Let’s face it—your bathroom drawer probably looks like the aftermath of a grooming tool explosion. A beard trimmer here, a nose hair tamer there, and that random shaver you bought during the pandemic when barbers closed and you panicked. If your morning routine involves juggling more devices than a circus performer, Panasonic wants to simplify your life with their Multishape ER-CKL2 system.

But is this modular grooming gadget the facial hair hero we deserve, or just another overhyped tool destined for the drawer of forgotten dreams? Strap in, fellow face-forest enthusiasts—I’ve spent three weeks putting this bad boy through the bearded gauntlet.

The “One Handle to Rule Them All” Promise

The Multishape concept is deceptively simple: one rechargeable handle, multiple attachable heads, and a promise to declutter your bathroom faster than a minimalist influencer on a caffeine binge. The base kit comes with the powered handle and a beard/hair trimmer attachment, with additional heads sold separately:

• Beard/hair trimmer (included with base)
• 3-blade shaver head
• Nose/ear/facial hair trimmer
• Electric toothbrush head (yes, really)

For a Viking-bearded traveler like yourself who values cordless convenience and waterproof capability, this system sounds more promising than beard growth oil made from Thor’s tears. But does it deliver the goods?

First Impressions: Unboxing the Beast

The Multishape arrives in surprisingly compact packaging, which immediately scores points for sustainability and storage. The main handle feels substantial without being heavy—a Goldilocks-zone achievement that suggests quality engineering.

The design is sleek, minimalist, and decidedly masculine without looking like it was designed by a Monster Energy-chugging teenage boy. It’s what I’d imagine James Bond would use if he grew a beard between missions.

The mechanism for swapping heads is satisfyingly simple—push a button, pop off the old head, click on the new one. It’s so intuitive that even a man who needs a YouTube tutorial to change a lightbulb could master it.

The Beard Test: Viking-Worthy or Valhalla Reject?

Since you’re rocking a Viking-style beard with weekly trimming needs, I focused heavily on edge definition, length consistency, and the trimmer’s ability to handle thicker facial forests.

The blade technology features 45° nano-polished Japanese stainless steel, which sounds fancy enough to impress your barber friends. In practice, it cuts through coarse beard hair with minimal tugging—a genuine surprise considering most multi-tools sacrifice specialization for versatility.

The length adjustment system deserves special mention: a rotating dial provides 58 (yes, fifty-eight) length settings from 0.5mm to 30mm in 0.5mm increments. For weekly Viking maintenance, this precision is overkill in the best possible way. Want your beard exactly 11.5mm? Oddly specific, but Multishape has you covered, bearded brother.

Where this trimmer really shines is waterproof functionality. I took it into the shower for several test runs, and unlike my ex, it performed flawlessly when wet. This feature alone justifies consideration if you’re tired of beard trimmings covering your bathroom like a hairy blizzard.

The Traveler’s Companion

For frequent travelers, the Multishape is nearly perfect. The entire system with multiple heads takes up less space than traditional separate devices, and the 90-minute runtime from a single charge means you can leave the charging brick at home for weekend trips.

The handle’s battery life indicator is simple but effective—no more mystery about whether you’ll run out of juice mid-shave in a hotel room. In my testing, the battery consistently delivered around 85 minutes of actual use, which translates to roughly 2-3 weeks of regular grooming before needing a recharge.

One disappointing omission: no travel case is included with the base kit. For a system that practically screams “take me on your adventures,” this feels like forgetting to put wheels on a suitcase.

Beyond the Beard: The Complete Package?

While the beard trimmer is the star for most of us follicularly blessed men, the additional attachments deserve evaluation:

The 3-Blade Shaver Head: Surprisingly competent for a multi-tool component. It won’t replace a dedicated high-end shaver, but for cleaning up neck lines and cheek edges on your Viking masterpiece, it’s more than adequate.

Nose/Ear Trimmer: This little wizard efficiently clears nasal forests without the pain of traditional rotary trimmers. A welcome addition that works exactly as advertised.

Electric Toothbrush: The strangest addition to the lineup, and honestly, the weakest link. It operates on a sonic vibration system rather than rotation. While technically functional, sharing a handle between beard and teeth feels like a hygiene bridge too far. Some boundaries shouldn’t be crossed, even in the name of minimalism.

The Bearded Truth: Pros and Cons

The Value Equation: Worth Your Beard Budget?

Here’s where we need to have a heart-to-heart, bearded brother. The base Multishape system with just the trimmer attachment starts around $60-75, which fits comfortably within your $50-120 budget. However, adding all the available attachments can quickly push the total investment north of $200.

For the Viking-bearded traveler who prioritizes cordless operation and waterproof functionality, I recommend this configuration:

• Base system with beard trimmer: $75
• Nose/ear trimmer attachment: $35

This $110 setup hits within your budget ceiling while providing the most essential functions for your specific needs. The 3-blade shaver attachment would be a nice addition, but at an additional $50-60, it might be overkill if you’re primarily maintaining a full beard rather than creating clean-shaven areas.

The Beard-dict: Final Thoughts

The Panasonic Multishape ER-CKL2 hits a sweet spot for men with magnificent beards who value simplicity and travel-readiness. It’s not the cheapest option on the market, but it offers genuine quality that cheaper trimmers can’t match. The waterproof functionality and precision length controls make it particularly well-suited for maintaining more substantial beard styles that require regular, consistent grooming.

Is it perfect? No. The lack of a travel case and the rapidly escalating cost when adding attachments hold it back from absolute greatness. But for your specific needs—Viking beard, weekly trimming, travel-friendly, waterproof, and cordless—this system is one of the most compelling options available within your budget range.

If your bathroom counter looks like a graveyard of mediocre grooming tools, the Multishape offers a compelling path to simplification without compromising on the features that matter most to serious beardsmen. Your majestic facial mane deserves this level of care—just don’t tell your beard you considered using the same handle for your teeth.

Until next time, keep your beard game strong and your grooming tool count low.

—The Bearded Rogue