Panasonic ER224S All-in-One Hair Clipper and Beard Wet/Dry Trimmer

Several years ago I purchased a Panasonic C282 trimmer which, at the time, was the only cordless hair trimmer I could find. I had to get it from Canada as it wasn't marketed in the US. I wanted a cordless because I found it cumbersome using a corded trimmer to do my own hair. I just bought the ER224S as my C282 recently broke after I carelessly dropped it. I just used the new trimmer and have to say, I feel pretty good about it... Since my old trimmer had broken, my hair was much longer than usual and the new trimmer had no problem going through it, as some other reviews suggested. I did have to stop a couple of times and remove the comb to clear out the built up hair, but that won't be a problem if you keep your hair short. The old trimmer had a smaller comb and it was easier to flick the cut hair out of it without having to remove it but this seems minor unless you are often cutting long hair, which I do not. That is the only slight knock I can give the new trimmer compared to the old one. Otherwise the motor seems stronger and quieter on the newer one. The larger comb and cutting head is easier to hold and I like the adjustment knob better than the slider on the old trimmer. Despite some reviews it does not seem easy to accidentally change settings in use as it seems to lock down the setting once the power is on. The old trimmer could occasionally slip settings during use, though it wasn't too bad - the new trimmer seems to improve on that as well. The setting numbering seems odd as they have 1, 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17 and 20, with half step settings between each position. The 2 setting is roughly equivalent to the 2 setting on my old trimmer and the 5 seems to be about what the old trimmer's 3 was so I don't understand why they didn't just number them sequentially. I personally do not like traditional corded trimmers with separate attachments for each length. I had a Conair trimmer for a while and just didn't like it. It is much more convenient to dial in my desired cutting length instead of having to switch out different combs for each length step. Cutting without the cord is much easier as well, obviously. So I am very happy with this trimmer so far and would recommend it.**** Update about 10 years later!!So I have been using this trimmer since 2007! It is a great trimmer and I just purchased it again because the original one finally died outright. Not bad I say for 10 years. So my experience with this trimmer has revealed two things to look out for.Firstly, as some reviews have mentioned, the plastic comb can break. If you drop the trimmer, the comb will probably break depending on how it lands. I have only dropped my trimmer once in 10 years so unless you are a klutz, I don't think that's a big issue. However, if you take the comb off incorrectly it can also break. The comb clips in on one side but the other side kind of free floats a bit. If you pull from the free floating side and are not careful, you can can cause it to crack. I have found if I only pull on the connected side and do so with firm but careful pressure, it comes off easily without breaking so this isn't really an issue either. Also replacement combs are relatively cheap I keep an extra one or two just in case but haven't had to replace them very often at all.The other issue, also mentioned in a bunch of reviews, is that the battery in the trimmer does not last forever. Shouldn't be a surprise, rechargeable batteries only have about a 2-3 year expected life in general. Should Panasonic have made it easier to replace the battery? Sure, but I don't put too much of a knock on this trimmer because of it. If you want, you can get a replacement battery if you search. And while not very easy, it is possible to replace the battery. My experience was that the battery lasted a decently long 5-7 years. I don't remember exactly when it stopped taking a full charge but I did use it for the last 3-4 years as mostly a corded trimmer and it was still a good experience. However, just this past week it stopped turning on at all. It appeared to be fully charged, but wouldn't turn on even while corded.So I looked at a bunch of different trimmers but realized for the price, under $30 now, it is such a great trimmer that I decided to just go ahead and order it again. The one thing I don't like about this model now is that it came with only the stand charger and not the cord. So when the battery does go you can't use it as a corded trimmer. For me that's not an issue because I saved my cord from the first one and it still fits the new one. Anyway, a great trimmer. Highly recommended!!

Update: It's 1/17/22 and I'm about to buy another one because one of my two does not hold a charge well at all. Still works....just does not hold a charge long. But....I'm debating if it is time to switch....they've tripled the price and I am thinking this is not because of popularity but because they are phasing this model out....it's a great trimmer....but at 100 bucks....I'm going to look at other options.Previous post: I've used these things for 8 to 10 years. I'm a man and I do a lot of manscaping. On a hairy scale with 0 being no hair and 10 being chewbacca, i'm a 5. But hair is hair. I trim my legs, beard when i'm growing one, my arms, my underarms, my butt, my buttcrack, and my pubes with this thing. Why do I trim all that? Because, years back my wife said I was the cause of the pubic hair that gathered around the toilet and under the covers in the bed. Kinda gross. I was a clean freak then and did not understand how all that hair could be mine. She's not hairy but I could not understand how I was shedding like that. Anyway, I figured I would show her and trimmed everything and sure enough, the hairs went away. And, I liked the way I looked, the way it felt, and so did my wife. So, began my manscaping. This product has never nicked me and depending on the area I go as low as 2 on the setting. I'm pretty careless with it and press into the cracks, but like I said, never been nicked. In fact, I'm on setting 2 on most sensitive areas. A few years back, I bought another one to go with the one I already had. I leave one in the shower always. If I need to trim, I get in, trim and wash all the hair down the drain. The other one is sitting on charge by the sink. When the one in the shower gets low, I swap it with the one by the sink. And I clean it up with water before I swap in the shower.....see, I'm still clean!. One in the shower gets wet everyday. So, they are definitely waterproof. You can take the guard/height adjuster off to get to the blade and it pops off too. All of it cleans up well. They last about 4 to 5 years before they get where they don't hold a charge. I don't oil the blades much but I have done it before. Anyway, they trim good, the hair height adjuster stays put, and it adjusts easily with a quick turn of a dial. The charger does not sit on the sink but plugs directly into the outlet and acts like a cradle on the outlet. So, vertical/normal positioned outlets are best. I think these things are great. I see that Panasonic has newer ones out that look fancier.....but you know what, I'm going to stick with what works great for me and I have no complaints with at all. Until they quit making it, I'll keep buying it every couple of years........just like right now, going to buy another one, because one of mine now does not hold a charge too well. Been a good one like the rest and it lasts 4/5 years. Oh, one more thing, it has a built in close cut trimmer that pops out for fine grooming. It works, but I never use it as I am trimming, not shaving with this thing. What i need for close shaves, which I also do in a couple of areas, face, chest, and privates, I just use a blade. Much quicker than using the little fine shaver on this thing. That's my review and I hope it helps you decide what you want.