If you are in a hurry and just want to find the best corded trimmer then I’d recommend the Andis T-Outliner as the best one.
Looking to up your shaving game with the best corded trimmer?
I’ve done research on corded trimmers: it will help you sort through the big brands and the niche players so you can take your facial hair game to the next level.
Read on if you are ready to find that perfect corded trimmer that will keep your beard looking sharp while you stay safe at home.
Capiche? Sound good? Let’s get it going.
Cords, Batteries, and Popular Culture
Hey guys. Straight talk: corded trimmers are not popular. Some guys apparently feel that a cord is an inconvenience; and, I suspect, the big companies prefer to sell trimmers with a battery.
It will sound crazy at first, but I personally blame the lack of love for corded trimmers on the Jetsons.
Do you remember Rosey the Robot? (She would whizz around the whole house to find George’s shoes.) Well, actually Rosey the Robot did not have a cord! She was running on pure battery power.
According to my theory: ever since the Jetsons, there has been an unspoken belief in American society that all the tools in our house should run without being connected to a visible source of electricity.
Remember hommies, we are ultimately talking about a tool here. It is normal for a tool to have an external source of power, and it is not normal to believe (fantasize?) that the tool is somehow working ‘by itself’.
Seriously ...
Why Do the Pros Use Corded Trimmers?
I’ve been getting questions about whether there is any real advantage to using a corded trimmer. My buddy who keeps asking me this question is actually thinking about going to barber school. (Well, he was thinking about barber school until this whole alien apocalypse called Covid-19. Now he just sits at home and watches ‘Netflix’.) Key point is that my buddy has observed a lot of pro barbers using a corded trimmer. Why is that? Inquiring minds want to know
The first advantage of a corded trimmer is obviously going to be power.
Take for example the Andis Professional T-Outliner, which is reviewed below (spoiler alert): its motor runs at 7,200 SPM (Strokes Per Minute). That is almost 40% faster than the typical, 5,000 SPM, motor on a cordless unit.
In fact, speed is just the tip of the iceberg when we talk about a cordless trimmer’s power advantage. We also need to factor in consistency of movement, the sound of the motor, and the possibility, which can never be entirely avoided, that a battery will run out of juice.
So, yeah, there is at least one big advantage, which can actually be counted as four benefits: faster, less sound, less likely to overheat the blade, and runs more consistently.
Then, of course, there is actually another big advantage: price. You see, a reasonably good quality trimmer that runs on a battery is actually going to be more expensive than its corded competitor.
Add to that one final consideration. The specific corded devices we are introducing below are, mostly, designed for professional use. These are old school machines rather than just 'gadgets'. They are designed to last longer than your big box store gadget.
It is obviously up to you whether you go with a corded trimmer. If you are interested, please do check out my reviews down below. First, tho, I want to just go over some specific factors when evaluating a corded trimmer.
What to look for when in a corded trimmer
Here are some factors you will want to consider when finding your best corded trimmer.
Intended function
What are you planning to do with your tool? Are you going to use this bad boy to trim your facial hair, or are you also looking for something that you can use on your head?
I’ve prepared this review with the assumption that you are looking to clean up your facial hair.
Length Settings
Keep an eye out for both the minimum and maximum length settings.
A good rule of a thumb is that a facial hair trimmer should be able to get down to 1 mm.
Of course, if you are also using wanting to style your beard to a certain length then you need to watch for whether the trimmer comes with and / or is compatible with comb heads.
Blades
You are, of course, gonna want a quality blade. Stainless steel is convenient because it can get wet without fear of rusting, but actually carbon steel is stronger.
Since, a number of the best corded trimmers are designed to be used ‘dry only’, you will find carbon steel. If you prioritize the quality and durability of your blade, then keep an eye out for this.
T-Blade
You may want to consider whether you specifically need a a T-Blade? Traditionally, in the American barbershop game, a ‘trimmer’ used a T-Blade.
Of course, times change, and “trimmer” now means just about anything that doesn’t put the blade directly on your skin. Still, you may want the original T-Blade style trimmer.
Design
This is down to your individual preference, but some corded trimmers can look very industrial.
Also worth considering is the length of the cord and whether it is flexible-enough for maneuvering and storage.
Emergency Battery?
Some corded trimmers do pack a battery. Is that something you are interested in, do you need an emergency reserve in your corded trimmer?
Wahl Peanut Trimmer
The Wahl Peanut Trimmer is Wahl’s most successful and best selling instrument.
Primarily marketed towards professionals in the hair cutting game, the Peanut has become a niche style icon. It is well-known and well-respect product amongst barbers, but, of course, it is also available for home use.
The first advantage is the Peanut’s motor. Normally I am skeptical about rotary motors because they can be weak, but this one spins at 5,500 beats per minute, which is relatively fast. It sounds good too emitting a powerful but reassuring hum.
Second advantage is the blade. The Peanut packs a stainless steel blade that can cut through coarse or thick hair. The blade is also detachable, which means that it can be easily cleaned with hot water.
Next advantage, as the name suggests, is the quirky design: the Peanut is small and is designed to look ‘cute’ and ‘funky’ rather than being overly masculine. It weighs only 4 ounces and is just 4 inches long (no jokes, bro). The peanut will sit perfectly in your hand - it is ergonomic, lightweight, and very easy to use.
The Peanut comes with 4 attachment combs that range from .125 inches (3mm) to .5 inches (12mm). That is a good range if you are looking to keep a relatively tight beard. If you are growing out a monster, you are going to need either more length or a comb.
Actually, there are up to six models of the Peanut on the market at any given time. We have included links to the standard white model. (Other differences include one-off designs and added accessories such as a travelling case.)
Straight talk: a lot of Wahl-licensed products are junk from China. The Peanut is different. This mo-fo is made in the U S of A.
It is hard to find a disadvantage here. Please be aware that the Peanut only runs on 120 volt power outlets.
Andis Professional T-Outliner
The Andis T-Outliner has been an industry leader for more than two decades. It is one of the best trimmers you can get your hands on.
The Andis T-Outliner is a main-stay in real barbershops and is designed for professional, high-volume use. But, there is no reason you can not start using one at home. The Andis T-Outliner is simple and easy to use.
The first advantage of the Andis T-blade. It is made from carbon steel and has chrome finish that reduces corrosion. The carbon steel is self-sharpening and has been reported to last up to five times longer than a regular, no name blade. It will neatly and uniformly slice through your beard.
This model also works for fades and trims. You can say goodbye to the burns caused by cheaper blades tugging at your (facial) hair.
The next big advantage is the motor. The Andis T-Outliner’s motor runs off a powerful magnet which uses electricity to power the blade. I am no scientist but suffice it to say that the result is a very powerful motor that is also quieter than conventional rotary motors while slicing at a speed of 7,200 SPM.
For me, the Andis T-Outliner’s highly-functional design is a third advantage. The external case has a shell-like effect that facilitates your grip. The 8ft cord even comes with a little loop that you can use to hang it up when its not in use. Finally, this trimmer has perfect weight distribution for ease of use.
A final advantage is that this product is made right here in the United States of America. Andis is a classic, all american brand and the T-Outliner is one of its flagship products.
Nevertheless, no single trimmer is going to have everything. That is doubly so since this is a specialized instrument originally designed for barbershop professionals.
The Andis T-Outliner is a straight-out trimmer. It does not come with either a guide comb or any other length setting mechanism. You also need to bear in mind that the blade is screwed on.
A final potential drawback is that it can get a little hot on the blade if you use this thing for more than ten minutes. I don’t know why you would need to run it for that long at home, but word to the wise.
Conair GMT8CS Beard & Moustache
The Conair GMT8CS is your basic, no frills trimming instrument for manly facial hair. A simple tool, it covers the bases without being anything to write home about.
First strength of the Conair GMT8CS is its design and versatility. It is lightweight and comes with the necessary accessories.
In addition to two jawline combs, the Conair GMT8CS also comes with an adjustable guide comb. The guide comb can cover off five different lengths so you can keep your beard, moustache, and sideburns nicely coordinated.
Next up, you have stainless steel blades that are sharp enough. Also, the blade can be removed, which makes it easy to care for.
Of course, because this thing is corded you do not have to even think about charging or replacing the battery. (It doesn’t have batteries!)
One drawback is, maybe, the motor. The Conair GMT8CS runs a very basic motor that will not be winning any awards.
Andis PivotPro PMT-1 (23475)
The PivotPro is basically a cheaper version of Andis’ Professional T-Outliner
Of course you have the basic advantages of it being an Andis instrument.
First, the blade, which is a high-quality, carbon steel T-Blade. It is not fancy, but it is definitely sufficient for trimming.
Next up is the PivotPro’s motor. This is a rotary motor that Andis claims is four times the power of motors in comparable trimmers. The motor is intended to be used for *trimming* your neck, beard and moustache. It is powerful enough to keep your neck, beard, and moustache looking sharp no matter how thick or coarse your hair might be
The PivotPro comes with a bunch of accessories. In addition to the T-Blade, it includes clip-on attachments for the following lengths: #0 (1/16"), #1 (1/8"), #2 (1/4"), #3 (3/8"). You can use these attachments for areas where you want to leave a little more length or if you want to keep your fade looking sharp.
The first disadvantage is that this is not an ‘all purpose’. It is specifically designed for trimming your neck, beard, and moustache. If you try to use it for, you know, giving yourself a hair cut or something, well then its not gonna work very well.
In particular, the Pivot Pro is not gonna work to cut your hair because the motor is just not strong enough. The following quote puts it very clearly:
I’m gonna give you the hard truth. Are theses bad clippers? No not at all there worth every penny, buttttttttt it depends on what you use it for. I use these just to line my beard up and give hair lines and it’s perfect. But if your trying to give your self a real all around hair cut then these arnt the ones for you. But if your just trying to get some crips lineups then yea most definitely get these
The other drawback with the PivotPro -- hey, i’m also gonna give you the hard truth -- is that the design is kinda weak. The external case is made of plastic and, umm, yeah it just kinda looks a little cheap.
Finally, you need to know that the blade is screwed in place, which might make maintenance a little trickier.
BaByliss PRO ETCHFX - FX69
I admit it: when I think ‘style’, I tend to think of Italy. What can I say? Although I am a huge fan of the American barbershop game, I still have a little bit of the old country in me. BaBylissPRO is an Italian manufacturer and distributor of barbershop tools. They have been at it for more than 50 years and offer some great instruments.
Since you are looking for a great corded trimmer, please allow me to introduce the BaByliss PRO ETCHFX. This small yet powerful trimmer will give you the performance and quality of professional barberology. It is especially designed for detailing and other fine work.
First advantage is gonna be the stainless steel T-Blade. It does the business. It is sharp and will slice through your neck hair, chin hair, back of the neck hair. You name, this blade cuts it.
Next is the powerful rotary motor that operates on a dual voltage charge together with the 10’ power cord.
What I especially like about this bad boy, tho, is that again you are gonna have access to four comb guards so you can keep your trim at your specific length. Consistency is key - hommie!
The main disadvantage i see here is that this is not part of the Babyliss CustomFX line up - although the name sounds very similar. So you will not get to participate in this awesome gimmick umm promotion
Conclusion
When you want the added horsepower of a corded trimmer, then you need to get your hands on the Andis T-Outliner.
Simple and easy to use, the Andis T-Outliner brings together a carbon steel blade, a powerful and relatively quiet motor, time-tested and highly functional design, and all of this in a product that is made right here in the United States.
If you absolutely need to have adjustable length-settings, then you should go for the Wahl Peanut.
That is all for today. If you have any questions, as always, just shoot me an email. Keep it sharp, hommies!