Customer Reviews

Gillette SensorExcel Cartridges, 5-Count (Pack of 2)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The Gillette Sensor Excel is the second-generation razor from Gillette's long-lived Sensor line. The Sensor Excel blades were the first among Gillette razors to add rubberized 'microfins' at the bottom of the cartridges...a standard they have included on every Gillette produce since Excel's debut. But with so many razors brought to market since its rollout, how does Sensor Excel stand up to competition today?

Aesthetics: 4 stars. I like the design of the Sensor Excel. It's a very clean, understated design that feels good in the hand and offers good maneuverability when shaving. The Excel cartridges are noticeably smaller than, say, Mach 3 cartridges (about 1/3 smaller). The cartridge also sits at a much more pronounced angle than most razor systems today. This overall design allows for more precision shaving--areas below the nose and around the sideburns are very easy to shave as a result.

The shave: 4.5 stars. One can tell that this truly was Gillette's workhorse model for quite some time, and that a lot of research & development went into the creation of this system. The Sensor Excel offers a comfortable shave with minimal drag, leaving the user feeling clean and smooth. As stated above, the blade angle and smaller cartridge design allows for easy precision shaving of sideburns and moustache/goatee areas--an ideal choice for men who maintain those types of facial hair. It is noteworthy that, as a person with sensitive skin, I felt no facial sensitivity after shaving with the Sensor Excel--something that I cannot say about newer razors such as Quattro and Fusion. For those with sensitive skin, this would perhaps be a wise choice.

Durability: 2.5 stars. This was where Sensor Excel disappointed me. I get, at most, three shaves out of one cartridge. Drag and other issues resulting from dull blades arose quickly after two to three shaves. It's safe to say Sensor Excel has been surpassed by newer razors that have better blade coatings. By comparison, during my testing of the Gillette Fusion I got almost two weeks out of one cartridge. However, with the steep cost of blades for newer razors, Sensor Excel may still be a more affordable option.

Overall: A fine razor offering a no-frills kind of approach to shaving. No advertising or fancy marketing to deal with when it comes to Sensor Excel--just a razor that does what it's supposed to do, well. Durability comes into question here as newer razors offer better blade coatings, but still a smart choice for those who don't buy into (and don't need) the uber-bladed razor trend. Recommended.

I tried every new razor Gillette introduced over the years from Trac II, Trac II Plus, Atra, Sensor, et. al. Each one was better than the previous one. However when they started with the 3 and 5 blades I said "enough already". I finally tried them as samples, but drew the line at the vibrating one. The Sensor Excel is really the best. The problem is it got so expensive, in a large part because the 5 blade razors were hugely expensive and Gillette/P&G couldn't have an old product that worked so well so much cheaper. At least with Amazon's auto ship it makes the blades reasonable. Perhaps the crowd at P&G are responsible for these ridiculous new models out now with 6 blades (5 for the face and 1 for under the nose). If the Sensor Excel is ever discontinued, I'll have to try safety razor I guess.

To sell what's basically a commodity item at higher prices, razor manufacturers seem to be constantly adding shaving edges to their blade cartridges. Decades ago there was a TV ad parodying the escalation in the multiple-blade razor wars, with a funny animation showing what supposedly happened to each beard hair as the successive blade edges passed over it. The mock slogan: "Because you'll believe anything."
I got tired of paying for the 4-edge and 5-edge blades that now cost several dollars apiece. The simple double and triple blades are getting harder and harder to find, let alone at a reasonable price, so I was delighted to hear I could get them on a "subscription" basis from Amazon. The Gillette Sensor Excel blades arrived fast, and they work great. Additional blades will be mailed to me at regular intervals, and I can terminate the subscription at any time. Good deal!

I have been using Sensor Excel ever since they came on the market. I've tried a lot of the others, and keep going back to them, getting the smoothest, closest shaves. It seems that they will or already have discontinued the line, so I turned to Amazon to get them. The order was accurate and came quickly.

My husband has been using the Gillette Sensor Excel for many years. The cartridges we received from this seller must be some sort of counterfeit knock-off. The blades are so dull that my husband can't even get one decent shave out of them. They also scratch his face when he tries to use them. Never had a problem with other refill cartridges in the past. Do not buy from this seller. Not worth it. If I could give these "0" stars I would.

I first bought a Sensor after its roll-out at the 1991 Super Bowl. I haven't changed since, except for a few experimental purchases. Never cuts. Non-pivot blade give excellent control. Cleans well. Lasts a very long time without getting appreciably dull when kept clean. Unlike Animal Farm...two blades good, more blades not better.

Despite what the reviews say from 2009, the latest batch being sold and shipped from what appears to be Gillette, are garbage. You can usually tell if you are getting gray market (blades that the company dumped because of poor manufacturing) or outright fakes, because the first shave with the blade feels like it is old and causes cuts.

I have used these blades for years, but this was the first (and last) time I purchased them from Amazon. They are horrible quality and felt worse than blades used way too long. I nicked myself badly nearly every use. I have read elsewhere that some Amazon customers have suspected certain branded blades were cheap knock-offs. Perhaps they are just "seconds" that are being dumped. Whatever the reason, these are the worst blades I have ever used.

I have sensitive skin, and most razor blades give me a major case of razor burn. Through trial and error, plus reading advice online and in magazines, I've come to the conclusion that two blades actually give a better shave than the blades with 3,4,or 5 blades (and probably by the time you read this they'll be up to 6, if they're not already). It's all just marketing. These blades do the job, and they don't tear up your skin as badly. Plus, buying these blades on Amazon makes buying slightly more affordable. Because let's face it, Gillette is taking us for a ride with their mach line of blades, paying Derek Jeter and friends millions to convince us more blades is better. The proof is in the results, and my wallet.

These blades used to last a long time. Now they start scraping in 5-10 uses and need to be replaced. I think they really want everyone to upgrade to the fusion and for those who insist on using the old product they make it available but with poor quality.