Throw Down: Gillette Vs Merkur!

[Sabledog]

Quick and simple--Who's the best?

Any criteria will do!

[bonusmarple]

I have a couple of fatboys and most of the Merkurs. So far the 38c is the best performer of the group, so I voted Merkur. That said, I just got a super speed and an aristocrat is on the way.

The gillettes seem to work better at a flatter (handle more upright) angle than the merkurs, so some adjustment may help me get better shaves.

So, between the "new" razors and some work on my technique, the Gillettes still have a shot at the top slot.

[castlecraver]

I hate to saying after only using it twice, but I think the 38C has changed my life.

[duckintheface]

The Gillettes are cooler and the Red Tip and Fat Boy are ALMOST as good as the HD... but I get the best shave from the HD so Merkur got my vote.

[thirdeye]

I gave my 38C away for free.....Guess that clearly speaks enough about my choice.:001_smile

[norman931]

The Gillettes are cooler and the Red Tip and Fat Boy are ALMOST as good as the HD... but I get the best shave from the HD so Merkur got my vote.

+1

Norm

[Spikestrip]

I like the look and operation of the TTO Gillettes, but so far I haven't found one that shaves as well as my HD.

[shavindave]

I just never get tired of my Slim or Fatboy Gillettes.
Always a great shave.

Whenever I try my Merkurs, I always go back to the Gillettes.

[dreadpirate]

I always thought the Merkurs were the best until I tried a Fatboy. I'm going to abstain - I think both the Merkur 38C and the Fatboy are great razors. They are both very different. I get a great shave with both.

I will say the 38C is better than the Gillette Black handle Superspeed - so when you say Gillette v.s. Merkur it is really hard for me to generalize all Gillette razors.

[Radman]

some day I will have worked through trying all of my Gillette's and may try a Merkur :rolleyes:

[kwk285]

I view my HD and Futur as RAD killers. I like them so much that at this time I see no reason to even try another raxor.:001_smile

[scoopster]

Don't make me choose! :smile:

[Sabledog]

You MUST!

There is NO Grey area here!

:devil::jump:

[frogman18]

I love my HD and Slant but my Super Speeds are my favorites, they look great and shave great, so Gillette it is for me.

[yardpup01]

I love my red tip SS.

[Newfie]

I like Merkurs and voted that way. However, there's just something so cool about shaving with a razor older than me.

[cr8n]

Now let me think ... Which one still makes DE razors? ... Oh ... riiiiiiiight.

[Androclese]

My Gillette SS has given me great shaves, but I really love the weight and longer handles on my Futur and 38C

[KenS]

HD, 38C, Fatboy, Slant, again, and again. Don't try to make me choose...
Ken.

[rm71]

My heart says Gillette, my head says Merkur HD...:frown:

[bjrn]

I like how even the two are.

[Hobbesoxon]

There can be only one!

Merkur, for creating the 90lb monster that is the Vision. Chunky, just the way I like it!


Toodlepip,

Hobbes

[Roman414]

The Merkurs are more crudely made; My HD has little circles on the underside from the casting mold. My Futur has imperfections in the finish. Merkur adjustables are ridiculously expensive for what they are, and judging from posts in this forum tend to fall apart. Many people replace the plastic knobs on their Progress. Gillettes are better made. As to shaving, I think Gillette got it right with the '40's Superspeed. The Merkurs are good shavers too, but when you can pick up a nice Gillette for the same price or cheaper, why bother with them?

[Cigar Dan]

I have owned most of the different Merkurs. I sold a Vision a Futur, and a slant bar, but still have an HD, and a Progress. They are all good razors, and I shave with them from time to time. However, I'd have to say that 90% of the time, I shave with a Gillette 40's Super Speed.

[rabidpotatochip]

I've got to vote Merkur. I must have a pretty well-built HD as there hasn't been any kind of problem or imperfection. *fingers crossed*

[scorpion]

The amazing thing is that it's even a race. Most of the Merkurs represented here were purchased in the last 5 years... and they are for the most part going up against Gillettes which were primarily produced before the majority of us were born!

[Another Platonist]

I really want it to be Gillette, but my Mergress is just too awesome! The heft of the head just slices through my whiskers....wait, Mergress counts for Merkur, right?

[edders]

I prefer my Fat Boy to my HD. I have a Futur in the mail so things may change tomorrow.

[Sabledog]

I really want it to be Gillette, but my Mergress is just too awesome! The heft of the head just slices through my whiskers....wait, Mergress counts for Merkur, right?

Not if you want Gillette to catch up! :innocent::innocent:

[guitarslinger]

They both serve a different purpose.

When my technique, prep, and materials hit pinnacle, I get a more satisfying shave from a vintage gillette.

If something is off in the routine, Gillette's deliver a more brutal cut than my Merkurs.

I'm going to vote Gillette.:biggrin:

[hoselayer]

I cant shave with my HD and not get razor burn! However, I think I could dry shave twice with my SS's and not get a burn. I really like the heavy feel and long handle of the HD, but the shave just doesn't equal a SS. I guess during one of my RAD secessions I will have to pick up a Fatboy and compare the weights. Sound like a good excuse to find another razor doesnt it?!?!:biggrin::biggrin:

BTW, guess which way I voted.......yep Vintage.:wink:

[Christoph]

Merkur!

But I still love Gilettes!

[momo360]

Now let me think ... Which one still makes DE razors? ... Oh ... riiiiiiiight.

Gotta admit, right on. I love my Progress, but man oh man those techs and fatboys shave great... I mean, tech/feather combo? Hello! :blushing:

[polod]

The Merkurs are more crudely made; My HD has little circles on the underside from the casting mold. My Futur has imperfections in the finish.

Exactly! Merkur could have a really nice razors if they could make the finish on the razors better. I have a few Merkurs and they all have some kinds of finishing imperfections, seam marks, pits, bumps, scratches, those cheap looking casting circles, etc. The razors shave pretty good, but from an aesthetics point of view, they really have to get better molds and buffing machines to get them looking really nice. I'm talking about smooth, mirror finishes on the head assemblies. If you can buy a cheap $7 crescent wrench or socket driver that has a better finish than a $30 Merkur HD, there's something wrong.

[M12 Shakes]

Well I've only just got into the DE shaving scene and own a Merkur Futur....so obviously (as much as it pains me to say) I rooted for the Germans :tongue_sm

[patrisVII]

Overall, the Merkur Classic straight bar is my best shaver. I'd rate the SS Red Tip second.

All others I've tried, Merkur or Gillette, didn't cut it on one way or another.

[moses]

My heart says Gillette, my head says Merkur HD...:frown:

Dude.... Always go with heart when in conflict....

-Mo

[BigRay]

IMHO Gillette wins in every category except results. Looks, construction, nostalgia, coolness factor, basically you name it. I wanted to use a gillette, and tried 5 different models. For me though, shaving is results driven, and I get better results from my Merkur.

Obviously YMMV :biggrin:

-Ray

[Silky Glide]

I have been DE shaving for five months and acquired an HD and a pretty nice collection of Gillettes - all the popular models - fatboy, slim, tech (several varieties) ''40's, 50's and 60's superspeeds, an aristocrat, a milord but I settled on a beat up old red tip as my go-to razor until I got a slant and a 38c in the mail about a month ago. I really like the heft of the 38c, but now that I got the hang of using the slant with a crystal blade, it is all the razor I could ever ask for. While the Gillettes may be manufactured better and are magnificent pieces of design, they pale in comparison to the the hefty feel and preformance of the merkurs.

[rocketv8]

Well, if Gillette had made a slant, then all bets would be off :tongue_sm

Gillette has a long history of quality and collectability (is that a word?). Merkur makes a fine razor and my slant is my current razor of choice (although it is a Hoffritz).

I think overall quality (of the razors) and quantity goes to Gillette. As for quality of the shave...YMMV

[Smell The Glove]

I voted Merkur. I noticed Merkur do a Gillette replica razor selling on Carter&Bond. Now I'm curious.

[lamina]

Merkur too, of course. Gilette are discontinued...

[Nancy Boy]

Can you say "Futur"??:thumbup1:

[Nancy Boy]

You MUST!

There is NO Grey area here!

:devil::jump:

Oh, but I thought I was in the gay area?? OH! GREY AREA. Silly me.:rolleyes:

[MTgrayling]

I have to wonder how many of those voting have actually tried both? Gillette should be stomping on those poorly made Merkur's. Oh and Gillette does still make DE's in Asia.

[Sabledog]

I have to wonder how many of those voting have actually tried both? Gillette should be stomping on those poorly made Merkur's. Oh and Gillette does still make DE's in Asia.

I've been waiting for you to chime in....That's a good question and should maybe have been the sole criteria. Fortunately we can leave the poll open until the numbers even out:rolleyes:

I'm thinking some of the Gillette collectors around here are too busy with the 100 or so years of razors to be voting :lol:

[A.de.Lioncourt]

I have to wonder how many of those voting have actually tried both? Gillette should be stomping on those poorly made Merkur's. Oh and Gillette does still make DE's in Asia.

... and Russia too.

No doubt! I really wanted the top end Merkurs to be the best(cause they're pretty,) but they just do not perform like my Gillette ____ (insert model here). Nor does the quality compare.

I still use my Merkurs though(cause they're pretty.) :001_tt2:, but Gillette is simply better.

Oh, I really like Stahly live blade razors for performance as well.

[StGeorge]

I've used various models of both but nothing compares to the shave, style and looks of the Aristocrat - still the king. Gillette takes the crown.

[Eelco]

Gillette got my vote :tongue_sm little pieces of art


15596

[Roman414]

Yes, I have tried both. You can get a good shave with either brand. I applaud Merkur because they are still making them. That said, I think Gillette is the better razor as far as construction and finish. I recently bought a mint, new in the box '51 Superspeed for the same price I paid for my Futur. If my house caught on fire and I could only save one razor, guess which one I would grab?

[Nancy Boy]

If my house caught on fire and I could only save one razor, guess which one I would grab?

Well, I would hope the women and children first, then the razor!:biggrin:

[Sabledog]

Well, I would hope the women and children first, then the razor!:biggrin:

:lol:

[PaulR]

From my very limited experience, the only thing the Gillettes really have in their favor is the nostalgia. The Fat Boy and Slim Adjustable that I've tried have given me decent, but not great shaves and considerably more irritation than my Merkurs.

[Bristlingbeardofodin]

I voted for Merkur. I own a Merkur HD and 59 Fatboy and have shaved with both. The HD gives me a far superior shave. Of course, YMMV.

[zbench]

Not to throw gasoline on the fire, but I do this sort of stuff for a living:

Test and CI for Two Proportions

Sample X N Sample p
1 64 148 0.432432
2 84 148 0.567568


Difference = p (1) - p (2)
Estimate for difference: -0.135135
95% CI for difference: (-0.248011, -0.0222595)
Test for difference = 0 (vs not = 0): Z = -2.35 P-Value = 0.019

Fisher's exact test: P-Value = 0.027

It appears that not only do more people prefer Merkur, there is also a statistical difference in the two rates....

:cool:

[rodd]

There is something that feels really cool about shaving with the same model razor that my dad/grandpa probably learned to shave with. I don't have a merkur yet, but the Gillettes keep me happy.

[MaxP]

Not to throw gasoline on the fire, but I do this sort of stuff for a living:

Test and CI for Two Proportions

Sample X N Sample p
1 64 148 0.432432
2 84 148 0.567568


Difference = p (1) - p (2)
Estimate for difference: -0.135135
95% CI for difference: (-0.248011, -0.0222595)
Test for difference = 0 (vs not = 0): Z = -2.35 P-Value = 0.019

Fisher's exact test: P-Value = 0.027

It appears that not only do more people prefer Merkur, there is also a statistical difference in the two rates....

:cool:


Huh?

[Nancy Boy]

Not to throw gasoline on the fire, but I do this sort of stuff for a living:

Test and CI for Two Proportions

Sample X N Sample p
1 64 148 0.432432
2 84 148 0.567568


Difference = p (1) - p (2)
Estimate for difference: -0.135135
95% CI for difference: (-0.248011, -0.0222595)
Test for difference = 0 (vs not = 0): Z = -2.35 P-Value = 0.019

Fisher's exact test: P-Value = 0.027

It appears that not only do more people prefer Merkur, there is also a statistical difference in the two rates....

:cool:

I have a headache.

[tcbubba]

I love the Merkur Slant.

[vmtech]

I usually get good shaves with my Gillettes, but get great shaves with my Merkur HD and EJ razor w/merkur head. Somehow the head geometry of the Merkurs helps me to get alot closer shave than with my Gillettes. But the Gillettes win in ease of loading.

V..