Calling road warriors who travel by air (air warriors?): Best carry-on razor?

[Grumpy Old Git]

OK, simple background is I need a razor to take on as carry-on luggage which rules out DE or a Str8. Need to avoid checking luggage for speed and security of making sure my bag is on the same plane as me.

Leaving aside the whole argument that a DE blade may be like a box-cutter and you *may* have been able to hold up a plane 9 years ago with one (try it now and the trolley-dollies like my half-sister will rip your arm off and beat you to death with the mushy end) - the TSA are clear. No DE with blades; no straights. Period. Argue, and Mr. Fist, my 350lb colleague here, will be reaching for the rubber gloves...

So what is the best cartridge out there? A simple Bic disposable? Or more up-market? If I go for a brand like Gillette sensor, do I go for the handle and new carts, or buy the disposable versions?

Usual trip is 3 to 5 nights, but short notice so can't mail blades ahead to the hotel. I need something I can depend on, but with so many marketing gimmicks out there I never trust the hype.

Hence - I am interested on what other 'business-travellers' find works in this world of living out of a single case and small rooms.

Life was so much easier as a 'road'-warrior. If it could fit in the trunk, it was on the trip. So much simpler than this TSA nonsense...

Grumps.

 

[Desdinova]

you can buy disposable Mach3s and Quattros where the handle goes in the trash with the blades.

Much easier to deal with.

 

[DSW]

The single bladed Bic disposables for sensitive skin are well reviewed, and I have found them acceptable as well, as they don't yank and snag like multibladed razors.

 

[GDCarrington]

The single bladed Bic disposables for sensitive skin are well reviewed, and I have found them acceptable as well, as they don't yank and snag like multibladed razors.

I would agree with the BIC sensitive. The last time I had to travel, the hotel had a complementary BIC sensitive so I did not have to buy one on arrival. (For a short time they would not let you carry any razors).

 

[Grumpy Old Git]

Though I'm pretty sure I could blag my way out of it if caught, a combination of being a guest in this Country (even with resident status, I'm still a guest and so shouldn't take liberties in my eyes) and the innate English need to 'do the right thing' - very painful every April - I need to make sure I play by the rules.

However, I can see how they get away with it. I regularly walk through with a belt on and never get a squeak from the detector.

 

[RazorPete]

Get a schick injector

 

[Grumpy Old Git]

Get a schick injector

I have seen these - however the blade looks pretty exposed, enough to get the unwanted attention of the TSA. Have you ever carried a pack through?

 

[orchestrion]

Dang. Just thinking about pulling something like that off makes me nervous.

 

[RazorPete]

No I use the bic sensitives but I heard others talk about carrying injectors on without problems

 

[Blondie]

Injectors are not allowed in carry-on either. If the blade can be removed, no go. You are stuck with cartridges, or checking bags. FWIW, in 20 years of travel, I have only had one bag go awry, and it was not even missing. There was a rain storm and they delayed the flight due to rain and lightning. All the bags got left on the tarmac, and contents were soaking wet when I arrived at my destination. At least I could shave with a DE though. Oh, and the airline bought me a new suit.

 

[silver surfer]

I suggest, "The Gillette Challenge to the Disposables" : 1990's favorite new razor, the Sensor. Stainless steel handle. Laser welded blades monitored within microns and computer controlled hones that produced the "sharpest edges ever honed." Steel vs. plastic; with a cartridge head.

 

[grouse79]

I would agree with the BIC sensitive. The last time I had to travel, the hotel had a complementary BIC sensitive so I did not have to buy one on arrival. (For a short time they would not let you carry any razors).

Another vote for the Bic single blade disposable. I have yet to fly since taking the DE but this is what I would take on in carry-on. Less than £2 for 20 I would just use them once and throw away. I have tried them a few times and they do work very well. The shave does not feel as good as with a DE but the results certainly seem to be.

Having been pulled aside because there was a dinner fork in my bag (don't ask) I don't think I would ever risk taking on a blade. The world may have gone a bit nuts regarding safety rules, but if we want to fly, I guess we have to play along.

 

[xillion]

Bic Metal are great and so is the new Schick Hydro 3.

 

[RayH]

Based on the reviews here on B&B, I would say that you should get the Schick Hydro. From what I've been reading, it beats the heck out of both the Fusion and the Mach 3.

 

[luvmysuper]

I simply cannot believe the number of posts in this thread which talk about bypassing the rules of the TSA regarding razor blades.
Breaking the law in and of itself is enough that you wouldn't think our members would be posting about it, let alone recommending ways to do it.
You guys that have been here more than a week know that this is not permitted on B&B.
Read the Wiki on air travel and the TSA and then re-read the Terms of Use about advocating illegal activity.
If that isn't enough, read the thread about the fellow who recently had his Feather DE razor tossed in the trash can by airport security.

 

[solar]

I just take a standard cartridge razor (I use the five blade cartridge that's currently more than a mortgage payment to buy blades for..) and a tube of Proraso shave cream with a travel brush. The components are easily recognisable as being shaving kit. I wouldn't bring along a DE razor with blades, since you know the blades will be seized.

I always take stuff in the clear plastic travel bag that is no threat and which complies with international travel rules just to reduce problems. My Lord, I've had them insist on taking my watch off and put it in the plastic travel bin, a bit of a concern since I (used to) wear a Rolex when travelling. I got tired of watching the travel bins like a hawk when at crazy-busy airports like Attaturk in Istanbul, when my watch and belt and wallet were going through the X-ray machine (for the third time) in one pre-board event.

Years ago, before 9-11, I had my metal shave bowl with a block of Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet (yes, the soap that was full of tallow). The pewter mug caused the security fellow concern, understandably, but I was doing some contract work in the former East Block and was travelling on a government-service passport. I was able to explain via a kind fellow traveller that this was a shaving mug with soap (which resulted in it being passed around to various guards for an exploratory sniff), and I was eventually able to head on, with my mug and soap. That was just an oversight on my part, bringing a metal shaving mug with me like that. I've never made the same mistake since.

Chris

 

[Austin]

I simply cannot believe the number of posts in this thread which talk about bypassing the rules of the TSA regarding razor blades.
Breaking the law in and of itself is enough that you wouldn't think our members would be posting about it, let alone recommending ways to do it.
You guys that have been here more than a week know that this is not permitted on B&B.
Read the Wiki on air travel and the TSA and then re-read the Terms of Use about advocating illegal activity.
If that isn't enough, read the thread about the fellow who recently had his Feather DE razor tossed in the trash can by airport security.

Agreed. Thank you Phil.

 

[kingfisher]

I would advocate for the Bic Sensitive disposable.

Second choice would be Trac II, but then you'd have to buy a pack of blades, and if you never want to use a cartridge razor again, you're out 13 bucks for a pack of blades and 8 bucks for a handle, and the shave is no better than what you can get with the Bic Sensitive.

I can get four shaves out of one of these things; YMMV. But if you're going to be gone two days, one should definitely do.

 

[michiganlover]

Agreed. Thank you Phil.

+2

I would think those of you traveling could suffer through a cartridge razor for a few days, rather than advocating breaking the law.

In fact the Trac II, Atra, and Sensor are all really nice cartridge razors.

If you can get past the goo issue, the Schick Hydro 3 is a very nice cartridge razor, and readily available.

 

[bonusmarple]

I have tried two cartridge razors during my travels. The first is the 3 blade Hydro and the second is the Bic Sensitive single blade. I would recommend the Bic hands-down. The Hydro did not deliver a better shave and I really could not stand the goo.