Parker vs Merkur (Travel)

I have a question for any and all that travel quite a bit. My father gave me a straight razor for Christmas and after a few attempts I decided to really take up the hobby. After about a month of unsuccessfully shaving and being unable to get the stropping process down I decided to try a shavette and I have loved it. I still use the straight razor at times and have a goal of crafting the skill but I'm nervous about screwing up the edge but all that is for a different forum.

My question is that I travel a lot for my job from August-May and last year I did not take my shavette with me on trips, I simply used what was left of my cartridge razor. I'd like to be able to take something along with me but not sure it feasible to do that so I've been looking a travel sized safety razors. I've narrowed it down to two, the Parker A1R 4 piece razor or the Merkur travel safety razor and I was just curious if anyone has used either or both and what you thought. My shavette is a Parker so I'm little biased toward them but I've heard nothing but wonderful things about Merkur. (Also if you have any input on the travel shave brushes both make I'd love to hear that too)

Thanks for any input you have.

Sorry, I haven't tried either of the razors you mentioned.

Here is my go to safety in my Dopp kit. I use a plastic container meant for a bar of soap. In it I have a full sized Merkur 34C, an Art of Shaving (Mini Badger), and 3 tucks of blades. It all fits quite snug along with a silicon pack to keep things dry.

I also carry a Simpson Special 1 Pure Badger. It is small enough that I can keep it in a medium sized medicine bottle with holes drilled in the top and bottom for ventilation.

I hope this helps.

I've got a merkur 46c travel razor. Not aggressive but Is very light so got to be extra careful not to use pressure.

I've had this one since May and have had good results between it and feather blades. With that said, I do get much better results with the straight:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Gentlemen,

I owned the Merkur travel razor and found it convenient. Eventually, though, I gave it up because it was too small. Now when I travel, I have a straight razor as my main shaving tool backed up with the Feather Artist Club DX and the Gillette Red Tip.

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Originally Posted by KindestCutOfAll

Sorry, I haven't tried either of the razors you mentioned... ...I use a plastic container meant for a bar of soap. In it I have a full sized Merkur... an Art of Shaving (Mini Badger), and 3 tucks of blades. It all fits quite snug...

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This, using the mild/smallish Merk 1904 Classic, if I don't take a straight. The AoS travel mini-badger works great but it was a gift; I doubt I'd pony up the dough for one otherwise. Also have some collar stays, a little chunk of styptic just in case and mustache wax. You can fit a lot in a soap dish. The small tube of Bigelow cream or Arko loaf goes loose in the dop kit along with the toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.

Thanks for the input guys. I've got about another month before I start traveling at least once a week but I'll report back with what I decide. I just liked the idea of the travel sized razors because they could break down easily into a pouch. My trips tend to be overnighters or two-night stays where I need a shave before a meeting or something so I wanting something that will get the job done but will keep me looking presentable.

I own a Parker and Mekur. On mine the mechanisms aren't great. The best I have is the Edwin Jagged 89 which travels with me and is a much better de. Worth the extra few bucks.

FWIW, I have never seriously considered a DE travel razor, mainly because - as one member pointed out already - they tend to be too small.

Usually, I take about 3-4 overnight flights every month and found that a standard 3-piece razor served me well on those trips.

Using a Mühle 3-piece razor, I can stow the three parts conveniently together with my electric toothbrush handset and brush in the toothbrush travel container.
The added benefit is that this set-up does not arouse the suspicion of airport security scanners. (Of course, the latter holds only true if you take he blade out.)

My point is: Can you combine the convenience of a full size DE razor with the need to save space when traveling?
With a 3-piece DE razor, I believe you can.


Alternatively, I take my Feather Artist Club (available as DX and SS versions, each in the folding and non-folding variety) in a small leather sheath with me on overnight trips and have had only good experiences so far.
The razor is sturdy, well balanced, extremely well built and gives an excellent shave. This razor performs very close to a straight, but thanks to replaceable blades razor preparation is kept to a minimum.

The price is a bit of a deterrent, but having bought the the folding version Feather DX initially purely for overnight trips, this razor is now also part of my rotation at home.

I've got a Lord L6 as a travel razor. It shaves similarly as my DE89 and cheap enough that if it's lost that I'm not too worried.

I have a Parker DE razor, not the one you mentioned, I find it far more aggressive than my DE89 and don't use it often. But the Parker DE is solidly built.

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Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

I owned the Merkur travel razor and found it convenient. Eventually, though, I gave it up because it was too small. Now when I travel, I have a straight razor as my main shaving tool backed up with the Feather Artist Club DX and the Gillette Red Tip.

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I travel a lot, often away three nights a week.
If I'm checking a bag I bring the Feather DX folding and a few spare blades. Like Obie I will also have a DE, in my case an early Super Speed TTO or a Red Tip Super Speed.
Ditto if I travel to the same place every week, I find a way to safely leave a Feather "something" - the Hotel that I travel to now gave me a safety deposit box. They don't use them since the rooms now have safes and the Manager let me "rent" one.
If I can't check or stow its a Cart, but I bring my travel brush and a stick of something.

And your Straight may just need a proper honing to get it Shave ready, and check the Wiki for help with stropping.
To paraphrase Obie - "comfort first" - for many a well prepared conventional Straight is the most comfortable shave..(YMMV)

The Feather that Obie and I speak off offer incredible edges with the the weight and balance of a solid 6/8 conventional straight.

Smooth shaving...

Thanks to everyone who gave your opinions and thoughts. It really did help me. After much thought and consideration I decided against getting the travel sized razors and instead bought the Edwin Jagger DE89LBL. I figured if I'm going to get something it might as well be something good and something I feel comfortable with. I searched these forums for past threads on the DE89 and could not find much bad about them. I also wanted to thank KindestCutOfAll for his idea about the soap dish. I had not thought of thought and I think that is what I will be doing. I was worried a full size safety razor would take up too much space but I after reading that I think I'll be able to fit everything I need in my Dopp kit.

Just on a side, if anyone is looking for an Edwin Jagger DE89 Amazon has some really affordable priced ones and if you have prime they fall under free shipping. That also helped make the decision. Also found an Edwin Jagger travel brush on Ebay that under $25 so I think I made out pretty good. I can't wait to get it here and try it out.

On a final note, I know in my original I mentioned I hadn't used the straight in a while. I used it tonight on a 3 day growth and it was awesome. First time in a while I felt I had got a good shave out of a straight so hopefully my technique is improving.

Thanks again to everyone.