How good is the Gillette Mach3 razor? Can it hold up against some strong competitors? Those are the questions this Gillette Mach3 review has been written to answer, so read on!
Comparison Table
What Is The Gillette Mach3?
Photo by Patrick Coddou on Unsplash
The Gillette Mach3 is one in a long line of cartridge razors produced by one of the oldest names in men’s shaving: the Gillette Company. The Gillette Company was formed in 1901 when King C. Gillette invented the safety razor. Prior to that time, the only way men could get a close shave was by using a straight razor. The advent of Gillette’s blade on a handle had two distinct advantages over the straight razor: it was easier to control, resulting in fewer nicks and cuts, and it was easy to replace when it got dull. No more sending your straight razor to the barber for sharpening! Gillette’s credo was, “There is a better way to shave, and we will find it!” Today, the Gillette Company is owned by the multinational Procter & Gamble (P&G) corporation, which maintains two research and development centers: one in Boston and the other in Reading, UK. The Gillette Mach3 was developed at the Boston R&D center.
This Gillette Mach3 review continues with a discussion of the razor itself. There are multiple versions of the Mach3: the Mach3 Turbo, which adds a diamond-like coating to the blades to get more wear resistance; the Mach3 Sensitive, which adds even more anti-slip resistance to the handle and has a skin guard between the blades to minimize tug and pull; the Mach3 Start which has the same added anti-slip resistance as the Mach3 Sensitive, and the Mach3 Power Nitro which is a battery-powered vibrating thicker handle.
We’ll be concentrating on the non-powered Mach3.
Product Specs
Photo by Patrick Coddou on Unsplash
This section of the Gillette Mach3 review will center on the razor’s specifications. Gillette put a lot of work into the design in order to give the smoothest, most comfortable shave a man can get. It has been reported that Gillette spent $750 million in research and development costs to create the Mach3. We’ll start by dividing the product into two parts: handle and blade cartridge.
Handle
Gillette wanted to produce a handle with features that would make it unmatched in shaving. They designed the handle to balance the weight of the cartridge to provide the smoothest shave. Gillette designed the handle to have a non-skid surface with ridges that help keep the razor from slipping when your hand is wet. They also designed it to be easy to hold, regardless of the size of the hand gripping it.
Cartridge
The real genius of the Gillette Mach3 razor lies in the cartridge. The cartridge contains three blades, the lower two of which are extra sharp. They make the blades of carbide steel, so called because it is an alloy of steel and tungsten carbide. The carbide steel makes the blades last longer. Gillette engineered the Mach3 cartridge to last at least 15 shaves without needing to be replaced.
There are two strips, one above and one below the three blades in the cartridge. The lubrication strip is at the top and helps the razor glide smoothly over your face’s skin, while the microfin skin guard at the bottom of the cartridge helps to pull the skin taught to make your whiskers stand up, providing a closer shave with fewer passes over your face.
All Mach3 blade cartridges are interchangeable between the various models of the Gillette Mach3.
Pricing
The Gillette Mach3 shaving system, which contains the handle and one blade cartridge, can be purchased for around $7. Refill cartridges can be purchased in packs of four for around $8, or in packs of fifteen for around $25.
Gillette Mach3 Review – How It Compares
For our Gillette Mach3 review comparison, we picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare.
- Schick Hydro 5 Razor
- Dorco Pace 6 Plus Razor
- SWIPE Premium Razors
Gillette Mach3 Razor
Flexibility
The number of options available for those with a different beard and facial skin types makes this razor extremely flexible.
Blades
The two micro-fine blades help you get a close shave, while the diamond-like coating on the Mach3 Turbo blades makes them as long-lasting as any on the market.
Lubrication
Lubrication strips always seem to wear out before the blades do. This is a problem with all such razors.
Grip
The Gillette Mach3’s grip is ergonomically designed, non-slip, and well balanced.
Comfort
The razor is comfortable and easy to use, but the extra-sharp blades may cause skin irritation. Those users should opt for the Mach3 Sensitive.
Performance
The performance of the razors in the Mach3 series is at the top of the list in overall performance.
Schick Hydro 5 Razor
Schick is one of Gillette’s oldest competitors. The Schick Hydro 5 Razor was designed around the idea that if three blades is good, then five blades should be better. Not necessarily. More blades mean more chance for irritation.
The Hydro 5 has five blades, with skin guards between them (which it needs). The Hydro 5 has seven gel pools that provide moisturizing for up to one hour after the shave is done.
Unlike the Gillette Mach3, the basic system includes both the handle and 15 cartridges.
Flexibility
The handle is stiffer and not as well balanced as the Mach3.
Blades
The five-blade system, even with the gel packs and skin guards, is more prone to irritate those with sensitive skin.
Lubrication
The gel packs provide both immediate and ongoing lubrication and moisturizing.
Grip
The grip is sure and non-slip. The handle is well designed.
Comfort
Prone to skin irritation on more sensitive faces, as noted above.
Performance
Not quite up to the Mach3’s overall performance and optional cartridges.
Dorco Pace 6 Plus Razor
Dorco is the primary razor supplier to the Dollar Shave Club. Dorco saw Schick’s five blades and raised them one! The Pace 6 is named after the six blades the system has. The Pace 6 comes in two versions: either disposable razors or cartridges to fit other Dorco handles.
Dorco Pace 6 replacement cartridges come in packs of four, with three 4-packs.
Flexibility
The stiffer handles of the Dorco system reduces flexibility.
Blades
The six blades (Dorco now also produces the ‘Pace 7’ – guess the number of blades?) are sure to cause more irritation. The rating would be lower, but Dorco patented an angulated blade platform that keeps the razor from filling up with shaving detritus, which makes the blades last longer.
Lubrication
If you think a lubrication strip containing Vitamin E, Aloe and Lavender is just a marketing gimmick, then you won’t like the Pace 6’s lubrication strip.
Grip
A good, basic handle without a lot of bells and whistles.
Comfort
Those with sensitive skin should probably consider other alternatives, but if you have normal skin, you should be OK.
Performance
The head is wider than either the Mach3 or the Hydro 5, making it a little more difficult to get in tight places.
SWIPE Premium Razors
SWIPE makes two Premium Razors: one with three blades and one with six. They are a low-cost alternative to the other razors compared here.
Flexibility – 3 Stars
The SWIPE razors come with a standard plastic handle that is fairly stiff.
Blades
The blades are made of stainless steel instead of carbide steel, so they wear out more frequently.
Lubrication
The SWIPE comes with a standard lubrication strip.
Grip
The SWIPE’s grip is serrated, which gives it non-slip properties
Comfort
The blades don’t stay sharp as long as other razors in its class, and the 6-blade version can cause irritation.
Performance
It is a good razor if the price is your prime objective, but it just doesn’t hold up to the performance of either the Schick or the Gillette.
Conclusion
In our Gillette Mach3 review, the battle of the blades anointed the winner as the Gillette Mach3 family of products. There’s something there for everyone, and the system’s performance is outstanding.