I have a Vision

 

This is yet another report on The Daily Adventure (formerly known as “The Morning Shave”). Today I had my first shave with my new Vision. The photo (even clicked) doesn’t do justice to its size and heft.

When I first started this new interest, I almost ordered the Merkur Vision, on the basic American principle of “bigger and more expensive is better” (cf. the Hummer, a comparison made explicit in the Vision’s description). But the fact that almost all holders for razors were labeled “Does not fit Vision” made me pause.

So I called Classic Shaving to talk to their shaving consultant. He said that most people found the Vision too big, wouldn’t fit under the nose, etc. He recommended, if that was the direction I was going, to go with the Futur, which I did.

Then I contracted RAD (Razor Acquisition Disorder) and decided I really needed some additional morning options—in particular, a safety razor that didn’t require a setting decision (both the Futur and the Vision are adjustable).

I picked a Merkur 1904 (pictured), which (in marketing parlance) “you never have to adjust” (i.e., you can’t—cf. “you never have to change the batteries”). I got a terrific shave with it—and it was easier to use than the Futur. (The critical reader may note a seeming contradiction between wanting more choices (more safety razors) and wanting no choices (nonadjusting safety razors). The critical reader is invited to adjust the criticism downward a tad and recognize the symptoms of RAD.)

But then I noticed something interesting in the discussion groups: Vision fans: shavers whose go-to razor was the Vision, shavers who declared it the best safety razor ever. Sure, there were those who hated the Vision, but why so many loving it?

In the interests of research, I thought I should give it a try. Gentlemen, this is the one. Somehow that large head delivers just the perfect angle to the blade. And, oddly, it’s less cumbersome under the nose than the Futur—perhaps because it encourages one to come in at a slant. This morning, with a new Feather blade, I had a BBS shave—baby-butt smooth.

The adjustment settings are labeled, with Teutonic whimsy (see: “whamsy”): V, I, S, other I, O, and N. N is the least aggressive and it’s the setting I used to start—and it did a fine job. The settings, BTW, are continuous: the labels are just for points along the continuum.

Used shaving soap. Two passes downward, one pass up, and then some touch up as I felt for rough spots. No nicks, no razor burn. Wonderful, wonderful razor. YMMV.

UPDATE: I’m told that the model to get now is the Vision 2000, which includes some engineering improvements on the original Vision. And here’s a more jaundiced view of the Vision, with some great information on disassembly, maintenance, and cleaning. Contrary to this guy’s experience, though, my Vision continues to perform admirably. And this review is also positive.

UPDATE 2: 24 Sept 2011: Continuing reports of problems with the Vision, as well as a problem of my own, prompt me to write a caution. I doubt that a Vision is a good choice if you have hard water, but if you go for it, follow the same cleaning routine I now recommend for everyone, but even more rigorously. First, after several uses of the Vision—say once a week if you’re a daily shaver—let it soak for an hour or two in a 1:4 mix of white vinegar and water. This should help remove soap scum and any hard water deposits. If you have an ultrasonic cleaner (50 watts is the minimum size you should consider), hit it with that as well each week. This sort of thorough prophylactic cleaning should prevent the problem with the mechanism seizing up.

The 3-piece razor is a traditional favorite: robust and sturdy, completely simple in structure—it even packs flat for storage when disassembled. A TTO razor, in contrast, is a fragile thing with many moving parts and generally joints that are somewhat insecure: a drop into the sink may cause a door to spring loose. So more attention and care is required for any TTO razor, and the Vision is especially demanding.