2021/22 Rocnel Sailor Adjustable

Just thought I’d pop back in here to add my thoughts on the Homelike Shaving Taiga in comparison to the Sailor, now that I’ve had a Taiga for a few weeks. My Taiga is the steel one with satin finish. All this is personal, but I find that while I like the Taiga, it is not close to the Sailor for me. I know some of you feel they are quite equal, but it is different for me.

The Taiga gives me very good shaves - not quite as long-lasting or comfortable as the Sailor, but still very good indeed. The biggest shortcoming of the Taiga for me is the balance, which is rather head-heavy, and the razor just doesn’t feel as natural in my hand as the Sailor does. With the Taiga I am always more aware of the razor rather than the shaving. The Sailor gives me more smoothness too, and a more pleasant degree of blade feel - I don’t know why, but I feel like it has to do with the shape and position of the Sailor’s safety bars relative to the blade edge, but the Sailor is always a very pleasant feeling for me and it doesn’t cause irritation even when I expect it should. Altogether I don’t feel like I gel as much with the Taiga or find as much pleasure using it as I do with the Sailor. The Sailor seems to be more evolved and hangs together better as a design, with the look, the weight, the precision and the almost industrial build quality - it has a very coherent character, which for me the Taiga doesn’t quite match. These things all add up to the difference between “like” and “love”.

None of this is to criticise the Taiga, which I think is an excellent razor, and these are only my preferences. Focusing on the differences inevitably magnifies them and gives them more apparent weight than they should have. I do think if you have a Sailor then it probably makes more sense to consider a titanium Taiga rather than steel, so that you get a lightweight and therefore very different alternative shaving experience from an adjustable. If both are steel then, for me, the Taiga suffers from direct comparison with a masterpiece.

Am interested in other views, since I know some of you have both razors.

Just thought I’d pop back in here to add my thoughts on the Homelike Shaving Taiga in comparison to the Sailor, now that I’ve had a Taiga for a few weeks. My Taiga is the steel one with satin finish. All this is personal, but I find that while I like the Taiga, it is not close to the Sailor for me. I know some of you feel they are quite equal, but it is different for me.

The Taiga gives me very good shaves - not quite as long-lasting or comfortable as the Sailor, but still very good indeed. The biggest shortcoming of the Taiga for me is the balance, which is rather head-heavy, and the razor just doesn’t feel as natural in my hand as the Sailor does. With the Taiga I am always more aware of the razor rather than the shaving. The Sailor gives me more smoothness too, and a more pleasant degree of blade feel - I don’t know why, but I feel like it has to do with the shape and position of the Sailor’s safety bars relative to the blade edge, but the Sailor is always a very pleasant feeling for me and it doesn’t cause irritation even when I expect it should. Altogether I don’t feel like I gel as much with the Taiga or find as much pleasure using it as I do with the Sailor. The Sailor seems to be more evolved and hangs together better as a design, with the look, the weight, the precision and the almost industrial build quality - it has a very coherent character, which for me the Taiga doesn’t quite match. These things all add up to the difference between “like” and “love”.

None of this is to criticise the Taiga, which I think is an excellent razor, and these are only my preferences. Focusing on the differences inevitably magnifies them and gives them more apparent weight than they should have. I do think if you have a Sailor then it probably makes more sense to consider a titanium Taiga rather than steel, so that you get a lightweight and therefore very different alternative shaving experience from an adjustable. If both are steel then, for me, the Taiga suffers from direct comparison with a masterpiece.

Am interested in other views, since I know some of you have both razors.

Excellent assessment when comparing SS to SS in these 2 razors. The Sailor Master Collection is my number 1 razor but the Taiga in titanium is an extremely close second to it. The Taiga in titanium opens all the way up like all of my Sailors and provides an extremely close and comfortable shave. When Murat does the Sailor in titanium, I may stop buying any more razors altogether…….MAYBE!!


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I don’t know how I would feel about a titanium Sailor. I’m sure I would buy it but I feel like the weight of the current Sailor is essential to the character of the razor. It looks and feels like it should be heavy. Hard to predict whether a sub-100g version would feel right or if it would make it seem more ordinary. I kinda feel like a titanium version should also be stripped back and look like a lightweight - maybe with the same mechanics but a quite different cosmetic design - maybe a skeleton version.

I don’t know how I would feel about a titanium Sailor. I’m sure I would buy it but I feel like the weight of the current Sailor is essential to the character of the razor. It looks and feels like it should be heavy. Hard to predict whether a sub-100g version would feel right or if it would make it seem more ordinary. I kinda feel like a titanium version should also be stripped back and look like a lightweight - maybe with the same mechanics but a quite different cosmetic design - maybe a skeleton version.

I agree that, to me, the weight, and possibly heft, of a Sailor is what allows it work.  Not sure titanium would do it (for me, at least).  I have tried a few titanium razors and I usually find I don't like them -- there is a resonance to titanium that I don't like.  Many folks discuss the soft facefeel of titanium.  The metal is soft, yes, but the razor, as a whole, has an unpleasant feedback.  I think I then compensate and try to get rid of the feedback by using more pressure.  The Sailor, for me, is a good razor because its weight and balance are such that I can just let it do its job.  (BTW, I have to give DanLaw credit for helping me determine and focus on why I have this reaction to titanium razors.). I'm fairly comfortable with my understanding of this reaction so that, if Murat made a Ti Sailor, I doubt I'd spring for it.

I do like some razors in titanium. Some just seem better in steel. And some really shine in copper or brass. I prefer my Timeless razors in titanium - it seems to improve the feel and make them more nimble and enjoyable. H&S P076 is equally good for me both in titanium and copper - just different. Carbon Cx feels awful to me in titanium - it’s too light and feels flimsy and rough, and I think the vibrations you mention probably overwhelm the shaving feel. But it can’t just be the weight because my titanium Vector is great and that weighs about 40g too.

I think for me it depends on the particular razor which material feels most “right”. With the Sailor the heavy steel just feels “right” to me.

I don’t know how I would feel about a titanium Sailor. I’m sure I would buy it but I feel like the weight of the current Sailor is essential to the character of the razor. It looks and feels like it should be heavy. Hard to predict whether a sub-100g version would feel right or if it would make it seem more ordinary. I kinda feel like a titanium version should also be stripped back and look like a lightweight - maybe with the same mechanics but a quite different cosmetic design - maybe a skeleton version.

I talk to Murat off and on and he has some ideas for that particular Sailor. May be a combination of some titanium parts and stainless parts. We’ll see but I have been surprised by how much I am liking my titanium Taiga. I had to get used to it at first because I was used to my first gen Taiga and the weight difference is huge!


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The Rocnel razors look beautiful.  I don’t think I’m ready to drop that kind of coin… yet.  

I’ve never used the Taiga but have heard some describe it as a more mild version of the Rex Ambassador.  

I don’t own a premium adjustable (have a slim) and hopefully will change that this year.  Right now, I’m watching closely at early feedback on the Konsul.  If I could pickup a relatively new version of the SS Taiga, I would probably bite but I’ve noticed that they do come up for sale very often. 

Have you tried the Tatara Muramase?

Me personally, I wouldn’t change a thing about the Rocnel, maybe a ring in copper
Today’s shave was sublime with the ROC 22’

I use both the Rocnel MC 2021 and the a Taiga Ti SE....I have often thought of writing a post to
compare them, but gave up as I just couldn't think of what to say.

They are completely different razors that both end up in the ecstasy zone, by way of very different routes.

The Rocnel has heft and authority... and delivers fantastic shaves even on 2.
The Taiga Ti by comparison takes a more delicate approach...it feels more intricate to use and
the angle of attack is very different mainly due to the shape of the heads. Still very smooth.

Each of these razors can be opened up beyond wolfmans current gap offering, I feel.
But let me be clear: even the Rocnel cannot replicate the combo of efficiency and smoothness that
the Wolfman 1.55 Ti captures...fixed gap razors are one/two trick ponies, however, so we have to accept that.

I prefer both the Rocnel and the Taiga, since either prevents boredom from setting in with the other.

The Rocnel razors look beautiful.  I don’t think I’m ready to drop that kind of coin… yet.  

I’ve never used the Taiga but have heard some describe it as a more mild version of the Rex Ambassador.  

I don’t own a premium adjustable (have a slim) and hopefully will change that this year.  Right now, I’m watching closely at early feedback on the Konsul.  If I could pickup a relatively new version of the SS Taiga, I would probably bite but I’ve noticed that they do come up for sale very often. 

Have you tried the Tatara Muramase?

Yes, I own the Muramasa as well and love that one but only use it on the 4 and 5 setting. 1-3 are not useable for me because those settings are too mild. I have asked them to make an XL version with a longer handle and a few more settings going up in aggression. They said a while ago that they were seriously considering that.


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