Cordless
     Rechargeable Shaver
Philips Norelco Arcitec
     Men's Shavers
Philips Norelco BG2020
     Men's Bodygroom
Philips Norelco
     Moisturizing Shaving
     Systems
Philips Norelco Speed-XL
     8140XL Men's Shaver
Wahl Hair Kits and
     Trimmers

Reviews

Braun Activator Self-Cleaning Shaving System

The Activator was for a time one of Braun’s popular top-level line of shavers, sold in the US in two models, the 8595 and the 8585 (the latter lacks an interactive LCD panel). However, it has now largely been supplanted by the 360 Complete range, although it is still on sale.

A good explanation comes from the British Shavers.co.uk. Though a sales site, it is a useful review:

The Braun Activator is now taking over as the successor to the much acclaimed Syncro range. The original Syncro design with its automatic clean and charge system and high performance cutters is a hard act to follow, however I feel the Activator is an excellent evolution.

Generally most shavers require careful attention to detail when shaving around the neck area in order to catch all hairs. While this is still true with the Activator a new foil design offers a generous improvement. The new design is a genuine innovation and something you are surprised has only just been put to use. Instead of a foil of uniform sized holes, the Activator foil features a repeating pattern of variable shaped holes design to catch a wide range of hairs all in one stroke.

The LCD is a useful tool and provides commentary on the shavers state. It offers accurate charge level status and also keeps you informed during the cleaning process.

The Activator comes complete with the newer, more compact version of the Clean & Charge base unit. Although the ability to charge your shaver would seem commonplace, the cleaning facilities are far from conventional. By inserting the shaver into the stand you are given the chance to press a button and walk away. Come back in just over half an hour and the shaver is perfectly clean. When I say perfectly clean I'm not exaggerating, the cutting system will look like new!

The Electric Shaver Page website carries reader polls of the most popular shavers. In both the January to November 2005 and the November 2005 to September 2006 polls the Braun Activator came out on top.

A rave review on the G4 Television site said:

This is hands-down the best electric razor I've ever used...and I use electric razors exclusively. This thing looks cool and feels great! The trimmer works like a charm. Comes off the razor far enough that it won't shave you when you don't want it to but not so far that it's flimsy. The actual razor is like butter. It feels great and shaves very close. This is the razor I want to keep--and my girlfriend, after all was said and done, asked me to go back over my whole face with this one. BUY THIS ONE.

Otherwise it is hard to find many reviews online, apart from the numerous consumer reviews on sites like Amazon.com.

The Braun corporate website contains more detail on the shaver.

* Get the Latest Price on the Braun 8595 Activator Self-Cleaning Shaving System.

February 15th, 2006
Updated October 4th, 2007