Gillette New - long or short comb?

[Nils]

I'm planning to buy one of Cooncatbob's lovely razors, but I can't make up my mind on the head. Are long or short combs preferable? I have no experience with the New head, so expert advice is most welcome. To give you a benchmark: The Merkur open comb and the Futur @ 3 are my go-to razors.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

I like the short comb best.

 

[Den]

I only have the long combs, but wouldn't they shave about the same? How could a couple of millimeters extra length on the part of the combs that doesn't even touch your skin make a difference?

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

I only have the long combs, but wouldn't they shave about the same? How could a couple of millimeters extra length on the part of the combs that doesn't even touch your skin make a difference?

Ofcourse very much YMMV, I have them both, have tried them both and like the short comb best.

 

[cooncatbob]

I only have the long combs, but wouldn't they shave about the same? How could a couple of millimeters extra length on the part of the combs that doesn't even touch your skin make a difference?

There's more difference to the heads then just comb length.
The short comb base plate weighs 18.1 grams, while the long comb base plate weighs 15 grams.

 

[nEver-Ready]

I like the short comb best.

Agree.

 

[Nils]

Well, I was too impatient to wait and have just ordered the short comb. Bob's information about the weight reassured me, since I adhere to the "heavier is better" creed as far as razors are concerned.
Thank you all for your input!

 

[Den]

Thanks for clarifying the difference. I had no idea. Now I want a NEW short comb head. This thread was a trap wasn't it?

 

[Sledgehammer39]

I have used both the Long and Short comb NEW. I like the short comb personally. I find that the difference for me is that the short comb seems just a bit more aggressive than the long comb. Of course YMMV applies here. You can't go wrong with either one, or both.

 

[BadgerOne8oh]

If you have a good technique, go for the short comb.

 

[ShavinBacon]

I have only tried the long comb and find it a bit mild (YMMV). I am still wanting to pick up a short comb to see if I can tell the difference.

 

[M80]

I like the long comb best.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

There's more difference to the heads then just comb length.
The short comb base plate weighs 18.1 grams, while the long comb base plate weighs 15 grams.

Thanks Bob. That would explain things. I remember one of the engineers on the board made a very good posting about aggressiveness. With his model he came to the conclusion that the short comb would be less aggressive than the long comb, tho most users said it was the other way around. But he assumed the head was identical, apart from the teeth of course. Now it is clear that the heads are not identical, and that there really is a difference other than the teeth.

 

[GarageBoy]

Long comb is the latest iteration? (Coat hanger type)