Gillette V Wilkinson - The Great Shave Off
Last Updated on Friday, 02 September 2011 19:13 Tuesday, 04 May 2010 11:08
Gillette against Wilkinson (Known as Schick in America) is one of the great debates of our time. Like Coca-Cola versus Pepsi. Or Apple versus Microsoft. The outcomes of these legendary battles will shape men's future. Or at least our faces. Gillette and Wilkinson spend hundreds of millions in marketing convincing us that their razor is the business, that it will make shaving a joy. Hell, you shave with Gillette you may even end up playing golf like Tiger Woods or Tennis like Roger Federer. Wilkinson has assured us we'll 'free our skin' - whatever that means.
Gillette challenged us. They were so confident that their product was the best they wanted us to shave for for one week with the Gillette Fusion Power and the next week with its closest competitor, the Wilkinson Quattro Titanium Precision. They'd even supply the blades and razors. Gillette would come out on top they said.
What were they playing at? Did nobody tell their mega-million spending marketing department that this guy is a cranky thirty, going-on-forty year old, two blades no frills shave hating, paranoid male? That our instant reaction to any product review is to nitpick over the tiniest of details? That we always root for the underdog? That we would tell it like it is?
1st Week - Wilkinson.
I was surprised by the weight of the razor - much heavier than what I'm used too. But it was all good. It felt solid, manly, a heavy rubber coating and the weight making it easy to hold and shave. The grip was good too. The hair trimmer is superb. Almost like a miniature hair razor, fully adjustable. I'd a small gripe with the cover repeatedly falling off the hair trimmer - without it you loose the ability to adjust the blade length. After two days I'd lost the cap and I duly scribbled it down in my notebook. Tut Tut Wilkinson. The trimmer handles side burns and goatees with no fuss. I resisted the urge to shave my head with it.
I was delighted with the quality of shave. It felt smooth, not much razor burn either. Up to now I'd only ever gone as far as three blades, my normal razor is a stone-age two blade. What can I say, I'm cheap. This thing had four! And boy could you tell the difference. As the week wore on I grew to love the razor that handled the abuse i threw at it.
Watch Wilkinson Quattro Titanium Precision
2nd Week - Gillette.
From the off I was getting cranky with the tough plastic wrap around the razor. After stabbing it violently open I was already in foul humor. Gillette's creation was lighter, had an extra blade but didn't feel as solid and where the hell was the hair trimmer? I grudgingly set about shaving. Christ this thing was sharp. It glided over my mug flawlessly, noticeably sharper than the Wilkinson. Even I had to admit I was impressed. I never thought I would notice the difference.
I missed the solidity of the Wilkinson - the Gillette was noticeably more flimsy to hold. I missed the hair trimmer. But the way this thing left me was like I'd been waxed. It handled my cheeks, chin and upper lip best. Wilkinson pipped it at the throat shave, it seemed to get the nooks and crannies better. But there was little doubt, Gillette was a smoother shave.
So the two week challenge was up. We'd spent a week shaving with each and yes, Gillette gave a better, closer shave.
But then, when have we ever stuck to the rules? We could stop here, having completed Gillette's challenge - or we could go on and make up our own tests. Sure their razor was technically better, but technically never defined real life. So we took a third week. And went to town on both razors.
Growing and maintaining stubble
Price.
I'm cheap. I got a three blade razor as a present. When the blades ran out I reverted to buying two blades. They were cheaper. So a trip to the local shop to price the razors was an education in itself. Holy mother, these things are pricey. And the blades? Sweet mother divine, I could get drunk on that much money. The average price of a Gillette razor was $20. Wilkinson was $17. The blades were even worse. 8 blades for the Gillette cost a whopping $25. Wilkinson blades were a tad better at just over $22. So if you watch pennies like you watch porn, Wilkinson was the cheaper option - out of two expensive options. Was the price of Gillette worth the closer shave? Sure, if you have the money. If you don't we couldn't honestly tell you to buy it anyway.
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Body Shave.
This would be a real test. How would both razors handle shaving my groin? Woe betide the razor that cut me down there. I decided to do a side by side test - Wilkinson got to do the left side, Gillette the right side. I didn't bother trimming first, why make it any easier? Wilkinson did an admirable job, the weight of the razor was reassuring. No nicks, that was good. But Gillette was better. I was worried because of its sharpness but I needn't have been. It removed offending pubes like they should never have been there in the first place. I even found myself going over Wilkinson's work removing hairs it had left behind. If I had to nitpick - and I don't but I will - Gillette was more prone to hair clogging up the blades, but it was only a minor irritant having to clean it in the water for longer. My groin gave the win to Gillette.
Check out our guide to facial hair styles
Batteries
I left both razors running. The batteries in the Fusion lasted longer. It was no great surprise. The Wilkinson has a heavier and more sturdy hair trimmer. It kicks Gillette's ass hands down. The price is lower batter longevity.
Cold shave / No gel
All men get caught in emergency situations. No gel, only cold water, shaving on the way to work. Which would be the better emergency razor? I went for a cold shave with no gel. After shaving my pubes, the razors would be suitably blunted so this shave would really give me a feel for both. As much as the thought of shaving my face with the same blades I used to shave my groin was a bit icky, I convinced myself scientific testing was never going to be all roses.
Wilkinson went first again. It tackled the left side of my face. Scraping, it managed to give me a reasonable shave, if not a plucking. Razor burn was most definitely back in fashion. Gillette was slightly better, the blades seemed to hold their sharpness better after the war on my pubes. They were better able to slice through the facial dry fuzz I'd built up - but only just.
The real result?
The Wilkinson impressed me with its solidity. Its hair trimmer is superb. Gillette impressed me with its sharpness. As a cheaper razor and blades the Wilkinson did just like it looks - a solid manly shave. But yes, its true, Gillette delivers the smoother shave, albeit with a rather crap hair trimmer and at a more expensive price.
If it was a perfect world, I'd happily take the blades from Gillette and stick them on the Wilkinson razor. But its not. So let me put it this way. If you trim hair a lot, do not shave regularly or are conscious of money take a look at Wilkinson. If you need a close shave every day and money is plentiful get Gillette.
