I think I need an open-comb razor...

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Currently using an electric razor (Philips Oneblade) to shave face & head. It can tackle anything from a day's growth to a full beard (profile pic was taken after a camping trip) and I'm looking for a safety razor which can do the same. This will be my first safety razor so I've been googling around trying to figure out what to buy.

I guess I need an open comb design to handle longer hair?

So far I like the look of the Muhle R41 and the Fatip Piccolo. I know these aren't recommended for beginners but if I need an open comb to handle week-long growth I'll just have to bite the bullet and keep a bottle of type A in the fridge.
 
The Muhle R41 is not a true open comb razor, it is more of a hybrid, a cross between a safety bar razor and an open comb razor. However saying that a Muhle R41 would have no difficulty in mowing down a weeks growth, is not the savage razor that it has become to be known as and with care it will give you a fantastic shave..
Have a look around for other open comb razors before you buy because there are a lot to choose from. :) P.
 
I know these aren't recommended for beginners but if I need an open comb to handle week-long growth I'll just have to bite the bullet and keep a bottle of type A in the fridge.

Hope it's a big enough bottle for using with a 41 if you have never shaved with a safety razor before. You could end up taking the word 'safety' out of the phrase.

To be honest I have never though an open comb shaves any better, closer, handles longer hair or anything else differently to a closed comb. They are just a different way of tackling the same issues. I have an Ikon closed which makes the 41 look suitable for children (okay, not quite) and yet the same razor with an OC plate is Andrex mild. With a slightly different application to Andrex of course.

What you need is something which is not going to happily slice you open and something which would help you get in to wet shaving yet still shift your weekly growth. You could get a Muhle R89 with a decent blade to do everything you want and yet remain free of bits of toilet paper. Or Andrex if naming your toilet roll brand is a must.

In all honesty something down the likes of an 89 will be more than suffice. Once you've mastered this level then you can leap down rabbit holes
 
An open comb might not make that much of a difference on a week's worth of growth, but if you needed to tackle more than that, an razor that clamps the blade close toward the blade edge is going to be less fuss, as with something that clamps a blade like an Edwin Jagger/Muhle/Timor closed comb (or a Timor open comb, which is almost the same design, just has an open comb), you're likely to have hair neatly gathered underneath the blade that are quite difficult to rinse out.
I second the FaTip Special Edition and Merkur 41c recommendations and would add a Parker 24C to the lot.
Having said that, if a week is the most you'd go without a shave, just about any safety razor would do.
 
So now I'm looking at some lightweight razors. Weight is a BIG issue on a camping trip.

The Merkur 933 looks very nice. 34C head seems to be popular.

Also from Merkur, the 45 bakelite is an incredible 14g and gets lots of good reviews. £30 is a lot for a plastic razor but if it's well-made and well designed I could swallow that.

Could these really slice through a beard (fine-medium hair) without having to stop every couple of strokes to clean the head?
 
So now I'm looking at some lightweight razors. Weight is a BIG issue on a camping trip.

The Merkur 933 looks very nice. 34C head seems to be popular.

Also from Merkur, the 45 bakelite is an incredible 14g and gets lots of good reviews. £30 is a lot for a plastic razor but if it's well-made and well designed I could swallow that.

Could these really slice through a beard (fine-medium hair) without having to stop every couple of strokes to clean the head?
At around £30, you. can start looking At RazoRock Lupo. Having said that, I think the Merkur 45 could've been had under £20 without the case not long ago.
Also, the Merkur 41C is about 64 grams and shouldn't really have issues with clogging.
 
So now I'm looking at some lightweight razors. Weight is a BIG issue on a camping trip.

The Merkur 933 looks very nice. 34C head seems to be popular.

Also from Merkur, the 45 bakelite is an incredible 14g and gets lots of good reviews. £30 is a lot for a plastic razor but if it's well-made and well designed I could swallow that.

Could these really slice through a beard (fine-medium hair) without having to stop every couple of strokes to clean the head?

Are you planning on DE shaving on a wild camp? That's intense!
I do a lot of bivvying myself, but I've never shaved on a trip before, unless it was a walk between two cars job, or a route with a BNB on the last night or something.
 
@ed

Certainly not every day but would be nice to have the option once or twice a week.

Plus I'm planning a kayak expedition which will last several months. A razor which can tackle any length of beard, shave my head etc would be good to have. It's just easier to keep clean with no hair when you're washing in cold water (and cold weather!). Quick sponge bath and your done.
 
I used be a kayaker. More sprinting than anything, but I don't think between a decent razor and a lightweight is going to me that much of a difference.

I have travelled all over the place for the past 45 years (a seaman) and I have to admit little travel razors have always made me giggle. I usually take two full on razors and the normal software and seem to get on fine. What is important to me is kit which does the job. One decent razor, a jar of good soap and a small brush should last the distance.

I have to admit a kayak expedition for several months sounds great and good luck with it all.
 
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