Stuff - UK (2020-12)

GROUP TEST BEARD TRIMMERS

All gone a bit ‘Santa sleeping in a hedge’

since lockdown? We try out the finest

trimmers for taming your facial topiary...

Beard for

take-off

CUTTING IT FINE

A 1min charge gives

3mins of chopping

time, so if it does

die on the job you

won’t have to go

out asymmetrical.

What’s the story?

Wahl might not be a big name

like Philips or Panasonic, but

chances are you’ve seen its

kit being used in your local

barbershop. If it’s good

enough for a professional

to give you your monthly skin

fade, then it’s got to be good

enough for tidying up your

face, right? Especially with

a lifetime blade guarantee...

Is it any good?

The Wahl looks far cheaper

than its price suggests. While

it feels weighty enough in the

hand, the plastics used for its

waterproof chassis just feel

a bit crappy. Rubberised bits

down the side do make it

easier to hold, but you’d

expect something a bit less

basic for £90.

Obviously performance

is the most important thing,

however, and the Aqua Blade

gives a decent enough trim,

even if things can be a little

rough around the jawline.

You’re supposed to get 16

comb attachments in the box

(although ours only came

with 12), but each one is a

fixed length: 1.5mm at the

shortest and 25mm at the

longest. These are also a

bit plasticky, and the lack

of adjustment means if your

ideal size isn’t included you

just have to make do with the

next one up or down.

With nothing attached,

the Aqua Blade’s wide cutting

head makes it easy to keep

the edges neat, with nice

sharp blades and good

visibility. There’s also a

narrower, foil-style blade

attachment that’s great for

cutting extra-close.

Price £90 / stuff.tv/WahlAB

O Max cutting length 25mm

O 17 attachments O 180min

battery O Waterproof

Wahl Aqua Blade

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Stuff says +++,,

Does a job but the build doesn’t match the price tag

BEST FOR

NOEL

EDMONDS