Best razor?

[Born2bwire]

I use this guy with feather blades.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...U?tag=at055-20

I just ordered a Muehle R89 the other week, can't wait for it to come in: http://www.muehle-shaving.com/shop/accessories/straight___de_razors/1/safety_razor/6/37/R_89

But damn, the new Feather stainless steel razor looks nice. I've vowed not to buy any more Merkur razors. I have a Progress and a Classic and I find that while they look purty, the tolerances are not very good on the razors. Especially the Progress (uneven blade exposure, have to put the head on in a specific way, the "zero" position varies from razor to razor) which is a damn shame because it is a rather pricy razor. I have a few Gillette adjustables as well but lately I have been using the Classic to try and work on my technique.

 

[irishScott]

Can anyone recommend some DE blades that they like. I have a Merkur DE (long handled one, I think) and I haven't been blown away by the smoothness of the shave. I've tried some Merkur Super blades, Personna Super (made in U.S. not Israeli), some Walmart Personna Platinum Chrome, and some Wilkinson Sword cheapo's. None of them really wowed me.

I've read good things about Feathers, Derbys, and Israeli Personnas. Any personal experiences? I know everybody's face is different, so it ends up being a "preference call".

Well as you said this is per my face, but in my experience:

Feather > Personna (bought at Walmart) > Derby > Merkur

Beard isn't that thick, but what grows could give steel wool a run for it's money. Feathers are about as sharp as you can get, and the only blade that lets me go against the grain (after a reduction pass) without risking nicks. Merkurs... well once I tried going against the grain (after 2 reduction passes no less), and went a little too fast. Now normally this would result in a nick, but the Merkur, on the first use of that particular blade, pulled one of my hairs of of it's socket. Meaning the hair had been pressed against the sharpest part of the blade and had not been cut. Lost all faith in Merkur blades after that.

Personna and Derbys I've had decent luck with. Can get a doable shave, but nothing baby's butt smooth like I can with feathers. Of course the feathers' sharpness is also a potential downside. If you mess up, it'll show.

 

[Fritzo]

Mach 3 FTW. :thumbsup:

Works great on my chest and ballz too :awe:.

I only use a straight razor there.

Signed-

Stubby

 

[TheVrolok]

Do you use the feathers that are in the yellow/red/black package (New ones?) or the feathers in the black/silver package?

I still have a bunch in the black/silver package.

 

[dr150]

Mach 3 is the best compromise. I don't cut myself as much...this is the only reason I use it over the Sensor.

Sensor is good but new blades cause me to cut myself....until they dull out a bit. They are better than Mach 3 for trimming sideburns or nose hairs.

The Fusion is a complete waste of space. They clog up too fast and does NOTHING better than the Mach 3 or Sensor.

Schick stuff is crap and still pricey. They do nothing for me.

 

[Muse]

Mach 3 is the best compromise. I don't cut myself as much...this is the only reason I use it over the Sensor.

Sensor is good but new blades cause me to cut myself....until they dull out a bit. They are better than Mach 3 for trimming sideburns or nose hairs.

The Fusion is a complete waste of space. They clog up too fast and does NOTHING better than the Mach 3 or Sensor.

Schick stuff is crap and still pricey. They do nothing for me.

Well, the freebie Schick Xtreme I got lasted me about 25 weeks, shaving about 80 times over that span. Best experience shaving I've ever had, but I haven't used the Mach III, Fusion, or any of the sophisticated battery operated razors out there. I didn't even know they existed until I started this thread. I just bid on and won an ebay auction for 50 Schick Xtreme razors, (shipped free) for $38.50. The price seems way better than anything other than the cheaper DE stuff I've seen. The Gillette CustomPlus Pivot DE lasted me about 1/4 as long as the Schick, so the Schick's a better deal. Plus I don't have to suffer the cuts I always get with a new razor every time I change. Plus the Schick clean very easily, much more easily than those Gillettes. Completely open front and back. I assume (hope) what I'll get in the mail is essentially what my freebie was. It appears that there are a few flavors of Xtreme out there, so I don't know. I guess I won't need to buy another razor for 25 years!

 

[Muse]

Well, the freebie Schick Xtreme I got lasted me about 25 weeks, shaving about 80 times over that span. Best experience shaving I've ever had, but I haven't used the Mach III, Fusion, or any of the sophisticated battery operated razors out there. I didn't even know they existed until I started this thread. I just bid on and won an ebay auction for 50 Schick Xtreme razors, (shipped free) for $38.50. The price seems way better than anything other than the cheaper DE stuff I've seen. The Gillette CustomPlus Pivot DE lasted me about 1/4 as long as the Schick, so the Schick's a better deal. Plus I don't have to suffer the cuts I always get with a new razor every time I change. Plus the Schick clean very easily, much more easily than those Gillettes. Completely open front and back. I assume (hope) what I'll get in the mail is essentially what my freebie was. It appears that there are a few flavors of Xtreme out there, so I don't know. I guess I won't need to buy another razor for 25 years!

Comments? Anyone used the Schick Xtreme (i.e. any of its derivatives?)?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Comments? Anyone used the Schick Xtreme (i.e. any of its derivatives?)?

I have like 10 Schick Quattros and a few Midnight Quattro ones. I also have the one with the beard trimmer. They all suck. Sorry Schick. Mach 3 rules this.

Now the Hydro 5 is a HUGE improvement I'll say. It might even be better than my Gillette Fusion. But then again I bought a Hydro after my Fusion started running out of cartridges. The Hydro 5 completely SMOKES the Quattro though so I know it was a decent buy.

Now right afterward the Fusion ProGlide came out and I snagged 3. They are awesome. Insanely awesome. They demolish everything including my Mach 3.

My current ranking is:

1) Fusion Proglide
2) Mach 3
3) Hydro 5
4) Gillette Fusion
5) Schick Quattro

 

[shortylickens]

Vas is los 'razor'?

 

[lxskllr]

Comments? Anyone used the Schick Xtreme (i.e. any of its derivatives?)?

My daughter uses an Xtreme on her legs. She said she nicked herself a couple of times this weekend, but overall she's been happy with it I think.

 

[xSauronx]

Currently use a fusion, which is OK, plan on getting a Merkur HD DE in the future

I got a merkur (cant remember the model) over a year ago, $45ish, another maybe $10 for an assortment of blades....i stopped full shaving and keep a well groomed beard now, but that assortment would have lasted about 2 years shaving every other day for me. i *love* using that over a disposable.

i keep a mach3 around for trimming a couple of areas or for short trips.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

This is my shaving kit. Anything less, and you probably have a vagina.

 

[waggy]

I have like 10 Schick Quattros and a few Midnight Quattro ones. I also have the one with the beard trimmer. They all suck. Sorry Schick. Mach 3 rules this.

Now the Hydro 5 is a HUGE improvement I'll say. It might even be better than my Gillette Fusion. But then again I bought a Hydro after my Fusion started running out of cartridges. The Hydro 5 completely SMOKES the Quattro though so I know it was a decent buy.

Now right afterward the Fusion ProGlide came out and I snagged 3. They are awesome. Insanely awesome. They demolish everything including my Mach 3.

My current ranking is:

1) Fusion Proglide
2) Mach 3
3) Hydro 5
4) Gillette Fusion
5) Schick Quattro

the hydro 5 just seems fucking huge. though i have heard a few people say the proglide is great. Might pick it up someday but not sure i would use it enough to justify the cost (*yeah i know only what $10?) heh

 

[Muse]

I have like 10 Schick Quattros and a few Midnight Quattro ones. I also have the one with the beard trimmer. They all suck. Sorry Schick. Mach 3 rules this.

Now the Hydro 5 is a HUGE improvement I'll say. It might even be better than my Gillette Fusion. But then again I bought a Hydro after my Fusion started running out of cartridges. The Hydro 5 completely SMOKES the Quattro though so I know it was a decent buy.

Now right afterward the Fusion ProGlide came out and I snagged 3. They are awesome. Insanely awesome. They demolish everything including my Mach 3.

My current ranking is:

1) Fusion Proglide
2) Mach 3
3) Hydro 5
4) Gillette Fusion
5) Schick Quattro

Looking in my cabinet I see a Mach 3, which was a freebie from a few years ago. Guess I used it until it wore out. I don't recall thinking "this seriously ranks" and went back to my cheapo Gillette DE from Costco. However, the Shick Xtreme3 freebie I got over six months ago lasted me six months and I thought "OMG this is something." I have 50 of them now! :awe:

I've never used those others:

1) Fusion Proglide
3) Hydro 5
4) Gillette Fusion
5) Schick Quattro

However, I had a look at a gigantic CVS pharmacy and the prices were fairly high, generally well over a dollar/razor. It's hard for me to believe that the Mach3 is much different from the Xtreme3. They look quite similar. I got my Xtreme3's for $0.44 each.

 

[waggy]

I have heard a few people say the Xtreme 3 are actually really good. might grab a few and try them.

though i like my Gem jr. there are days where the huge handle is nice.

 

[Starbuck1975]

I have a heavy beard and struggled with cartridge systems for years. Then I discovered DE shaving.

Merkur Progress + Gillette 7'Oclock SharpEdge blades (yellow packaging)

Closest and most comfortable shave you will ever have. That, and you can find online deals for 100 blades at around $35...far more affordable than the gimmicky cartridge systems.

I've read good things about Feathers, Derbys, and Israeli Personnas. Any personal experiences? I know everybody's face is different, so it ends up being a "preference call".

I started with Feathers, but found that while very sharp for the first shave, quickly degraded in terms of shave quality. Moved on to Derby, and found them to be more consistent in terms of longevity, but not particularly great. I moved on to the Gillette 7'Oclock SharpEdge blades, and have never looked back. Typically get 3 to 4 good clean shaves before needing to replace the blade.

 

[Muse]

I have a heavy beard and struggled with cartridge systems for years. Then I discovered DE shaving.

Merkur Progress + Gillette 7'Oclock SharpEdge blades (yellow packaging)

Closest and most comfortable shave you will ever have. That, and you can find online deals for 100 blades at around $35...far more affordable than the gimmicky cartridge systems.


I started with Feathers, but found that while very sharp for the first shave, quickly degraded in terms of shave quality. Moved on to Derby, and found them to be more consistent in terms of longevity, but not particularly great. I moved on to the Gillette 7'Oclock SharpEdge blades, and have never looked back. Typically get 3 to 4 good clean shaves before needing to replace the blade.

Hard to imagine a beard so heavy you need to change blades every 3-4 shaves. As stated previously, I got around 80 shaves from a single Xtreme3, and my beard is rather heavy. However, I always shave immediately after taking a shower (and washing my face very well with hot soap and water). Shaving right after a shower is way way easier than just bellying up to the sink cold.

Edit: I should add that I always clean the razor thoroughly, tap excess water off it and then hug it in a towel to dry and store in a dry place. This prevents oxidation and extends the life of the razor.