How is Trac 2 compared to Mach3? Trac closer like sensor 2?
Gillette Sensor Excel vs Mach 3
- Thread starter Raissermesser
- Start date
The Trac II doesn't pivot, so it's probably the closest you can get to a DE experience with a cartridge razor. Other than that, I find the Trac II and the Sensor to be pretty similar in closeness and effectiveness. I prefer both the Trac II and the Sensor to the Mach 3, although that wasn't always the case (I was a Mach 3 fan for a long time, but now I find them a little rough). If you don't already have one, it's a lot easier to find a Trac II-compatible handle than a Sensor.
I get better, closer, more efficient shaves with any of the 2 blade systems— Atra, TracII, and Sensor systems than any Mach3 or Fusion version. Never have a clogging issue with any of them. I think the 2 blade handles allow a better regulation of pressure of the blades on the skin which makes them better shavers for me. Of the 2 blade systems I find the most comfortable shave by a bit the regular Sensor, not the plus. They shave about as well for me as my DE razors. I get decent shaves with some of the 5 blade Gillette carts but they tend to be irritating if I use them too many days in a row. The Personna 2 blade Sensor compatibles I found rough and dull. The sensors are available around the net for 1.00-1.15 a cart which is an acceptable cost for me. Hope they Never stop production.
For me Mach 3 turbo works better than sensor excel (2 blades or 3 blades). I find the lubra strip of March 3 Trubo very comforting and the microfins are better. Also if you want a quick shave and comparative less irritation free Mach 3 turbo works even better than Fusion Proglide (was never a fan of 5 blades). Haven’t used any of them over last 9 months at all though.
The position of the hinge is the key point for me and why I hated when Gillette went to the Mach 3. That lower hinge point on my coarse beard causes no end of dragging and pulling and if you try and exert pressure to counteract that it's not effective at all. I never understood why they didn't keep the hinge in the middle. That very same hinge point is what keeps me from trying a Leaf, which otherwise looked interesting.
Oh well, happy to be trying DE with some SEs lined up, as well. And glad Gillette is still making the plain old Sensors, which are my preference over the Excel version.
Always liked the Sensor far, far, far better than the Mach3. In fact the Mach3 is what convinced me to look into traditional shaving. Used the Sensor from it's debut thru 2004, when the handle broke in Iraq. The PX only had Mach3 available so that is what I had to go to. Never could find Sensor handles locally since that time.
FWIW if you go to THAT auction site there are usually used, unused, old, new and off-brand Sensor handles, I have bought and tried several different ones and most work well. If your want to get back to Sensor shaving the carts can be had at reasonable prices also at the same websites. Good luck.
I do have a handle now found one some time ago on that very auction site. Every so often I use the Sensor and Trac II, but never the Mach3. I’m really shocked at the asking prices these days for the NOS examples.
Even as a fan of the Trac II, I think the Sensor was possibly the best twin-blade razor Gillette made. I never really liked the Atra and only switched to the Mach 3 when the Sensor became hard to get where I was living. I'm not sure the Mach 3 is as good as it used to be; I bought one for giggles a couple of weeks ago as a test while I was waiting for my Gillette blades to arrive and pitched it after a couple of shaves because it was terrible. Even my grocery store DE blades were better than that. I was disappointed, but a lesson was learned that day. 
100% agree. Gillette Sensor is my favorite cart razor.
The sensor handle where it hold the cartridge is a bit flimsy and my vintage metal hand sensor broke one its grip tabs after only 9 months. I ended up quickly buying up some spare handles to keep in storage. Thats the only downside of the sensor handle vs the Trac II or Atra. The Atra is bulletproof and the Trac II is bomb proof.
Sensor Excel > Mach 3, but both pale in comparison to Gillette Guard from India (not US Skin Guard).
I like mach 3 sensitive :3
