlube. Do this while the steam is still present in your bathroom.
   Prepare yourself for a day full of victory!

-Owen

[Sly Red]

Owen, welcome to the Panasonic Posse.  There are but a few of us, but we understand the great cosmic powers of the Panasonic Linear system.

I'm making you a co-Guru! 

Red

[Mikekoz13]

Now that's a review!!! Nice job Owen!