Thread: Normal to have a Shavette only as a travel razor?

Hello all. I do a lot of traveling back and forth to and from my girlfriends house and mine. My bathroom is hooked right up for a straight shave. Scuttle, brush stand, all my gear, oil etc.. The bathroom at her house is not. Anyways the back story is. It was Christmas time and I was very busy and I ended up not being able to shave for 5 days. 5 days of pure itchy bearded agony. 5 days of being out of town and not wanting to use a disposable cartridge razor. I gave up using them 6 or 7 months ago and I wasn't planning on going back. I wished I had a shavette so I didn't have to bring my strop and other things that would weigh a dopp bag down. Anyways today after 5 days of scratching non-stop I had a beautiful hot lather straight shave. I love shaving with a straight. It has become a great healthy passion for me after I quit smoking. For travel purposes I just bought and haven't received yet a MD Dragon travel razor off of amazon.ca. I already have razor blades as my brother tried a DE a while back and then gave it up so finders keepers for me I guess. I am not turning my back on the straight razor as I just bought my third hone... (think its getting out of hand) I just want to know if it's normal to have a shavette type razor for traveling as maybe I'll find out it will make life on the road easier? Then I can save those beautiful straight shaves for when I'm at my house, in the shave cave. How many of you use a shavette type razor for travel?

I keep a cheep VDH brush,soap and DE razor for travel.That way if anything gets lost or broken I've lost maybe $40.00.Oh and pre soaked witchhazel pads for aftershave!

My travel razor system now is a Feather DX.
For a long time it was the Feather RG clone, the Korean CJB 101.
With any of them the kit is about the size of a toothbrush holder.
There is a learning curve (less pressure being the #1 thing to think about) but they provide excellent results.
Check out the section in the Forum for them.

Smooth Shaving...

I use a DE for travel and to mix it up a bit when at home. Never really considered a shavette just too familiar with a DE I suppose. Either will do the trick though, enjoy yours.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

I use a DE for travel and to mix it up a bit when at home. Never really considered a shavette just too familiar with a DE I suppose. Either will do the trick though, enjoy yours.

Bob

Similar here.

I just don't like shavettes and take rather my Feather AC DX or DE razor with me on trips.



B.

Feather RG for travel. Closest thing to a straight I can get and doesn't take anymore room in the bag as a cartridge razor and blades. Tc

Gentlemen,

When traveling, I take along the Feather Artist Club DX in the pearl handle with a cartridge of Feather Professional blades. The Feather is an exceptionally fine straight razor with replaceable blades. That's why I never refer to it as a "shavette," thus setting it apart from the general, and generally of less quality, straight razors with replaceable blades. My Merkur Progress with Personna Red IP blades are the backup in my wet pack.

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

When traveling, I take along the Feather Artist Club DX in the pearl handle with a cartridge of Feather Professional blades. The Feather is an exceptionally fine straight razor with replaceable blades. That's why I never refer to it as a "shavette," thus setting it apart from the general, and generally of less quality, straight razors with replaceable blades. My Merkur Progress with Personna Red IP blades are the backup in my wet pack.

Thanks for this info Obie, I was looking at these but have been to date put off in case they were just like my half DE blade shavettes, which I'm not overly fond of. I think one of these can be added to my to buy list now

Originally Posted by Angelcynn

Thanks for this info Obie, I was looking at these but have been to date put off in case they were just like my half DE blade shavettes, which I'm not overly fond of. I think one of these can be added to my to buy list now

The Feather Artist Club DX is not only a fine razor with replaceable blade, but it also eliminates the need to break double edge razor blade in half to use in the razor. The cartridges are self-contained. Good stuff.

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

When traveling, I take along the Feather Artist Club DX in the pearl handle with a cartridge of Feather Professional blades. The Feather is an exceptionally fine straight razor with replaceable blades. That's why I never refer to it as a "shavette," thus setting it apart from the general, and generally of less quality, straight razors with replaceable blades. My Merkur Progress with Personna Red IP blades are the backup in my wet pack.

Well put.
It really is difficult to categorize the Feather Artist Club DX and calling it a "shavette" is somewhat misleading.

Feel and handling resemble a straight - ease of blade replacement and absence of any need to strop or hone resemble more a shavette or Schick Injector.

Hence neither the term "shavette" nor the term "SE razor" do this fine razor justice.
Unless you want to consider it a variation of a straight, like I do, it just happens to occupy a niche of its own, with some Korean clones (unsuccessfully IMO) trying to claim some of this territory.

It may take a few shaves adapting one's straight shaving technique, but - even though pricey - this razor is a purchase that I never regretted.
In fact, I now own more than one - one for use when traveling, the others for use at home.


And if the pearl handle makes this razor look too utilitarian for your taste - there is always the pricier alternative with teak handle.


B.