Parents: In our opinion, a portable breathalyzer is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give a college student or recent college graduate.  These devices can help them avoid a conviction that will haunt them the rest of their lives.

The BacTRACK digital breathalyzer (shown above in white, and also available in black) was highly regarded among owners of the product. It features circular light rings that provide an easy-to-see target and a lit LED display that makes the product easy to use at night. One owner of the product went out to celebrate an anniversary with friends, and took her BacTRACK breathalyzer with her.  “We were all around 0.09 which is above the legal limit,” she wrote.  “We decided it was best at that point to call a taxi.” She says she never leaves home without her BacTRACK now.  Another owner thought of it as a toy at first, but decided to give it a try after a night out drinking.  He too blew a 0.09 and opted for a cab home.  As he rode in the back seat, the cab passed a DWI checkpoint.  Thanks to the BacTRACK, he avoided a drunk driving conviction that night.  Another BacTRACK owner highly recommended it and said, “You become more responsible knowing you have it handy.”

The Alcohawk breathalyzer model Q3I ABI also received excellent reviews. With simple one-button operation, it generates quick test results that Alcohawk rates as accurate within 0.01% when a 0.10 reading is blown.  The Alcohawk digital alcohol detector has an electronic airflow sensor to make sure that a deep lung sample is drawn, in order to ensure accuracy.  One Alcohawk review writer said that she put the device on her wedding registry as a gag gift, but now that she owns one, “it is so much more.  Of all our wedding gifts this little sucker has been the highlight and used everyday.”  Another reviewer writes that “it lets us know when we’re too impaired to drive.  It works great and is easy to use.” She notes that there would be fewer fatalities and arrests if more people had the sense to purchase a portable alcohol tester.

Here’s an idea for digital alcohol detector owners:  Get a small sticker, write the number of your local cab company on it, and stick it somewhere on your alcohol testing device.

The BreathKey digital keychain breathalyzer is billed as “the world’s smallest and lightest breath alcohol tester,” weighing less than an ounce and fitting onto a key ring. It’s also said to be the only consumer breath tester using the same technology found in police equipment, known as fuel cell sensor technology.  One BreathKey review writer titled his review “sobering results.”  This pocket breathalyzer let him know that he was over the legal limit, even when he still felt sober. He drank two shots of vodka in a tall glass with soda and blew a 0.11 on the BreathKey breathalyzer.  Noting that “only time will eliminate alcohol from your system,” it took him 70 minutes to get below 0.08.  Now he knows he needs to be more careful when he goes out drinking. “I would advise getting this device and showing your friends the results,” he wrote.  Another BreathKey owner agreed, writing that “0.08 is way lower than I thought” after he experimented with the device.  Other owners complimented its size and accuracy. They also stressed the need to follow the instructions:  You need to let 20 minutes pass from the time you last ate or drank anything to get an accurate reading.

The AlcoMate breathalyzer appears to be popular, based on the number of times on which its name is searched. However, we couldn’t find sufficient reviews to determine whether this is indeed one of the best. The one review we found of the AlcoMate AL6000, also known as the AlcoMate Prestige, noted that it is small, easy to carry, and helps the reviewer judge when he is impaired. Furthermore, he found that regular use of a digital alcohol detector helped him judge his level of of impairment even when he didn’t have the device, and caused him to act more responsibly. We suspect that’s true of all of these pocket breathalyzer products. There’s also an AlcoMate Premium, or AlcoMate 7000, unit that is the next step up; we couldn’t find any reviews for it at all at the time of this writing, but you may want to look at it if you’re a fan of AlcoMate breathalyzers.

Beware of cheap breathalyzers. Our research indicates that you get what you pay for with these. Remember, these can help you avoid thousands of dollars in legal fees and fines, possible jail time, and possibly injury or the loss of your or someone else’s life. This is a product category where it’s worth it to pay for a quality product.  Also, once you’ve purchased a portable breathalyzer and it’s been shipped to you, be sure to follow the instructions carefully in order to get accurate readings.

None of these products should be taken as the absolute last word that you’re sober.  If you feel drunk, it’s advisable to use a taxi or designated driver even if your digital alcohol detector registers a reading below the legal limit.  However, these breath testers can help you be more responsible, and can save you lots of money in penalties, and they may just save a life.  If you drive even after one drink, an alcohol breathalyzer can be a worthwile investment.

Our research indicates that the Braun shavers with cleaning systems are very well liked. The Braun 8995 shaver has tons of positive reviews on Amazon. One reviewer notes that “the shaver always comes out sparkling clean,” with a slight, pleasant citrus scent that does not compete with any after-shave lotions or colognes he may use. Another comments that he runs the cleaning cycle twice per week, rather than every day as recommended, and the shaver appears to remain just as clean; however, as we saw above, there are hygiene benefits to the every-day cleanings. Refills for the Braun shaver cleaning systems are available here.

Comparisons reveal that you can save some money by purchasing the Braun 8985 shaver, rather than its big brother the 8995. The 8985 shaver page on Amazon has a side-by-side comparison, and it appears that the only difference is that the 8995 has LED indicators and foil indicators, while the 8985 has LCD. You can compare the prices and determine whether you want to spend substantially more money for the LED.

One of the 8985’s reviewers further explains why these razors are hygenic: The blade lifts the hair up out of the skin, then cuts it. As a result, the hair actually receds to below the skin line after being cut, and the skin protects it from bacteria formation. Numerous reviewers who were former Norelco or Remington owners praised the Braun’s close shave.

The Panasonic Men’s Vortex HydraClean System (model ES8168S) also received high marks from reviewers. One reviewer compared it to Norelco and Braun shavers (including the 8995), and pronounced it the winner. He especially liked its 13,000 RPM linear motor, compared to 8,000-10,000 for most others, for its increased effectiveness on thick beards. He also complimented its quietness, and said its small footprint made his wife happy because it takes up little space in the bathroom. In addition, he said, this unit is definitely well-made enough to be used in the shower. The Panasonic ES7056S model offers HydraClean technology at a lower price, but it did not receive as high marks as the ES8168S.

The Remington R 9500 Shaver was considerably less expensive than the highly-regarded Braun and Panasonic models, but received lower reviews. One reviewer described it as merely an “adequate shave” and noted that cleaning refills are only available through mail order. However, some reviewers loved it – one said “shaving has gone from an annoying chore to a breeze.” It’s worth considering if you want a shaver cleaning system on a tight budget.

Another thing our research revealed is that there are a lot of shavers out there that consumers think are pretty horrible. When we looked at the complete list of men’s electric shavers on Amazon and sorted by reviews (highest to lowest), we did not get very far down the list at all before we were done with the top-rated 5-star, 4.5-star, and 4-star shavers. If you want to do further research on your own, we recommend sticking with shavers that average at least a 4-star review, over a large number of reviews (a dozen minimum, and we’d prefer to see 30 or more to get a fair statistical sampling).

Whether you decide on one of the Brauns, one of the Panasonics, the Remington, or a different electric shaver, you’re sure to get the ultimate in hygiene and cleanliness when you purchase a shaver that comes with a daily cleaning system. We’ll keep an eye on the shaver market and update this page as new models come out.