BodyGroomer Review

Philips Norelco Bodygroom 3000 Series Review – An Affordable Manscaping Tool

After testing, using, and reviewing the Philips Norelco OneBlade, which can bodygroom, among other tasks –it made sense to get started on the bodygroom shavers from the brand, and the first in line is the Philips Norelco Bodygroom 3000 Series.

The Bodygroom 3000 Series is a shaver that aims to trim and shave all body hair below the neck. It sounds like the ideal manscaping tool, according to Philips.

I have been body grooming from the neck to the nether regions since this manscaping malarky became the in thing and wild bodily forests became an unacceptable state of affairs for many blokes. So, finding the best grooming tools for the body is important to me, as I am sure it is for any other guys that have trodden the path in search of the ideal manscaping tools.

In this review, we will take a look at the all-important features of the Bodygroom 3000 Series, how it performs in terms of trimming and shaving, highlight the pros and cons, and in the final thoughts –suggest who the body groomer is best suited for. 

3000 Series Description & Features

The model number I used for this review is the BG3010/13 (UK). There are two other models, the BG3010/40 (USA) and BG3015/15 (Europe).

The US BG3010/40 comes with the back reacher attachment and one trimmer comb, and the UK BG3010/13 comes with one trimmer comb, while the BG3015/15 EU model comes with x3 trimmer combs and no back reacher attachment.

• Waterproof: The 3000 series is fully waterproof, and Philips states the groomer can be used in the shower. 
• 2 Directional: The design, double trimmer blades, and double-sided comb attachments enable the groomer to be used with forward and backward strokes. 
• Shaver & Trimmer: The shaver head ‘cassette’ has a large foil section for shaving and two trimmer blades at the top and bottom for trimming. 
• Trimmer Combs: The US and UK BG3010 only has a 3mm trimmer comb included. The BG3015 EU models have three combs, which a buyer would get in the US or the UK with the 5000 Series.
• Cordless: The body groomer is rechargeable and can only be used when unattached from a power source. The Ni-MH battery takes 8 hours to charge fully and provides 50 minutes of body grooming runtime.
• LED Indicators: The indicator lights indicate when it is charging and when the charge is very low.
• Warranty: The standard warranty is for 2 years.

More About The Features — Pros and Cons

Let’s look at these features more closely and highlight the pros and cons I have found.

Build Quality & Ergonomics

While the Bodygroom 3000 Series feels a bit plasticky, and I am not sure it would survive a drop on a hard floor –I guess it feels solid enough.

It is shaped well enough to fit in the hand quite snugly, and the slimmer top head section seems to be designed well, removing any possible bulkiness. I noticed the gray rubberized section is useful when I shave a certain way –applying more pressure when needed (that’s tricky to explain).

While the back area does have a good engraved patterned plastic grip, I would prefer this area to be rubberized like the smaller gray front section at the top. 

Cutting Elements (Cassette)

As mentioned, the cassette consists of a fairly large foil area and two trimmer blades on either side of the foil. The foil section is larger than a foil section on an electric shaver for facial shaving, which makes sense as the body is a larger area to cover (unless your only desire is clean-shaven balls).

On the one hand, the double trimmer cutters are great with a comb attachment attached as they make it easier to plow through hair using the trimmer while shaving backward and forward when the chest area looks like a jungle. However, these trimmers feel rough on the skin when using the shaver foil without an attachment, but I do see the trimmer catches some longer hairs before the foil hits the skin, which works well.

It would be great if these trimmer sections could be locked in and out and pushed inside. However, it’s not a deal breaker!

Charging & Battery

Because the Bodygroom 3000 Series has a Ni-MH battery rather than a Lithium Ion battery, it takes a long to charge up, a total of 8 hours.

The battery lasts around 50 minutes after fully charging –which is fine, but a better (higher priced) model like the 7000 Series provides 80 minutes of runtime.

With one of these, you can soon get through 30 minutes or more on a shave –50 minutes of runtime is not a lot.

Attachments – Accessories 

Most of us will pick up a 3000 Series that comes with the one 3mm body comb attachment. The 3mm could be enough for some of us, while others may need other options.

I like the double-sided use of the combs; it makes trimming larger areas quicker.

Your 3000 Series may or may not come with the back reacher tool. But if you have a hairy back you no longer want, the back reacher accessory is well worth having. 

I do not have a hairy back, but I tried this cool tool out, and it does what it says it should and reaches around the back very well. You just slot the body groomer inside the back reach unfolded, and get to work shaving.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Cleaning is done easily. The blade head section easily clips off and on when needed for cleaning and blade replacement, and the shaver head can be rinsed under a tap with warm water.

Add a blob of antibacterial hand soap to the foil section before running water over it for additional hygiene and cleanliness.

Philips states the body groomer does not require any maintenance in terms of oiling, and the pre-trimmer blades are self-sharpening. However, I noticed on Amazon, Philips suggesting using the cleaning spray HQ110 once a week. 

The TT2000 (US + EU) or BG2000 (US) replacement foils should be replaced approximately every 12 months. They cost around $15 (£15 – €15), which is not a huge expense once a year.

My electric shaver foil cleaning and maintenance routine consists of a blob of antibacterial hand soap while cleaning and a small amount of oil every 2 or 3 uses after the cassette has dried out. You can try it –it helps to keep them clean and improves longevity!

How Does the Philips Norelco Bodygroom 3000 Series Perform and Shave?

I tested and used the 3000 Series as a trimmer and trimmed down chest hair, armpits, and –yep, down to the crown jewels area. After trimming with the attachment comb, I went in and attacked with the shaver foil –without an attachment comb. 

I was apprehensive as I have had my fair share of nicks and hair-plucking moments with all types of shavers, trimmers, and razors when body grooming. 

Chest Hair

I had a good bit of growth on my chest, and the 3mm trimmer attachment with the shaver was useful for reducing the growth length before shaving. However, it did take a long time and many strokes.

I tried a patch of chest hair that was long without the attachment and got some hair plucking going on –so I quit that method and used the 3mm attachment. 

Shaving took less time than trimming. One dislike I had while shaving was the double pre-trimmer blades scratched the skin somewhat.

The end result was okay, even if it was not as close as a razor-shave.

Armpits

The armpits were an area that the 3000 Series Bodygroom did a great job at. It seemed to trim and shave very quickly, and the end result felt closer than any other body part for some odd reason.

Really good job on the armpits!

Pubic Area & Family Jewels 

Down below is an area none of us look forward to testing a new product out on. Anyway, I was committed to giving it a go!

The pubic area and all around the gonads were easy enough to trim. The small head makes it easy to get between the legs etc.  

Trimming is an okay experience!

The issues I found with the foil shaver on the pubic area was some hair plucking, and the end result left some hairs at risk of becoming ingrown.

I got a couple of hair plucks on the nuts sack and eventually got rid of most of the hair, but I wasn’t happy at all, and it was all done with fear of needing the paramedics with a bleeding sack.

I found the 3000 Series is best for trimming this area, and if I need a shaver close-end result, I will stick with a cartridge razor. 

Back Reacher

While I don’t have back hair, I get two small round hair patches, so I could test the back reacher attachment to get a good idea of how and if it works.

It does reach behind the back very well, and I can see trimming being so much easier with this cleverly designed plastic reacher. However, I wonder how easy it would be to shave the back if someone wanted to get shaver-close results rather than just a trim, as shaving close requires pressure.

Any Common Consumer Issues, Complaints, or Positive Reports?

The majority of guys that have left reviews are quite positive and well-balanced. They recognize the 3000 Series can groom quite well, even if it takes quite long to complete the job, and does not provide razor-type results. 

The reviews on the Philips website are more or less useless as some are years old, and some are about another model. Many reviews are also promotional, and only a few are verified unpromoted reviews. 

I checked a good few reviews on a popular UK store website, Boots, and the reviews there are even more questionable. Most are copied from the Philips site and promotional, with one showing how well it shaves the face, and another is about the OneBlade.

Again online reviews from sellers are simply corrupt! Stick to real reviews from real people on websites or youtube if you require honesty, although we can sift through the 80% of dishonesty and false promotion.

Value for Money?

I believe the 3000 Series is good value for money if you buy the European and UK models that do not come with the back reacher. The US model only comes with the back reacher accessory, which increases the price, making it a better buy to get a 5000 Series (not much price difference).

Cost: US – $49.99, UK* – £35, and EU* – €34,99

*No back reacher included 

The better 5000 Series is actually slightly cheaper at the moment than the 3000 Series, which also comes with the back attachment for the in the US, on Amazon. 

Final Thoughts – Who do I recommend buys and uses the Philips Norelco Bodygroom 3000 Series?

I have had a mixed experience with the Bodygroom 3000 Series, as shown in the shaving and trimming tests above. 

I will give myself more time to try it out a couple more times and report back if I have anything worth reporting. However, ‘currently’ it’s a good tool for trimming, but it takes a while for chest trimming –it shaves the chest down to a little stubble –it trims and shaves armpits very well –it can trim down below very well –but shaving the pubic and nut sack area is not for me (as yet or maybe never).

The cost of the 3000 Series makes it a body groomer worth trying out as a first-time body groomer buy or a budget buy. Any cheaper than the cost of this shaver/trimmer, then I am guessing it would be junk.

Stay tuned for the upcoming Series 5000 (Philips Norelco Bodygroom 5000 Series) and 7000 reviews and other body groomer reviews so we can make some comparisons.