I used the Atra for a long time before the Gillette came out with their mach 3 cart. I used that until they came out with the Fusion. I tried the Fusion and took it back. Cart prices were out of hand IMHO, so I looked for alternatives. Therefore, in 2011 I turned to vintage razors. However, in 2016 I found this beautiful Atra at a flea market and snatched it up. I remembered how I liked it. I shaved with it for about a week and then went back to DE and SE razors. Today, I broke out the Atra for a wonderful shave. It gives an easy, close shave, and it is a pleasure to use. The biggest drawback is the two blades where hairs want to get stuck between. It takes a bit more rinsing to keep it unclogged. It's the same issue with the Gillette Twin injector blade. It has been almost three years since I shaved with this razor. I am glad to revisit it. Cold Water Rinse Tabac Shave Soap Jayaruh #224 Gillette Atra Dorco Comfort Thin II CWS Tabac AS My prep was just a cold water rinse. The Tabac Shave Soap face lathered well with the Jayaruh #224 Brush. I did two passes with the Gillette Atra razor with a Dorco Comfort Thin II Blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Tabac AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...
The original cartridges that lacked any of the 'strip' stuff were much better than the current one size fits all 2 bladers. A center pivoting mechanism with that very small footprint is now only available as NOS.
I have some of the old carts and I agree. The non-lube strip is the best version. Well...the adjustable trac ii carts are better, but are a bit tougher to find.
I use the simpler Trac II occasionally and love it. It is my "go to" travel razor. I'd definitely consider getting a vintage Atra handle sometime.
It's all in what you prefer. For me, Mach 3 Turbo is the gold standard. I rate the SkinGuard just a hair above the M3 Turbo and the 5 blade Personna very close to the M3 Turbo.
In my traveling days, I became a carry on only guy. Airline sends your checked luggage a day late once and you cannot ever forget it. In the same situation today. I'd carry a Gillette Guard (one blade pivot) or a Gillette Skin Guard (2 blade fusion style). I'll never use the remaining Mach 3 cartridges I have in stock. I probably pull it out once a year to remind myself why I hated shaving. It always irritates, and almost always generates an ingrown or 2. Of course YMMV.
Ive got my birth year Atra razor and its a good shave, blades for them can be kind of hard to find and expensive though. For me, the Mach 3 has always been the gold standard. Its always a smooth, close shave. The only problem with that is now that Mach 2 carts arent made in the USA anymore. So now Im looking at Schick, maybe a Hydro 3 when I use up all of the Mach 3 and Fusion 5 carts that I have on hand. If my only option in Gillette blades that are made in the USA is the $40 Fusion Proglide/Proshield, I'll be going to Schick.
Never complain about the cost of multi blade carts....... it could worm hole you to the galaxy of single bladed shaving devices....... that you need miltiples of.
Amen to that. I did the DE for 3 years under the guise of saving money before I realize that I wasnt saving a dime.
Repost from SOTD: I haven't used this in decades?? How many shaves can i get out of a cartridge (NOS Gillette Contour/Atra plus)
What modern blade options do we have for this? What about other brand, Personna and Schick makes blades that can be used with the ATRA, correct? What other brands do? What are the best performers of the modern day available ATRA compatible blades? Wife was not digging the SE or DE switch. So got her a Gillette Just Whistle, the women's ATRA.
An old toothbrush scrubbed between the blades will extend the usable life of any cart, especially Atra and T-II.