Remington Virtually Indestructible Shaver Review – A Must Read Before Buying Shaver
Remington Virtually Indestructible Shaver
The Remington Virtually Indestructible, just by its name, conjured up a good impression in me and an expectation. However, despite its affordability, its performance fell short of a level that was a significant deal breaker.
Pros
It has a good grip area for holding it while shaving
The flex head and blades help the shaver move along the contours well and maintain skin contact
It's easy to clean with its touch-button flip-open head design
It's budget-friendly
Cons
Longer hairs got pulled by the shaver
It provides an uncomfortable shave
It was not good with stubborn and tricky hairs
It sounds and feels like it lacks power
The Remington Virtually Indestructible Shaver has a name that kind of pulls me in straight away at the thought of a shaver being indestructible.
However, while it might be (slightly) solid, it hasn’t been all good experiences, and some aspects are definitely deal breakers, warranting a reluctance to use it again.
It’s a budget shaver, so while testing, using, and writing this review, I kept this in mind and adjusted my expectations to match those of shavers in its price range.
Description & Features
Unboxed, I just got the shaver, blade cap cover (which also serves as a stubble attachment), charging cord and plug, and a mini instruction manual.
Design & Ergonomics
First off, the name “Virtually Indestructible” certainly sets an expectation. When I first handled it out of the box, I have to admit, my initial thought was that it looked a bit—cheapish. I doubted whether it would withstand a drop, especially with what looked like a seam line along the grip area—I imagined it might easily come apart.
Design & Ergonomics Ratings
However, putting that initial impression aside, it does have a really good rubberized grip section that covers most of the outer edge. It feels comfortable in the hand, and the ergonomics are not bad for this larger body style of rotary shaver.
Head and Blades
The head section is designed to flex in various positions, similar to Philips shavers. This flex is useful when navigating the contours of our face, such as the jawline and chin.
Head and Blades Movement/Flex Ratings
The three rotary blade heads also flex independently, which further helps maintain skin contact during your shave.
A nice feature I like about this shaver, as well as the latest Philips shavers, is the easy-touch button design that flips the top cap open. This feature makes it very easy to clean, and there is no separate component.
The cutters are dual-track, which should provide more cutting ability, as they have two rows of blades instead of one. Therefore, having more blades would make sense, as it would cut more effectively. However, this is only evident when using the shaver, and I have single-row types of cutter blades on shavers that cut just fine (and perform better than this shaver).
Built-in Pop-Up Trimmer
It features a pop-up trimmer that is activated by sliding the button on the back down.
It’s quite a wide trimmer, which is useful.
It’s not a great trimmer, but it does an adequate job of cutting in sideburns and removing any longer stray hairs that the shaver struggles with.
LED Indicators
As expected with a budget shaver, the LED indicators are basic. You get a blinking green light when the battery is low, a charging light when it’s plugged in, and the light turns off when the battery is fully charged.
It is simple yet provides an all-important warning before the battery runs out, which I find essential.
Battery Life and Charging
We can get up to 60 minutes of runtime from the shaver, and I’ve used it for about 45 minutes on one charge, and it’s still going strong.
Sixty minutes is a decent time frame for a budget shaver, but I feel that the shaver is underpowered, so there is no point in having a longer runtime with less power (or not enough power).
A less impressive aspect is the charging time: it takes around 4 hours to fully charge. Four hours is notably longer than many other shavers, which often charge in about an hour. However, that’s not a deal breaker for me, as it’s easy to leave the shaver on charge and come back later.
Blade and Stubble Guard
It comes with a protective blade and stubble guard, which is useful for protecting the blades when not in use.
This guard is also marketed for cutting down longer beard growth. However, I’ve never used it for that purpose, and it feels somewhat gimmicky to me.
If any of you have found it useful, I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleaning and maintaining the Remington is easy, especially with its push-button pop-up top cap design.
Cleaning & Maintenance Ratings
When I finish shaving, I simply press the button to open the top cap and give it a thorough blowout to remove debris. You can use a small brush that often comes with shavers (not this one), but I have found a quick blow suffices.
Then, I add a couple of drops of antibacterial soap to the top cap behind the blades, close it, add a few drops of water, and run the shaver for about 10-15 seconds. This gives it a thorough cleanse.
Afterward, I give it a good rinse under running water, and it’s sparkling clean.
It’s nice that the shaver head remains connected, unlike some models that require a separate foil or head component. I just lay the shaver down and let it air dry for a couple of hours.
I also oil the blades with a few drops after every two or three shaves to maintain optimal shaving performance (for as long as possible).
Each cutter can also be removed individually, as the blue plastic cutter holder is easily accessible inside the head and can be removed easily. I find this useful as I can give each cutter a thorough clean when needed (I’ve found that rotary cutters generally require a good clean and are best taken out at times).
I do like the head and cutter setup as it is easy to remove each cutter, and they are color-coded. I have to give Remington some credit where it is due.
Remington suggests replacing the shaver head around every 12 months. Mileage often differs based on growth and how frequently we shave, but that’s their guideline.
When replacing the blade cap, it can be pulled out simply from the back. A thin metal connector connects the head with the body of the shaver. It seems like quite a cheap design feature, but it does work.
Shaving Experiences
After using the Virtually Indestructible shaver on various stubble lengths – daily shaves, two days of growth, and three days (+) of growth – I’ve developed a good understanding of its capabilities.
Shaving Experience Ratings
I found that the shaver was unable to handle over two days of growth. If anyone were to buy it, then shaving daily or every other day seems to be the best approach.
The first thing I noticed was the sound. It sounded underpowered, and it is. I tested the sound of the motor and blades against other shavers (Philips 5000 Series and Braun S5), and it seriously lacked power.
Contours and Skin Contact
This shaver is actually pretty good at maintaining skin contact while shaving, especially when shaving over the jawline and the chin.
It’s a shame that the rest of what I have to say, based on my experience, is not quite as positive.
Comfort
It seriously lacks comfort while shaving.
When I tested out shaving with three days of growth, it pulled hairs. Hairs being pulled rarely happens with any other shavers I have used and reviewed.
Another aspect is that it feels like I am scraping something across my skin at times. I actually quit shaving with it once, as I was disappointed and just could not hack it ruining my neck area.
On any length of stubble or whatever days of growth I had, it was an uncomfortable experience.
I think you need tough skin for this shaver, and if you’re sensitive, you’re in for a rough time with the Virtually Unshavable.
Tricky Hairs/Areas and Leftovers
The shaver tends to pull on tricky, longer hairs at times, and it also leaves a lot of hair behind.
The tricky hair and patches would not be such an issue if the shaver were comfortable enough to use and shave over the same areas. However, because it is so uncomfortable, I just dont want to keep scuffing my skin to get a close shave.
Speed and Closeness
The shaver is not bad at removing the main hair on the first pass and quite quickly. However, the time spent trying to clear up patches overrides any initial speed of shaving.
I’ve covered closeness really in the comfort section. It’s too uncomfortable to get a close shave, as it requires repeatedly going over the same areas, which leads to soreness.
Wet Shaving
Like most modern electric shavers, it’s 100% waterproof, allowing for wet or dry shaving.
I tried it wet with traditional shaving cream. Unsurprisingly, I didn’t find any extra benefit in comfort compared to dry shaving.
You have the option to wet shave, though, if you need to give it a try.
Overall Shaving Performance Ratings
Value for Money
This shaver falls firmly into the budget range. When I picked it up, it was around $40 to $50 (I paid $48.65) in the US, roughly the same in the UK, and about €55-€60 in Europe. Keep in mind that prices always fluctuate, so these are approximate figures, but they give you a good idea of its current market position.
Value for Money Ratings
In terms of value for money. It would be a bargain if it were a better shaver, but if this is what I get for $50, I will add a little more for a much better shaver.
Beyond the initial purchase, you also need to factor in the cost of replacement heads. These replacements can be quite pricey, costing around $38 in the US. That’s a significant chunk of the shaver’s initial cost, so it’s something to consider.
Final Thoughts – Verdict (Whose It For?)
Honestly, after testing and using it a few times, I must admit it’s probably one of the worst shavers I’ve used in the last few years. It’s just so uncomfortable. The motor feels underpowered, and the blades/cutters don’t feel comfortable on the skin at all.
Who is this shaver for? Despite its budget price point, I struggle to recommend it to many people. If I had to guess, individuals with hardy, less sensitive skin or those with finer, less dense hair growth might get along better with it. But for anyone with normal to sensitive skin, especially with tougher growth, this shaver is likely to cause irritation.
As for alternatives in a similar price range, I’d strongly suggest considering the Philips 3000 series (a better rotary option for me) or the Braun Series 3 Proskin (a foil shaver I much prefer over this Remington for comfort).
Both of the above shavers are around the same price and, in my experience, offer a much more comfortable shave.
I apologize for not being able to give a glowing review of the Remington Virtually Indestructible. I have to be honest with you all. That’s how it is for me.
However, I’m not giving up on Remington just yet! Next, I’ll be trying the Remington F4, a foil-style shaver.
