How much do you have to spend to get a good razor? Not necessarily a lot, judging by the results of a new test from the Swiss magazine K-Tipphosted together with the television broadcast Kassensturz.
The testers compared 10 men’s manual razors, evaluating the quality of the shave, the risk of irritation and the ease of use. And this is precisely where the surprise comes: if it is true that first place went to the most expensive model, several much cheaper razors also achieved excellent results, demonstrating the fact that spending more does not always guarantee a better shave.
Then there is an aspect that is often overlooked at the time of purchase, but which weighs heavily on the wallet: the cost of replacement blades, which with daily use can increase the overall expense well beyond the initial price of the razor. For this reason, the choice should not only be based on the cost of the handle, but also on how much you will spend over time to keep it functioning.
It should be noted that the test concerned products sold in Switzerland, so not all models can also be found in Italian shops. However, some brands, such as Gillette and BIC, are also present in our country, and therefore the results can also offer useful information for those who purchase here. So let’s see which razors performed best and what emerged from the comparison.
The best razors in the test
Taking first place is the Gillette ProGlide, which with 5.5 points out of 6 obtained the only “very good” rating of the entire test. The testers rewarded it above all for the precision of the shave and the delicacy on the skin, qualities that derive from a five-blade model with an articulated head and lubricating strip, designed to follow the contours of the face.
Its weak point, however, emerges when purchasing refills: in Switzerland the initial set cost 18.95 francs, but a single replacement blade cost almost 5 francs. According to the calculations of K-Tippthose who shave every day and change the head every five days can end up spending around 350 francs a year just for the blades, a figure that weighs a lot when compared to that of the cheaper alternatives.
And it is precisely among the cheaper alternatives that the best surprises are found, even if they are products linked to Swiss distribution and therefore cannot be purchased in Italy. The Shave System by I am Men, a brand of the Migros chain, obtained 5.3 points out of 6, just a whisker away from the winner, with heads costing 1.24 francs each: replacing them every five days costs around 89 francs a year, around 260 less than the ProGlide.
Lacura Men by Aldi and Matrix 3 Perform by Well Men, a brand of the Swiss chain Coop, also performed well, both with 5 points out of 6 and refills costing just 83 franc cents per blade, although there were some reservations: the Coop razor wasn’t entirely convincing on the chin and neck, while with the Aldi one the testers reported a slight burning sensation and a few small cuts.
Those who want to orient themselves on the Italian market can instead count on various models that have achieved good results. In addition to the Gillette ProGlide, winner with 5.5 points, the Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5 Blade Skin Hydration stands out, which with 5.4 points placed second, just one step below first.
The BIC Hybrid Flex 5 and the Gillette Mach3, both present in Italy, follow on equal merit, with 5.2 points and a good rating.
Finally, there is a reassuring fact regarding an element common to almost all heads: the lubricating strips, which serve to make the razor slide better on the skin. The laboratory analyzed them for 28 substances, including perfumes and preservatives, potentially responsible for allergies, skin rashes or irritations, and found none in the products examined. This naturally does not exclude individual reactions, but it is an encouraging result for the components analyzed.
How the test was conducted
To make the comparison, K-Tipp and transmission Kassensturz have selected ten manual razors among the best-selling in Switzerland, entrusting them to the SGS Fresenius institute in Wörgl, Austria.
Ten men between 18 and 65 years old, with normal or full beards, tried them. Participants shaved daily under expert supervision, using a different razor on each half of their face. To make the comparison impartial, the brands were covered and the products distributed in random order. They all used the same shaving cream, Nivea Sensitive.
The evaluation took three aspects into consideration: quality of the shave, which accounted for 60% of the final judgment; gentle on the skin, with a weight of 35%; and ease of use, which accounted for the remaining 5%. In parallel, a laboratory examined the lubricating strips for 28 potentially problematic substances.
