Review (5/5): Extremely Happy with the Norelco 8140xl
Summary: After using the 8140xl for almost 3 weeks, I can say it is giving me a very close shave with no irritation, the battery lasts over a week between charges, the trimmer works well, it feels well constructed, and the hot water rinse clean is great.
Background: I've used electric shavers ever since I started shaving over 20 years ago. For the past ~12 years I've been using a Norelco 5825xl rotary shaver. The battery has long since died (I only used the power cord on the 5825xl for the past several years) and I haven't replaced the cutter/heads for at least 2 years. So, going from this situation with my 5825xl to the 8140xl has been a huge leap forward. The shave I am now getting with the 8140xl is so much closer than any I recall ever getting with any razor in the past, with no skin irritation. I've read other reviews that state the trimmer doesn't work well, I use it to trim my sideburns every 3-4 days and it works well for me. I was a little concerned with some of the reviews I read stating the razor starts to smell from cleaning it with hot running tap water, but I run the water only on both sides of the shaving heads and prevent water from flowing through the entire razor and out the bottom (which the directions state it is designed to do). This seems to allow the heads to air dry rather quickly, and keeps water from remaining in the main body for a long period of time which is what I assume would lead to the razor smelling badly.
In the past I always felt as though I was sacrificing the closer shave of a blade for the convenience of an electric shaver. I'm not sacrificing anything anymore - the 8140xl is giving me a shave that's virtually as good as a blade.
Update: Have been using this razor regularly for 2 months now, and I remain extremely happy. I'm getting 2 weeks of shaving daily between battery charges, and I remain very impressed with the closeness of the shave. I do agree with other reviews that it would be nice to have a little warning before the battery runs out, but when that only happens once every two weeks it simply isn't an issue for me.
Great razor, great shave, great value! Wish I bought this sooner.