I’m not quite sure how I pull off these plum review assignments. I’ve got another one today and I’m hoping to share it with you without making the whole team jealous. Meet bakBlade, which does exactly what you may presume it does – shaves the hair off your back (and any other flat surface such as arms or chest).
At only $34.95, this looks like a big disposable shaver. The question is how well does it work (if at all), does it hurt/leave marks and is it something you should try?
I’m preparing to leave on a vacation very shortly, so this review opportunity came about at a good time.
The bakBlade is about 3 feet long, made of plastic, and features a disposable blade on the end (covered by a safety guard).
The razor portion of the baKblade is covered by a comb-like metal guard which prevents nicks and cuts. It does the job very well. I had exactly zero nicks and cuts. I never once felt the baKblade scraping or irritating my back.
Notice the guard complete covers the edges to eliminate the chance of cutting yourself.
The company behind bacKblade claims there are 4 main benefits of using a baKblade:
- Quick and smooth
- Can shave dry or wet
- Cost effective
- Pain-free – using the baKblade shaver is actually quite pleasant and enjoyable!
How does the bacKblade stand up to the claims?
I’ll spare you pictures of my hairy before and after back as there are probably a few of you reading this over breakfast/lunch/dinner.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect in terms of how well baKblade would remove hair. I’ve tried chemical solutions before (take forever, smell, don’t do a thorough job) as well as plain old hair clippers (takes longer than chemical solutions, awkward).
Claim #1: Quick & Smooth
It took me less than 15 minutes from the time I removed baKblade from the shipping bag to the moment I was completely done. That included shaving some hair off both my upper arms. Is this quick and smooth? Yes and yes.
Claim #2: Can shave dry or wet
I normally shave with an electric razor so applying shaving cream to use the baKblade was not an option for me unless I made a special trip to the store to pick up shaving cream. So I shaved dry. Did it hurt? Nope. Was it as effective as if I used shaving cream? I believe so. I have no doubt baKblade will work equally well if you use shaving cream. Score another point for baKblade claims. I shaved dry. No irritation. No problems. Smooth sailing.
Claim #3: Cost effective
The cost-effective claim is a bit harder for me to judge since the company sent two review samples and two sets of replacement blades. So our cost was $ 0 – which certainly is a bargain. If you purchase baKblade on the company’s website the cost is $34.95 for the device including blade. Replacement blades are $12.95 for 3. I deem this affordable – especially since it is so fast and does a complete job. Cost effective? Yes.
Claim #4: Pain-free – using the baKblade shaver is actually quite pleasant and enjoyable
So how does baKblade live up to the final claim? Is it pain-free? Is it “actually quite pleasant and enjoyable”? Yes and yes. No pain at all using it. The sensation of using it to shave while dry is similar to using a back scratcher. I am not sure how the baKblade people achieve this. My teeth were gritted as I expected the shaver to tug and pull at my hair. It never snagged on a single hair. No sensation of “yanking at the hair” whatsoever. Instead what happened is the baKblade quickly, easily, painlessly and thoroughly removed hair. This might be my new favorite gadget that I’ve reviewed!
The hardest part about using the baKblade is getting used to maneuvering it behind your back. Initially, it was a little tricky but I found I got the hang of it pretty quick. I was easily done within 15 minutes.
I found it easiest to use the baKblade while standing on a tile floor. When I was done I used a small vacuum to capture the remnants.
Conclusion
This baKblade works as designed. If you have back hair you need to remove – buy this.
I found it met all four of the companies claims and left me pleasantly surprised with the results.
Source: Manufacturer contacted us and offered a sample ” … if you can find someone to review it with a hairy back. LOL” – they sent two baKblades, two sets of replacement blades
What I Like: I just love affordable gizmos that live up to the claims on their website – which the bakBlade does!
What Needs Improvement: The instruction page is filled with tiny white print on a black background making it hard to read.
Coming Soon: baKblade 2.0
The new baKblade 2.0 May be the Best Men’s Grooming Device Ever Created
Innovative do-it-yourself back shaver easily funds on Kickstarter in 72 hours, giving men the optimal shaving method to remove unsightly back hair
CHICAGO, IL — JULY 25, 2016 — Dryfhout Enterprises, LLC, creators of the innovative baKblade men’s back hair shaver, announced the release of its successor, the baKblade 2.0, which features a retractable handle, an ergonomic design and several enhancements that make shaving unsightly back hair easier and more efficient than ever.
The baKblade 2.0 is the easiest do-it-yourself back shaver on the planet, removing unwanted hair from hard-to-reach areas like the back, shoulders, neck and arms. The key to the baKblade system, the brainchild of creator Matt Dryfhout, is the DryGlide blade, a patent-pending safety blade designed specifically to cut body hair, which tends to be less coarse than facial hair, and reduce the risk of cuts and nicks. The baKblade can be used wet or dry; no shaving cream, soap, lotion or gel is required.
To use, simply hold the baKblade shaver with the teeth facing towards the skin and drag lightly across unwanted body hair. The teeth gently grab and cut the hair with no discomfort, similar to a back-scratching tool.
The ultra-sleek baKblade 2.0 boasts a new ergonomic S-shaped design that allows the handle to pivot over the back without having to over-extend, providing a full range of motion and reducing friction between the blade and body. Its retractable handle can be partially collapsed to reach areas like the shoulders with minimal effort. When the shaving task is complete, the baKblade 2.0 can be folded neatly in half and hung on the custom-designed shower mount (included).
Other features of the baKblade 2.0:
Smart Sense technology helps you feel where you are on your back.
The housing unit accommodates two blades for an even closer shave than the original … with no stubble.
The housing unit is removable to shave areas where a full-extension is not required, like the chest and arms.
A small brush keeps the blades clean and snaps into the handle for convenient storage.
Easy grip handle works great in the shower.
The baKblade 2.0 was designed for modularity and attachments. An optional baKjacket neoprene sponge slips over the top of the device so you can scrub and exfoliate your back after shaving by simply turning the handle 180 degrees. The handle of the baKblade features a channel to accommodate add-on accessories like the baKblock that allows the user to easily apply sunscreen to their back.
For millions of men around the world, unwanted back hair is an uncomfortable reality. Conventional shavers, waxes, lasers, chemicals and electric trimmers all have limitations, or are costly and painful. The baKblade makes the back-hair removal process quick, easy, pain-free and affordable.
The crowdfunding campaign for the baKblade 2.0 successfully funded in 72 hours on Kickstarter, easily surpassing its goal of $50,000. It is expected to ship to contributors in November 2016. For more info, visit www.baKblade.com/ks.