Reviews

Product summary

Razorock Mamba

Lipripper660 ·01-27-2018, 08:46 PM

Product price

$49.99


General thoughts
The Razorock Mamba is a CNC machined stainless razor made in Canada and represents perhaps the best value in the DE razor market. Certainly it'll claim that title in the machined stainless market. I've wanted to try one out for quite awhile now and at $50.00 (and off-the-shelf availability) I just couldn't say no. When I received the razor I was struck with its beauty. It's mirror polish and although others have reported visible machining marks, I haven't any on mine. Although I own and shave with some of the aggressive razors, I enjoy the more mild ones in my flock. I really enjoy the way a Jagger DE89 or a Murker 34C shaves me and use those two as a comparison to all other razors I try. The Mamba is a three piece razor and eveyrthing is mirrored. Top cap and base fit together perfectly. This razor aligns the blades with two studs protruding from the base plate. Blade alignment over the past two weeks has been perfect every time. The handle has no knurling but the profile of the handle offered plenty of grip. The base of the handle has a removable counter weight that 1) shortens the handle and 2) changes the balance of the razor. Neat feature but I find I like the razor with the knob in place. Threading the head onto the handle reveals a quality job and everything is smooth. Safety while loading the blade seems to be no more difficult than with other DE razors but as stated, alignment is perfect every time so no risk of a cut while repositioning blades.
My evaluation of this razor extends over a two week time period. I used feather, pol-silver supers, permasharp, and Gillette greens. All blades I find to perform about the same regardless of the razors they ride. This razor has a reputation of minimal audio feedback and next to no blade feel. THat would be my experience too. The razor seemed to like a bit more open angle (handle further from face) than either the Merkur or Jagger described above. Because it is so mild I found I really had to pay attention to angle or I was leaving stubble. The first several shaves left me with significant clean up to do. I used an alum block to grade the razor after every shave. With as mild as this razor seemed, I was surprised that the first couple of shaves left some stinging. I suspected that I unintentionally added pressure to try and get closer because the subsequent shaves showed no problems. Three pass shaves were needed to get DFS but all in all I'd get there if I paid attention to angle. The last three shaves were with a feather, then a feather and one shim, then a feather and two shims. I like this razor best with two shims. It seemed to shave just like a Jagger then. DFS doable with two pass and clean up then. The alum block showed no difference between shaves without shims. So although I would rather it be a load and go razor, putting in a couple of shims is ok and I will keep it even if it is a tad too mild for this mild razor lover.
(updateSmile I have found over considerably longer time that shims are not needed for this razor. It definitely benefits from a more open shaving angle though. I find if I ride the cap the shaver does the job shim less. Additionally, like other mild razors, the shave angle is critical! I have to be spot on with my angle or I'm lifting the blade away from my skin. Also, as with other mild shavers, t seems to prefer the sharper blades which is fine for me as my face has that same preference. This razor is still in my den and that says it all.

User Friendliness
This thing is next to impossible to nick yourself with. Easy to load with perfect blade alignment.

Grip
Not as grippy as knurling but certainly useable and beautiful.

Blade Replacement
Easy as any other three piece. Perfect alignment every time.

Balance
Perfect for me just as it comes from the package

Value
Wow!

Quality
Beautiful fit and finish

Packaging
Hey, it'll do.

Agon ·04-18-2018, 06:44 PM

Product price

49.99

Product merchant

razorock


General thoughts
The Mamba is a mild but efficient razor that could really be a daily driver for many people. It provides smooth comfortable shaves and I wouldn't hesitate to suggest it as a first razor to most people. Especially at it's price point. For only a few dollars more than what you'd pay for a Merkur or a EJ you're getting a quality machined razor. Definitely worth the splurge.

The only minor grievances I have with the design are that the bottom of the handle is rounded which means you can't set it down vertically without some kind of stand or something or unscrewing the weight from the base. And the handle is a bit slippery if you have any soap on your hands compared to RazoRock's anodized aluminum handles.

The head also covers up the razor blade tabs, which is a big feature I look for in my razors. Because I hate the feeling of sharp edges when shaving my mustache area.

Compared to both the Baby Smooth and the Stealth Slant, both of which I had issues with, the Mamba is a far better design in my opinion. To me it feels much less like it's holding the blade back from chewing up my face and more like it's just gliding along smoothly while mowing down anything I threw at it.

I did try 3+ days growth as well as multiple sequential days to determine its efficacy. And I can safely say this is one of the few razors that can do it all for me. In fact the only other razor in my collection that works as well for me is my Pils.

Overall, I think RazoRock definitely has a winner on their hands. And I wouldn't hesitate to suggest it to anyone looking for a mild but efficient daily driver.

User Friendliness
It's a very user friendly razor. Easy to load and align the blade. The only thing that I think many people may over look is that you can unscrew the base of the handle to reduce the weight.

Grip
Grip is your standard RazoRock style. It's easy to hold on to for the most part. But I find it slightly slippery if my hands have any soap on them when compared with the anodized aluminum handles.

Blade Replacement
The standard three piece blade replacement is super simple and easy. There is no real way to misalign the blade in the head due to the wide posts.

Balance
Overall balance is great, especially with the adjustable weight. Out of the box it tends to be slightly base heavy, which works really well with the head geometry. Other handles also work with the head, which is a plus.

Value
For a $50 razor this is a good buy. The finishing work is very nice and the head is machined. Which is something you rarely see at this price point.

Quality
Quality is high on this razor as well. There were no issues with fitment anywhere and no finish issues. Everything is quite nicely put together and will last a lifetime.

Packaging
I bought the razor used so I didn't get any packaging.

Comments


Matsilainen · 01-31-2018, 01:58 AM · in reply to #111
Thanks for the great review!
Daga · 02-06-2018, 09:19 PM · in reply to #111
This is my favorite non slant razor, and the price is awesome.
Lipripper660 · 02-25-2018, 07:17 PM · in reply to #111
I've spent considerably more time with this razor since I wrote the review. I figured two weeks straight with it would reveal its nature but I've been at it as an almost daily driver since that time AND I find I don't need the shims to get this razor to perform. Sharp blade, really wet lather, and extreme attention to angle and I'm digging it.
Matsilainen · 02-25-2018, 09:29 PM · in reply to #111
Lipripper660, good to see that it just gets better.
Agon · 03-08-2018, 05:52 AM · in reply to #111
I just picked one of these up and it's pretty nice. Do you know if the handle is machined as well. Or just the head? I think in the past most of the RR razors are machined heads on cast handles. That would certainly keep the costs down quite a bit.

I also found out the other day that the end of the handle unscrews so you can remove some of the weight if you like. Might be something to try out. I wasn't aware of that feature at first since I had picked it up used.
Lipripper660 · 04-18-2018, 10:49 PM · in reply to #111
Great review Agon.
Scorpion508 · 11-01-2018, 01:50 AM · in reply to #111
Wow!