cartridges are still inferior (its more than the prep)

[brindle]

I found this site last year and have been shaving with DE's for over a year now, and I love it. I started with an EJ 89, moved to a Mergress for my go-to razor and recently picked up a R41 that I really like. I get closer shaves, enjoy it more, etc.. just like many / most on this site.

I do however sometimes travel via air and carry on my bags, and decided to find a suitable razor for those situations. I had been using a Mach 3 at the time of my conversion, and have read about the Trac II being a highly regarded cart, so I figured I would revisit both of these with my improved prep and see what I think.

Not impressed. The Mach 3 now feels like a cheap plastic toy to me. I got a decent shave, but not as close and I still can't get under the nose well, something that bothered me back in the day.

I then tried the Walmart Trac II blades on a cool handle I picked up on ebay. Shave one was useless, due to the lube strip. I don't know if it is my water here, or a reaction with the soap, but it was so slick, the razor seemed to slide over my beard without cutting anything. A bit of surgery with my trusty pocketknife to remove the strip and I was back in business for the next day. This felt much better, more balanced and closer to a DE shave, but at the end, after rinsing, I was disappointed. The neck is not near as close, and my face feels more abused.

Either of these would work in a pinch during travel for a serviceable shave, at least until I could procure some DE blades, but for me, it was not near as close or enjoyable.

Anyway - just one man's opinion, but I wanted to thank all of you here for the great info and allowing me to find a much better way...

[Samjax]

Agreed! You have a great rotation there btw.

[thatsilverguy]

Pretty much matches my experience too. Years ago I would get my "best" shaves from a fresh cart. Second shave would always be worse, and a week later I was fighting tugging but didn't want to pay for another batch.

Now, with straights and good technique, I get an awesome shave every day that I shave. If my razor isn't sharp enough I only have myself to blame. I then correct it and I'm back off to the races!

I don't buy spendy plastic carts that crowd up landfills anymore.

[BrookR1]

I guess I have a different opinion. I pulled out my old Bic 3 blade disposable cartridge system the other day and am on my third day. It's been about 9 months since switching to DE and straights since I last used a cart. I will say that I've been getting shaves that are 98% as good as my DEs. The Bic system I uses costs about $1 per cartridge and the handle is disposable. I feel that my success can be attributed my knowledge of proper pre-shave techniques and using quality products. I've been using TOBS Avocado without pre-shave oil and have finished up with quality aftershaves lotions and balms. Here are my observations and experiences (YMMV):

-- Carts are idiot proof. You can have atrocious technique and still be able to get a very nice shave. You can apply tons of pressure and shave any direction on your face without the risk of cutting yourself. I tried the fool's pass (ATG on the upper lip) with my Bic and experienced zero discomfort. This sort of usability is perfect for the average Joe that just wants to shave and go.

-- I had zero razor burn. The plastic bumpers on the cart make it difficult for the blades to scrape off too much skin vs. a DE with a fully exposed blade. I've had very close shaves with DEs (R-41) that resulted in razor burn a couple of hours later. While I was learning, I sometimes had to give my face a break for a day or two.

-- They are easy to handle. I can't remember the last time I cut myself while handling a cart.

That said, I still prefer DEs.

-- Carts don't teach you proper shaving technique. They are so forgiving that the average user will never learn about how to map their face or how much pressure to apply because, frankly, they don't have to. Using good technique with a cart will provide a much better shave.

-- Carts can be sometimes difficult to control because the one I used had a rotating head. It was sometimes difficult to get the right right blade angle set. Once I did, it was fine.

-- Carts are messy and require more cleaning. They clog up easily (especially when shaving longer hair) and because they essentially perform like a SE, they require cleaning after one pass vs. two passes. They also leave trails of lather on the face so it can sometimes be difficult to tell which areas of your face needs a touch up.

-- 3 blades vs. 1 blade scraping your face? I'm not sure about this one. I haven't received any more irritation than normal using carts despite 3 blades scraping my face vs. one. On my chin area, I can distinctly feel one blade doing the cutting because I have to adjust my angle/pressure in order to get a smooth shave. On curves, it's very difficult to get three blades to touch the skin at the same time unless you apply an ungodly amount of pressure.

-- The products associated with carts are very poor. I think this has more to do with why people are unsatisfied with their shaves. Using brushless garbage that dries your face will give you a poor shave no matter what razor you use. Try using cheap goo without proper prep...and they try shaving one side with a cart and the other side with a straight. See which side is less bloody. I dare ya!

I'm probably going to use the cart in my Bic for a few more days. After my experience, I won't badmouth carts because I've gotten some really good shaves. I will definitely use them for traveling...they are just so much easier to throw in a bag and get through an airport screener, plus I don't mind if they get lost or stolen. In my kit, however, will be a quality brush and soap/cream.

[johnf7478]

I completely understand what you guys said, when I was shaving with carts, I thought I was getting great shaves, however, I never ran my fingers up and down my face after a fusion shave to survery if there was left over stubble, never splashed out on am extra bright bulb for my bathroom lamp so I could spot any sneaky hairs, never felt I was giving myself a self-spa treatment shaving experience and I NEVER looked forward to the stubble growing back on my face just so I could shave it off again,lol. As the old saying goes, "ignorance is bliss, 'tis a folly to be wise"
Meaning, before we knew what the whole DE experience entailed, we could not miss it. It's certainly more than simple "hair removal" for me, may sound corny, but I am telling myself
"your worth it baby", every time I shave and every time i spend between 20 and 30 euro on a new razor or a tenner on a tub of luxury shave cream.
However, your right in one respect, i certainly will take a mach three or a sensor with me when I go on holidays, although, if I keep spending as wrecklessly as i am on shave gear, I won't often be able to afford to go on holidays,lol

[brindle]

BrookR1
As I wrote my post, I was fully aware each of us is different and I am sure there are many in your camp on this one. For me, I cannot get a shave as close as a DE with a cart, at least not consistently. Until I started using a DE a shave like this mornings was just a normal shave. The only time I recall getting a really close shave with carts was if I skipped a day and had a bit more growth and used a new cart.

Regardless, I totally respect your opinion, but for me,the difference is like night and day.

[Rufust445]

I recently found the last of a 5-pack of Wilkinson System II's (Atra) in an old travel bag. Put it on a Gillette Vector handle and tried two shaves over the weekend. They were serviceable CCS, but not as close as I can get with a DE and a little more time. Wouldn't want to try to get as close as w. a DE, as the pressure could cause some serious burn, or more.

The Wilkinson System II cartridges also have grooves for fitting to a Trac II handle, and no lube strip. An almost ridiculously easy shave, but again, not as close... Also found in the old travel bag was the handle to and old Wilkinson travel razor. This travel handle accepts the System II cartridge in the Trac II style, w. no pivot. I may try the cartridge in this travel handle before it wears out.

The Wilkinson System II with its slim red handle is what I used for a good part of the '80's and '90's, until Wilkinson started reducing its presence in this country in the '90's.

I continued the experimenting/travesty today by using a can of Old Spice Sensitive shave foam with a Conair heated lather cap. That was compensated for by using a Shark SS blade in a Super Adjustable. Just a two pass shave to get through the day, similar to the shaves with Wilkinson System II. A good ASB like Body Shop Razor Relief (<2009 formula) helps compensate for other shortcomings.