I've been putting this off a bit, because it's not going to be as straight forward as I was hoping. Not having a lot of experience, there are aspects that might be user error, not the product, and I will just do my best to describe and leave it at that.
I've not used TTO adjustables before, and was kindly given Slim, that I've already reviewed, and the SA 109 that I'm discussing here. The comparison is also in relation to the two razors I have, the Super Speed Flare, which is fine for chin, and underarms, but just can't keep up with legs that have any amount of growth. The Parker 26C open comb is too aggressive for me, and is why I was in the market for a 'new' razor.
The set up. I used the same razorblade, a Feather straight out of the box, and soap, Proraso green. Exfoliated beforehand with Aveeno daily scrub. I was surprised right from the get go, first the razor didn't feel as naturally comfortable as the Slim did. And, almost immediately there was a bit of a 'dragging' feel. I knew the light handle would probably have the balance off for me, and it did, so I changed my grip a bit, holding it closer to the head, and then muddled about with angles. <at this point I'm using my own terminology as I'm not completely sure of the usual jargon used here, but I will describe as best I can>
I tipped back a bit, thinking maybe I was putting too much angle on it, so tried to do a lighter glide. That did help some. For my chin, the 1 and 2 settings seemed identical, and 3 was hardly better. I really did feel I was getting a closer shave until I hit 4. It was a bit uncanny though, as the razor seemed to glide, but I didn't really feel a sense of hair being actually being cut. I wondered if I'd tipped back so far that I was just gliding the cap along without any contact with the blade at all. Checking, it was cutting, but...even 4 wasn't really a BBS. With the Slim, for comparison, the 3-4 range was the same as my SS Flare, and I was quite satisfied. I played with the angle again, but almost immediately I feel it dragging. So, hiked it up to 5 and try a very light touch and overall not BBS. I don't aim for BBS or make numerous passes to get it, BUT, I expect that most of the area should be BBS/near BBS with some problem spots a bit rough... not the whole shaved area to have a tiny bit of stubble still there.
For underarms, 4 wasn't really workings, so went up to 5 and then 6... but the 'dragging' feeling remained, and now was added by a rather uncomfortable scrapping. "Raspy"? I'm not sure how best to describe it. When I went to 7, it still dragged, but when I went to 8, it seemed a bit smoother, however also more aggressive in that I was feeling a tiny bit of burn. When I went to 9, the dragging seemed to start up again, but also it was too sharp. On the Slim, the 9 was a bit aggressive, but still less than my Parker. In this case I would say the 9 was as aggressive as my Parker, and perhaps even a bit more so.
So, that was weird. I stopped and did a few test strokes on my leg to play around with angle and see if I was somehow part of the problem. I'm picky about balance (length of handle and weight aren't a make/break it for me, lack of balance is...which is subjective to me in terms of how I handle the razor not its 'measured' balance point). It is quite head heavy, and I find the handle too light. Even with a heavy head, if the handle was a bit heavier, it might have helped. It does have a longer handle then the Slim, but there was nothing about the handle length that bothered me, or that I could see it interfering with the shave. So, the test strokes were to see if I could determine angle/pressure variances that might make things work better. I couldn't seem to get it to work... I either had this dragging feeling (its cutting, but it feels like a small eraser strip is insisting on it not being smooth, causing a bit of kick even), or, it was sliding on the cap some and just feeling like a razor with no blade in it, but it was cutting, but not particularly closely, unless I put on some pressure, but pressure upped the aggressive/raspy/sharp feel.
It was hard to get an accurate sense of the settings, because it wasn't comfortable. If it is user error, then 5 for underarms would be fine if it was smooth, but I would have to go to 6 or 7, 7 has less drag, but was also too aggressive of a setting (the Slim worked nicely in the 5-6 range). On to legs, despite test strokes, I was unable to change technique in a way that gave any discernable difference. Basically, the leg situations was similar. On 6, it dragged and didn't do a good enough job. Again 7 seemed to be a setting where drag was much better, and it seemed to shave a bit better. It would be what I would call a 'good enough' shave, and again, I don't aim at BBS, but this was still not what I would call a great shave, a clean close shave.... so, moved onto 8, but again drag, and now feeling too aggressive. I finished giving 9 a quick try, knowing it would be too aggressive. With the Slim, 9 was too aggressive, but a bit less so than my Parker 26C, with the SA109, the setting on 9 was the same as, if not even a bit more aggressive than the Parker.
Final thoughts. Even if it shaved very well, I don't like the balance, and on that alone, I'd be going with the Slim. When I picked up the Slim, there was a very short moment of adjusting to the heavier weight, and after one pass I already felt comfortable. With the SA 109, even after stopping to experiment and try different approaches, I never truly felt comfortable with it. I found the range on the Slim much better, with more meaningful differences in the range. So much so, that I could pick a 'quick comfortable' shave, and one to notches later, for a 'super close, be a bit more careful' shave. On the Slim, I fairly easily found these setting ranges for chin, depending on how clos6e a shave I wanted. Chin (3-4), underarm (5-6), legs (7-8). On the SA, it was pretty much chin 4, underarms 5-6 is to draggy, and 7 is too aggressive. Legs, 7 smooth, could have been closer but 8 is too draggy and getting into aggressive territory.
Okay, I know, way too long, but I really struggled with even knowing how to describe things. I'm sure there was too much over explanation, but I also thought recapping some of the Slim results for comparison might help.
I'm keeping the Slim, and am very satisfied with it. I was looking for something to replace the Parker, and it does so admirably. Many men pick a setting on an adjustable and keep it there. My intent is to have something that I can adjust for chin/legs/underarms for a more optimal shave. I'll be keeping my Flare as a 'chin' only for times I need touchups between bath/shower times. The Slim is for bath/shower, where I can dial it down for a chin, and then either pick a 6 or a 7 for a perfectly good shave for both legs and underarms, or adjust more specifically. For example, perhaps a higher setting for legs because of wearing nylons, or going swimming.
Next steps. Continuing using the Slim and after some time to be really familiar with it, I'll be doing reviews of the razorblades I have. I have one sampler pack of blades sent with the razors, and a sampler pack I'm buying. So, that will be down the road. I'm also getting a couple of soaps, so will write about those when they come in.
Hope some bit or piece of this was interesting or helpful.
I've not used TTO adjustables before, and was kindly given Slim, that I've already reviewed, and the SA 109 that I'm discussing here. The comparison is also in relation to the two razors I have, the Super Speed Flare, which is fine for chin, and underarms, but just can't keep up with legs that have any amount of growth. The Parker 26C open comb is too aggressive for me, and is why I was in the market for a 'new' razor.
The set up. I used the same razorblade, a Feather straight out of the box, and soap, Proraso green. Exfoliated beforehand with Aveeno daily scrub. I was surprised right from the get go, first the razor didn't feel as naturally comfortable as the Slim did. And, almost immediately there was a bit of a 'dragging' feel. I knew the light handle would probably have the balance off for me, and it did, so I changed my grip a bit, holding it closer to the head, and then muddled about with angles. <at this point I'm using my own terminology as I'm not completely sure of the usual jargon used here, but I will describe as best I can>
I tipped back a bit, thinking maybe I was putting too much angle on it, so tried to do a lighter glide. That did help some. For my chin, the 1 and 2 settings seemed identical, and 3 was hardly better. I really did feel I was getting a closer shave until I hit 4. It was a bit uncanny though, as the razor seemed to glide, but I didn't really feel a sense of hair being actually being cut. I wondered if I'd tipped back so far that I was just gliding the cap along without any contact with the blade at all. Checking, it was cutting, but...even 4 wasn't really a BBS. With the Slim, for comparison, the 3-4 range was the same as my SS Flare, and I was quite satisfied. I played with the angle again, but almost immediately I feel it dragging. So, hiked it up to 5 and try a very light touch and overall not BBS. I don't aim for BBS or make numerous passes to get it, BUT, I expect that most of the area should be BBS/near BBS with some problem spots a bit rough... not the whole shaved area to have a tiny bit of stubble still there.
For underarms, 4 wasn't really workings, so went up to 5 and then 6... but the 'dragging' feeling remained, and now was added by a rather uncomfortable scrapping. "Raspy"? I'm not sure how best to describe it. When I went to 7, it still dragged, but when I went to 8, it seemed a bit smoother, however also more aggressive in that I was feeling a tiny bit of burn. When I went to 9, the dragging seemed to start up again, but also it was too sharp. On the Slim, the 9 was a bit aggressive, but still less than my Parker. In this case I would say the 9 was as aggressive as my Parker, and perhaps even a bit more so.
So, that was weird. I stopped and did a few test strokes on my leg to play around with angle and see if I was somehow part of the problem. I'm picky about balance (length of handle and weight aren't a make/break it for me, lack of balance is...which is subjective to me in terms of how I handle the razor not its 'measured' balance point). It is quite head heavy, and I find the handle too light. Even with a heavy head, if the handle was a bit heavier, it might have helped. It does have a longer handle then the Slim, but there was nothing about the handle length that bothered me, or that I could see it interfering with the shave. So, the test strokes were to see if I could determine angle/pressure variances that might make things work better. I couldn't seem to get it to work... I either had this dragging feeling (its cutting, but it feels like a small eraser strip is insisting on it not being smooth, causing a bit of kick even), or, it was sliding on the cap some and just feeling like a razor with no blade in it, but it was cutting, but not particularly closely, unless I put on some pressure, but pressure upped the aggressive/raspy/sharp feel.
It was hard to get an accurate sense of the settings, because it wasn't comfortable. If it is user error, then 5 for underarms would be fine if it was smooth, but I would have to go to 6 or 7, 7 has less drag, but was also too aggressive of a setting (the Slim worked nicely in the 5-6 range). On to legs, despite test strokes, I was unable to change technique in a way that gave any discernable difference. Basically, the leg situations was similar. On 6, it dragged and didn't do a good enough job. Again 7 seemed to be a setting where drag was much better, and it seemed to shave a bit better. It would be what I would call a 'good enough' shave, and again, I don't aim at BBS, but this was still not what I would call a great shave, a clean close shave.... so, moved onto 8, but again drag, and now feeling too aggressive. I finished giving 9 a quick try, knowing it would be too aggressive. With the Slim, 9 was too aggressive, but a bit less so than my Parker 26C, with the SA109, the setting on 9 was the same as, if not even a bit more aggressive than the Parker.
Final thoughts. Even if it shaved very well, I don't like the balance, and on that alone, I'd be going with the Slim. When I picked up the Slim, there was a very short moment of adjusting to the heavier weight, and after one pass I already felt comfortable. With the SA 109, even after stopping to experiment and try different approaches, I never truly felt comfortable with it. I found the range on the Slim much better, with more meaningful differences in the range. So much so, that I could pick a 'quick comfortable' shave, and one to notches later, for a 'super close, be a bit more careful' shave. On the Slim, I fairly easily found these setting ranges for chin, depending on how clos6e a shave I wanted. Chin (3-4), underarm (5-6), legs (7-8). On the SA, it was pretty much chin 4, underarms 5-6 is to draggy, and 7 is too aggressive. Legs, 7 smooth, could have been closer but 8 is too draggy and getting into aggressive territory.
Okay, I know, way too long, but I really struggled with even knowing how to describe things. I'm sure there was too much over explanation, but I also thought recapping some of the Slim results for comparison might help.
I'm keeping the Slim, and am very satisfied with it. I was looking for something to replace the Parker, and it does so admirably. Many men pick a setting on an adjustable and keep it there. My intent is to have something that I can adjust for chin/legs/underarms for a more optimal shave. I'll be keeping my Flare as a 'chin' only for times I need touchups between bath/shower times. The Slim is for bath/shower, where I can dial it down for a chin, and then either pick a 6 or a 7 for a perfectly good shave for both legs and underarms, or adjust more specifically. For example, perhaps a higher setting for legs because of wearing nylons, or going swimming.
Next steps. Continuing using the Slim and after some time to be really familiar with it, I'll be doing reviews of the razorblades I have. I have one sampler pack of blades sent with the razors, and a sampler pack I'm buying. So, that will be down the road. I'm also getting a couple of soaps, so will write about those when they come in.
Hope some bit or piece of this was interesting or helpful.