I just got a Mergress and after experimenting, I realized what I think I like about it. Does the following make sense:
1) the head design really puts a lot of bend into the blade
2) the head design lacks slots to allow lather to escape as it glides over the skin
3) it has a narrow blade gap (I use it dialed all the way down), but the blade angle is average (not flat, so still feels more solid/aggressive than the mildest flatter angle razors)
The relatively severe bend in the blade seems to help increase smoothness, or blade stability / solid feeling, and allows for a lower handle angle (which just seems more stable to me). I have not encountered a razor that puts more bend into the blade than the Mergress/Progress - is there one?
#2 might seem like a flaw, since it makes clogging easier and you need to rinse the razor more frequently, but it seems to allow for easier blade buffing since it helps hold/spread lather and compliments the blade's steeper effective angle and solid feel, which when combined with the big blade bend, makes it really easy to gently clean up trouble spots.
On the mildest setting it can still get a quick smooth shave, in part because it can move relatively fast without risking much irritation or cuts (using red pack personna blades - smoothest I've found so far). The only thing I don't like is the blade loading alignment which requires a little attention to make sure it is loaded straight . . .
Are there any other really mild razors with as much or more blade bend - more than a Mergress on the mildest setting?
If I had to shave while half asleep, which sometimes happens, the Mergress on the mildest setting would be the default option (I have a DE89, an HD, and a slant also, but so far the Mergress edges them out for ease of use I think) . ..
1) the head design really puts a lot of bend into the blade
2) the head design lacks slots to allow lather to escape as it glides over the skin
3) it has a narrow blade gap (I use it dialed all the way down), but the blade angle is average (not flat, so still feels more solid/aggressive than the mildest flatter angle razors)
The relatively severe bend in the blade seems to help increase smoothness, or blade stability / solid feeling, and allows for a lower handle angle (which just seems more stable to me). I have not encountered a razor that puts more bend into the blade than the Mergress/Progress - is there one?
#2 might seem like a flaw, since it makes clogging easier and you need to rinse the razor more frequently, but it seems to allow for easier blade buffing since it helps hold/spread lather and compliments the blade's steeper effective angle and solid feel, which when combined with the big blade bend, makes it really easy to gently clean up trouble spots.
On the mildest setting it can still get a quick smooth shave, in part because it can move relatively fast without risking much irritation or cuts (using red pack personna blades - smoothest I've found so far). The only thing I don't like is the blade loading alignment which requires a little attention to make sure it is loaded straight . . .
Are there any other really mild razors with as much or more blade bend - more than a Mergress on the mildest setting?
If I had to shave while half asleep, which sometimes happens, the Mergress on the mildest setting would be the default option (I have a DE89, an HD, and a slant also, but so far the Mergress edges them out for ease of use I think) . ..
