Gillette Fusion Power Battery Powered Shaving System, 1 System
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List Price: Our Price: $10.47 You Save: $2.06 (16%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of Gillette Fusion Power Battery Powered Shaving System, 1 System
Customer Review: The Old and the New
Summary: 5 Stars
I have used the Mach 3, the Quattro and now the Fusion Power, the Mach 3 for 6 years, the Quattro for three years and the Fusion Power for one month.
The Mach 3 was an absolute revelation when I first started using it and people thought I was a bit over the top in blissfully describing how good the razor was. Cynics of course would find it hard to eulogise over what was obviously just another fad and a rip off. 10 years later the Mach 3 is still VERY highly regarded and widely used even with the coming of the might Fusion Power with a whole two more blades and a built in vibrator to pleasure you even further.
I thought I'd experiment with the Quattro a few years back and I thought it was an improvement on the Mach 3. I just liked the way it felt and shaved although it didn't shave any better than the Mach 3. I did have one irritation though as it clogged up quite often and it was hard to get clean. I even used scrubbing brushes to clear it, not always successfully. I must have liked the razor though as I didn't toss it.
My Dad was over on holiday and had forgotten his electric razor and was forced to buy a razor. He happened to get the Fusion Power and he laughed about the five blades and vibrator. He was soon mightily impressed with it though. I haven't found out though whether he has continued to use it or not.
A month ago after the blades for my Quattro were done, I decided to buy this Fusion Power. I did read the review which were split on whether it shaved any better but everyone, almost, who used it liked it.
I bought it and wasn't disppointed. It is a lovely razor to use and the vibrator is novel.
I then bought a brand new Mach 3 to compare this Fusion Power with. I showered then lathered up and did half my face with each one then looked closely. The shave was pretty much the same for both sides but bear in mind that the blade on the Fusion was a month old! Mind you both sides felt very smooth although on closer inspection this wasn't the case. It just proved to me that my technique may be a bit average and that you can't shave the hairs to the surface of the skin (unlike the simulations you see on TV).
I have to say though that the Fusion is one hell of a razor. It looks so cool and the tactile feel and shape is a big improvement over the Mach 3. Shaving itself feels much the same though. I don't have a challenging growth though, it is pretty average and I think the most important thing to get a good shave is to shower first. After a shower you can almost get away with no shaving cream , that's how big a difference it makes.
Overall in spite of the blades being twice the price almost, I love the fusion. Gillette have made a product that is a perfect synthesis of engineering genius and marketing passion to produce a truly wonderful prodcut.
I hate them of course as they have tempted me to buy a product that is objectively, no better than the Mach 3 but in the final analysis the sex appeal of this fine razor won me over.
Customer Review: an objective review.
Summary: 3 Stars
well well well, i've been on a long search to find the perfect razor and read tons of reviews on every razor out there. first off, a lot of people are judging this razor very unfairly because they're mad about the price of blades. well, that's life. there's a site on the net where you can buy cryogenically frozen blades at about the same price that supposedly last 4 times as long. they're a great business.
amazon overall gives the fusion mixed reviews, and i've found the fusion to be a mixed bag. first, the design. i loved the mach 3 design and the gillette fusion continues that. it's definitely a better way to shave than with the old designs. also, the handle on the fusion is insanely comfortable. it's SO comfortable, it's almost as if the handle has a life of its own! it's crazy. way better than any other razor handle ever. the design is mostly like the mach 3 except with 2 blades. contrary to what you have heard, the head is NOT much bigger than the mach 3. in fact, the blades start from the top at the SAME point. i didn't have trouble shaving under my nose or anywhere else. the total blade area is slightly larger than the mach 3 which is a GOOD thing. this + 5 blades = a faster shave. add the battery "power" feature to this, and you're basically shaving with lightning! you HAVE to try the power feature. it's amazing.. it eliminates tugging. it slices right through facial hair. absolutely brilliant. it's no gimmick, believe me. also, the blades do NOT get more clogged, another lie. in fact, these blades get LESS clogged than any razor i've ever used. one other thing - the single-blade trimmer on the back is far from "useless." it's incredibly useful and does exactly what you need. it's innovative and an improvement over the mach 3. so with all this brilliance, what could go wrong, you ask?
razor burn. the same problem i had with the mach 3!! i would lift my cheek up and see little razor burn all along it, and get razor burn on one part of my neck. that wasn't too bad, until around the 6th or 7th shave, when it suddenly tore up my neck with razor burn!! now, you may say i used the blade too long. however, there's no good way to tell when the razor is going to cause you problems. the lubrication strip wears out too fast, on like the third shave but the blades are still sharp. so i kept using it, still getting close fast shaves and one day it cut me up.
the shave itself - the fusion definitely does give a closer shave than the mach 3, particularly if you use the power feature and a great shaving gel (in my case, king of shaves magna gel ARB formula). however, it seems to get "too" close in a way. my face would itch. i'd look in the mirror and see a kind of film over my skin, apparently skin that had been shaved off. not cool!! i would use the fusion if my skin could handle it.. maybe i will try using it without the power feature and see if that helps. the power is so fast & fun to use that it's addictive. but i'm afraid i may be doomed to using razors older than the mach 3...
Customer Review: A LOW POINT FOR CAPITALISM...
Summary: 2 Stars
First of all,..."STEALTH"? Really? Well, I can certainly ...detect it sitting in my trash bin. The only thing I fail to see is the what all the fuss was about.
Does it shave? Sure. Is it closer? Closer than what? Oh, you mean compared to those...ancient 2/3/4-blade ones? Well, not detectably. If it does shave any closer I for one could not tell. And no, the vibration adds to nothing detectable either besides a small humming noise.
And, what is worse, the new head is too big with only a small portion of its surface corresponding to the blades: one has very little control under his nose and chin. It will nick you if not careful.
Similar to digital camera manufacturers who are engaged in the "more-and-more megapixels" marketing war (only to end up with more and more...noise as no one seems to consider whether the lens can keep up or not), the "more-and-more blades" race has reached the point of ridiculous.
So closer it may or may not be, but less comfortable it surely is. I use to shave against the grain my cheeks and under my jawline. And apparently, all these blades and vibration and "comfort strips" make the experience not something to long for.
And, to add insult to injury, if you have any old Gillette blade cartridges knocking around in some drawer, forget about using them with this new holder. Contrary to the previous editions of Gillette blade holders that had retrograde compatibility, this baby will only take new (and more expensive) Gillette Fusion Power Blades.
Just like printer companies, that are eager to sell us their printers below cost - only to charge an arm and an leg for their inks and toners, the shaving blades oligopoly (after all the buyouts, all of ...two major companies remain to "compete") has turned our morning ritual into their mil-cow. Bells and whistles and over-the-top adds do not hide the fact that only some years ago, blade cartridges came in fives (not fours!) and cost less than half of what the new brightly colored and over-marketed new ones!
What is really ironic is that the single blade at the back is so much better than the overloaded front that I was reminded of why, years ago, I had taken the advice of my father and chosen the path of traditional blade holders.
I bought this for a conference trip and kept is as a backup until its blades run out. After about a month I went back to my trusted Safety Razor. Paired with a traditional Badger Hair Shaving Brush and a good Shaving Soap there is simply no comparison in both sensation and result.
Customer Review: The BEST a man can get (right now)!
Summary: 5 Stars
As an M3Power owner, I was unsure of whether or not to make the purchase for the Fusion, as I am sure most people are. When I bought the M3Power, I assumed that I would never feel the urge to buy another razor because it had 3 blades (seemed like plenty) and had the power component, so what else was there?
But then I started hearing about the Fusion and I read these Amazon reviews, and I decided to take the plunge and give it a shot (oh how I miss the days when they used to send the Mach3 free in the mail!). Costco has a nice deal where it is $18 for the Fusion Power with 4 blades (and handle) so I should be set for some time. I used each M3Power blade for at least a couple months without incident so the same should be true for the Fusion. I remember when the Mach3 first came out and it was recommended to change the blade every 3 months, but now because of that Aloe strip, they only last 3 uses? To me that is nonsense and wasteful as the blades themselves work just fine down the road and so do the microfins which IMHO work fine even if there is no more Aloe left!
Anyway, I couldn't wait to have my first shave with the Fusion, and I couldn't believe how fast I was finished shaving my whole face! Because the blades are closer together, it felt as though I was shaving with barely even one blade, and I did not find that hairs got stuck between them which was my only concern with the design. With the power turned on, the razor went smoothly across my face, and I barely felt anything which is really what one wants when shaving. I personally don't like to go against the grain on my neck, but the Fusion did a decent job going with the grain so I was most pleased. The single blade on the back was nice for evening out sideburn hair and getting at those pesky under-nose hairs. Lastly I felt as though the pivot motion of the blade head was even more forgiving than the predecessors which made the transition between shaving my face and shaving my neck hair even smoother.
The only gripes I have are its cost, but that's obviously a supply/demand issue, and its color which is orange and quite bright. I like the blue of the Manual Fusion better, but I like the power that I get from the Power Fusion, and since color is superficial, it is hardly a big point of concern. I just wonder if Gillette intended this color to displease people so they will be enticed when they come out with the Fusion "Nitro" or some other color scheme!
Still this is the BEST razor on the market and worthy of a buy if you are like me and don't go through a razor head every week.
Customer Review: Overhyped, Overrated
Summary: 2 Stars
The way some reviewers are raving about this razor really makes me question their integrity. There is absolutely no way this is a 4- or 5-star product. I call shill.
I'll start with the few good things about the razor:
1. It feels very nice in hand. The "grippies" are in just the right place. It has a nice heft with the battery in. The size and shape fit the hand nicely.
2. It looks very cool. I really like the orange and grey/silver meme that has been going through design the past few years. If anyone watches you shave, they will be impressed seeing you with this. However, I, for one, typically shave alone so this isn't worth much.
3. The battery level indicator is very cool and effective. It's hard to describe, but I wish everything I own that uses batteries had this indicator.
4. The single blade on the back of the razor is brilliant. It's not as effective as I'd like, but it is much better at keeping a sharp sideburn line than the five blades. I suspect the angle/ position will be worked out in the future.
Now the bad:
1. It doesn't shave any better than any other razor I've ever used. Yeah, it gives a pretty close shave. But my tried and true Sensor Excel blades, the handle of which I purchased in 1996, give just as close of a shave without any of the other problems listed below.
2. It's very expensive. $30 for 8 cartridges?! Ridiculous. Absolutely not worth it. The Sensor Excel 8 pack is literally half the price - still more than I think they are worth - but gives a better shave.
3. I've never had a more uncomfortable shave. The blades catch my stubble, making for a very slow shave. Yes, of course, shaving with the "grain" of your beard reduces this problem but it still happens. Most people have swirling grain somewhere on their face. This razor makes shaving those areas very difficult and slow going.
4. The blades have a short lifespan. I am only able to get 3-4 shaves out of a head before the stubble-catching problem gets so bad I can't use it. By contrast, my Sensor Excel blades easily last 7-8 shaves - about two weeks, though by the 7th or 8th shave it is catching pretty bad too. My straight edge doesn't have this problem at all, given a quick run over the strop before each shave.
The overall experience is expensive and uncomfortable and results in a mediocre shave. It is a disappointing product and not worth the investment.