Thread: Which one do you like best?

My personal fav's are:

1st: Merkur 180 Long Handle - it has probably the best shaving angle of all my DE's. I even prefer it to my 1950's Gillette Fat Boy Adjustable. I always wind up going back to this razor to clean up anything I have missed with my straights. It is by far the best DE I have ever used.

2nd: 1950's Gillette Super Speed

3rd: 1950's Gillette Fat Boy Adjustable

I only use Derby blades, I find them to be the best balance between price, sharpness and longevity.

I vacillate between telling myself that I will never use a DE again, since I love straights, and taking a day or so every blue moon 'sneaking' one in my rotation for fun or necessity. My current favorite is my 1969 Super Adjustable, gives a splendid shave dialed just right. My goto backup is my 65 SuperSpeed which doesn't give a close enough shave for me unless I do the first pass with a straight. Although I think my Merkur HD is great. There are a few others that I have too but are not on my favorite list. Let me put it this way, if there weren't straights to shave with I would have no problem using a DE all the time. Oh yeah my favorite blades right now are red personna's.

Sean

3 way tossup for me #1 merkur progress #2 gillette red tip #3 59 fatboy all with derby extra blades

1. A Gillette Fatboy for it's adjustable closeness, and the handle fits my hand better than any other DE I've tried.
2. An old Gillette 3-piece. Virtually unbreakable and still shaves "close enough".

If you have a mustache and trim the top (between the stache and the nose), most DEs don't do so good a job (too big). That's where the Schick or Pal injectors work real well.

Well some mornings with family just don't leave enough time to enjoy a straight shave. Often only now on weekends. The good thing about the DE is you still have the same preparation - good brush, great soap. i went the cheap option and picked up a Weishi for $25. Heavy enough for me to enjoy, and necessitates the correct angle - just like a straight. Tried a few different blades {some are really better used to butter toast} and found platinum coated Feathers on Classic Shaving. Best by far and a great price. Better than anything local in Australia {well until this whole financial crisis and dollar drop }
That's also got the RAD under control......

If I really need a quick shave in the morning, I either don't bother shaving or grab my non-adjustable Super Speed with a Derby blade. The only DE I have, and the only blades I have.

One quick pass with water WTG and I'm presentable. It's not an enjoyable, relaxed shave like with a straight, but it does a decent job quickly. That's all I expect of a DE, so it's not disappointing. It's not really shaving, it's just grooming.

I only have Gillettes so I can't offer an opinion on other manufacturers. My son and my lady friend both like the adjustable fat boy. The Aristocrat and Diplomat are close seconds.

Gem 1912 with drugstore blades - for me - the closest feel to my straights. I love it. More comfortable than the foil thin DE blades imho.

Gillette slim adjustable and black beauty with Derby or Swedish Gillette blades. Super speed 40's and the lady Gillette with the stars also gives a very nice shave.

Why? Tried all of them, been shaving for 28 years and get my best DE shaves with the given combination. YMMV..

Happy shaving Lynn!