In brilliant marketing practice, Gillette sends free razors to young men turning 18 years old. I received a Sensor, Gillette’s latest offering at the time. Through the years and like many guys, I occasionally ‘upgraded’ my razor and/or cartridges as Gillette introduced new models. After the Sensor came the Sensor Excel. Then the Mach 3. Then the Mach 3 Turbo. Then I stopped due to the ever-increasing ridiculousness of the multi-blade one-upsmanship between razor brands. “Who the hell needs five fucking blades, for Christ’s sakes?” I thought.
Turns out I didn’t even need three. I made the switch back to the twin-blade Gillette Sensor Excel recently, and I couldn’t be happier.
First, the razor handle and cartridges are simple, utilitarian and look nice. No big honkin’ ‘ergonomic’ handles. No batteries or switches with which to turn your razor into a fucking vibrator. The Excel features only a simple, grippy, nicely weighted round handle, and a straightforward, low profile cartridge that actually allows you to see what the hell you’re doing.
Second, the shave is (wait for it…) excellent. Like really excellent. For years I figured I was getting superior shaves with various iterations of the Mach 3 because 1.) Gillette told me so, and 2.) more blades HAS to mean a better shave, right? So wrong. With decent technique, The Sensor Excel delivers unbeatable closeness. It’s also quite comfortable; though Gillette equates more blades with greater comfort, I have experienced much less irritation and fewer ingrown hairs (read: none) since coming back to the Excel.
Third, Sensor Excel cartridges are reasonably affordable compared to the the latest blades. A quick scan on the interweb indicates that a 4-pack of Fusion cartridges will set you back roughly 14 bones, or about $3.50 per cartridge. I picked up a 25-pack of Sensor Excel cartridges at Costco for around $30, or about $1.20 per. Do the math, kids – a Fusion cartridge is 292% more expensive.
Admittedly, I have never tried a Fusion. Don’t care to. Perhaps I’m missing the best cartridge shave of my life, but I doubt it. As was my experience with the Mach 3, more blades were not better, and I hear similar complaints from others about the 5-blade monstrosities out there. For me, I’ve got the Best a Man Can Get right in my bathroom cabinet, and she only sports a pair. I can’t recommend the Gillette Sensor Excel enough.
—Brent
2 Comments
April 7, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Well done, sir.
As a fella who started out with the Sensor and the Sensor Excel, I second this recommendation.
“No big honkin’ ‘ergonomic’ handles.”
Indeed.
April 14, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Amen Brothers!
I too used the Sensor for many years, then upgraded to the Sensor Excel. Both are twin blades, the Excel just has those fancy rubber “lifters” that “perk” up your facial hairs just before slicing them clean. Recently though, I’ve given up the rubber lifters and started buying the Kroger brand Sensor blades. They are very reasonably priced at $3 and change for a five-pack, and do the job in a very fine gentlemanly way.