Celebrating 15 years with a full beard, I was eager to evaluate the vacuum-equipped beard trimmer from Wahl, a well-known American company.
Upon unboxing, the trimmer presents a visually appealing design. However, the construction feels somewhat plasticky upon handling, lacking the expected heft.
Testing on a substantial beard revealed the trimmer’s effective and comfortable performance. The blades cut cleanly without pulling hairs. The unit includes a variety of attachment combs for different trimming lengths. A notable drawback, however, is the reliance on detachable plastic combs; an integrated, adjustable system (similar to that found on the Panasonic SB40) would offer a more convenient user experience. Furthermore, the Wahl Vacuum Trimmer‘s cutting range of 2-12 mm does not allow for as close a trim as our current reference trimmer.
As the name, Wahl Vacuum Trimmer, implies, the device incorporates a vacuum system designed to capture hair clippings. The packaging claims a 96 percent capture rate. In practice, this claim appears optimistic, particularly when trimming a long, coarse beard. Hair does escape, and the collection chamber fills rapidly. The chamber’s removal and emptying process, which involves detaching the compartment and opening the lid with a plastic “snap,” raises concerns about long-term durability. The vacuum function may perform adequately for light beard maintenance, potentially achieving the stated 96 percent capture rate. However, the trimmer’s noise level is considerable, becoming noticeably loud when used close to the ears for trimming sideburns.
In conclusion, the Wahl Vacuum Trimmer offers effective and comfortable trimming performance, warranting consideration. However, given its identified shortcomings and a price of 1200 SEK, a more refined and quieter operation would be expected.
