Gillette Fat Boy Shave Compared To The Slim

Discussion in 'Safety Razors' started by Bill G, Mar 12, 2025.

  1. Bill G

    Bill G Well-Known Member

    Well,
    I shave with both of these model Gillette razors the Fat Boy and the Slim and shave with them on a regular basis. I find both to be fantastic shavers for me and are my favorite Gillette razors hands down. On my scale of 1 to 10 I have to say that I find the Slim a 10 and the Fat Boy a 9.5. The slim is a bit more balanced and a bit easier to maneuver and the thinner head is nice under the nose and around the jaw line. The Fat Boy is sweet feeling in its own right with the fat handle and a joy to hold in hand. The settings 1 to 9 are close between the razors but slightly different at the same number setting between the razors as most know. Again I do really love both of these razors but find my Slim just edges the Fat Boy only by hair for me.

    * I am just curious what do most think about the two razors that have them and shave with them?

    Happy Shaves To Everyone,
    Bill G

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  2. gorgo2

    gorgo2 geezerhood

    Apart from weight, I've honestly never found any real difference.
     
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  3. swarden43

    swarden43 "It's your shave. Enjoy it your way."©

    Ditto.
    Both are great shavers.
     
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  4. gorgo2

    gorgo2 geezerhood

  5. brit

    brit in a box

    i love all my gillettes,including the adjustables.i just prefere the more vintage ones,ie,1930's to mid 50's.:)
     
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  6. gorgo2

    gorgo2 geezerhood

    Decided to break an adjustable out of mothballs for tomorrow's shave. First time in...wow, I can't recall.
     
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  7. Bill G

    Bill G Well-Known Member

    That sounds like a pretty good deal… Enjoy
    Happy Shaves,
    Bill G
     
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  8. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    I've found that the settings for the two are different. The slim is one setting milder, in about every case. So, if I were shaving on 5 with a Fatboy, the Slim Adjustable would be set on 6. I compared them many years ago. Both excellent razors. Me, I prefer the Fatboy razor.
     
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  9. Bill G

    Bill G Well-Known Member

    I agree with you 100% and find it to be the same way with the Fat Boy and the Slim razor adjustments.

    Happy Shaves,
    Bill G
     
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  10. Lancre

    Lancre Well-Known Member

    Personally, I like both. Since I have a full beard and mustache, I don't wind up shaving the areas where @Bill G feels the Slim has an advantage. OTOH, the slightly heavier weight and larger diameter of the Fatboy fit my hand better. So I have a slight preference for the Fatboy.
     
  11. Primotenore

    Primotenore missed opera tunity

    Article Team
    Never used a Slim. Many shavers comment that it's more "aggressive" than the Fatboy...what do you think, Bill?
     
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  12. Bill G

    Bill G Well-Known Member

    The reasons you mentioned for liking the Fat Boy are why so many people love the Fat Boy and the reasons that I also really really like my Fat Boy. Even though I mentioned my likes towards my Slim there only at best miner likes for me between the two razors. I do really love both of these Gillette model razors.

    Happy Shaves,
    Bill G
     
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  13. Bill G

    Bill G Well-Known Member

    I find them very much the same across the board at the settings I use. As mentioned by others they feel the Slim is milder at the same setting and I agree. If I am shaving on setting 2 on my Fat Boy I will more than likely use 3 on my Slim to get around the same feel and shave. With that said I like milder razors and don’t ever shave past 3 maybe 4 with lots of growth on the Fat Boy and the Slim. At higher settings things may be different between the two razors. Maybe someone else can chime in here with a different take on the higher settings with these razors.

    Happy Shaves,
    Bill G
     
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  14. brit

    brit in a box

    i agree,i the super 84 and 109 are the most aggressive(poor word) setting wise.
     
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  15. swarden43

    swarden43 "It's your shave. Enjoy it your way."©

    I keep both the Slim and Fat Boy set at 7. I don't notice any difference.
     
  16. Bill G

    Bill G Well-Known Member

    Thats interesting for sure. I do see a very small difference but I am on the lower end of the adjustment range of these razors . I like mild settings for my sensitive skin and never go above 3 on either razor. Normally 2 on the Fat Boy and 3 on the Slim. Being on the lower end of the range may be why I notice a very small difference between the two.

    Happy Shaves,
    Bill G
     
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  17. Bill G

    Bill G Well-Known Member

    This should explain the blade gap difference between the Fat Boy and the Slim throughout the 1 to 9 adjustment range.

    *As I suspected at the higher number settings the blade gaps are much closer and some the same between the Fat Boy and the Slim.

    Happy Shaves To Everyone,
    Bill G

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  18. swarden43

    swarden43 "It's your shave. Enjoy it your way."©

    Good stuff.
    Yup. My face isn't going to notice a .001 difference in blade gap.
     
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  19. John Beeman

    John Beeman Little chicken in hot water

    I tend to prefer the Slim over the FatBoy but both are excellent razors.
     
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  20. BamaT

    BamaT Well-Known Member

    Never used a Fat Boy, but the Slim is my absolute favorite razor, with the Black Beauty a close second, both set on 4.
     
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