Mergress or slant? What should I get?
- Thread starter ndwolfe
- Start date
They're both good. In my opinion, the Progress is better for me, and I rate it as the best adjustable I've used (including 1960's Fatboy). Mer's stainless knob is icing on the cake.
This is a good question. Been kind of wondering the same thing ... be interested to hear what others think as well.
I have both. I use both. Both are super razors, but for whatever reason, the slant seems to be my "go-to" razor. Whenever I use my Mergress though I wonder why I don't use it more often. It's a great razor.
The Mergress is a heavy solid razor that in many ways looks like a piece of jewelery while the slant looks like a tool from a workshop.
Because the Mergress is adjustable, it's possibly easier to use. You can dial it way down and get a mild shave or way up and get an extremely aggressive shave. The slant is not like that at all.
If you're obsessive about drying your blade between shaves, the Mergress really isn't that user friendly. You'll find yourself leaving the blade in the razor because of the way the razor is designed. The slant allows for easier blade removal. That's a minor minor point though.
I've come to really like the way that my slant works for me, but I've never been disappointed in the shave I get from my Mergress.
One thing to think about is this: if you get either one and the razor doesn't work out for you, there's ever chance you will be able to sell it on the BST for about what you paid for it. And so the experiment really won't be that costly one way or the other. I got both my slant and my Mergress that way. I got a discount of course, but it wasn't like I paid half of the cost of either razor.
Bottom line: both are great razors but you'll only know which works best once you try them.
The Mergress is a heavy solid razor that in many ways looks like a piece of jewelery while the slant looks like a tool from a workshop.
Because the Mergress is adjustable, it's possibly easier to use. You can dial it way down and get a mild shave or way up and get an extremely aggressive shave. The slant is not like that at all.
If you're obsessive about drying your blade between shaves, the Mergress really isn't that user friendly. You'll find yourself leaving the blade in the razor because of the way the razor is designed. The slant allows for easier blade removal. That's a minor minor point though.
I've come to really like the way that my slant works for me, but I've never been disappointed in the shave I get from my Mergress.
One thing to think about is this: if you get either one and the razor doesn't work out for you, there's ever chance you will be able to sell it on the BST for about what you paid for it. And so the experiment really won't be that costly one way or the other. I got both my slant and my Mergress that way. I got a discount of course, but it wasn't like I paid half of the cost of either razor.
Bottom line: both are great razors but you'll only know which works best once you try them.
- Thread starter
- #5
I don't know the model numbers sorry. I have a regular sized chrome slant.
The Mergress at about 2 shaves closely. At about 2 or 2.5 it's as close or closer than a slant. I generally use my Mergress at about 1.5 or 2. More than that I find it will cut me up a bit.
Both razors provide smooth close shaves. It's very easy to get DFS with the slant in two passes. The way the blade sits in the razor makes it cut very well. It's great on coarse beards and it's even better on coarse beards with sensitive skin. With a fresh Feather blade the slant feels like it doesn't have a blade in it at all it's that smooth. I haven't tried a Feather in my Mergress.
I generally do more passes with my Mergress. Maybe that's because I enjoy the feeling of it in my hand and maybe because I generally have it dialed in rather low.
The Mergress is an extremely nicely balanced razor with the short knob. The slant is a very light razor compared to the Mergress. They are very different.
The adjusting makes for a "fun factor" but I am a firm believer that the shaver makes the adjustments with blade angle and technique and the fact that the razor can change the angle of the blade is a bit gimmicky, but not entirely so. Call me crazy for picking the slant of the two.
I have never had a slant, and since having the progress converted to a mergress I probably never will. I love the adjustability of the mergress so I can tailor it to a milder quick shave routine or ratchet it up for a more time involved BBS shave. I have mostly quit using any other razor in rotation the mergress is that good. Buy what you like, and learn to use it well and enjoy.
Mike
Mike
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I have never been able to get a good shave with the slant on my upper lip. I can't apply any pressure wthout nicking myself, but I can never get close enough without a touch of pressure. I've tired of trying. The Mergress gives me the best shaves. I dial it down when I go ATG on my upper lip and never have a problem.
You can't get transferrable comparisons from others experience. I liked the slant, but with my favoured blades, it shaved smoothly, but irritated the hell out of me. I tried everyone's favourite 'smooth' combo of slant + feathers and ended up like Larry the Lobster. I liked the Progress, but some days I just get a harsh shave from it no matter what I do.
The 34C I can use day in and day out and get great results with. I sold everything I've tried except the 34C and a Futur, which I find way smoother than the Progress, despite the extra weight (or perhaps because of it).
The next guy will have a completely different opinion. No one can tell you what will work best for you, only what works for them.
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I have the Mergress XL.
I also have the Merkur 39C slant.
I prefer the Mergress.
Both shave very very well.
The Mergress is more versatile though.
I also have the Merkur 39C slant.
I prefer the Mergress.
Both shave very very well.
The Mergress is more versatile though.
