This review is of the Open Comb version of the Cadet TP-26 series.
I chose a soap / brush combo I am very fond of so as to not have a poor lather detract from the razor review. Soap: I Coloniali with Mango Oil, Brush: Vie Long BGS2012 Horse Hair in Butterscotch.
The head looks similar to a NEW Long Comb, or a less angled Joris / Fatip head but with shorter teeth. Once again the construction is very surprising for a $24.99 razor. Very solid and I love the knurling on the handle. I loaded up a Personna Red and got down to business. The first pass was WTG and I immediately noticed the sound. This baby does not have a muted sound, you can hear every whisker being cut. It's like a mini-symphony. I managed to get through the first pass nick free; not bad for a first use of a new OC. I rinsed and noticed my cheeks already felt pretty smooth I then re-lathered for my XTG pass. As suspected, I did not hear much at all when shaving my cheeks, they really were pretty well cleaned up from the first pass. Normal sounds from everywhere else. A very "non-nervous" feeling when doing the XTG pass. Normally I am pretty cautious when wielding a new OC razor but this one just seemed to do the job without much worry. Once again the razor sang. I rinsed again and lathered my neck area only for the ATG pass. Once again, a good smooth shave without issue and the razor continued to sing.
I rinsed, decided to pass on an alum pass, and went straight for the AS. Thee was some stinging on the neck where I did three full passes, but nothing major and my face area had no sting at all. Sitting here right now rubbing my face I feel very little left over stubble, more than a DFS, but not quite a BBS. Not bad for a first use.
I have a number of OC razors. Merkur 11c and 12c, Gillette OLD, Gillette NEW Long Comb, Mühle R41 new style, and more Joris razors than I know what to do with. I put this razor safely in the middle of that group. Not overly mild, but not tear your face off aggressive either.
I once again liked the handle. At one point I had lather dripping down the handle so I dunked the whole razor in the sink to rinse it all off and then went straight back to shaving. The grip was very secure.
Bottom line, this is one heck of a deal in the shaving world. A well made sturdy feeling razor for $25. Honestly it's not a bad looker either. Well worth spending the money to try for yourself.
I chose a soap / brush combo I am very fond of so as to not have a poor lather detract from the razor review. Soap: I Coloniali with Mango Oil, Brush: Vie Long BGS2012 Horse Hair in Butterscotch.
The head looks similar to a NEW Long Comb, or a less angled Joris / Fatip head but with shorter teeth. Once again the construction is very surprising for a $24.99 razor. Very solid and I love the knurling on the handle. I loaded up a Personna Red and got down to business. The first pass was WTG and I immediately noticed the sound. This baby does not have a muted sound, you can hear every whisker being cut. It's like a mini-symphony. I managed to get through the first pass nick free; not bad for a first use of a new OC. I rinsed and noticed my cheeks already felt pretty smooth I then re-lathered for my XTG pass. As suspected, I did not hear much at all when shaving my cheeks, they really were pretty well cleaned up from the first pass. Normal sounds from everywhere else. A very "non-nervous" feeling when doing the XTG pass. Normally I am pretty cautious when wielding a new OC razor but this one just seemed to do the job without much worry. Once again the razor sang. I rinsed again and lathered my neck area only for the ATG pass. Once again, a good smooth shave without issue and the razor continued to sing.
I rinsed, decided to pass on an alum pass, and went straight for the AS. Thee was some stinging on the neck where I did three full passes, but nothing major and my face area had no sting at all. Sitting here right now rubbing my face I feel very little left over stubble, more than a DFS, but not quite a BBS. Not bad for a first use.
I have a number of OC razors. Merkur 11c and 12c, Gillette OLD, Gillette NEW Long Comb, Mühle R41 new style, and more Joris razors than I know what to do with. I put this razor safely in the middle of that group. Not overly mild, but not tear your face off aggressive either.
I once again liked the handle. At one point I had lather dripping down the handle so I dunked the whole razor in the sink to rinse it all off and then went straight back to shaving. The grip was very secure.
Bottom line, this is one heck of a deal in the shaving world. A well made sturdy feeling razor for $25. Honestly it's not a bad looker either. Well worth spending the money to try for yourself.