If you are looking for a men’s shaver that is best described as ‘fully loaded’ then this is the one for you. Panasonic Arc 5 jams tons of features into the ESLV81K putting it head and shoulders above most every other wet/dry shaver on the market. On this Electric Shaver there are a total of five nanotech blades that sit at a 30-degree angle to provide maximum coverage which reduces shaving time.
The head has a multi-flex pivot action which makes the shaver follow chin and jaw lines more closely. The head has a motion range measured at about 25-degrees back and forth. Additional measurements place the head motion at about 20-degrees to either the left or right which allows it to hug close to all facial features.
Panasonic Arc 5 ESLV81K (Men’s 5-Blade System with Nanotech Blades )
The powerful linear motor drive system provides 14,000 CPM for an extremely fast cutting action. There’s also an automatic cleaning/charging system. The package comes complete with a travel pouch, 10-stage LCD display, switch lock button and a trimmer that pops up from the head.
One of the best features on the Panasonic Arc 5 ESLV81K is the fact that it can be used either wet or dry. That means in the shower, with a foam or gel. As the stainless steel blades and foils are hypoallergenic, you will experience a comfortable shave with little skin irritation.
This product is rated 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon. When compared to the other models in the Panasonic product line the ESLV81K is just one of two featuring the five blade system. Four of the others have the four blade system (Arc4) and the remaining two models are equipped with three blades (Arc 3). This makes it easy to see that with each new design more features and blades were added.
This particular shaver is one of five Panasonic models to feature the most powerful motor rated at 14,000 RPM and also has many more features than all the other models with one exception. Two Panasonic shavers have the Automatic Cleaning and Charging System that this one has.
Other pluses for the Panasonic ESLV81K are the size and weight of the unit. It weighs just 7.1 ounces making it an easy handheld device to use and won’t be difficult to handle for longer shaving sessions. It is also designed to accept a series of optional accessories including replacement foils and blades. There is a combo set available as well as additional cleaning cartridges.
As for online reviews, the Panasonic ESLV81K received a number of comments that span the spectrum. For some users not accustomed to using a foil shaver with pivoting head action, it may take a bit of getting used to. This is standard with all foil shavers. The extremely close shave and face hugging design can irritate some users with sensitive skin. For the most part, these features are what attract many consumers to purchase this product. A number of new buyers are also owners of previous models in this product line who are upgrading. Some like the newer ESLV81K and some didn’t.
Ultimately, if you are looking to move up from a three or four blade shaver to a five blade model with tons of features, this is your best bet. If you are a Panasonic fan and are looking for the best shaver in a price range that is an indicator of the level of quality in the product, then you should seriously consider moving up to the ‘fully loaded’ 5-blade ESLV81K and experience the kind of shave you’ve only dreamed about up to this point.
Whilst we rank this shaver at #6 on our Top 10 Electric Shaver list and expect it will rise overtime as the price continues to fall and value for money increases.