Travel Tech vs. Merkur HD

[FL shaver]

I won an eBay auction for a Gillette Travel Tech in pretty good condition, if the pics are any indication. I'm putting together a DE travel kit and I'm going to include this razor. Any thoughts on how the shave might compare with my Merkur 34C? I'm searching the archives now....

 

[Go West Young Man]

Techs are much lighter and milder, so you'll get an easier shave with less irritation, but the trade-off is that you may need more passes and more work to get to the same level of clean-shaven.

 

[FL shaver]

Thanks.

I'm also wondering about the B code on the back of the razor. It could mean the razor is from 1956 or 1981. Would there be any other indication of the age of this razor?

 

[Go West Young Man]

According to the wiki techs were made only through 1973, so that B means your razor is from 1956.

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/US_Gillette_Dating_Information

 

[FL shaver]

I didn't pick up on that. Thanks!

 

[FL shaver]

Received my travel razor today. Small and light. Gonna try one shave with it tonight to see how it works and throw it in the travel bag for vacation. The letter code on it is actually an S, so it is newer than I thought it would be, and it is a cleaner razor than pictured on eBay. Looking forward to trying it!

 

[Den]

I have never tried the HD. I have a Fatboy, SS and a couple of Techs. The Techs are my favs.

 

[xjrob85]

I have a travel Tech, but I don't like it much due to its short handle. I used it once, and actually had a hard time holding on to it, and maneuvering it. When I travel I prefer one of those German travel razors with the longer two-piece handles.

 

[FL shaver]

Hey! It wasn't too bad. I made myself wait until all work was done for the day, showered with some Savon de Marseilles, threw a Crystal blade in it, and shaved with Proraso. It does feel gimmicky and toyish, and I had to take a couple of swipes before I got the angle right and removed something other than cream, but it is an effective razor. As noted above, it is milder than the HD, and it certainly doesn't have the weight of it, but I see myself using it on this summer's vacation!

 

[dpm802]

I don't put much stock into so-called travel razors ... they tend to be too small and lightweight for my tastes. And unless you're travelling up in the Space Shuttle, they don't save you a lot of size and weight as compared to their full-sized counterparts.

If you like the 34C, take it with you when you travel. Keep the Travel Tech as a collectible.

 

[Eman]

I am a sucker for travel razors I just think they are cool. I do use mine sometimes when I travel, the small handle takes some getting use to but it can give a nice mild shave. You may have to make more passes but it still will give a decent shave. Try paring it with a Simpson Wee Scott, that would make a neat little travel set.

 

[FL shaver]

Simpson Wee Scott, eh.....?

Searching!

 

[FL shaver]

Ahhh. A little travel brush. Ok!