I've had my fair share of Fatboys, Slims, and Super Adjustables. I love the Gillette adjustables, there's nothing like them and they will become more popular with time. However, ever since I started wet-shaving I was intrigued with the Progress and it's custom brother, the Mergress. I wanted a Mergress for the longest time. Time went on and I've amassed enough razors to shave with a different one each day for almost two months. I don't have a "real" collection but more like eye-candy to look at and admire when I'm in my den. Most of my razors are oldies and I like the vintage Gillette styles from a bygone era. There's a congruency in their look. Though I've had and enjoyed an R41 and R89 I sold them because they're easier to come by if I wanted one. Some of the Gillettes are getting rare and expensive to buy.
I had the recent opportunity to either choose a Futur, Progress, or Mergress. Though my instinct was to go for the Futur, the look and lack of "mild" setting kind of made me resist.
I was ready to pull the trigger on a Mergress but then I became charmed with the old classic Merkur design of the Progress. What once turned me off (the ivory dial) now became a classic look that would fit in with the rest of my old-time gang.
Now that we've gotten the superficial reasons for why I got the Progress lets get into the meaty part.
The Progress is hefty, well balanced, and extremely versatile in its adjustment settings. Crank it up to 5 (or unscrew it close to when the head cap is free) and it's crazy aggressive more so than a Gillette adjustable. Dial it down to 1 and it's as smooth and mild as a Super Adjustable in its lowest setting.
It took me some practice to find the correct angle of attack. If the R41 has a shallow angle, the Progress is the opposite of that, it kind of feels like I'm putting a hoe to my face but it feels oddly right.
I've started with a high setting, dialed down to 3 and finished on 1 and I've gotten a really close shave. It also amplifies a blade's personality. An Astra felt smooth and relatively sharp, a Yellow felt really sharp and a Red felt smooth and but not very sharp.
I've had no issues with holding it or it being too slippery but I admit that I hold it closer to the knob. One of my favorite things with this razor is shaving ATG. The razor feels right in place and is nicely balanced shaving ATG. The only razor that comes close to having this wonderful balance during this pass is the Aristocrat#16.
I'm very happy with this new addition and I've shaved 5 consecutive days with it, more than I have with a single one in over a year. Yes, I'm liking it.
Is it better than the Fatboy? "Better" is not the right word and nothing can substitute that substantial feel and look of an American made grooming tool.
I had the recent opportunity to either choose a Futur, Progress, or Mergress. Though my instinct was to go for the Futur, the look and lack of "mild" setting kind of made me resist.
I was ready to pull the trigger on a Mergress but then I became charmed with the old classic Merkur design of the Progress. What once turned me off (the ivory dial) now became a classic look that would fit in with the rest of my old-time gang.
Now that we've gotten the superficial reasons for why I got the Progress lets get into the meaty part.
The Progress is hefty, well balanced, and extremely versatile in its adjustment settings. Crank it up to 5 (or unscrew it close to when the head cap is free) and it's crazy aggressive more so than a Gillette adjustable. Dial it down to 1 and it's as smooth and mild as a Super Adjustable in its lowest setting.
It took me some practice to find the correct angle of attack. If the R41 has a shallow angle, the Progress is the opposite of that, it kind of feels like I'm putting a hoe to my face but it feels oddly right.
I've started with a high setting, dialed down to 3 and finished on 1 and I've gotten a really close shave. It also amplifies a blade's personality. An Astra felt smooth and relatively sharp, a Yellow felt really sharp and a Red felt smooth and but not very sharp.
I've had no issues with holding it or it being too slippery but I admit that I hold it closer to the knob. One of my favorite things with this razor is shaving ATG. The razor feels right in place and is nicely balanced shaving ATG. The only razor that comes close to having this wonderful balance during this pass is the Aristocrat#16.
I'm very happy with this new addition and I've shaved 5 consecutive days with it, more than I have with a single one in over a year. Yes, I'm liking it.
Is it better than the Fatboy? "Better" is not the right word and nothing can substitute that substantial feel and look of an American made grooming tool.
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I started the other way and ended with the Fatboy and the Slim. The circle is closed either way.
) 
