Remington Balder Pro Review

A key stand-out feature of the Balder Pro is its five large, rotary cutting heads — most head shavers only offer four. Remington's design employs a very effective pivoting system that accommodates the varying angles of the skull.

Performance Comparison

Shave Quality

Five independent rotary blades allow the Balder Pro to simultaneously cover a lot of area with each pass while chomping at stubble for a smooth shave. Its above-average shaving performances convinced us to award the Balder Pro with top scores for this metric.

According to our panel of testers, the singular reasons for this razor's great shaving ability are its five oversized, pivoting razor heads. They work in unison to bend and create a concave pocket that adjusts well to the curvature of the head. This feature allows the entire cutting system to mold to the shape of the skull and maintain consistent contact with its shaving surface. We feel this results in a smoother, more comprehensive shave. In addition to this pivoting system, the entire cutting cassette sits atop a multi-directional base that can bend in any direction. This added movement gives the Balder Pro a greater ability to track and contour. Lastly, we also like this unit's pop-up trimming blade. It is helpful for trimming up the sideburns and is a feature many head shavers don't offer.

Run & Charge Times

When compared to other razors in our lineup, the Balder Pro produced run times that were similar to the rest of its peers, but it still only received basic scores for this metric because when it came to recharging, it didn't do so well.

Although its run times were solid, our testers were a little shocked by the recharging requirements of the Balder Pro. Several attempts resulted in charge times of about 3 hours 21 minutes. This time obligation is two and a half times the length of its actual run time of 1 hour and 16 minutes. We feel this is a very poor run-to-charge ratio. When we compared the Balder Pro's results against most of our top performers, its charge time was glaringly lengthy. Most other products produced run and charge times that were about equal in length. On the positive side, we did like the Balder Pro's simple interface, which features two separate indicator lights that show when battery life is depleted, when the device is charging, and when it is fully recharged.

Ease of Use & Versatility

Great ergonomics and textured, rubberized grip strips make the Balder Pro easy to hold and simple to use, which influenced our decision to give it solid marks for this metric. However, there were a few things we didn't like.

A comfortable, oval-shaped motor housing also doubles as the handhold for the Balder Pro. About the size of a large lemon, it fits perfectly into the palm and fingers for an easy handheld control. It packs up into a nice carrying case, and as stated, we loved that it has a built-in trimmer for evening sideburns.

We liked that the shaving motion of this razor is seamless and intuitive, even when shaving without the help of a mirror. It can be used wet or dry or even in the shower. Many of our users even use it while walking around the house. On the negative side, we didn't like that the Balder Pro's power button appears to lack a travel lock option.

Ease of Cleaning

Convenience and efficiency were key components to our decision to give the Balder Pro higher scores for this metric. We really liked its extra large discard reservoir which allows it to easily and securely store an entire shave's worth of clippings. This razor is also super easy to clean with a dry brush, and it's waterproof, so it can be quickly rinsed clean under running water.

The large cutting cassette clips tightly onto the main head of the razor, creating a convenient reserve to store clippings. This storage compartment is large enough to gather and hold onto a large amount of clippings; however, the manufacturer recommends dumping the hair pocket after each use. The only thing we didn't like about this system is that the cutting cassette is difficult to remove from the body of the razor. It locks smoothly on the base and lacks any finger holds or edges to create leverage. It's difficult to grasp, and the force necessary to remove it feels like it could cause damage to the razor's head assembly. That said, we never had any serious issues removing and attaching it during our use and testing. Other than the sticky cutting cassette, cleaning the Balder Pro is very easy and doesn't require a lot of time. After removing the cassette, dump the hair clippings into the garbage and then rinse both the cassette and hair pocket under running water. We liked this process because there weren't any special steps or extra processes necessary to clean and maintain this razor.

Should You Buy the Remington Balder Pro?

If you frequently shave your head and are tired of using traditional razors, you'll love the convenience of the Balder Pro. It performs well, is easy to use, and quickly cleans up. We also think it's very reasonably priced and built well. What distinguishes this razor from many head shavers is its five heads instead of four. It covers more space and cuts more hair in the same amount of time. This razor fits nicely into a durable storage case, which makes it fairly travel-worthy. As mentioned, it will never match the shaving ability of standard, handheld shaving blades, but it will still appeal to head shavers looking for an easier way to get the job done.

What Other Electric Razor Should You Consider?

If you desire your head shaver to boast a more branded look, the Skull Shaver Pitbull Gold Pro may be more your style. It's more expensive than the Balder Pro, but it has more style and better packaging, although it shaves about the same. If you'd rather stick to shaving your head the old-fashioned way, you may want to check our review on standard razors.