I bought this shaver less then 3 years ago and it just plain quit on me. Got hot during charging and motor wouldn't run at all. Took it to a recommended Braun repair person and he said the motor was burned out and not worth repairing. I paid over $150.00 for this junker and Braun gives no way to contact them on their WEB site. Have 2 much older (non-cleaning) Braun shavers and both work just fine. Repair person said this might have something to do with the wet cleaning used for this shaver....I wouldn't get another Braun like this if it was free.....

Braun 8585 Activator Self-Cleaning Shaving System
Bought this Shaver for a Christmas Gift.
My husband says:
Best electric shaver he ever had better than Norelco or Remington has owned both.
Comes with a nice travel case could be bit bigger.
Gives a close and comfortable shave.
Overall a great shaver.
Braun 8585 Activator Self-Cleaning Shaving System
I would recommend this shaver as a self purchase or gift.

It doesn't do a good job with the flat hair under my chin. It always leaves crumbs around my neck. I HATE that. I have to use the razor blade to get the hard spots. What a pain. I just bought the new Braun, we'll see how that works.

I purchased this razor for my husband last year for Christmas. He swore nothing would compare to his infamous Schick Quattro Disposable Razor. The downside, terrible in-grown hairs every week, ugh and 15 minutes to shave. Although he fought with me every step of the way, he finaly caved and tried it. After a few days he was hooked! He gets a super-close shave in half the time and the *huge* bonus, no more ingrown hairs. If you hae sensitive skin or know someone who does, this is the model for them. The self-cleaning option is wonderful and a big key to the success. I highly recommend this model, so much so, I picked one up for my father-in-law this Christmas.

I purchased the Braun several months ago and last weekend I packed my old Remington 3 head and went hunting. I got a MUCH closer shave with the old razor than I did with this OVERPRICED Braun.

Buying the braun was a BIG MISTAKE!!!

Save your money and buy something else. I wish I knew how to return this overrated piece of junk.

Jack

I finally bought a new Shaver after the battery on my 5400 died. This one is a great improvement. Alot quieter and easier to hold. My 5400 was narrow. I find the wider 8585 easier to handle. In my opinion, the 8585 shaves alot better than my 5400. I've read on other reviews that there is really no improvement, but I've noticed a great improvement. I also use my 8585 to shave my head and it does a much better job than my 5400 in that I dont have to swipe the same area several times. I only give 4 stars because of the price. I think they can come down another 50 dollars.

I bought this 8585 for my husband one month ago and he uses it everyday. It gives him a good shave and the cleaning system is convenient. He can always keep the shaver clean while not spending a lot of time cleaning it. Also Amazon emailed me the $50 certificate on time as promised.
Thank you.

This razor works as advertised.Previously I went through more expensive razors in less than a year. Provides a good, clean & close shave. The self cleaning action is great and it saves me time when I'm in a hurry.

I ordered my Braun 8585 shaver and asked for the delivery to be normal ground service. I was shocked and very happy when I receive the shaver the two days later. How often does this happen? I love the shaver and doing business with this vendor. From now on I will be buying online from no one else!

Over the past 15-20 years I've had three Braun razors. This 8585 is my most recent and highest end model. I suppose I've had it about 3 years now (1 foil/cutter change and another change due). The prior Braun's I've had were middle of the road models and both worked fairly well. In fact, I didn't think this razor worked that much better and it had the "new" foil design which was one of the reasons I purchased it. I initially used the "self-cleaning" method but after awhile it seemed like a waste so I decided to just hand clean every day (20 seconds). The self-cleaning does work very well initially, but once it fills up with hair/dirt it doesn't clean as effective. Another thing to watch out for is if you don't use the self cleaning it will just evaporate. (Kind of like ink in your printer.) So, if you think you can get 3 months out of it doing it every 3-4 days, think again. It won't last. The alcohol evaporates.

One big con is this high pitch noise the razor makes. It makes it when charging and it also makes it about every 8 minutes (beep-beep). The "every 8 minute" beep, which is probably doing a battery check, is quite annoying. Every once in awhile while in my bathroom I would hear a beep-beep. For many years I've heard this and it wasn't until recently that I discovered it is the razor. So, a big disappointment. I'm surprised it got through the Braun QA.

Anyway, it is a decent razor but if you every hear a high pitch noise--check the razor. Every 8 minutes it will make it.

My husband switched to this after a Norelco rotary shaver. He says it gives him a better, closer shave. He usually got a lot of irritation with the rotary, but not with this one. The shaver holds its charge well and stays clean with the charger/cleaner system. He's had it almost two years and has had to replace the foil once. We buy cleaner liquid refills here on Amazon.

The product works well but the service from the "jungle" and the owner are second to none.
I hope he has cleaned house as I clean my beard daily.

Thanks DJ

I love this shaver. I get a great shave quickly and comfortably. For my face, Braun has the best blade technology of anyone. I was very skeptical about the self-cleaning aspect and, in fact, it is the reason I give it a 4 instead of a 5. I like the idea but I don't like the cleaning fluid they provide. I have no idea what it is made of (smells like a petroleum product) and I'm not keen on the idea of putting anything on my skin that I wouldn't put inside my body. After all, our skin is our largest organ and it does absorb. I also don't like the idea of throwing those cleaning cartridges in a landfill over and over again. So, I've decided to create my own cleaning fluid using all natural, organic ingredients and just refill the original cartridge when needed. Overall, I am happy with the razor and highly recommend it.

Super product - does an excellent job. Is very convenient. Have been a blade shaver for years - but this really does a better job

I have been happily using Braun shavers for over 20 years. My model 6520 Ultra Speed is stiil going strong. I mention this for a couple of reasons: 1) I am a fan of Braun; 2) I have owned various models and thus can compare new models to the older versions.

Here's my take on the 8585 Activator: JUNK!

First, the shaver is way too wide. It's difficult to get a good grip on it -- very few rubber contact pads -- and your hand fatigues more easily. Compared to my Braun 6520 (slim and elegant), this new model is a tank (big and unwieldy).

Second, it's LOUD! Way too loud. No way to start the day.

Third, there's nothing special about the way it shaves. I saw no material difference between the Activator and my five year old Braun. Granted, every man's beard is different, so your results may be different.

Finally, build quality and features. I don't think Braun is building the same high quality shavers of yesteryear. Too much plastic. The locking feature (designed to prevent your shaver from turning on while in your suitcase) is nowhere in the same league as prior models. I wouldn't trust it. Then there's the cleaning program. You either use a brush or Braun's new clean and charge stand. You can't clean it in the sink like you can with a Panasonic wet/dry shaver. Personally, I think that the Braun cleaning system is more about sellling cleaning cartridges than providing a significantly better shave. Braun (owned by Gillette) has cleverly gotten you to pay big bucks for an electric shaver, then get you to buy a new cleaning cartridge every month. That's akin to buying new blades month after month. I've used a brush for years and never had a problem.

I returned this Activator and have since picked up a Panasonic Linear shaver. I'm very happy with it. Gives an excellent, super close shave -- wet or dry. It's compact and easy to grip. And the best part, you can clean the blades right in the sink, and you can shave in the shower using shave cream. Now, I know that may sound like heresy, but brother, once you try it, you'll be amazed.

So to sum up. I am still a Braun man at heart, but their new models are a step down in my book. Way down. With a little web surfing you can get a top of the line Panasonic shaver for under a $100 bucks. Worth a try!

The shaver is expensive but the system does work. The first cleaning cartridge lasted over 5 months, using it every 2 to 3 days on average. No evaporation loss that I could tell. You can add a small amount of alcohol to extend it but I am not sure that is within warrantee, etc. I did shake the shaver blade out before using the cleaner, so that keep the fluid clean and fresh. However, when I finished the cartridge there was a very fine screen on the intake side so it may not have been necessary. One thing to note is that you cannot take this on a plane - even if you check luggage.

I am sensitive to smells, but the lemon scent was not a problem even though I could smell it when the freshly cleaned razor was right under my nose. I have a hard face to cut and, as I am getting older, it gets harder to do a good job. This razor is a good compromise. Safe and close but not as good as a blade. It does have a problem with longer hairs on my neck. You need to keep the skin very tight to get a close shave and do it every day. The battery is very long lasting and I don't need to travel with the cord for a 4 or 5 day trip.

I have extremely sensitive skin and constantly break out from shaving. The Braun 8585 Activator gives me a very close shave while not irritating my skin. It's amazing how close it actually gets. Some selling points:

- It's a heavy and well built piece of machinery that has lasted well over a year and is still trucking along (still on the same blades too).

- The cover is easily removed for fast cleaning and the head pivots or can be locked into place.

- The trimmer is a nice feature, but can be a bit difficult to see where you're trimming because it doesn't come too far off the shaver (watch those sideburns!).

- The cleaning system charges and cleans at the same time. I found that I only need to clean/charge it once a week and it holds the charge all week long. The little light on the shaver tells you when the charge is low. The cleaning cartridges are a bit pricey but last for a pretty long time and are well worth the money; I'm still trying to concoct a homemade solution to refill them myself...any suggestions?

- The cord that comes with the cleaning/charging hub disconnects and can be simply plugged into the bottom of the shaver for travel.

Tip: Remove the head and brush out the blades before plugging it in to be cleaned. It just keeps the cleaning solution cleaner for longer.

All and all, this is an EXCELLENT shaver and a great investment. Put away those lousy razors and get yourself one of these!

After 30 years of shaving with a blade, I have finally found an electric razor that works good enough to abandon the blade. I have been using this for over two years now and I am very pleased with the results (so is my wife!) As long as I use it everyday, or maybe skip one day once in a while, it works great. After a vacation from shaving, I need to get out the blade again or go to a barbershop.

I went from a rotary norelco that tore my neck apart to a braun freeglider with the lotion to this activator. It's much lighter and more powerful than the freeglider. I use it to not only shave my face but head as well. I've never put a blade to my head and with this shaver I have no desire to.

I've had the unit since may06. Put it in the cleaner base about once a week. Otherwise I'd brush it off throughly. One cleaning cartridge lasted 5 months. I just picked up some cutter blocks. They say 18 months but I shave twice as much area.

I'd say I have sideways growing neck hair. The activator does much better at picking those up than the freeglider did. The shave is fairly quick. I suppose 5-8 minutes for the face and head. It is necessary to go over most areas more than once. This doesn't bother me since I have experienced very little irritation.

I'm impressed with the lasting power. It runs strongly up until about 30 seconds before it completely dies. The freeglider noticeably degraded and ran at a lull for quite some time before it completely died. Since I run a week before I charge/clean the base always selects the intensive setting. The cleaning setting is directly related to the battery level. Low battery life equals intensive clean. No complaints about the cleaning process. It does a great job of conditioning the cutter.

My husband is very pleased with his "self-cleaning" razor, although he didn't like the idea of having to keep purchasing the cleaning solution packs. It's an excellant appliance.

The razor isn't bad, but the cleaning system is a joke. Mine wouldn't release the razor & kept recleaning it. Plus, and I am surprised that this isn't mentioned in the other reviews that I read before getting the razor, the cleaning solution (which is an expensive, printer-ink type of gimmick) stinks like metal solvent. Bottom line is this would be a decent razor if it was sold by itself without the cleaning junk for a lower price.

I brought this shaver as a gift for my father. His old one was well...old. It didn't shave closely and he looked kinda unshaven even when he did. We just thought that was normal, but after he started using this shaver boy did he look different. His cheeks were softer too. My mom was happy too, so I've said all that to say, he seemed really pleased with this one.

The cleaner is a great part of it too. Just don't go yanking the thing around, it doesn't work the way you would think it does. Think of the cleaner like a dishwasher, you wouldn't open the dishwasher while it was on so don't take the shaver out of the cleaner while it's cleaning.

One last thing: The cleaner is loud. So if you want to scare someone silly don't tell them about it and watch them jump out of their skin.

Given the price of this shaver, I expected a little more than I got.

Braun promises a much closer, smoother and more efficient shave as a result of the new foil with a "revolutionary new pattern" resulting in "20 different hair capturing opportunities compared to just 1 from a regular foil," and the "oscillating movement" of the shaver head. In reality, you get a pretty good shave, but no better than the older Braun I replaced (which didn't have these new features). It also doesn't live up to its advertising of capturing more, if not all, hairs on the neck. I still find myself finishing off these hairs with a razor.

Although the shaver glides smoothly over my face and neck after it has been through a cleaning cycle, it is not so smooth with the next shave. For a really smooth shave, I have found that I must use the cleaner after every shave, which is not always practical (especially when I'm out of town).

The cleaner works well. Just pop the shaver in the cleaner and it goes to work. I suppose it is worth the few extra bucks each month to purchase the replacement cleaning fluid. The "Smart Logic" battery system is also nice, so you don't have to worry about when you do and don't recharge the battery. As for the battery life, you will definitely want to recharge it well before 50 minutes or 2 to 3 weeks of cordless shaving (according to Braun's claim). However, the battery life is sufficient and a cord is included for travel, etc.

Overall, a decent shaver with an effective cleaning system. At this price, however, you may want to consider purchasing a less expensive model and clean the shaver yourself. You'll get just as good a shave.

Given the price of this shaver, I expected a little more than I got.

Braun promises a much closer, smoother and more efficient shave as a result of the new foil with a "revolutionary new pattern" resulting in "20 different hair capturing opportunities compared to just 1 from a regular foil," and the "oscillating movement" of the shaver head. In reality, you get a pretty good shave, but no better than the older Braun I replaced (which didn't have these new features). It also doesn't live up to its advertising of capturing more, if not all, hairs on the neck. I still find myself finishing off these hairs with a razor.

Although the shaver glides smoothly over my face and neck after it has been through a cleaning cycle, it is not so smooth with the next shave. For a really smooth shave, I have found that I must use the cleaner after every shave, which is not always practical (especially when I'm out of town).

The cleaner works well. Just pop the shaver in the cleaner and it goes to work. I suppose it is worth the few extra bucks each month to purchase the replacement cleaning fluid. The "Smart Logic" battery system is also nice, so you don't have to worry about when you do and don't recharge the battery. As for the battery life, you will definitely want to recharge it well before 50 minutes or 2 to 3 weeks of cordless shaving (according to Braun's claim). However, the battery life is sufficient and a cord is included for travel, etc.

Overall, a good shaver with an effective cleaning system. At this price, however, you may want to consider purchasing a less expensive model and clean the shaver yourself. You'll get just as good a shave.

Have owned a Braun Activator razor for less than 1 year, and have gone through 3 foils that have torn during normal use. You simply cannot replace just the foil, but you have to buy the entire shaving block along with the foil which gets expensive. During use, this razor did not give a close shave as advertised. I spent twice as much time shaving with the Braun than I did with my old Norelco just to get a half way decent shave. Nicks and cuts were commonplace which I found amazing with an electric shaver! I wish I would have never purchased this product.

Lesson learned, I am running back to Norelco.

I have owned an 8585 for a couple of months now and I am diappointed with it. I'm a long-time Braun fan, but this foil design is no improvement over previous Brauns, for my beard. I used a 7000 model for well over 5 years...through one battery/motor replacement...and I loved it. The plastic case finally failed and I gave up the ghost. But I still have a Braun 6000 series and it shaves closer than the 8585. It seems to be the foil...probably not as thin now. The new 8000 series is quieter, seemingly more powerful and a little more comfortable against the skin than previous series, 6000 and 7000, but again, it clearly doesn't shave as close. Over a decade ago I tested a Norelco rotary and was disappointed by a not-so-close shave. I discovered Braun which beat Norelco and Remington, for me. The new 8585, and probably the 8595 is no better than other brands. My advice: for the closest electric shave find a Braun pre-8000; that's what I'm looking for to shave close on my fair, caucasian, red-hair beard.

I hope the Activator 8585 is available for consumers , since the quality is extremely good.In some respects it is like the SYNCRO models, but most of the functions have been greatly improved. The key change is the loss of the stem that many people have had issues with: virtually all of the key elements are on or in the cleaning base.
In choosing the Activator, and the previous one for me, the Syncro 7526, the reason I chose both, was that I have sensitive skin, and yet the hair to be shaved is tough. A blade razer make me look like a Freddy Krueger victim. If you have use the Syncro 7526, and liked it, the activator 8585 is a perfect move.
The 7526 gave me well over 2 years of use, and the thing that died on me, and basically caused the shavers demise, was the button. The 8585 has a clearly better button, and even better trimmer blades. The main motors in the 8585 are very quiet.
It appears that the 8595 is taking over the 8585 role. I cannot see the difference in the two models. The main reason I got the 8585 is the price and quality. I got the current model 8585 from Target for less than 80 dollars. However, even at the listed Amazon price, this is a great buy

The shaver is fantastic, as most of the reviewers agree. However, after two months of gentle use, the cleaning stand stopped working. Braun is telling me to send it to a repair shop but, as luck would have it, I can't find my receipt so I can't get it repaired under warrantee. Even if I could find the receipt, I would have to send the stand in at my expense.

I bought this shaver because I felt I would be buying quality. I am a product designer by profession and I feel that this product is not worth the money, especially in light of their repair policy. If they were to stand behind their products, I would be fine with this failure, but, as it stands, I regret buying this shaver and I doubt I will purchase anything else from Braun.

I purchased this for my husband. He hates to shave everyday and now he can without the razor burn. It is even as close a shave as if he used a razor! I saw it on the Consumers Number One pick for foil shavers and I am glad I went with their reccomendation!

I have been using this razor for about a month now and I still need to go back to my normal razor. It just does not shave close enough. It's good if your traveling and need to shave quickly, but I do not see it replacing the standard razor.

Jim

Cleans, and shaves great. It travel's well. It is a great shaving system.

I use three razors. Last year's model of this Braun, a triple blade rotary from the leading manufacturer of rotary razors and standard double edged disposables from the major manufacturer of razors.

OK, now, let's do some math. I get 10 great shaves from a disposable razor. I pay, on average, 40c or so for a disposable razor. That is about a nickel a shave including the shave cream. At a nickel a shave, it would take 3000 shaves before I would spend $150. Would take me over 8 years.

Now, anyone that says any electric razor shaves better than a double edged high quality blade razor (not even the expensive triple edged ones, just cheap disposables) is dreaming. The blace does a much better job and much faster. But, sometimes, they can irritate the skin, but electrics can too. I can get irritated by both, sooooo, I rotate between them, and find that reduces my skin irritation problem quite well.

I bought this Braun (last year's model) after reading the positive reviews here, and later bought a rotary razor. The basic difference is that the cheap model rotary from that major manufacturer is much quieter, shaves just as well, and cost me about 1/3 the price.

The only thing that is better in the Braun is the battery lasts longer. It is possible also, that in some cases, it gives a slightly closer shave than the rotary, but it also tends to miss spots no matter how many times I go over them. The Braun also has a problem with my beard when it is longer, like when I have two to three days growth. The rotary and disposable razor breeze through that three day bush.

The cleaning machine/charger that comes with the Braun is a joke. Yes, it cleans the razor great, but it is way oversized and you need a large space for it in your bathroom. Even then, say you have that larger space, you can pay between $5.00 and $8.00 each for the cleaning cartridges. I have found they last about a month before drying out. Add $60 to your annual cost to just clean your razor. The rotary cleans fine with a brush and the disposable razors with water.

Finally, the switch that turns on the razor is right where you hold the razor and it also locks the blade. So I am constantly locking the blade position by accident. Inexcusable design flaw in a razor this price.

Don't get me wrong. This razor shaves fine. It works best on short beards and works better than cheap razors. But for $50 you can get a better rotary razor and for $150 you can shave for over 8 years with a disposable twin blade. Does the price difference sound rational to you? If it does, click "Proceed to Order".

Here's my scoop. I have had a number of different shavers over the past 25 years. I used to prefer Norelco rotary shavers until I found this Braun 8585 shaver. First of all and most importantly it gives a great, clean, close and comfortable shave. Second it's easy to maintain. Just pop it in to the base, press one button and all the cleaning is done for you. Replacement cleaning cartridges are needed every two months or so but they're well worth the price for a shaver that is clean and causes no (and I mean no) irritation. Third it can be used either with the cord or without the power cord. The sideburn trimmer, contrary to other reviews, is actually very easy to use. The lockable pivoting head puts the cutter block and foil directly where they need to be for the best shave possible. The 8595 shaver has an LED display which indicates the charge level, but honestly this seemed somewhat superfluous since most guys don't shave for hours on end without putting the shaver back into the recharging unit and even if you did go for hours on end you could still use the power cord. So if you want the best shaver and the best shave possible, go with the 8585 Braun Activator shaver!

Of all the electric shaver I have used over the last 20 years or so this is by far the best one. The way the head pivots gets all of the hair usually on the first pass, hard to reach spots on the second. No annoying stubble bits that have been shaved falling out of the head or left on your face. The cleaning system is amazing and works like a champ. Do the math, look at all the razors you would buy if you wanted a great close shave, add up the cost and then you will see that this thing is a steal. Without a doubt the best!

Not only does this shaver give a close shave, the cleaning system works really well. I no longer have to clean up fine bits of hair each morning.