Gillette Tech: Sampler Pack Reviews

[neocaligatio]

Originally Posted by Whiskeytown

Thanks for this! Just to clarify, is this the West Coast Shaving Extended sample pack?


I'm very interested in giving these a try as i've only had experience with Derbys and 7am Super Platinums

Actually it's from a retailer in the UK that allowed me to mix my own sampler, but the options I chose were very close to the West Coast pack.

If you get a chance I'd certainly recommend the feathers, they really are a different class of blade.

[neocaligatio]

Well, it's the final test write up!

Gillette Bleue Extra

Shave 1

Lather: Body Shop (old style) cream

I've used the Bleues in my cheapo TTO gillette for a fair while, in fact it was my daily set up for nearly a year and I was overall fairly pleased with the results. I always got a fair shave, but never quite the shave I was after - this prompted me to buy the tech in the first place.

The first pass was fairly smooth, but not a patch on the feather. No tugging but I could still feel the razor cutting (whereas the feather felt like I was running an empty razor over my face!). The blade didn't have any burn to it like the Derby and gave a reasonable first pass. The following 3 passes 2 x XTG, 1 x ATG were similarly reasonable, but every pass I could still feel the stubble against the razor, which made me aware of the difference in hair removal to the feather.

The shave ended up being a very good one, but I had a couple of nicks from going over some areas too much (and maybe with a little too much pressure) in order to get bbs.

Shave 2

Lather: Palmolive (uk) cream

Another even yet un-amazing shave. The bleue is very similar in performance as it was in my TTO, i.e. it gives me a good shave (and excluding the feather it's one of the best) but after the feather it's just not good enough!


Unfortunately there was no shave 3 or 4 with this one as I was heading out to an important event and put a new feather in the tech to get a really good shave!

Final scores:

1. Feather
2. Red Personnas
3. Gillette Bleue Extra
4. Derby Extra
5. Gillette 7 o'clock sharpedge
6. Crystal
7. Dorco
8. Wilkinson Sword
9. Merkur

Closing comments

I've tried to give each blade a fair go and not make too many assumptions prior to the evaluation - with some blades (i.e. feathers!) it's hard not to have any preconceptions, but opinions in general have proved right.

Ideally now I'd go back and run a blind test of the top five to see if they really sit in that order, but the bottom line is that the feather was head and shoulders above the rest. I've just placed an order for 30 feathers to give them a longer trial and I'm looking forward to it

I'd encourage anyone who buys a new razor to go through the same process I've done, as it not only gives you an idea of the best combination of blade to razor, but forces you to consider each of the shaves in a more detailed manner. Also, I've now got a record of which blades were good/bad for future consideration in other razors.

One element I haven't touched upon is cost - the blades vary in cost considerably, from £4 for 30 (dorcos) up to £11 for 30 (merkurs*). However if you look at my results with the costs (per 30):

1. Feather
£7

2. Red Personnas
£4.30

3. Gillette Bleue Extra
£? (got in France when they still had the franc....)

4. Derby Extra
£4.50

5. Gillette 7 o'clock sharpedge
£6.30

6. Crystal
£4.50

7. Dorco
£4

8. Wilkinson Sword
£7

9. Merkur
£11

... it doesn't seem to make a blind bit of difference to the quality of blade! It's worth noticing though that the red personnas are a bargain compared to the feathers, and if I had to cut down on costs, those could almost half my blade costs. Overall the feathers fit sensibly within my budget, so the best shave works out reasonably priced.

Anyway, enough from me - give it a try, the cost of a sampler isn't much and with 5 of each blade you can try out on a couple of razors.

Cheers,

Chris




*The merkurs seem to be a bit on the extreme side as feathers work out the next expensive at £7 for 30

[Corey]

Thanks for the update. I've enjoyed reading your reviews on this, having gone through similar. I ran Derbys, Dorco 300 and 301s, Gillette 7 O'Clock yellows, Red pack Personnas, Crystals, Astra Platiums, and Feathers through my Tech. After a few shaves with each, I've come to the conclusion that I'll probably never run anything but Feathers in it from here on out. The shave is flat out perfect; smooth, sharp, and irritation free. I bought 100 of them after that conclusion and have not regretted the decision.

[neocaligatio]

Originally Posted by Corey

Thanks for the update. I've enjoyed reading your reviews on this, having gone through similar. I ran Derbys, Dorco 300 and 301s, Gillette 7 O'Clock yellows, Red pack Personnas, Crystals, Astra Platiums, and Feathers through my Tech. After a few shaves with each, I've come to the conclusion that I'll probably never run anything but Feathers in it from here on out. The shave is flat out perfect; smooth, sharp, and irritation free. I bought 100 of them after that conclusion and have not regretted the decision.

Couldn't agree more - Feathers are probably as close as I think any of us DE users will get to a straight shave! Hmmm... maybe a feather in a shavette....

[JimBow]

Originally Posted by derrickm

I love my ball end Tech. I tried a Feather with it but enjoyed the Derby better.

Before I discovered the joys a Fatboy can bring you, this was my go-to combo.

[gone down south]

I found the feather blades in an HD to be way too aggressive for my skin, but in a Tech they're a thing of beauty!

[Whiskeytown]

Thanks for all the time you took with this. You have inspired me. My sample pack should be arriving today (fingers crossed as i'm in need of a shave).

I am going to use my Merkur Classic which is almost identical to a G-Tech and try a blind random sample of my blades. I plan to use a standard prep with the same cream and brush with each shave in order to keep it as controlled as possible. I will have "my assistant" choose a new blade each week from the pile and have her place it in my razor for me so that I do not see packaging or print on the razor itself. I'll then keep a journal with my first thoughts, characteristics and closing thoughts before revealing to myself which blade i used. It will be tough to not look at the blade name, but I'm very interested in my results.

Thanks for the inspirtation!

[neocaligatio]

Originally Posted by Whiskeytown

Thanks for all the time you took with this. You have inspired me. My sample pack should be arriving today (fingers crossed as i'm in need of a shave).

I am going to use my Merkur Classic which is almost identical to a G-Tech and try a blind random sample of my blades. I plan to use a standard prep with the same cream and brush with each shave in order to keep it as controlled as possible. I will have "my assistant" choose a new blade each week from the pile and have her place it in my razor for me so that I do not see packaging or print on the razor itself. I'll then keep a journal with my first thoughts, characteristics and closing thoughts before revealing to myself which blade i used. It will be tough to not look at the blade name, but I'm very interested in my results.

Thanks for the inspirtation!

This will be interesting! I really should do likewise, but just cannot justify another 2 months of testing!

[1cigarboy1]

Thanks for the exhaustive testing. I have a ball end Tech on the way now and can't wait to do a little testing of my own. :)