After several months of hard work and struggle, I have my beard in a place where I’m happy with it. It’s finally at a decent length and thick enough all over my face that it doesn’t look scrubby anymore. Despite this, my pride in my beard lasted maybe a week.
Then I realized the battle was only half won. Now that I had a beard I was proud of, I had to find a way to keep it that way, or all my hard work growing it would be wasted.
I tried to use my electric razor at first. It has a trimmer attachment, but that just left me looking patchy. Not only that, because the trimmer on my razor is an extra rather than a quality made, intentionally designed beard trimmer, it left my face itchy, as well as randomly pulling out hairs all over my face, occasionally leaving me sore and irritated.
That’s why I decided it was time to pick up a dedicated beard groomer. There’s a lot of variety out there, with trimmers from every manufacturer to suit every budget. After looking at the options, I settled on the Trym II, a reasonably priced unit that comes with enough accessories to suit any beard style and deal with any problems a man might face when it comes to his hair.
Things to consider when buying a beard trimmer
The most important thing to consider when buying a hair trimmer is why you need it. Some men will be looking for a trimmer purely to shape and style their beard, so buying a specialized beard trimmer is probably recommended, whereas other men might be looking for a product that not only trims beards but that they can also use to shave and style other parts of their body.
I’m quite a hairy man and prefer to keep the hair on my chest and back in check, so I was looking for something that not only had great performance on my face, but came with the right accessories that I could use all over my body and leave me looking more sharp and manly, and less like an angry bear just comes out of hibernation.
It’s also important to consider the attachment options and variability of what you’re buying. I know my beard looks best when it’s about a quarter of an inch long, or around 6-7mm. That’s when I feel the most rugged and masculine, and it’s the perfect length when it comes to manageability and control, so I was looking for a trimmer that catered to the length and style I knew looked best for me.
Make sure when you’re buying your trimmer that it comes with the options you need for the hair and beard styles you want. Lots of trimmers use attachments for length and control, and more expensive trimmers will have a lot of aftermarket options you can buy that will deal with almost any hair situation.
Every trimmer you buy should have enough battery life to trim your entire face without needing to recharge. Otherwise, it’s just a terrible product. Pretty much everything on the market will have at least an hours power time on a full charge, and most charge pretty quickly too so the trimmer going dead isn’t as much of a problem as it used to be.
However, some guys travel a lot more than I do, and I know that when you do travel, space can be at a premium, so taking the charger with you might not be an option. If that’s the case, you’ll want a unit with the best battery life possible. After all, nothing could be worse than trimming half your beard, then having your trimmer die on you.
Battery life also affects the lifespan of the trimmer. Constantly charging and depleting a battery kills the amount of charge it can hold so the less you have to charge it, the longer the battery will last before you have to buy a new one.
It’s also just a convenience thing. I’m the type to get frustrated when I feel like I’m wasting time, so less time spent setting up and charging any device means more time spent on actual important things.
You’re also going to want something robust because cheaper trimmers will break down much faster and cutting hair puts a surprising amount of stress on the motors in these machines. That’s why it’s important to consider how often you actually shave and trim your beard.
If you have a low maintenance style, or you just don’t see the need to trim your beard often, it’s possible to get away with a cheaper trimmer without many options.
If you’ve chosen a style that requires a little more maintenance than most, it might be worth springing for something more expensive. As you’ll be using your new trimmer more often, the better quality and reliability you’ll get from spending a little bit more will go a long way.
Pure Enrichment TRYM II Rechargeable Hair Trimmer Kit with 4 Trimming Attachments, Charging Base, Cleaning Brush and Clipper Oil - Ideal for Safe, At-Home Grooming of Hair, Body, Mustache and Beard
Features
- Rechargeable Hair Trimmer: The TRYM II hair trimmer is rechargeable for cordless grooming.
- Multipurpose Use: Ideal for trimming hair, beards, mustaches and body hair.
- Stainless Steel Construction: Made from durable stainless steel for long-lasting use.
- 4 Trimming Attachments: Includes 4 different trimmer attachments for versatile grooming.
- Complete Grooming Kit: Comes with a charging base, cleaning brush and oil for all-in-one grooming solution.
The Trym II is the newest trimmer from Pure Enrichment, who specialize in products designed to make life simple and comfortable. It’s tiny, sleek and gorgeous to look at, with production quality to match. Made with professional quality parts, the Trym II also has higher quality blades than its predecessor, designed to last for hundreds of cuts.
The set comes with everything you need, including the trimmer itself, as well as the charging base and power adapter.
The kit also comes with everything you need to maintain the trimmer: 4 shaving attachments that range from 1.8mm to 9mm in length, a cleaning brush to keep your trimmer hair free and operating smoothly, and blade oil to keep the trimmer’s blades sharp and running through your hair smooth as silk.
The attachments that come with it are perfect for the majority of situations a man could face with his hair. The medium and long lengths are great for beards, and possible shaving your head if that’s your style, and the short ones are the right length for close control to blend in hairlines and bring in sideburns.
Small and easy to handle, the Trym II maneuvers easily around your face, making reaching those hard to shave areas simple, which is great for me, because I always have trouble under my ears and around the corners of my nose.Overall, for a budget hair and beard trimmer, the Trym II delivers everything you’d expect; Solid, consistent trimming with good performance and a nice long battery.
Pros
Cons
- Professional quality build and blades
- Simple construction means it’s easy to clean and has little that can go wrong
- Quick charge and long battery life
- Four provided length guard attachments, up to 9mm, great for any style of beard
- Light and easy to maneuver, ideal for those hard to reach places
- Attractive, masculine design, looks good anywhere
- Not waterproof, so you can’t rinse it off or use it in the shower
- Fewer aftermarket options than some more well-known brands
Features and benefits
While it’s obvious that the Trym II is a solid little hair trimmer that has everything you might need to keep your hair managed, whether it’s on your head or anywhere else on your body, it’s surprisingly full of features for such a budget unit.
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- Solid Construction
First off, the trimmer has a professional quality construction and fantastic blade quality that gives a close, consistent trim, obviously an important consideration when you’re buying a beard trimmer. The solidly made blades cut through even the thickest hairs, and do it all without snagging or pulling.
Each shave length attachment locks onto the base unit securely, without any wobble, the mark of good construction and a major help when it comes to getting a consistent length trim all over your face.
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- Excellent battery life
One overnight charge gives you enough power that it should last for over a week of general usage, so you’ll spend less time waiting and more time actually using the trimmer for what you bought it for, grooming yourself.
It also comes pre-charged, so you can take it straight out of the box and start shaving, perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to spend four hours waiting to use their new toy.
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- Handsome design
For an entry level piece of kit, the unit is really attractive, sleek and black with a slimline charging base. A lot of trimmers and shavers seem to try too hard, with bizarre supposedly ergonomic designs and bright colors that you’d never see a professional use. The Trym II just goes with a simple design that feels understated and masculine.
The unit itself is also incredibly small and light but still feels robust in hand. Its charging dock is just as tiny, but even though it’s so small, it’s still surprisingly stable, and because of its size you’re never going to have a problem fitting it wherever you need it to go.
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- It gives a great cut
No matter where it is used, the trimmer handles it all, leaving hair a consistent length. Its powerful motor cuts through the thickest hairs with no issues, preventing jams and also making sure it doesn’t pull or nap at hairs at all
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- Great customer support
When I was checking the reviews of this product and deciding what to buy, a few customers said that they’d experienced issues with the unit, mostly with its motor dying. To Pure Enrichment’s credit, it seems they responded to every query and replaced every faulty product with no quibble, sometimes in as little as 2 days.
So in the unlikely event that something does go wrong with your trimmer, you know it’ll get sorted, and fast.
Alternatives
Features
- Precision trimmer
- 7-position facial hair guide
- Up to 3 hours of run time
- Includes charger, storage/charge stand, beard comb, cleaning brush, blade oil, English/Spanish instructions
- 5 year manufacturer warranty, 60 day money back guarantee
This beard trimmer is another low-priced option from the grooming specialists at Wahl. With the same quality precision blades as the Trym II, the Wahl Precision Beard Trimmer delivers reliable performance, as expected from a brand that caters to the professional hair care market.
Compared to other trimmers, the Wahl comes with fewer accessories, but more potential options. Because of their heritage, Wahl offers massive amounts of aftermarket options that will work with this trimmer, so no matter what your situation, there’s a tool out there that will sort it.
Despite the basic kit, what you get is excellent quality. The trimmer itself has a powerful motor and professional quality blades for a great cut, and the powerful battery gives up to 3 hours of charge, or 3 minutes of shaving time if you need to charge it quickly, which takes only 1 minute.
While it doesn’t come with much, the Wahl is a great starting trimmer with massive options for expansion and variety, so if you’re not sure what you might need in the future, this is a safe choice.
Remington PG6171 The Crafter - Beard Boss Style and Detail Kit, Beard Trimmer, Grooming Set, Platinum, 11 Pieces
Features
- 11 piece kit has self-sharpening stainless steel cutting blades so you can manage all of your facial trimming needs
- 3 hour runtime-the power of lithium delivers long lasting, consistent, high performance cordless cutting for the duration of the runtime
- 5-minute quick charge saves you time in a pinch, providing power for one full shave
- 100% Waterproof- you can trim up in the shower if that's your style, plus, its incredibly easy to clean
- Easy to Clean - Use the included brush to clear away hair, then rinse the blades under running water for quick cleanup
Another solid design from industry leaders Remington, the PG6171 Crafter kit is a comprehensive set, with options for every situation.
Packed with accessories, the shaver itself is the same solid, dependable quality we all expect from Remington, and comes with a 10 length adjustable trimming comb, a full-size trimmer, a detail trimmer, a combined nose, ear and eyebrow trimmer, and a whole bunch of combs.
3 hours of battery life means it’ll last weeks between charges, and if you forget to charge it, the 5 minute Remington quick charge feature gives you enough power for one full shave in, well, 5 minutes.
Fully waterproof so it can be used in the shower, the PG6171 also comes with an attractive travel pouch, so it’s ideal for the man on the go who needs a portable trimmer that can come with him everywhere.
Philips Norelco BT7215/49, Vacuum Beard Trimmer Series 7200, Cordless Lithium-Ion Mustache and Beard Groomer for Men - NO BLADE OIL NEEDED
Features
- The integrated vacuum system catches up to 90% of cut hair for less mess. The high-velocity motor and fan system creates powerful suction to lift and capture hairs
- With innovative lift & trim technology, the trimmer effectively lifts and guides hairs for a more efficient cut
- The self-sharpening steel blades are designed to effectively cut each hair perfectly, preventing skin irritation, and are double sharpened to cut more hairs in every pass for faster trimming
- The trimmer offers 20 built-in length settings, so you can select your preferred trim length by simply turning the zoom wheel until the length you want is displayed from 0.5mm - 10mm
- Advanced lithium-ion battery delivers maximum power for high performance cutting. Charge your beard trimmer for 1 hour to get 80 minutes of cordless use. It can also be used while charging
The most expensive option on the list, the Philips 7200 is also the one with the most amount of features. 20 built-in length settings gives you far more control over the length of your beard than any of the other choices, and the ‘lift and trim’ technology built into the trimmer guides each hair into the blades for a more efficient cut.
Lithium-ion batteries give excellent power delivery through all 80 minutes of charging, and the batteries are also quick charging, going from dead to full charge in less than an hour.
The real differentiating factor though is the built in hair vacuum that catches up to 90% of cut hair, meaning post shave cleanup is much quicker and cleaner. With the standard and quality, you’d expect from a Philips brand shaver, the Norelco 7200 is ideal for a man looking for something a little more expensive.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a great little hair and beard trimmer to keep yourself looking sharp and sexy, you could do far worse than pick up the Trym II, especially for the price.
For such a budget trimmer, the power and quality of the blades and motor, as well as the long battery and surprising amount of accessories, means this comes highly recommended.
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