Not sure if this have been posted before, if so, my apologies. I have a couple of each of these razors that I've used infrequently in the past. When I bought them at different times, I thought they would be similar razors - they "look" similar but in use they are a little different. This month I have been focusing on using these razors, alternating one shave with one, then next shave with the other. Doing that I've found some differences in how they each shave and how I can get my best shave with each. I used the same blade with each razor when comparing razors. My first shave this month with the Rapide, I started shaving at a steep angle and this did not produce a good shave, neither a smooth shave or a comfortable shave. Next shave was with the L'essor and I also started shaving at a steep angle. This produced a very close, smooth, and comfortable shave. Before the next shave, I looked at both razors and noticed some differences where the blade edge would be. Both razors have combs at the blade edge but on the Rapide, the blade edge is very much forward on the comb, where as on the L'essor, the blade edge sits farther back on the comb. That's when the lightbulb lit in my thick brain. While I can use the L'essor and shave at a steep angle (ride the cap if it had one), when using the Rapide, I would need to shave with a much less steep angle and kind of ride the comb. Next shave with the Rapide I did just that, less steep, ride the comb, and the results were incredible. Very close, smooth, and comfortable shave. Very comparable, if not identical, to the shave I received from the L'essor but using different shave angles. Very audible shave as well when using a GEM blade, I could hear the hair popping off my face. It works for me this way but everyones face is different so as with most things shaving, YMMV.
