Only about 30 percent of men and 10 percent of women shave solely with a corded or cordless electric shaver. One explanation: It's tough to beat a blade for closeness. For some, however, the ability to shave virtually anywhere, anytime, is worth the tradeoff in closeness. So is freedom from a razor's nicks and cuts. You'll also find money-back guarantees of 30 to 60 days on most models, making it tempting to try one yourself or as a gift.

Shavers can also be a welcome alternative for African-American men and others whose curly beards can become ingrown if shaved too closely, causing painful razor bumps. And while most women's shavers have done a decidedly mediocre job on legs and underarms, they may be adequate for women with relatively fine body hair. Some electric shavers are less convenient to use than others, however. And some can be far more expensive to maintain.

What's available

Braun, Norelco, and Remington are the leading brands, followed by players such as Panasonic and Wahl. Shavers have either a foil head, in which the cutters oscillate behind a perforated screen, or a rotary head, where the cutters spin behind a fine grid. While men's shavers are available both ways, nearly all women's models use the foil design, a design deemed more effective on leg hair.

Prices range from about $60 to $200, with most women's models priced below $100. Spending more typically buys fancier displays and other features, not a closer shave.

Important features

Less irritation. Heads that flex independently tend to hug face and body contours, which may reduce irritation because you can apply less pressure.

An easy-to-use trimmer. Most shavers have a pop-out or slide-up trimmer for beards, sideburns, and other longer hair. Models that make you remove the shaving head to use the trimmer are less convenient.

Easy recharging. Most of today's shavers work without a cord. Look for a shaver with a built-in charger that lets you plug in a cord for charging or shaving when the batteries are low. Most men's shavers have one. Less versatile are models that use a charging stand or adapter that precludes shaving during the recharge mode.

One fairly common extra is a quick-charge feature that allows you to partially charge the battery in about five minutes for one short shave, rather than wait an hour or more for a full charge. The downside: Some manufacturers warn that using it can shorten battery life. What's more, models that allow you to use a cord when needed let you shave for as long as you like, provided you're near a power outlet.

A helpful display. Most useful is a charge indicator, which tells you when the battery is charged or low. While some displays reveal the length of your previous shave, you may not care enough to pay their added cost.

Affordable maintenance. Keeping shavers shaving can cost more than you may expect. When close encounters with stubble eventually wear down heads and cutters, replacement costs can range from less than $20 to more than $60 per year, based on the 6- to 24-month intervals manufacturers typically recommend.

Yet another hefty expense is batteries, which typically cost $15 to $50 or more, including labor and shipping, since installation typically must be handled by the manufacturer or a shop. The rechargeable batteries that come with most shavers should last three to five years. But a shaver's run time per charge can vary significantly. Indeed, estimated run time for models in our most recent test varied from as many as 25-three minute shaves per charge to as few as five.

For women: A shaving alternative. Epilators ($60 to $80) pluck out hair using a spinning cylinder with a series of tweezerlike devices. The process is time-consuming and a bit uncomfortable--you're apt to feel slight pinching as hairs are uprooted. But recent tests of these devices showed them to be less painful than earlier versions that used a reciprocating coiled spring. And unlike shaving, the process yields hair-free legs for up to several weeks.