Travel Products - Straight razor ye or ne?

guys

i hate buying disposable razors on a trip and have a fantastic mercur straight razor. Basically, it uses old style blades. Can I have this in carry-on (the blade would be inside the straight razor)

Just search google images for 'merkur straight razor' to see what it looks like

thanks

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/yea-or-nay

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/yea-or-nay

Way to contribute to the post :rolleyes:

Way to contribute to the post :rolleyes:

Back at ya....

guys

i hate buying disposable razors on a trip and have a fantastic mercur straight razor. Basically, it uses old style blades. Can I have this in carry-on (the blade would be inside the straight razor)

Just search google images for 'merkur straight razor' to see what it looks like

thanks

I am quite certain you can. At least one blade in the razor. Not sure if a pack of additional blades is allowed. But one blade should give you three shaves which perhaps with a straight razor should last 5 or 6 days.

Besides that I recommend looking at the Schick Quattro Titanium razor with built-in electric trimmer. You can read about it in this forum. It is super practical with the built-in trimmer for trimming side burns and body hair or mustache. The Titanium coated blades are awesome. Very smooth and clean and gentle shave. I doubt it's worse than a DE razor (a straight razor is the old style barber blade, not allowed on the plane). Each blade lasts for about 30 (!) shaves. So even the longest business trip can be done with a single blade. It also has a blade protector, so no bulky case to pack.

Try it out. I am quite sure you'll love it.

Till

I use the same razor at home. Unfortunately, you can't take the blades in carry on luggage. At least that's the official policy. Some people report success, some people report confiscation.

I use the same razor at home. Unfortunately, you can't take the blades in carry on luggage. At least that's the official policy. Some people report success, some people report confiscation.

Confiscation even of the blade in the razor? Confiscation of just the blade in the razor, the extra blades or of the whole razor plus blades?

Till

You can't take the blades. The razor without the blade is ok.
If you know where you are going post yourself a blade to your destination hotel etc, marking the envelope for "Mr X arriving on 12/3" etc?

I assume you mean a double edge razor like this: http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&q=merkur+straight+razor&oq=merkur+straight+razor&gs_l=img.3..0i24.1848.9522.0.10463.21.10.0.11.11.0 .724.1643.0j7j6-1.8.0...0.0...1ac._DzTCyIiyLc&biw=1024&bih=676&sei=StImUKm3F8qV0QWIu4CgCg

if you mean a straight razor (cut throat) then the same applies to the type that you can fit a disposible single edge blade like this: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1024&bih=676&site=imghp&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=merkur+straight+razor+disposable+blade&oq=merkur+straight+razor+disposable+blade&gs_l=img.3...222629.230046.0.230626.17.2.0.15.0.0. 260.260.2-1.1.0...0.0...1ac.7kGbpUhE1Ec, but the normal cut throat type of folding blade into handle will be confiscated. Like this: http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&q=merkur+straight+razor&oq=merkur+straight+razor&gs_l=img.3..0i24.1848.9522.0.10463.21.10.0.11.11.0 .724.1643.0j7j6-1.8.0...0.0...1ac._DzTCyIiyLc&biw=1024&bih=676&sei=StImUKm3F8qV0QWIu4CgCg

I pack my empty Merkur DE razor in my liquids bag so that the security folk can quickly see it and that it is empty. If they see it on the X-ray of your carry-on, you get pulled out for searching.

lol antichef - you knew what I mean - yes, it is the DE that I'm carrying. I'll mail the blades to the hotel or pick some at a pharmacy - good idea!

How about a Proraso Shaving Cream 5.2 oz/150ml tube (it's half used) in carry-on?
http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shaving-Cream-Eucalyptus-Menthol/dp/B001L2U61E

Confiscation even of the blade in the razor? Confiscation of just the blade in the razor, the extra blades or of the whole razor plus blades?

Till

Those things would make nifty weapons if on-board. I suspect they are not allowed but would be difficult to differentiate on an x-ray (but then, if they know what they're looking for they will recognise the shape).

If it gets pulled out you shoud be able to surrender just the blade and keep the holder.

This blog post from the TSA confirms that an empty razor is OK but a razor blade is not OK (I know many of us travel outside the jurisdiction of the TSA but I think this is fairly universal); http://blog.tsa.gov/2010/08/safety-razors-and-disposable-razors.html

lol antichef - you knew what I mean - yes, it is the DE that I'm carrying. I'll mail the blades to the hotel or pick some at a pharmacy - good idea!

How about a Proraso Shaving Cream 5.2 oz/150ml tube (it's half used) in carry-on?
http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shaving-Cream-Eucalyptus-Menthol/dp/B001L2U61E

No. It's about the size of the package, not its contents.

NP - I'll just put some in a ziploc - gets a little sticky but still works well

From the TSA website

Razor-Type Blades - such as box cutters, utility knives, and safety razor blades (disposable razors and their cartridges are permitted)

are prohibited in carry on luggage

This is one of the most annoying parts of business travel for me. I wish more drug stores carried safety blades so I could just buy them at my destination.

agree or hotels should just start carrying them - DE safety blades have gained enormously in popularity and I doubt i'll ever go back to gillette, etc

There was another thread on the saving cream/soap topic in this forum a month ago. Although the shaving cream/soap is gel like, I have never been stopped by TSA (Taylor of old bond street). I don't carry my Mercur DE with me because of the blade issue and TSA.

One recommendation for you, Feather lite blades. amazingly sharp.

There was another thread on the saving cream/soap topic in this forum a month ago. Although the shaving cream/soap is gel like, I have never been stopped by TSA (Taylor of old bond street). I don't carry my Mercur DE with me because of the blade issue and TSA.

One recommendation for you, Feather lite blades. amazingly sharp.

+1 on feather blades...I love them.

I looked at my notes from the sample pack I've been testing last 6 months and here they are
Feather Hi Stainless double edge - very good blade and good box to dispose off used blades in the back of the box

However, you mention feather lite - got an amazon or another link?

I looked at my notes from the sample pack I've been testing last 6 months and here they are
Feather Hi Stainless double edge - very good blade and good box to dispose off used blades in the back of the box

However, you mention feather lite - got an amazon or another link?

I confused two different products (feather lite - i think is for my fishing line), anyway it is the Feather HI Stainless DE blades that I was referring to. Sorry for the confusion.

You guys need a look around this this site:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/forum.php

Derby does the job for me!! YMMV. Cheap and cheerful. At 8c per blade I can easily lose a few without worry - not like a Mach 3 at about 150 per blade....

lol antichef - you knew what I mean - yes, it is the DE that I'm carrying. I'll mail the blades to the hotel or pick some at a pharmacy - good idea!

How about a Proraso Shaving Cream 5.2 oz/150ml tube (it's half used) in carry-on?
http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shaving-Cream-Eucalyptus-Menthol/dp/B001L2U61E

I suppose "DE" or "straight razor" might be terms in American English. I call them "safety razor" or simply "razor".
Are retro style safety razors are back in style? I have an old Gillete with a screw at the bottom which opens the blade receptacle. All three pieces are integrated in one device. You place the blade in it and and tighten the screw gently. They were sold as high tech when the original (now retro) safety razors were in wide spread use.
Twin, triple, quadruple (single edged) blades and razor handled that the blades would snap onto replaced both types of safety razors.
Razor (straight razor) gives the best shave?
I always though the safety razor and the simple razor would give the best shave as you can control the angle precisely. The multiple single edged blades swivel but they also have a play, making it impossible to control the angle, although their manufacturers claim that the blades automatically adjust their angle--- a dubious claim.

I wish I had the Gillete from the 30's that my father used well into the early 1980's which he replaces with another Gillete, the integrated kind.

lol antichef - you knew what I mean - yes, it is the DE that I'm carrying. I'll mail the blades to the hotel or pick some at a pharmacy - good idea!

How about a Proraso Shaving Cream 5.2 oz/150ml tube (it's half used) in carry-on?
http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shaving-Cream-Eucalyptus-Menthol/dp/B001L2U61E

You can also use shaving cake/soap. I watched my father with amusement as he shaved every morning with his gillete safety razor, Sven'oClock blades, a brush and s having cake. He would often put lather on my face with his brush and let let me pretend to shave with a safety razor without a blade.

How ironic! if you have facial hair and a certain type of skin colour, you are automatically a bad guy in the eyes of many TSA agents, however much TSA may deny it. Facial hair was one thing that was pointed out to be an indicator of a potential terrorist. It was imagined that they had a ritual (shaving chest hair) although the guy, mistakenly thought of as a terrorist was simply shaving his face on his flight with a razor given to him by the airline. The flight was brought down amid fears of a terrorist attack on the first anniversary of 9/11.
Some of the basic paraphernalia used to remove our facial hair is forbidden. I find it sad and amusing at the same time.

The harder we fight them, the more we look like them. @:-)

I suppose "DE" or "straight razor" might be terms in American English. I call them "safety razor" or simply "razor".

I think this was just a mix-up in terminology early in the thread;

Straight razor = the completely open blade, usually a folding model which folds into its own handle. This is the type of thing you see in old westerns and in "Sweeny Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street".

Safety Razor = DE razor = Double-edge(d) razor. These are the type which takes a (usually) whole razor blade in its head. There are various models/methods for loading the blade, either the whole head is dismantled, or it opens up like the undercarriage doors on an aircraft (bring this back on topic).

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I suppose "DE" or "straight razor" might be terms in American English. I call them "safety razor" or simply "razor".

I think this was just a mix-up in terminology early in the thread;

Straight razor = the completely open blade, usually a folding model which folds into its own handle. This is the type of thing you see in old westerns and in "Sweeny Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street".

Safety Razor = DE razor = Double-edge(d) razor. These are the type which takes a (usually) whole razor blade in its head. There are various models/methods for loading the blade, either the whole head is dismantled, or it opens up like the undercarriage doors on an aircraft (bring this back on topic).

Congratulations for a very on topic description of a safety razor in tetms of under carriage of aircraft. I like it.
As far as I know, there are only two ways of loading a double edged blade into a safety razor. I have the under carriage type of Gillette that I bought in the 70's. I thought it was the coolest thing when I bought my first one in the late 60's.
What are different brands of DE blades? I remember Seven 'O Clock.
Some came in a plastic package with aslot for storing used blades. Asa kid, I remeber using used blades for various functions, such as shadpening a pencil, or cutting threads wirh which a broken button clung to a garment.

Disclaimer: I have sported a beard since I left high school. I shaved it off in the summers. My current beard has not been shaved since 1990. :)

I'd actually recommend against traveling with a DE safety razor. I used to, but my bag kept getting flagged for checks since they wanted to see if the razor had a blade in it. Certain things just seem to set the TSA off (the other being my bluetooth keyboard for my tablet - they had no clue what it was).

I switched to a Trac II razor with Wilkinson blades from Walmart. They're cheap and relatively easy to get, and give a shave almost as good as my normal razor. My believe is that 75% of the benefit of DE razors is using a brush + cream/soap, and that you can easily do even with a Trac II.

You can also use shaving cake/soap. I watched my father with amusement as he shaved every morning with his gillete safety razor, Sven'oClock blades, a brush and s having cake. He would often put lather on my face with his brush and let let me pretend to shave with a safety razor without a blade.

I've been very happy with Speick's shaving stick. It's basically a cylindrical thing of shaving soap that is extremely easy to lather and works great. Basically, rub the end on your face, and use your brush to whip up a later. It's designed for travel, but the only issue is that it does not come in any kind of waterproof case.

I travel with a solid wood container from Trumper of Mayfair with a rosewood soap. I have a super badger brush from them in a travelling container. They are my luggage indulgences when travelling - even with hand luggage.

I have to leave my Merkur DE behind usually, and go with a disposable razor, but enjoy the luxury of a proper soap to make it slip over the face easily.

I travel with the DE when I can, and leave a few blades in regular stop over locations! A few hotels know me well, and as I posted earlier, you can mail them to yourself in advance. I know a few places that sell blades too but have not yet needed to buy them in transit.

Dblevitan, put your empty DE in with your liquids, then they don't have to pull your bag, they can see through the carry bag that it is empty.

Yaatri, your undercarriage loader was what I started with as a lad! I later had a beard for many years and saved on blades - but it still required a lot of trimming and general tidying and maintenance and now go clean shaven as it saves on effort! The DE is very satisfying when compared to the multi-blade - and a considerable saving (not the main issue), and my brother is a cut-throat razor fan. We both lament the travel security issues though.

i hate buying disposable razors on a trip and have a fantastic mercur straight razor. Basically, it uses old style blades. Can I have this in carry-on (the blade would be inside the straight razor)

In the US you probably can, but internationally every place has its own rules. A few months ago I had to travel via Amman, Jordan and the security there went into high alert after spotting a Gillete fusion shaver in my carry-on. You'd have thought they had seen a grenade launcher or something.

Many persons including a supervisor type discussed this long enough for me to offer to move it to my checked bag, just to get out of there. :)

I've been very happy with Speick's shaving stick. It's basically a cylindrical thing of shaving soap that is extremely easy to lather and works great. Basically, rub the end on your face, and use your brush to whip up a later. It's designed for travel, but the only issue is that it does not come in any kind of waterproof case.

I've been using Speick products for years, including the shaving lather stick. In fact there is a tube in my amenity kit right now with my packed luggage, ready to go.

You are correct: It needs a zip lock bag to travel with, or a mess ensues. The stick itself can be applied directly to the chin to lather, but the foil wrapper that comes with it doesn't cut it.

Made from alpine flora: All good products.