Cartridge

[ChrisG]

I am just inquiring about what you feel are better. I am looking to get a Trac II as I am kind of over the wet shaving and never managed to get great results but wanted to go with an Atra or Trac II over my usual Mach# I used in the past and had awful results. I see that Merkur makes blades relatively cheap as well as persona blades. What are better for a really thick rough beard? also, What do you find better, Trac II or Atra? I am thinking Atra because the head pivots and gets in places under the chin I have hard times with...

 

[strat1117]

My vote would be for the fixed head Trac II. The Personna blades or even the Gillettes are just fine. I have not tried the Merkur blades, but Merkur does make a very nice Trac II handle (about $45), which comes with adapters so that you can also try the Atra, sensor, etc.

All in all, I like the Trac II the best of all the cartridges and, in many ways, just as much as my DE.

You will hear from many others who feel the same way, and many more who disagree. Ultimately, you have to decide for yourself which you like best. I've used the fixed head Trac II for over 30 years, and have always gotten good results. Just make sure you stay with your good prep and lathering techniques (i.e., don't give up on the "wet" part of wetshaving.)

Enjoy!

 

[strat1117]

I personally despise pivoting heads. My daily razor is a Trac II loaded with the Wal Mart Personna Twin IIs.

And just because you're not using a straight or a DE doesn't mean that you're not wetshaving.

*EDIT: Neil beat me to it.

I knew it would be a footrace . . . .

I actually almost mentioned you and kingfisher by name, but decided to let you weigh in for yourselves.

 

[luvmysuper]

My vote would be for the fixed head Trac II. The Personna blades or even the Gillettes are just fine. I have not tried the Merkur blades, but Merkur does make a very nice Trac II handle (about $45), which comes with adapters so that you can also try the Atra, sensor, etc.

All in all, I like the Trac II the best of all the cartridges and, in many ways, just as much as my DE.

You will hear from many others who feel the same way, and many more who disagree. Ultimately, you have to decide for yourself which you like best. I've used the fixed head Trac II for over 30 years, and have always gotten good results. Just make sure you stay with your good prep and lathering techniques (i.e., don't give up on the "wet" part of wetshaving.)

Enjoy!

I personally despise pivoting heads. My daily razor is a Trac II loaded with the Wal Mart Personna Twin IIs.

And just because you're not using a straight or a DE doesn't mean that you're not wetshaving.

*EDIT: Neil beat me to it.

What they said. My favorite article of all time "How to Shave like your Grandpa" talks about the aspects of wetshaving. Razor type is never specified.

 

[lamina]

Both Atra and Trac II will give you BBS shaves. To begin a nice pivoting head will perform well and is more tolerant to errors...and if you have neck burns Atra is your tool!

But why to buy a Merkur if at same price you could get an original Gillette Atra or even a Trac II?

 

[john parker]

I personally despise pivoting heads. My daily razor is a Trac II loaded with the Wal Mart Personna Twin IIs.

And just because you're not using a straight or a DE doesn't mean that you're not wetshaving.

*EDIT: Neil beat me to it.

ClubmanRob, why do you despise pivoting heads? I use a Sensor and have been happy so far. Want to know what I might be missing. Thanks, John

 

[kingfisher]

I like the Sensor Excel quite a bit better than the Atra (YMMV). I haven't shaved with a Trac II in many years, but I'm going to get one and give it a go. I'll have an opinion about which I like better in a few weeks after I've given them all a fair shake.

 

[Jim]

TracII would be my choice as well, I think the Atra or any pivoting head lends itself to pressure.

Good luck!

 

[john parker]

Thank you ClubmanRob and Jim. Now I understand. In fact, trueing up the bottom of my sideburns is a pain with the Sensor. And, testing the generic sensor blades I found at Baker's, I think I applied enough pressure to give myself a bit of razor burn for the first time in years. I may have to give the Trac II a try - if I didn't have so many Sensor Excel blades stored away against the day they stop making them!

 

[rsp1202]

My Trac II doesn't shave as close as my injector; the blades are hardly the equal of the NOS Schick Plus Platinums. Dropping brush lathering hasn't helped matters either. Even so, the shaves are acceptable and I expect will get better.

I do prefer the TII to the Sensor because of the handle shape, and the fixed head forces better technique.

 

[ChrisG]

So what about the question as for Merkur blades etc. ?

 

[MichaelG]

My opinion only of course - so take it for what it's worth.

I'm not anti-cartridge shaving. I still use Sensor, Mach III and Trac II razors, along with a Schick injector or DE (about 1/2 of the time).

If you want the a simple, no pivot, great shave from a cartridge, stick to the Trac II cartridges. The Merkur ones are weird - I found that they require more pressure to get a close shave and to be honest, I never got a good, close shave with them.

I only wish good quality handles were available for the Trac II cartridges. The Merkur handle for them is weird as well - it's balanced funny and shaped funny, along with being very slippery. The adapters that come with it are pretty rinky-dink IMO. They're sort of plastic Rube Goldberg like devices that adapt to various cartridges.

So what about the question as for Merkur blades etc. ?

 

[Monkeydad]

I used Sensor Excels for years before discovering DEs. I believe it's probably the best out of the inferior cartridge razors. Only 2 blades, the least expensive of the costly cartridges...but I have not used them once since I started with my Gillette DEs. There is no comparison in quality of shave, but if you must stick with a cartridge razor, I recommend the Sensor Excel.

 

[Robxcarlson]

I only wish good quality handles were available for the Trac II cartridges. The Merkur handle for them is weird as well - it's balanced funny and shaped funny, along with being very slippery. The adapters that come with it are pretty rinky-dink IMO. They're sort of plastic Rube Goldberg like devices that adapt to various cartridges.

There are tons of vintage handles... seems like everyone made a trac II style handle in the 80's - I see them on eBay - but the sellers never know what they are, so it just says "shaver" or "shave handle." Schick Super II is the same thing - so vintage Schick handles look good and work well also.

The nicest Trac II handle I've ever seen is one made for Ralph Lauren Safari it had a big thick handle like an HD...

 

[Macion grey]

Check out the Col Conk range of razor handles. I own the Chrome Teardrop, and love the weight and shape of the handle. Very nice, and bloody cheap really.

I personally love the Merkur Double Trac cartridges. The cleaning bar is clever, and I do not need any pressure to get a good shave. My beard is not ultra heavy though, so your mileage may vary of course.

 

[kingfisher]

Maybe Cooncat Bob should look into designing handles for Trac II, Atra, or Sensor blades. Now THAT would rock!

 

[ChrisG]

I ended up getting some Gillette Trac II blades and putting it on a Bump fighter handle, not a bad shave but this does have a bit of a learning curve as I didn't expect it to require blade angle like a DE. I also ordered an Atra blade and picked up a Sensor Excel at a local supermarket. I am going to go off of trial and era.

 

[lamina]

The all metal Merkur is nicer than any Atra or Trac II that Gillette ever made, IMHO.

IMHO i must disagree...It reminds me a camping stove i had once: first it was just the kerosene bottle and a burner.Then things were added: reducers and so on.I never had problems when it was just a burner, but with the updated stoves?!Always some flimsy piece broken or the fuel just didn't burnt and other similar issues.

Here same thing: why to complicate trying to get the best of both worlds? Atra and Trac on same handle?! I can see here too the flimsy piece or that plastic adapter dropped on the sink...ooopsiii.

No doubt about the handle alloy, even maybe made of solingen/swede steel but it ends with some cheapo' plastic kind of forks...or the flimsy piece,weak link.It reminds me that ole' lie on hat sizesne size fits all.

That said, why to buy an imitation if you could get the, nowadays, standard G' handle, pivoting or not, or just the handle who begins all this!!

 

[masonjarjar]

Wow, almost 2 pages without a thread-crap! We're evolving..

I use: Bump Fighter handle with Personna TracII's

20 year old all-metal Atra (with Personna "Auto's")

..and a Mach 3 on occasion (scored some carts for half price)

Actually I've been using the Mach 3 on my newly-shaven head.

However, I *gasp* bought an electric for my head for daily touch ups. The back of my head is just too bumpy and I can't bother my wife with shaving the back of my head every day...

 

[lamina]

There is only one Merkur razor who fits the Trac II blade, i think. Maybe it's just a matter of personal taste, but i prefer the original G' plastic handle over the Merkur steel handle...Recently i've seen a Trac II handle, light green on web.Nice too.