The Super Beard’s plastic build doesn’t look as premium as Panasonic’s two options or the Philips Series 5000, but it feels solid enough, plus it comes with a stand for charging that keeps things neat and tidy at home but isn’t the most practical solution for travel. Nothing makes a beard owner’s blood run cold like the realisation that they’ve just scythed into their painstakingly cultivated facial hair with the trimmer on the wrong setting or the guard not attached properly. All that hard work, wasted. As well as the financial cost, you’ll also have a debt to pay when it comes to cleaning up afterwards. There are minimal nooks and crannies around the top for the offcuts to collect in, so while there’s no need to stop halfway through and clear it out, you’ll be surprised by how far and wide it can fling tiny shards of hair.

Regular trimming using a reliable beard trimmer or clippers is pivotal to maintaining your desired stubble length and achieving a well-groomed look. We chose a medium-length setting of 7mm but would always take into account just how versatile each device was, with extra marks for anything that could go over 10mm. Whereas some offer adjustments in half-millimetre increments, others are much less precise in their measurements – which is fine if one of the options happens to be the one you’re after, but isn’t that great if you have a particular length in mind it doesn’t cater for. If you like to spend your time perfecting your beard in the morning, you’ll want a long battery life to keep up with your intricate routine. And if you're sporting a great big bushy beard, we can't stress enough the importance of a large battery capacity. The devices on our list will last anywhere between 50 minutes and three hours, which should keep you going over multiple shaves. We typically took around 25 minutes to sculpt. Recharge Time If 20mm is long enough, the ER-GB80 is quite similar to the more pricey GB96, although its wider cutting head means you can’t be quite as precise when trimming. On the whole it gives an impressive all-over cut, plus it comes with a smaller, much narrower set of pop-up blades for neat edges. Probably more impressive is Remington’s tiny MB4200 Endurance Groomer. Measuring about half the size of most other trimmers on our shortlist it offers a surprisingly thorough trim for something so small, and while the attachment is a bit on the fiddly side, being able to charge it using a USB port is very handy for frequent flyers.Still, whatever length you’re after this offers a consistent cut with no tugging and little cause to go over the same spots again and again. No trimmer will catch everything first time but the GB96 does a better job than most.

At Men's Health, we take the art of grooming seriously. That's why every product adorned with our MH Lab logo undergoes an intensive evaluation by our panel of 200 men, who boast a diverse array of beard lengths and styles, over a two to three-week period. Decide whether you prefer a corded or cordless trimmer. Cordless trimmers offer more freedom of movement but require regular charging. Corded trimmers provide consistent power but limit mobility. Additional Features We were looking for teeth that would lift the hair up for cutting but wouldn’t flex too much in use and put your nice even look under threat. While overall face maintenance was our primary concern we also took into account what secondary attachments or features each trimmer had. Could they cater for top lips and finer details, for example? The high-torque motor ensures there is no power lost or hair missed while cutting, enabling a smooth trimming of even hard, dense beards. To catch more whiskers with a single stroke, the new blade system features a 60% wider between blades. Panasonic ER-GB86 effortlessly captures even long, dense whiskers, enabling a comfortable and easy grooming of long, full beards that are easily tugged by conventional blades.So you want to grow a beard. Good idea. Get it right, with the best beard trimmer, and you’ll look great, keep your chin warm and save a whole load of time and cash. While some beard trimmers may tout their anti-rust capabilities in product descriptions, rusting is always a possibility when metal is involved. To prevent it, always clean and dry your beard trimmer after use – including taking advantage of any bundled in brushes that’ll let you access the small and hard to each places. How often should you trim your beard? Moisturising your stubble and the skin beneath can also improve its overall health and appearance. Consider using a top-quality beard oil or moisturiser to hydrate both the hair and the underlying skin. This not only reduces itchiness but also promotes healthy stubble growth, keeping it soft and manageable.

Let’s start with that laser attachment, which is surely the reason for the Series 9000’s relatively high price. While it sounds like a neat idea in theory, in practice it’s badly implemented to the point of being almost useless. If you’re not careful it reflects off the head of the trimmer and actually makes it more difficult to see what you’re doing. To look after a long beard, you’ll need to give it consistent care and attention. As with stubble, regular washing is key. Make sure to cleanse your beard thoroughly using a gentle beard shampoo or cleanser. This will effectively remove dirt, debris, and excess oils without stripping away the natural oils that keep your beard healthy. That’s because growing and maintaining a beard isn’t just a case of giving up shaving. You need to cultivate it, and that’s where a good beard trimmer comes in. We spent a few weeks with the leading models to see which ones offer the best performance. The guard allows you to not only choose how long you grow your beard out, but trims different parts to different lengths, which usually offers a more natural look. Anyone who thinks cultivating a beard is just a case of leaving it to grow is very much mistaken.

The quality of the blades is crucial for a precise and comfortable trimming experience. Stainless steel blades are often preferred as they are durable and sharp. Battery Life A well-designed trimmer will offer a comfortable grip and easy manoeuvrability. An ergonomic design ensures precise control, making it easier to shape and trim your beard with accuracy. Maintenance and Cleaning