alright, I did a quick search and didn’t find anything, but forgive me if I’m an idiot and missed a thread that was exactly this.
That said, I think I need a new razor. I currently own a Mach 3, have owned it since Gilette decided they wanted me to have one and sent it to me for free when the thing first came out (great marketing, by the way, as I’ve purchased blades for it ever since). Anyway, now i live in Japan and finding blades for the thing is possible but kinda hard to find. I’m on my last blade currently and am wondering if I should upgrade.
So, Gilette Fusion? Fusion Power? Does that battery and vibration even do anything other than massage your sense of self-worth? Do 5 blades constitute the ultimate in 21st century shaving experiences? I mean, what am I missing out on here?
I have a beard that I (obviously) shave around/shape, but does that little single blade on the back even do anything? I don’t exactly have much trouble managing any “precision” with 3 blades.
er yea, boil it down to basically should I stick with my Mach 3 or get a Fusion or Power Fusion? Or is there some other razor filled with more awesomeness that should be considered?
I use the Fusion Power and think that the vibration does help. Note that while they do sell blades specifically for the Fusion Power razor, I don’t believe they are any different from the ones sold for the unpowered version, aside from the colors. So you can save a bit by buying the regular blades.
I have the regular Fusion, and though I never would have believed it, I have NEVER gotten such a consistenly smooth shave for such a long time with any other razor. For whatever reason my skin is prone to getting nicked while shaving, but with the Fusion, I think I cut myself ONCE in almost 2 years. What’s more, the blades seem to last an impressively long time.
I’ve got a Fusion Mach 3 and while I don’t think the vibration improves my shave much (if at all) the Blades do last for ages and, best of all, I get a super-smooth shave out of them.
I shave electrically every day of the week, except Monday - because I do not shave at all in the weekend. For the Monday I have upgraded from mach 3 to fusion early this year, and I like it. More smooth, better result. And no cuts at all (although rare with mach3 I did get occasionally small bleeds).
Hi-diddly-ho, neighborino! Just so happens my town borders Toyama-ken. I was in your town shopping for PCs not too long ago.
I definitely like my Mach 3 Power better than my non-vibrating Mach 3. I’ve considered upgrading to the Fusion Power, but there is a Niigata drug store chain, Kusuri no Kodama, that stocks them. I pass by one on my way home from work, so it’s always been pretty easy for me to pick them up.
I’m sorry I can’t help you with the 5 vs 3 debate, but, as gimmicky as the vibrating blade is, it just feels nice. I also notice that I cut myself less with the vibrating blade than with the non-vibrating one.
I bought the vibrating wonder blade a couple years ago (before the Fusion) and I have yet to replace the battery. Of course, I haven’t the world’s fastest-growing or fullest facial hair, so I only shave every 3 days or so, so YMMV.
Personally, I have never been able to buy anything other than a Gillette. Maybe I’d feel guilty because, after all, they did send me that lovely 18th birthday present all those years ago.
I love the vibrating blade. It makes shaving a completely different experience.
I think the biggest difference between the razors is that between vibrating and non-vibrating. I had a Mach 3 power for the longest time, then tried the Fusion power. To be honest, I think I liked the shave of the M3 Power a little more. And a nice advantage of that razor is that you can use the old Mach 3 blades in it, which are now getting quite cheap.
This. This is a great point. I, too, have noticed that our good lords and masters at the Procter and Gamble corporation (may they reign forever, Og willing) have, in their benevolence and grace, decided to standardize their blade cartridges. I may never forget the day when I accidentally bought the wrong cartridges and discovered that they popped onto my shavin’ stick just as well as anything else.
wow, you’re like an hour away from me by train. We should get together for a beer sometime. Toyama can be pretty boring, though there are a few good bars that I hit (and know the masters of by now, hehe) How’s Itoigawa? I’ve only really been through Niigata taking a shinkansen back here from Tokyo.
Anyway, thanks for the input guys. I’ll definitely be picking up a Fusion Power whenever my current blade craps out on me
Beers are good things. Itoigawa is pretty rural compared to Toyama City, but we also have some really nice bars, the sea, mountains, skiing, the Salt Road, onsen out the wahoo, amazing rice (and nihonshu), and the only significant source of jade in the nation. It’s quite a change from Tokyo living, but I think I like living out here in the sticks more.
MORE rural than Toyama City? Sheesh, this place is sugoi inaka! (for you non-nihongo speakin dopers, that means very countryside!). We got a few onsen and some great rice and nihonshu as well, though I’m honeslty more of a beer/whisky guy over nihonshu, that shit gives me a wicked hangover if I get too drunk on it. @Half Man Half Wit: yes indeed, I’m still waiting for the 10-blade whirly-bird style razor that simply removes the top layer of skin from your entire head. who needs hair?!
I prefer the shave of the Mach 3 over the Fusion, personally.
Granted, I only recently learned that the “moisturizer strip” is a planned obsolescence indicator, so I basically kept using a blade until it was visibly rusty or felt like a handful of lathe turnings. Hell, half the time I didn’t even bother using the handle-thingy and just held the replaceable tips themselves. I also don’t use shaving cream or anything other than warm water.
The only time I’ve used a Power version was a Fusion. It was a really nice shave, but I also had a brand new tip… they’re actually pretty nice until the blades start clogging. I don’t know if that positive experience was the vibrating or the new blade. YMMV
Yes, more rural than Toyama City. Itoigawa has more land area than Toyama-shi, but a fraction of the population (50,000ish). I can’t complain though, my apartment is within 15 minutes on foot of three different supermarkets. (five minutes to the closest) I’m down the street from a convenience store. I’m also only about 15 minutes from the nearest station. We have a couple decent home electronics stores and a Shimamura. Not to mention all of the bars and (local!) restaurants. I never really have to leave town if I don’t want to.
I have a very heavy beard.
I have gone from a Mach 3 to a Mach 3 power to a Fusion power.
Each one was a huge improvement over the previous razor.
A while back, the battery went dead on my Fusion. The shave became noticeably less comfortable.
