Best Travel Options

It has been a while since I have posted to the site, but was looking for some information.

I use a straight razor on a daily basis and absolutely love it. However, I am looking for a classy travel option that I can carry on an airplane. I've checked my straights in the past, but for short weekend trips this doesn't seem to make as much sense. Not to mention if I pack up a weeks worth, your pushing $1k in razors in a checked bag. So here are my two main questions.

1) Can you get through TSA with a DE?
2) If so what do you guys recommend for a starter set in the $100-$125 dollar range? Blade preferences? Handles? Of course if you think there is a better option less than $100 let me know about that as well.

Thanks!

You can't bring DE blades carry-on, no way around it. Either carry a disposable that's allowed, or buy blades at your destination. Eventually mail them before you go.

My two choices for a DE that gives a good, close shave would be:

1.) a 1930's Gillette NEW Open comb (3 piece razor) - you can find these for well under $100. They shave great. Actually, if you're interested in obtaining one - send me a PM.

2.) a 1938 Gillette Senator (TTO razor) - my absolute favourite DE, a real beauty. I picked up a replated one for about $85.

I haven't tried packing either with me on a trip yet - but then I haven't flown anywhere since I got them last year....

My preferred DE blade is the Gillette 7 O'clock Super Platinum "Black Ninja" (the one made in India) - I can get 5-6 shaves out of one these puppies.

Thanks for the info guys. I had a feeling that TSA would not like DE's

Like Blix said, you can't pack DE blades in your carry-on, but...

You CAN pack a DE and blades in your checked luggage. :tu

And for a razor in your price range I would likely pick up an Edwin Jagger Chatsworth Barley or a high end Muhle; both can be had for a bit less than you are willing to spend so you would actually save money :)

I'm in the middle of a travel (15 days) and picked local blades ( dorco ) and because I have an adjustable blade, Futur, I was able to get e very decent shave out of it. The reviews on this blades are from the worst ever to the best ever. It depends on the razor and your beard!

I would recomend an adjustable DE razor like the Futur for travel. My 2 cents! Double O

P.S. Merkur Futur is about $80.00, travel tube for your current brush is about $10 on e-bay, pack of 10 feather blades, $4.50. TSA containers at Walmart, to put your creams and ASB ( after shave balm) and others, $14.00.

I travel frequently and always take my straight razors, strops and essentials. As mentioned above, there is no way around not checking your blades. Having said that, TSA ALWAYS checks my bags. Flying domestically I have never lost or had a blade damaged and I always take at least two. Like everyone else I have favorites and love to bring them along. I would be devastated if one was stolen. Twelve years and nothing to report. I have friends that travel internationally more often and they have problems from time to time. Long story short, I think you're good in the states and taking a chance when traveling internationally. For what it's worth.

Carry an unloaded DE razor with you, put your blades in checked baggage.

And if there's no checked baggage, you can probably find DE blades at your destination.

. Charles

PS -- I'll second the EJ 89 Barley suggestion. But a Gillette Tech can be had for $5 - $10, and it also shaves.

I had the same dilemma of traveling frequently and not wanting to haul my straight razor(s) and gear around everywhere I went, so for traveling I switched to a DE. I picked up a vintage 3-piece open comb Gillette for $15 and it did the job real well. I have since given it to my little brother and bought a Merkur slant bar (~$55), since I thought I'd like it. It's definitely different from the Gillette, but with a Feather blade I can give myself a good shave. Not a straight, but a worthy compromise - I like it.

As others have said, you can usually find DE blades most anywhere you go, but you may have to look around, and you may not get ones you want. For some razors, the blade type matters a bit more (as, I think, it does with the slant bar). Around here I have a bit of a hard time finding anything other than CVS/Walgreens blades, but I can find others if I wander long enough. Hong Kong was another place I had a hard time finding blades, but eventually I got some that were pretty good. If you end up having a particular blade variety that you favor, you'll probably want to bring some with you.

there is a way to still keep your straight razor skills sharp when you travel.i have a straight razor that takes a standard DE. blade broke in half.its a bit tricky to shave with without pink lather , meaning its way easy to slice yourself with , more so that a normal razor. but no strop shaving and a great shave.you can find them on ebay.(Magic Disposable Blade Straight Razor)

As others have said you can pack an empty DE in your carry on. A few good ones are EJ DE89 Barley or Muhle DE89. You can mail your DE blades ahead so they're at your destination when you get there or pick some up at a drug store when you get to your destination.

I also travel a lot, mostly for work ... on personal time I can't be convinced to go to the airport! So vacations for us usually mean rail or car rides to the country, where I don't worry about luggage/TSA constraints.

I almost never check my bag, and although it's lame ... I revert to cartridge razors when I'm on the road. I typically use a well-broken-in Vie Long Boar brush and La Toja shave stick with a Sensor Excel. I keep a small refillable TSA-compliant tube of Floid Balsam ASB and do my best to have a good shave. It's a decent road rig and doesn't take up too much space.

Well:

Thanks for the info. I need to fly this next week, and that's one of the things that I do have back on my head to search.

Thanks:
k

With the exception of all stainless razors, the Merkur Vision, and a few extremely desirable and rare vintage razors, most are well below $100, and the majority are $40-$50.

For Vintage, a Gillette slim or Super Adjustable will likely serve you well. For modern, I'd lean towards a Merkur Progress, though an EJ of any variety would likely serve you well, too.


YMMV, of course.