I think you are thinking this through just right and have a lot of good ideas already. I've been guilty of taking a nice razor on a trip, and left part of it in a hotel bathroom. Dumb me, both for leaving it and for taking it in the first place.
I wouldn't necessarily get rid of your cartridge razor just yet. I use mine every time I fly someplace and only take a carry on (not to be confused with taking carrion, which makes an airplane overhead compartment smelly). I don't have a specialized razor for car trips, camping, or checked-luggage plane trips. I have a bunch of cheap razors, and I just grab one I can afford to lose.
But if you want a separate razor for trips (camping etc) when the TSA isn't an issue, I think a Gillette Tech makes a lot of sense. I wouldn't feel bad about losing one. They were produced in the millions, and are more plentiful than modern razors. The world won't miss one if you lost it. Might as well just pick up a couple while you're at it. They're that inexpensive. It would be cheaper than a new Merkur, although I think any of those would be a good alternative too. I like my 23C a lot.
Yes to an inexpensive synthetic brush for traveling. You can get a plastic tube to contain it (Muhle makes a nice one) or just use a length of PVC, a toilet paper tube, or a baggie.
Although they are cool, I'm not a fan of fold-up or collapsible travel razors. A razor just doesn't take up much space, especially a three-piece you can break down. For the same reason, I agree that a short travel handle is unnecessary on a travel razor.
I wouldn't necessarily get rid of your cartridge razor just yet. I use mine every time I fly someplace and only take a carry on (not to be confused with taking carrion, which makes an airplane overhead compartment smelly). I don't have a specialized razor for car trips, camping, or checked-luggage plane trips. I have a bunch of cheap razors, and I just grab one I can afford to lose.
But if you want a separate razor for trips (camping etc) when the TSA isn't an issue, I think a Gillette Tech makes a lot of sense. I wouldn't feel bad about losing one. They were produced in the millions, and are more plentiful than modern razors. The world won't miss one if you lost it. Might as well just pick up a couple while you're at it. They're that inexpensive. It would be cheaper than a new Merkur, although I think any of those would be a good alternative too. I like my 23C a lot.
Yes to an inexpensive synthetic brush for traveling. You can get a plastic tube to contain it (Muhle makes a nice one) or just use a length of PVC, a toilet paper tube, or a baggie.
Although they are cool, I'm not a fan of fold-up or collapsible travel razors. A razor just doesn't take up much space, especially a three-piece you can break down. For the same reason, I agree that a short travel handle is unnecessary on a travel razor.