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6 Best Zero Gap Trimmers & Clippers To Buy in 2024!

Zero gap trimmers and clippers are truly desirable grooming objects that many demand but don’t always end up with the good quality ones.

It’s because of the aggressive marketing by the grooming brands – a lot of them claim their product to be zero gapped, but in reality those are nothing short of disappointments.

That’s why I’ve shifted my focus toward finding the best zero gap trimmer as well as clipper from the current market and seeing their abilities for myself.

Based on what I’ve experienced so far, I was able to jot down a list of 6 great products in this article – 3 trimmers and 3 clippers – each having a strong character of their own!

What Does a Zero Gap Trimmer/Clipper Mean?

The term zero gap can be applicable for both a clipper and a trimmer since the technology is shared across both of these categories.

A zero gapped blade means there’s no slit between the two blade teeth. Meaning, the blade teeth are to be aligned at the top and should be pressed against each other in terms of distance.

If the criteria above are met in the blade department, you can call that particular trimmer or clipper ‘zero gapped’.

Best Zero Gap Trimmers & Clippers for Regular Use

I’ve categorized 6 trimmers and clippers in total to be ranked into my top list. Each has their unique capabilities and could be your next perfect choice!

Trimmer/ ClipperAndis T-OutlinerAndis Envy LiU-Free Electric Trimmer
Blade TypeCarbon-steel T-BladeCarbon-steel T-BladeTitanium T-blade
Cutting Size000, no adjustment lever000 to 10, no adjustment lever
Motor Power7,200 SPM5,500 SPM6,500 RPM
Battery Life/ CordedCorded90 minutes90 minutes
Housing MaterialPlasticPlasticMetal
Rating (out of 5)⭐ 4.76⭐ 4.7⭐ 4.64
Price Check Price Check Price Check Price

Note: The star ratings for each trimmer/clipper is for their zero gapping capability alone and doesn’t represent their overall status.

Andis 04710 Professional T-Outliner

I’ll start my list with the Andis T-Outliner device which can be regarded as both a clipper and a trimmer. If you know the basics, clippers are for hair and trimmers are for beard (mostly), this unit has the capacity to satisfy both needs.

It’s something like a dual-citizenship, being able to widen the range of grooming with one device alone.

Andis T-Outliner Blades

The trimmer traits of this Andis unit begins with the T-blade that’s made with carbon-steel and has all the expertise of a zero gapped trimmer in this blade.

For instance, this blade is set to 000 length by default (0.5 mm) and it mimics a really great zero cut with some tactile leftover hair heads.

Andis T-Outliner Housing

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This device can be used for outlining your beard, hair, creating some nice textures and even fades should you be an expert or utilize some aftermarket guide combs (since Andis doesn’t provide any).

The way I look at it is that the Andis T-Outliner is a finisher rather than a performer in the middle. You can’t expect mass hair or beard removal with this.

Rather, it’s mostly meant for delicate jobs by the end to uplift your look and give an overall completion by sharpening up the edges.

Andis T-Outliner Power Switch

The reason I’d advise you to keep its blending restricted to the hair sides and only outlining for the beard is the power of the motor.

It houses a robust magnetic motor that can perform 7,200 SPM. This makes the blades more agile than what I’d prefer on my face, although there’s still little risk of nicks since its blades aren’t the sharpest at the edge.

Andis T-Outliner vs Envy Li Size
Andis T-Outliner vs Envy Li Size

Such a powerful motor in a tiny device can make some loud noise, so buy it if you’re prepared to ignore the sound of the motor.

If I talk about the housing, it’s covered in a light gray plastic handle that’s textured for ideal finger placement.

Andis T-Outliner Grip

While I enjoy the grip level in terms of outlining or edging up hair, I feel the weight balance is a bit outside my comfort zone despite the 11.2 ounces of weight.

Also, it’s corded so there’s on side zero risk of running out of battery while using it and on the other, you have to make do with the cable while maneuvering around.

The power button is placed at the feet of the device, to me it’s a better interpretation than the other Andis devices, a couple of which I have enlisted in my list.

Andis T-Outliner Power Socket

There are a few downsides to this device which I can concede seeing the price tag. One is that the housing heats up after some usage, meaning, it requires frequent breaks.

Another issue is in terms of durability. Although the housing is actually solid, the blades and power socket don’t match that quality.

You can find a couple of alternate blades for this device to encourage versatility out of one device.

But in short, from what I’ve seen – this indeed is one of the most desirable zero gap clippers considering performance, price and overall outcome.

What I Like

  • Great for outlining hair & beard
  • Powerful motor & durable housing
  • Can be versatile with additional blades

What I Don’t Like 

  • Heats up
  • Fragile power cord
  • Can be loud

Andis 73000 Envy Li Cordless Clipper

Andis Envy Li refers to the lithium-ion battery (meaning portable) variant of this affordable hair clipper. Also in the portable range, Envy has two variants and I’m discussing the new one here.

Straight up the Envy Li is a zero gap clipper which doesn’t require any manual blade adjustment to get down to the desired length.

Andis Envy Li Blade

The blades are made with carbon-steel, much like most of the clippers and trimmers I’m dissecting in my list.

Mentioned cutting range for the clipper is between 000 to 1 but I personally think that’s an overstatement.

Upon close inspection, I noticed there’s a miniscule gap between the blade teeth and that’s probably done intentionally to allow for a safety cushion.

Andis Envy Li Lever

I guess this cost the Envy Li something like a 0.25 mm closeness but the zero cut at 0.75 mm is still something I can live with since it’s a clipper and not a trimmer.

This device is mostly for home grooming and with the help of the adjustment lever, you can craft out some niche fades without much hassle.

I wouldn’t go on calling it one of the premium hair clippers, but it’s still good enough to be considered right next to the top ones if the build quality was slightly better.

Andis Envy Li Housing

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The lacking resides within the material used for building the housing. Although it looks really appealing and has nothing like the Andis metal body aesthetics, there are certain shortcomings.

As the front facing part of the housing is a semi-shiny silver, the contact point down the middle with the black plastic has some extrusions that aren’t comfortable to hold on to.

I found the motor power to be demanding if you opt for bulk hair removal but the 5,500 SPM device is certainly good for shorter, close to zero trims on shorter hair.

Andis Envy Li Grip

Ergonomics are quite alright and shape-wise, the grip is good. But apart from the extrusions, Andis has built Envy Li to be a head-heavy clipper despite belonging to a 10 ounce weight class.

Again, the power button is meant for a one-hand design which I particularly dislike. Although it doesn’t accidentally turn off like the Andis Master or Fade Master, still it’s not comforting having the power button poking up on my finger while holding it.

Andis Envy Li Accessories

In terms of beard removal, you can do that in bulk using this clipper. There are tons of attachments included in the package, so feel free to play around with those.

The battery life is quite good though, lasting over 90 minutes with one full charge and for home use, you’ll even forget it requires charging at some point.

Andis Envy Li LED Indicator

An LED indicator down below tells you only about the charging status and doesn’t signal battery level – a disappointment to be honest.

But considering all the factors, price points, closeness of clipping and ability to adjust the gap using the lever, I’d say it’s a great choice for home use and can be a supplementary clipper for barbers requiring zero gap.

What I Like

  • Zero gapped out of the box
  • Lever can adjust blade gap easily
  • Good design, comes with sufficient attachments

What I Don’t Like 

  • Not the sturdiest build quality
  • Better for home use

Ufree Hair Trimmer for Men

U-Free electric trimmer is this tiny and handy device which I’d like to call your travel grooming companion.

Honestly, the size, shape and tactile feeling of the trimmer felt so great that I ended up buying one just to see how it performs against the top brands in the market.

U-Free Electric Trimmer Housing

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It isn’t crazy expensive, so that was another incentive for me to buy it off directly without putting much thought into it.

Instead of looking for reviews, I intended to use it first-hand without any bias (although the affordable price point had already set my expectations very low).

But yes, it indeed surpassed my expectations and would do so even if it were $10 pricier. The first thing I noticed was the gap in the blades – a zero gapped trimmer set by the factory.

U-Free Electric Trimmer Blades

The titanium T-blade does feel solid although I don’t want to risk dropping it to see how durable the teeth are.

What could be better is the sharpness of the blades that has some lacking in my opinion. On the bright side, you couldn’t cut yourself with it even if you wanted to!

I really don’t think the motor is powerful enough to run at 6,500 RPM as Ufree suggests, it’s somewhere around 3-4,000 RPM realistically.

Based on the size of the blade, this RPM is enough for outlining and light blends to be honest. Longer hair removal would simply clog the open blade system and demand regular brushing.

U-Free Electric Trimmer Blades 2

Design-wise, it does look good! The black housing gives a classy vibe and the texture enables firm grim despite the little size.

I could carry it around in my pocket easily and pop it out whenever I feel like I could do some beard or hair outline refining.

Another reason for calling it travel friendly is the charging port on the trimmer – a USB Type C that can take power in through your mobile’s charger.

U-Free Electric Trimmer Bottom

Only three guide combs come with it but I believe it’s better off without those, since my current use for the trimmer is zeroing in on the extra hair and edging up the fringes.

Battery drains fast though, 40 minutes is the maximum I got out of the trimmer. Even if it runs beyond this threshold, the motor seems to struggle with every task.

The power button is placed at the bottom of the trimmer. I find it odd to turn on or off but Ufree had to make this sacrifice to keep their housing aesthetics intact.

U-Free Electric Trimmer Size

Would I recommend it if you wanted the absolutely best trimmer on the market? I guess not.

But the reasons that it made it to my list of best zero gap trimmers are – there’s literally no gap in blade teeth, handy, affordable, beautiful and portable.

If any of the factors I just mentioned didn’t exist in this trimmer, I probably would’ve gifted it to someone else instead of using it every now and then!

What I Like

  • Very light and portable to do almost anything with it
  • Zero gapped blades can do some nice outlines
  • Affordable yet durable

What I Don’t Like 

  • Blades aren’t the sharpest

Andis 01690 Professional Fade Master Hair Clipper

From the name of it, you can make out it’s a professional grade hair clipper but it doesn’t make it exclusive.

Instead, the realization should seep in that Andis Fade Master is meant to deliver the most perfect results and it did arouse my interest of having one such device at my arsenal!

Andis Fade Master Blade

If we strictly talk about the zero gapping capabilities of this clipper, I feel obligated to tell you that Andis Fade Master doesn’t come at zero setting out of the box.

Then why did I include this clipper in my list? Because it’s the one clipper which you HAVE TO manually zero gap and see it outperform every other competition with a snap like Thanos!

I’ll elaborate on how to zero gap your clipper further down the article. For now, let me break down its blade system to you.

Andis Fade Master in Motion

Andis has named it Precision fade blades and as you see, it’s a solid fading clipper to create almost any sort of fade efficiently!

These blades can cut between 000 to 1 length using the adjustment level. There are 5 increment settings for your convenience of picking a precise one.

If you want to know which league the Fade Master belongs to, simply look at its motor power. An astounding 14,000 SPM motor makes sure no obstacle is there to slow things down for the Fade Master!

It’s also a downside in the sense that you cannot put this clipper to good use over your beard, the device is just way too powerful for that.

Andis Fade Master Housing

But if you want to bulk remove your hair down to a zero cut, apply bald fades, tapers and whatnot – Fade Master vows to give you the result of a professional!

The housing is robust and built with aluminum, although at first sight I thought it to be made of stainless steel.

23 ounces of weight does feel heavier at times and it’s a reminder that Fade Master isn’t a clipper to use for outlining your hair or beard, rather it craves heavier actions.

Andis Fade Master Grip

I don’t like the power knob and lever interfering with my full grip, thus I had to resort to an alternative grip having my thumb placed on the chest.

The shape and weight makes sure of sustained hold without any slipping, but do consider mopping your palms if you sweat a lot.

It’s connected to a power cord of 2.4 meters, so you know the motor will keep running at the top speed without faltering.

Andis Fade Master Housing 2

You can reduce the torque by turning the screw at the side of the clipper. Make sure you have prior knowledge of such operation, otherwise you could lead your clipper to underperformance.

Andis Fade Master is a monster and definitely worth the price. It can zero gap effectively, fade like a professional and chop through every hair texture with ease.

If you want to push the boundaries of versatility, there are deeper tooth blades you can purchase afterward to make Fade Master the ONE CLIPPER you own that does everything for you!

What I Like

  • Complete fading clipper that can bald fade
  • Robust housing that’ll last years
  • Versatile and professional-grade device

What I Don’t Like 

  • Needs to be zero gapped manually

Amuliss Professional Mens Hair Clippers

Let me introduce you to another zero gap trimmer that’s well within budget and performs almost as good as the more expensive devices from prominent brands in the market.

After a couple of failed purchases out of numerous affordable zero gap trimmers, the Amuliss device struck out as a top performer for what it’s supposed to be doing.

AMULISS T-blade Trimmer Housing

How does Amuliss achieve such a feat that many other trimmers fail to achieve these days? It’s simple – a combination of zero blade with a sufficiently powerful motor.

The Amuliss T-blade is made with carbon-steel and I’d say the build quality is quite good for the price.

AMULISS T-blade Trimmer Blades 1

When I introduced it to my beard, the vibrating thin teeth did feel comfortable enough to carry on with my experimentation.

I’d say the cutting length is a 0 and not shorter than that, but if this is what you can make peace with considering the price, I’d say you’re making a wise decision.

AMULISS T-blade Trimmer Blades 2

It’s not the sharpest set of blades out of the box and could certainly do better to deliver those precisely neat outlines.

But still, Amuliss does perform really well in this arena with other tasks like evening out the beard or side hair.

Don’t be tempted to use it as a body groomer because there are certainly better and safer alternatives than this one for such purpose.

For fading, you might need to attach one of the three comb guides it comes with since there’s no adjustable lever like the zero gap clippers in my list.

AMULISS T-blade Trimmer vs Ufree Trimmer
AMULISS T-blade Trimmer vs Ufree Trimmer

The angular shape of the blade head is almost similar to the Ufree design, making cleaning very efficient after each session.

I should talk about the housing aesthetics because it’s one of the most unique looks on a hair trimmer I’ve ever owned!

There are some beveled artifacts on the handle and somehow it reinforces the grip level without having to add any seamless textures.

AMULISS T-blade Trimmer LCD Indicator

You’ll find three color variants on the market and out of those, I picked out the brushed golden unit as it caught my eyes at first sight.

With such motor power, zero gapped blades and fine ergonomics, I was able to pull off some neat work on my beard and my brother’s hair with ease!

It’s mostly built for personal use but I can assure you that keeping it in a barbershop would most certainly make the customers demand a trim or two using this device.

AMULISS T-blade Trimmer Grip

The Amuliss trimmer weighs only 7 ounces and the weight balance is really good! It encourages you to maneuver around at will and draw out the perfect and professional-looking finishing touches!

I forgot when was the last time I had to charge this trimmer during my regular use. Although my tests saw it running past 100 minutes with a full charge and it’s truly commendable for an affordable trimmer!

AMULISS T-blade Trimmer with Guide Comb

An LCD numeric panel shows exactly where you are in terms of battery life. The power button is placed right underneath the blade head and manages to grant some clearance during a full grip.

Whether it’s the solidly built metal housing, zero gapped T-blades or the relentless battery power, Amuliss is a must-have trimmer to keep at your disposal for a wide array of grooming jobs!

What I Like

  • Aesthetically pleasing and durable housing
  • T-blades are zero-gapped
  • Long battery life & LCD battery life reader

What I Don’t Like 

  • Blades could be a little sharper

Wahl Professional 5 Star Series Senior Clipper

It’s not possible to list out the best zero gap clippers and leave out the Wahl Senior out of this list! This fine clipper is one of the very few that comes with zero setting out of the box!

The great thing about owning a Wahl Senior is its versatility – it not only clips longer hair or beard because of its great features, this can zero down on any texture of hair with ease!

Wahl Senior Blade 1

Although it’s not explicitly mentioned by Wahl, the blade system in the Senior is indeed a surgical unit made with stainless steel.

Wahl claims that the zero gapped cutting size is a 0000, but I personally think it’s more like a 000 since I can feel the hair heads with my fingers.

Regardless, there’s only a handful of clippers who can achieve this feat even after manual zero adjustment of the blades.

Wahl Senior Grip

The lever on the sides gives you flexibility to adjust between 000 and 1 length effortlessly! It renders having attachments redundant if you ask me!

Still, considering bulk hair removal or longer fades, Wahl included 3 premium guide combs inside the package that can be used for seamless blends over a sizable hair body.

Wahl Senior Blade 2

Otherwise, you can remove everything and press the comfortable blades against your scalp to draw out a zero fade any time of the day and with any length of hair!

Since it’s a professional-grade clipper, I’ll ask you to be vigilant while going zero on your facial skin as it can be very sharp with improper movement.

However, the most powerful Wahl rotary motor at 6,500 RPM guarantees no tugging, pulling or overall discomfort in grooming.

Wahl Senior vs Andis Fade Master

70 minutes of battery runtime implies you’ll get to move it around and create delicate blends, fades or cuts without having to worry about a cable attached to its bottom.

Only other Wahl clipper to defeat Senior in battery life is the Magic clip, despite their other stark differences.

The eccentric housing design in black and silver makes Senior a very appealing clipper and the curves at the right place announces its capacity to be highly responsive yet precise.

Wahl Senior Housing

A full grip definitely feels convenient and you’d ooze with confidence once you turn on the clipper and listen to the motor revving.

I’d say the housing is very durable, all credit goes to the solid material Wahl generally uses to build their 5-Star clippers!

Despite so many top-notch ingredients, the weight class is highly appreciable! I could do the neatest tasks using the Senior and my hand never complained!

Wahl Senior Lever Adjustment

If you remove the blades for cleaning or lubricating, make sure to line up the teeth equally so that it restores back to that zero gap setting.

In total, Wahl Senior is a masterclass of a clipper – it’s versatile, blades are agile and goes closer than almost any other clipper and the motor is an equally gifted one with raw power.

All of that is bound to crank up the price point beyond the reach of many. But then again – good things do cost a little extra, don’t they?

What I Like

  • Realistically ranges between 000 to 1 length
  • Powerful motor supports neat zero cuts
  • Will last for years to come

What I Don’t Like 

  • Expensive for home use

Why Trust My Verdict?

Well, as I always say, these 6 devices have been hand tested before making into the list and the tests were definitely extensive.

First and foremost, I paid a close inspection to the blades to see how much gap there is between the blade teeth in terms of the same height alignment.

Added to that came the sharpness test. It’s a twofold process of which the primary inspection was run without turning the device on and the secondary was a direct application in grooming.

Eventually, motor power, ergonomics, weight balance etc. had been tested out by myself and one of my grooming professional friends.

I asked for his verdict on these units regarding hair outlining, bald fading, zero trimming and so on.

Based on his take and my scoring system, I came up with the verdicts that you’re about to see following this section.

Test Result: Zero Gapping Greatness

I identified five criteria for the zero gap trimmer and clipper assessment that I felt are mandatory to consider.

Based on these categories, I ranked each of the 6 devices and an overall score should dictate which should be the top pick out of the list!

Zero Gap Closeness

I don’t know if you’ll call this unfair – I manually closed the gap even further in the Andis Fade Master clipper because it’d be a crime not to do so.

Three Types of Blades

Mind you that not all the clippers respond to manual zero gapping this way and Fade Master most certainly lived up to the task, going closer to the skin than any other devices from the lot.

Close by are the Andis T-Outliner and Wahl Senior with their 000 blades and they cut surprisingly close to the skin out of the box.

Andis Envy Li fails to match the performance of the top 3, yet its 000 blades outclassed the two budget-end trimmers by Amuliss and Ufree.

1

Blade Sharpness

There’s no denying that the Andis T-Outliner has the sharpest set of blades because it’s made to outline and fine tune hair after getting done with a cut.

Two Devices Side by Side

Although T-Outliner isn’t made for bulk hair removal, it makes up for that by being the most agile with its serrated blades.

Wahl Senior and Andis Fade Master blades are sharp too, but their outlining capabilities are compromised by the depth of the blades.

However, zero fading or bald trimming are two areas these two shine at and earn the titles to be the best zero gap clippers in the market!

Envy Li, Amuliss and Ufree lack the agility at the fringe of the blades like the other three and it sometimes leaves the user wishing for a little bit more.

The latter three don’t cause any discomfort though, the only issue felt by them is while dealing with longer hair or beard.

2

Motor Power

As I’ve already mentioned, Andis Fade Master contains the most powerful motor unit from the zero gap clipper category.

It’s able to perform 14,000 SPM which really is a lot and opens up doors for dynamic outcomes apart from bald fading or zero trimming.

Wahl Senior’s 6,500 RPM motor ranks second and it edges out the Andis T-Outliner by a miniscule margin.

Although you’ll feel the power emanating through the housing and witness it keeping the blades agile on the T-Outliner who never pauses for a second against any given obstacle.

Despite being portable, Envy Li has felt surprisingly powerful and the motor sound should give you a hint at the quality motor unit Andis has endowed this clipper with!

Amuliss is slightly more powerful than the Ufree trimmer and it’s understandable considering the size and price gap.

3

Build Quality

In terms of build quality of both housing and blades as well as the type of material used for building the entire thing, Wahl Senior is the better man in this category.

Four Types of Housings

Looking at the price point, you really can’t expect anything less. Also, the curves at the right spots and general ergonomic feeling should tell you it’ll respond however you want it to!

Of course, Andis Fade Master is among the top dogs when it comes to build quality. There’s no denying that the aluminum housing is tough and is meant to survive the perils of time.

Surprisingly, the Amuliss trimmer has tied with Fade Master with its metallic housing and sustainable motor. I didn’t expect a budget end trimmer to be this robust, but here we are!

Andis T-Outliner is actually well-built but the scores have taken a hit due to the housing heat up and the finicky power socket.

Thus, Ufree’s compact metal housing was able to secure a place alongside the T-Outliner and it’s rightly so, credit goes to the design team.

Andis Envy Li was a disappointment in this regard to be honest. Housing feels cheap despite the great looks and the lever is less responsive at times.

This doesn’t mean that Envy Li is not a good hair clipper, just, I expected the build quality to be up to par considering its price tag.

4

Versatility

Understanding the versatility aspect of a trimmer or clipper tells you how much money’s worth that investment is going to be.

Senior, Master and T-Outliner Together

For instance, Wahl Senior is the most versatile clipper in my list. It not only can zero gap efficiently, but also perform other clipping tasks like blends or seamless fades without a fuss.

Andis Envy Li and Fade Master are second to Senior here. Apart from their expertise with zero cuts, the two Andis devices can also remove hair in bulk and sketch out a wide array of fades.

T-Outliner, Amuliss and Ufree are less dynamic in the sense that I found they’re mostly useful for the purpose they’re meant to serve perfectly and can’t go the extra distance.

5

Value for Money

This term ‘value for money’ suggests if you’re getting enough results out with the amount of money you’re having to pay for the trimmer or clipper.

If you solely consider crispy outlines, edging up and sketching the fringes, you don’t really need to spend tons of money on expensive trimmers.

Even the budget end Amuliss or Ufree trimmers are up to the mark in such cases. Despite the affordable price, these two units are actually quality products.

Andis T-Outliner is a professional-grade choice so you can understand the good build materials lead to a sizable price gap between this one and the former two.

When it comes to clippers, zero gapped devices imply the capability of bald fading and zero trimmings mostly, in addition to tapers.

Seeing the build quality and versatility, Wahl Senior is actually worth the price even if short fading is your prime concern.

Same goes for Andis Fade Master and its qualityful outcomes within short times. Envy Li has its pros and cons – but I think the price could be a little lower for this clipper alone.

Warranty

All six of the clippers and trimmers in my list come with a one-year warranty. Most of these warranties are conditional in the sense that the damage must be in terms of quality (internal damage) and nothing induced.

Amuliss and Ufree offer their warranty a little extra like a guarantee of sorts – they vow to replace your entire trimmer should it be a quality issue within one year.

Buyer’s Guide for the Best Zero Gap Trimmer & Clipper

Since there are two types of devices enlisted here for their zero gapping abilities, I’ll keep the buyer’s guide compact and to the point for general convenience.

The Budget Option (Trimmer): Amuliss trimmer is most certainly my pick for affordability and zero gap quality.

I’m yet to find another trimmer of such caliber at this price range and this trimmer will most certainly win over your heart with its performance!

The Budget Clipper Choice: In the clipper category, this title goes to the Andis Envy Li clipper.

Calling it affordable would be an overstatement for this device but the alternate clippers that can create similar miracles cost over $100 at the very least.

Travel-Friendly Zero Gap Trimmer: Considering the size, shape and weight of the Ufree trimmer, it’s no surprise that this one is the travel category winner.

I could carry it inside my pocket and use at my convenience – so can you!

Clipper with Maximum Portability: Most zero gap clippers are connected to a cord but the Wahl Senior has transgressed beyond this limitation.

Despite running on battery, it has the most powerful motor and sharpest set of blades – a barber’s dream for sure!

Best Trimmer Overall: Andis T-Outliner is definitely the best one in the trimmer category.

With its unmatched performance in outlining and raw power surging through the blades, it can be a pal for both professionals and home consumers alike!

Best Clipper Overall: Considering every aspect, Andis Fade Master edges out Wahl Senior to be the best because of the finesse in outcome. While Senior lacks outlining abilities, Fade Master makes up for that gap as well despite being a clipper!

So from the categorization above, you can pick out the one according to your needs and trust me, there’s no losing here!

Do You Really Need a Zero Gap Trimmer/Clipper?

There are certain grooming expectations like neat outlining, crispy edges and an overall sharp refinement after a haircut.

Such refinements can only be achieved with a zero gapped trimmer because on that device, the blades are sharp and highly precise.

If you try to achieve the same without a zero gapped trimmer, the hair edges will most likely be blurry or fail to create your intended look accurately.

In terms of clippers, bald fades, zero fades, zero trims, tapers, skin fades etc. can only be crafted using a zero gapped clipper.

Thus, a grooming device with a zero gapped blade is definitely required if any of the above is your priority during haircut or beard lining.

How to Manually Zero Gap Your Trimmer/Clipper?

How to Zero Gap

I should warn you – not all clippers and trimmers are meant to be zero gapped; some devices don’t even have the capability to reach the height and can even be deadly if you force it upon those.

With that in mind, let’s briefly learn how you can zero gap the trimmer or clipper you have at home, without paying extra for an upgrade.

Step 1: Loosen the Two Blade Screws

You’ll notice that most of the clipper or trimmer blades are screwed to the base using two screws. You have to unscrew them to begin with but don’t completely take them off. Loosening slightly should suffice.

Step 2: Press the Teeth Evenly Against an Even Surface

At this point, you can move the blade teeth around and that means it’s ready to be zero gapped. Align the teeth in the same line by holding it against a flat surface.

Step 3: Tighten the Screws Back

Once you feel that the alignment is correct, fasten the screws to secure the zero gap on your trimmer or clipper.

There are certain tools in the market that can automate the alignment process for you. Some clippers or trimmers may not grant you a good outcome if you’re experienced enough.

To understand the basics with visual aid, check out this video on YouTube.

FAQ

To know a little bit more about zero gapping, similar blades and general subsequent concerns, do check out this FAQ section.

Q: What is a zero gapped T-Blade trimmer?

A: T-Blade trimmer derives its name from the blade unit that’s shaped like the letter ‘T’. These blades are generally zero gapped, have shorter teeth and are precisely built for grooming tasks like outlining or fine tuning. Andis T-Outliner is a prime example in this category.

Q: Is it good to zero gap clippers?

A: Well, it’s not always good to zero gap every clipper. You have to understand the blade system and its potential – whether the teeth are deeper or meant for other duties entirely. Generally, if the teeth are shallow and the build quality is good, you can try zero gapping for better outcomes.

Q: How to check if my trimmer is zero gapped?

A: You can easily check it out by closely inspecting the blade teeth and see if they’re aligned at the tip. Also, do pay close attention to the width between two teeth sets. Finally, there’s no better telling than practical application, so don’t hesitate trying outlines as it’ll give you a solid confirmation.

Concluding Remarks

I hope your search for the best zero gap clipper and trimmer should come to an end after going through this detailed article.

During my verdicts, I didn’t really hold back highlighting the negative aspects of the devices and that transparency is something I believe the consumers deserve.

No product is perfect and while you reach out for something like zero gapping ability, you lose out on something as a counterbalance.

But overall, I think the six products I’m leaving you with have the quality to become your regular grooming partner and some can even replace older units for professionals!

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