Simply superb shave this morning. I have nothing but, respect for this razors performance and its ability to easily & comfortably remove whiskers with no real possibility of it delivering an unsatisfactory shave result. Aesthetically, it's going to be a love/hate relationship among the groups of traditional wet shaving thought and the other side that is open to new design & innovation. As creatures of habit, most of us like a little of change as possible. If it works, there's no need to fix or upgrade. Yes, if we were perpetually stuck in the 20th Century, I'd give that thought some credence and due. However, we are not stuck in a forever time capsule and we as a civilization are forever growing and striving for bigger and better things in all products or advancements that benefit civilization or humanity in general. Wet shaving is no different in that new design ideas and implementation of those forward thinking designs spark interest & growth from those that are new to the wet shave endeavor/hobby in the specific realm of gentlemanly grooming activities. It also potentially may pique interests from the old guard of wet shaving lore to be more open and accepting to those newly engineered and created products. I enjoy both traditional shaving implementss that are vintage and carry a history of shaving within the the safety razor birth through its progression over the years of subtle but, significant improvements in both quality, build and ease of use for the consumer. It's the only way where growth continues steadily, attaching the historical achievements of the past with the continued forward thinking of the present and potential future. Wet shaving is a wonderful exercise for both young and old regardless of the modern vs vintage argument. Regardless of what side of the argument one stands on concerning vintage vs contempory shave implements, the various majority of users in both camps would agree that wet shaving with a de or se razor is a positive benefit in ones grooming exercise for both men & women respectively. Better for the skin, better for the environment and better for the heart, mind & soul as some of us do use shaving as a calming & relaxing action to their daily routine in a taxing time of their daily life activities. Others shave for the mere fact as an obligation whether for work or a mandatory obligation of societal norms or regulations pertaining to basic needs or requirements. All they need or desire is a tool that will offer ease of use that is both comfortable and efficient in getting the task done in a timely manner. Another smaller group deals with acute skin sensitivity to shaving and what the exercise can potentially do in a negative way and therefore search for the best possible product that allows them to at least somewhat enjoy a shave without any repercussions and detriment to their skin sensitivities while at least achieving the least negative results that can be attained that meets their desired results.
The Titaner TiGlide S1 is no different in that it simply performs a traditional wet shave action with a look and design that's all its own. There is no middle ground on how it looks as one will love it or simply loathe it simply on its looks. It doesn't look like a traditional de or se razor and is not a direct derivative of a cartridge razor design but, it has subtleties of all three purposely ingrained in its overall design. And in that, the S1 is a spectacular performer when it comes to the performance, feel and overall usability that it delivers with accurate and direct results. The shave path footprint delivers a de like feel with an se engineered format that also has a feel of holding a modern cartridge shave apparatus rolled into one. Yet, it delivers a more substantial feel over the cartridge razor that is closer to the more traditional de & se razor tools that most have come to experience today. The shave geometry of the razor basically sets up the optimal angle for proper shave placement on skin while the inherent nature of the Titanium alloy gives a very warm & soft like feel that is both smooth and comforting. Blade feel is minimal but, the efficiency and its ability to effectively remove the whiskers with such softness and dare I say "grace in motion" is an astounding achievement in practice. The audible level that is provided may not be up to the standards of the more established tools that endear one to the sounds of hairs being sliced but, it's rather muted sound still delivers a perceptible and pleasing auditory effect that will satisfy most users. The cutting effect is more closer to like the razor wiping the hairs off of one's skin as compared to it cutting & slicing those whiskers. It's a very different experience but, it's one that is very easy to adapt to once the results are felt in real time. Rigidity and blade stability are second to none with not a single instance of blade chatter nor any perceptible inference in my experience with the S1. The feel in hand with its somewhat longish handle does require a bit of adjustment to it but, as many here have experience with modern cartridge systems in feel, this is a quick adaptation that becomes more familiar with each use and actually becomes near second nature. The locking mechanism which employs both magnetic for proper alignment and a turn screw at the back of the head assembly is purposeful in design and implementation though, the screw attachment does look a bit out of place at the rear and detracts somewhat from the razors streamlined and cohesive design. I personally would have preferred the magnetic design as is with the placement of the screw locking mechanism on the bottom of the baseplate to maintain design flow integrity. It's a minor thing and is simply nitpicking as it does nothing nor impacts the shave results in the least. Just my personal preference in design application. The handle with its long design and chamfered sides provides more than adequate grip and tactile feel and it never felt as if it would slip from my hands as it never did but, I'm used to knurling or some sort of serrations on a handle and I think that the handle on the S1 would benefit substantially from some sort of ribbing or dimpling on those chamfered sides to increase tactile feel and subconsciously give one a more secure feeling that a potential drop has nearly zero chance of happening or as close to it as possible. Nothing in the shave world is drop proof as there are those that are all thumbs and inevitably accidents will happen. The other thing though minor, will help greatly in ease of use in installing & removing the blade but, more so in installing. There are corner posts that are set at each corner of the base plate that align and center a half blade precisely. However, those posts are rather small and don't protrude out more substantially in lining up the blade against them. One has to make sure that the ends are up against those posts properly and at times I had to use my fingernail to make sure it seated up against those smallish posts firmly. Once there however, the top cap magnetically is clamped nicely and keeps that blade perfectly aligned until one screws down the locking screw to keep it all in place. It sounds more complicated than it actually is but, I have to mention it as it was something that though not a major issue, it is a minor nuisance to have to keep making sure it was aligned properly. The magnetic enclosure is quite strong and lines up with the baseplate perfectly every time. Rinsing & cleaning the razor during the shave was easy and there's adequate space on the guard channel to funnel cut hairs away from the contact area. It is a single edge so, rinsing out the razor will be more frequently required to clear it out. The razor proved to be very gentle for daily usage while simultaneously proving to be more than capable on taking on 2 or more days of growth with relative ease (I shaved 3 day stubble growth without a single issue) and better than average efficiency. Blade feel is subtle but, it's superbly effective and is deceptively efficient in its overall feel. When I first started with it on the first few strokes, I had to stop and look to make sure the blade hadn’t moved or was there. It was that smooth. And again, the Ti alloy is simply marvelous in giving excellent face feel with a warmth & soft like nature that is inherent and specific to Titanium alloy. Overall build quality & craftsmanship is simply superb though not a traditional looking design for many, it's beautifully done & executed. The last thing I will say is about the head footprint or size of it. As is, I don’t have a major issue with it but, the wider than necessary top cap tends to give a propensity for slight drag on the skin. I believe if Titaner can cut down on that top cap depth and give a more narrower profile, it would be even easier to wield and would practically eliminate the potential feel of drag on the skin. I believe that the bigger contact area of the head is not necessary in giving the potential shaver an automatic set up for proper blade & head angle on the skin. Half or 3/4 the size would still give one an accurate placement for optimal cutting while eliminating any negative feel or effect of the dreaded drag gremlin. I didn’t get it much but, on occasion it would rear itself. No detriment to the shave and overall results but, another nitpicking thing on my end.
Will the TiGlide S1 by Titaner be the next evolution or revolution in shaving progression? No, of course not. But, I believe it caters to the newer generation of shavers that are accustomed to those disposable razors and perhaps want to get into the more traditional end of wet shaving but, with a modern look & feel that brings pride of ownership and unequivocally exacting performance from A to Z. It's an exceptional shaver that gave near perfect results from day 1. Would I recommend it? Absolutely without hesitation to both young & old, beginner to grizzled old vet.
It really is a great shaver that looks and performs like nothing else outside there in the wet shave landscape. Great shaves to all...
