Remington Balder Pro Review – It’s One Of The Best
Remington Balder Pro XR7000
The Remington Balder Pro (XR7000) is a dedicated electric head shaver that is extremely popular. Compared to many other head shavers on the market I have used and reviewed, I found the Balder Pro to be one of the best options.
Pros
The blades' flexing and pivoting make shaving various contours of the head easy
A very quick shave on 2 or 3 days of growth
Comfortable to hold and fits in the palm well
The rubberized sides provide enough grip while head-shaving
It shaves as close as any electric shaver can
Good price point
Cons
It's not going to shave as close as a manual razor, which is to be expected
The wider blade system can make them overlap on certain parts of the head
Among the dedicated electric shavers on the market, the Remington Balder Pro is one of the better head shavers.
In fact, it joined my best electric head shavers page back in February 2021 and remained there after testing, using, and reviewing the UK/EU model—the RX5 XR1500 (the same shaver).
The Balder Pro is a designated head shaver, so its design is specifically made for head shaving—unlike other electric facial shavers, which have a longer body design and either foil cutters or only three rotary cutters (most designated electric head shavers have 4 or more).
As always, I put shavers and all other grooming products through their paces, test them out for some time, and report back my findings. What I also do–is tell you all about what I think about the features and finish off with who it’s (Balder Pro) best suited for!
Video Review
You might find parts of the video review of the Balder Pro that I created very useful, especially if you need more visuals of the shaver and/or need to see it in action– head shaving.
Description & Features
Unboxed, we get the shaver, blade cap cover, cleaning brush, a small bottle of oil, travel pouch, cord and plug, and a small instruction manual.
- Handle/Body: The shaver’s body is designed to fit comfortably in the hand. Its sides feature rubberized grip sections.
- Blades and Blade Head: The shaver has five rotary blades. The blades and head also flex or move, which aims to improve shaving along the various contours.
- Cordless Operation: Featuring a built-in rechargeable battery, the Balder Pro operates cordlessly and can be recharged using the included power supply lead. The shaver won’t power when plugged in.
- Charging and Battery: A full charge requires 4 hours, providing up to 50 minutes of runtime.
- Wet and Dry Use: The Balder Pro is suitable for both wet and dry shaving and is compatible with shaving foam, soap, or cream. It’s fully waterproof.
- Indicators: The indicator lights indicate a low battery, charging, and when it’s fully charged.
- Warranty: Customers are given a 60-day money-back guarantee or 30 days in-store. A limited three- or five-year warranty (the manual states three- the website states five) is also available.
- Detail Trimmer: A pop-up detail trimmer located at the front of the shaver is for precise trimming around sideburns or stray hairs.
While accessories are only add-ons and nothing to enter the world of being a deal breaker — I do love the little travel bag. It’s neat! The blade guard is also practical and does not come with most other head shavers.
More About The Features — Pros and Cons
There is no point in giving you a quick list of features or specs without providing some details about how these function and how well they do what Remington states they will.
Remington doesn’t really get into over-marketing hype on the Balder Pro, unlike a lot of other head shaver companies I have encountered. They state you can get a 2-minute head shave based on 2 days of growth (I agree).
Build Quality & Ergonomics
The Remington Balder Pro is built solid enough. I can’t find fault there!
The shaver’s shape makes it easy to hold in the palm, and the rubberized sides provide enough grip when it is in use. It feels comfortable!
Pivot Head & Flex Blades
Remington does a good job of providing blade flexibility while shaving across the various contours of the head. The four outer blades flex inwards, and the head section can pivot in any direction.
The only head shavers I know with a better blade system are the Skull Shaver and the MicroTouch. The blades on these also flex individually, not just the outer sections. However, neither of these shavers has a pivoting head, which is a useful and practical feature.
Hair Capture Chamber
The reason I make a point about the Balder Pro having a collection of debris area (hair collection chamber) is that not all head shavers have this, and it’s very useful at keeping the blade area unclogged from all that shaving debris.
If a head shaver has this feature, it’s a plus for me.
Remington also sells hair pocket replacements for the bottom half of the head. I can’t see many users having an issue with the hair pocket section, but it’s good to know it is available (it costs $9.99).
Detail Trimmer
An attached pop up detail trimmer on the top of the shaver can be released and used for trimming sideburns etc. However, it’s really not good, and these types of precision trimmers on most electric shavers are close to useless.
I await the day that one of these is useful!
Charging and Battery life
The Balder Pro can provide up to 50 minutes of runtime. I have used it for about a month, and I don’t know how many shaves before recharging– once the battery indicator lit up.
I own four Remington head shavers, and not one battery has failed as yet. Of course, as I test many grooming products, they are not my everyday use, making longevity difficult to measure.
The 4-hour charging time is about normal for this type of shaver, and it can be given a quick 5-minute booster charge for a quick shave if needed.
It cannot be used with the cord attached and plugged in. I prefer it when it can be used plugged in, just in case an issue arises with the battery charging.
Cleaning & Maintenance
The top blade section is easy to remove, and there is nothing difficult about cleaning up the Balder Pro. The blade head clips in and out of a matching hexagon section, as shown in the image below.
I always give it a quick brush and blow before rinsing the head and blades under a warm water running tap. And add a blob of antibacterial hand soap inside for extra freshness and cleanliness.
A small spot of oil every few shaves on each blade will help maintain the blades.
Remington states the blades should be replaced every 6 months. This depends on how often you use them and the coarseness of your hair. I have still not replaced any blades on mine, but I don’t use them all the time. Six months of using every 2 or 3 days is a good measurement–or watch out for them not shaving as well–or maybe neck soreness.
How Does the Remington Balder Pro Perform and Shave?
Having owned the EU/UK RX5 and used it many times, I already had a good idea of how this tool shaves my bonce. Nonetheless, it was great to get a brand new Balder Pro model and spend a good month revisiting the Remington.
I always trim the hair down to hair clippers level without a comb first if the hair has grown slightly longer to care for the blades. After the first trim and shave, I used the Balder Pro every 2 and 3 days.
The head shave was fast and easy, as expected, and I found no issues with shaving around the easy area.
Shaving around the back of the head is easy enough with its ergonomically friendly design. Because I hadn’t used an electric head shaver for a couple of months, I noticed what others have mentioned–it could feel rough right at the base of the neck at first and possibly cause razor burn (it did not for me, but I could feel the potential).
When watching closely in the mirror, I notice that the whole blade area won’t always follow the contours of the head, and sections lift off—if that makes sense. I recently used and reviewed the MicroTouch Titanium, and because they have a smaller blade area, the whole blade area glides better.
The shave is very close but, of course –not as close as a manual razor. I still get left with the permanent 5’oclcok shadow hairline look, but that’s because of how my hair recedes, and I am not ready for Scalp Micro Pigmentation yet (who’s gonna test the head shavers then, anyway?).
Wet shaving with the Balder Pro with a light shaving cream works well with the Balder Pro, and users can use any shaving lubricant of their choice. Using it wet with shaving lubricant can help the shave experience to be more comfortable and can help with the adjustment period of using a new shaver–preventing irritation on the neck area. However, I test these primarily for working well dry, as the whole point of an electric shaver is speed and lack of mess (might as well use a manual razor otherwise), but you have the option to wet or dry shave anyway.
I remain a fan of the Remington when compared with all other head shavers I have used.
Value for Money
The Remington Balder Pro costs around USD 59.99. It’s cheaper than head shavers in the Skull Shaver range (from Pitbull Silver and up). It’s in about the same price range as various other head shavers I have used, but it ticks more boxes for me (i.e., it’s better).
You can pick up some of the Amazon sellers’ ones cheaper, but you are taking chances on quality and whether they will be around to replace blades.
I’m happy with the price point.
Replacement blades cost around $30.
Final Thoughts – Verdict (Who’s It For?)
As I mentioned at the start of this review, the Balder Pro has been on my Best Electric Head Shavers roundup page since it started, and for good reason—it’s one of the best.
While I am a fan of my Skull Shaver Pitbull Gold, the Balder Pro requires less investment and produces the same end result. However, it would be best if you compared these to decide which features suit you best.
It’s easily a winner for anyone who head shaves and doesn’t expect the same close effect a manual razor provides. It gives a fast, convenient- no mess—shaven bald head look.
