A rival for my Excel (Gillette Mach3 Razor)

Member Name: andycharger

Product:	Gillette Mach3 Razor
Date:	24/01/02 (213 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good quality shave

Disadvantages: Price of spare blades

Razors are very awkward things to get right when you are shopping for a new one.
If you have a trusted brand, you normally stick to it like a faithful dog for years. OK, you may try alternatives out when you need a shave quickly and have no blades left (enter the disposable) but you soon return.

I have found that Gillette seem to make the best quality razors. By this I mean they give you the closest shave without slicing your face to shreds.

The Excel has been a firm favourite for years but is now starting to lok dated compared to its more elegant and contoured rivals, of which I have tried. So I decided to give the New Mach 3 a try.
Basically, I am over the moon with my choice.
Why is this?
Design
------
It fits in the hand beautifully with a grip that feels so natural. No slippages here. No hacked faces covered in toilet paper going to work.
The head of the razor is almost parallel to the handle which assists in the gliding action across your face. Traditional shaped razors and even the Excel are angled which can lead to cuts if pressing to hard with a blunt blade.

Features
--------
2 blades are better than one, like on the Excel. Well with the Mach 3, 3 blades are better than 2! Yep, 3 of them to get real close and get the bits that the other 2 blades miss.
The soap strip along the top gives your face a real soft, soapy feel afterwards and has a handy Blue strip that runs through it. I gauge my blade change in this.
When the strip starts to fade,
its time to change the blade!
(poetry too today!)
I dont like the tray that comes with it though. Normally you can use them as an emergency mirror as they double up but this one is concave and makes you look like you are in the hall of mirrors. You cant see your face clearly enough to use it.

Performance
-----------
Wow! This cuts REAL close without cutting you. One thing that annoys me with multi blade
razors is their inclusion of the guard wires that prevent you cutting yourself. They also prevent you getting a close shave.
I used to have a wilkinson sword Protector that I can liken to this style of razor and it was hopeless for shaving close.
The blades actually stay quite sharp for a lot longer than my Excel. I think this is because the 3 blades doing the work distribute the work more evenly than the 2 of the Excel. More cuts for your money.

Price
-----
The big drawback of the Gillette range are the price of the replacement blades. Almost £6 for 5 blades is a lot of money when you can get 50 disposables for the same money.
The actual razor itself is only 3 or 4 pounds but for that you only get one blade. The tray that holds the razor also holds the spare blades in the back but its disappointing to get the razor home and find the empty box in the place of spare razors.

Extras
------
They do make a matching range of skin care products to use with your Mach 3. This includes a deodorant,Anti Perspirant, shavig Foam and gel. They even make a pleasant smelling facial lotion to put on after you have had your shave to replenish the lost moisture.

Overall
-------
Possibly the best shave on the market today alongside its Gillette Stablemate Excel. The only drawback is the price.

Summary: