Travel Double Edge Safety Razor Showdown Gillette Tech, Merkur 45C, Parker A1R

[@CaptainGrims]

I love how vocal Parkers tend to be. Every time I try a new one of their razors, I'm always pleasantly surprised that I'm getting shaves that good from razors at those prices. It does make it difficult for me to justify more expensive razors.

[@Juraberg]

Very good comparison! I am glad I took the right decision. Last week I went into travel razors and eventually opted for the Parker, mainly because of the longer handle and the handy leather pouch. Regards from Switzerland, Patrick

[@TitoCeccherini]

hi Matt! thanks for another nice video. I know travel razors by Gillette and by Merkur constructed the same way as the Parker you're showing, I believe this deserves to be noticed.

[@itoldjaso]

I had the Merkur bakelite travel razor------It's a 3-piece version of the standard 2-piece 34--------The head angles down on a more severe angle, though, and since it's got more blade exposure, it gives a more aggressive shave than the 34--------That said, the only metal parts are the brass screws used to secure the blade to the top piece to the head--------After several uses, the screws came unglued during the shave, causing the blade to shift position-------I've since re-glued the screws into position, but for safety's sake, I bought the Merkur 4-piece travel razor------It comes disassembled in a leather pouch-----2-piece handle-----The pouch fits easily into a shirt or trouser pocket, but since it's metal, I'd feel better storing it in the cargo bin of an airplane, rather than carry-on.

[@ozzlayer]

I have the Parker travel and i use it to shave my head. Great product

[@johnfregeau8981]

You mentioned that the Gillette travel razors can be found in pouches (I have one with a razor with a brass handle and an etched head, and the kit comes with nail clippers and other grooming tools). I've also seen them in decorative boxes. Do you know if the travel kits were made by Gillette or by a third party that contracted with Gillette to supply the razor? Thanks. Great video. I always wondered how these razors compared with each other.

[@RazorEmporium]

3rd party

[@efcs1]

Another fine video. Thank you for the unbiased comparison.

[@Sierra-xi2ty]

Awesome job. Getting the Parker today.

[@ianmuessig]

Cool video. The travel tech makes a fantastic head shaver

[@toddf9321]

Hi Matt! Nice job with the comparisons. I have the travel Tech, but found the pre-war Fat handle Tech works better. However, if we stay with the travel razor theme, the Parker would be the better choice. Finally, a Schick Krona razor makes for a nice travel razor as well. Take care.

[@johnrandle8365]

You can use the tech with long handle I LIKE the way you can get under the nose keep on shaving whatever you use.

[@johnfregeau8981]

The brass ball end replica handle from Razor Emporium also works well with the tech heads.

[@justlance9261]

I have been thinking about picking up a dedicated travel razor, and after this video, I think I might go with the Parker; BTW, great video Matt, I always enjoy the videos that you, and Douglas put out.

[@jimi88]

The Parker a1r was super cool.

[@RecicledCanadian]

I have never understood the theory that weight of a razor works for your shave. When you hold a razor vertically to the ground the gravity does not work in direction of your face( unless you are lying down) and when you shave your neck grvity(weight of the razor) works against the surface you are shaving. Is it correct?. Never less, great video. Thank you for sharing.👍👍👍

[@jeremyhinze8837]

That little tech is neat I just found a small little razor in the wild yesterday cant identify it yet only marking is made in germany under the top cap 3 piece the head similar to a tech very skinny handle any idea where i could look?

[@RazorEmporium]

The Safety Razor Compendium is always a great first place to start. You can download the ebook from our site! www.razoremporium.com/safety-razor-compendium-by-robert-waits/

[@jeremyhinze8837]

RazorEmporium awsome! Thanks had a great day in the wild..up here in ontario canada usually dont have great luck but today happy to say found couple open comb ball end old types and a super 89 adjustable all in excellent working order...and thanks to "id lather be shaving" I look for old aftershaves and found a prime bottle of hai karate....yay!!!

[@michaelz7683]

I learned how to use a safety razor with a travel tech

[@edwardmiles6513]

It would be interesting to see a playoff comparison between the Parker A1R and the Pearl travel razor. Each comes in the same small pouch, which, for the Pearl at least, has room for a pack of blades, but which I've replaced by a Tech razor head (which could as well be one of the innumerable Tech knock-offs currently available, all of which fit the Pearl's handle). The Peal's pretty aggressive, and this provides a choice of aggressiveness on the road. FWIW, I've found the Merkur Red & Black to be more aggressive than the Tech, but this may result from the R&B's unusually sharply arched head, which can change one's angle perspective. FWIW yet further, my experience is that it's irrelevant how light or heavy a razor is so long as muscle memory tells one what is correct pressure to keep the blade on the beard without the stubble pushing the razor back and not cut sufficiently. I'm not sure that learning double edge shaving with a heavy razor teaches this muscle memory as much as it is reputed to. Also, I have a Tech travel razor, and at first found it cumbersome to use, but after one or two shaves the shortness of the handle didn't matter at all. Anyway, thanks for the videos, and the services of Razor Emporium (which, I may be using in the next few months: I'm contemplating a selfie Christmas present).

[@MarmaladeStex]

I Need Help/Info Please!, I am from the UK & I seem to remember these Blue Fold up/Travel Razors which I think may have been a Gillette Promotional Product!, It used to Fold into a Plastic Square Shape which could be carried in Pockets & Unfolded & Clipped together to form a Razor, Can anybody else remember them with more Info Please?, I think they were about in the 1990's!, Thanks & Take Care!, M.S.1591.

[@davidpackkard3354]

*Great video Matt! **_Thanks._*

[@davidpackkard3354]

A quick question if I may. I see lots of retailers, on the internet, refer to the *“Merkur Bakelite razor”* as the *“45C”.* I was under the impression that the letter after the two digit number referred to the metal of the razor _e.g. 34C for chrome and 34G for gold._ I have huge respect for your knowledge of razors so I thought I’d check with you. I always learn so much from your videos. Thanks again and keep them coming!

[@markdiluciano8432]

I prefer to travel with my slim or fatboy in a leather case. This way I can adjust the aggressiveness based on my face each day.

[@paullemay3218]

Thank you for sharing 😎🇨🇦

[@MrUlski]

I went with a normal Edwin Jagger with the Mühle plastic head guard. The amount of space/ weight you save compared to a dedicated travel razor is not worth it for me.

[@SeanDennis81]

Would love to hear how u think i might be able to improve my vids!

[@abrahamchapman]

No one should take a real razor with them when traveling. Airlines have huge exceptions for what they'll cover in terms of lost or damaged luggage, like jewelry, laptops, and antiques. They'll call any old razor an antique, so it's reckless to take any of those. New razors like the Parker, Merkur, and Edwin Jagger have a better chance of being covered, but if it's and expensive razor that you like, why risk it? Any yes, there are other forms of travel other than air, but travel always comes with risk of lost or damaged luggage. If there is a decent disposable single edge razor that you like, like the BIC, take one of those. If it gets lost or damaged, who cares? It's a disposable BIC. If the BIC is not for you, get a Dorco PL602. Yes, it is a dollar store plastic DE razor, but that's the point. One can put any DE blade into the PL602, there is bound to be a blade that will make the PL602 good enough for one's needs. The loss is greater than lossing a BIC, but it's still under $2.

[@MrUlski]

abrahamchapman you could just pack it in your cabin bag if that is allowed - that way it is less likely to get lost. of course you'll need to check-in the blades

[@abrahamchapman]

Thanks for the tip. That said, think long and hard about the razor you intend to travel with. For that matter, also think long and hard about everything you intend to travel with. Luggage is all packed up and ready to be lost, damaged, or stolen. Someone can just pick it up and walk away with it. I travel with almost nothing of value. It's as simple as that. If I lose a suitcase, it's annoying but not the end of the world. I sleep better at night by not bringing important things with me.

[@MrUlski]

abrahamchapman I have bought a 30euro razor and a camera worth 300euro and a mobile phone worth more . The 30euro razor is not something I lose sleep over if it go missing

[@abrahamchapman]

MrUlski Some razors are easily more than $200 USD. Others are completely irreplaceable. The Travel Tech is a hard-to-find collector's item. Imagine losing that. I do not know who you are or what you do. Maybe you are a camera man taking professional photos or making films. In that case your equipment is expensive, but not irreplaceable. Equipment insurance is a part of the job, and tax deductible, so one takes the necessary risks to get the shots that bring in a paycheck. That you take your main smartphone with you while traveling is puzzling. Yes, with all the photos and data backed up online, a smartphone is completely replaceable. But even with insurance, it is still not a good idea. For most Americans rates for international calls are insane. It's always far wiser to buy a cheap 'burner' phone at one's destination than it is to bring a smartphone while traveling outside of the US or Canada. Gillette does not make DE razors anymore, at least not real ones; I doubt the three-piece Gillette 7o'Clock razor is even made by Gillette, is far more likely made by someone else under a Gillette branding licence, and in either case is too cheap to count as a real razor. Travel Tech razors are definitely not being made anymore. While used Travel Techs can be replated and used today, and, with much time and effort can, for the time being, be replaced with someone else's Travel Tech, YOUR grandfather's Travel Tech can NEVER be replaced, only substituted with someone else's grandfather's Travel Tech. Even with the same date code, it will never be the same. And as the years go by, and more and more Travel Tech razors get lost or damaged, eventually Travel Tech razors will become effectively irreplaceable. You want to lose $50 USD on a disappearing Edwin Jagger or Parker? Fine. You want to lose $100 on a Merkur or Rockwell adjustable, also fine. These are still being made today. The only loss is your money. Maybe $100 is nothing to you, but in the US people work all day and don't that much. For someone who spent years saving up for an overseas experience, $100s of dollars in lost luggage is a big deal.

[@MrUlski]

abrahamchapman I wrote that I bring a 30euro razor. this stuff about bringing a 200$ razor is something you talk about - not me

[@ardvarkkkkk1]

At that rate, it must take you forever to shave.