After Paul’s review of the Equinox, I was keen to try a shavette myself. These convenient straight razors feature disposable blades, which means they’re a low-maintenance alternative to more traditional options.
Attracted by the wooden scales (handles), I was pretty keen on the Sanguine Coolcut R5, which I purchased from Amazon (link below). We’re already very fond of their their quality beard scissors so I was keen to try out their take on a razor.
Overview Of The Sanguine R5 Shavette
Brand: Sanguine- Material: Wood & Stainless Steel
- Weight: 50 g (1.75 Oz)
- Mechanism: Clasp
- Included Blades: 5 Treet Platinum Double Edge Blades
- Price: $14.00 [Buy Now On Amazon]
Indeed, the scales were very nice indeed up close. Although I couldn’t find out what type of wood was used, I really liked their premium feel and finish. Compared to the other razors in the best shavette guide, these certainly stood out.
The wood has been cut and sanded into a very ergonomic shape and although it’s lighter than the Equinox mentioned above, it felt solid in the hand.
I also noticed that rather than using a rivet like most razors, there was a tightening screw. I imagine that this would come in handy to adjust the hold both for myself and professionals alike.
As for the blade’s arm, this is made out of stainless steel and seems to be nicely cut. However, the tang felt a bit bulky compared to others that I have seen.
Another handy addition was the faux leather pouch. As I travel a lot, this is particularly useful for me so I was grateful for it to be included.
Overall, the razor feels solid in the hand. Although lighter than the Equinox, we did like its balance and grip.
Treet Platinum Blades
I’ll be honest that I was somewhat disappointed by the razor blades supplied. Whilst the Equinox reviewed by Paul featured100 Derby Premium blades, these came with only 5 Treet Platinum that I had never heard of before.
In fact, the link had advertised that they would come with Wilkinson Swords that I was looking forward to using. However, this isn’t a deal-breaker as the razors seem to be relatively decent.
Nevertheless, they were double edge razors, which meant that I had to carefully snap them in two. This did mean that I got 10 blades rather than 5 in the end.
I found that these Treet Platinums, which are made in Pakistan, lasted just over a single shave, though. I ended up actually buying 50 Derby Premium blades myself, which actually only cost just over $6 on Amazon anyway.
Shaving Experience
Unlike Paul, I have kept my beard for now. Therefore, I reserved the Sanguine shavette for regular touch-ups on my cheek and neck lines. With the neck line being particularly precarious, I felt that this gave me a decent experience with the razor anyway.
Personally, I feel that as a razor, the Sanguine is maybe even superior to the Equinox in terms of overall experience. Thanks to the solid build, wooden scales and steel arm, the shave was very smooth and I didn’t experience any uncomfortable vibrations.
Furthermore, the tightening screw proved to really come in handy as it reduced the vibrations even less to give me a perfectly smooth shave.
Whilst the Equinox’s arm is slightly curved, this was is perfectly straight and quite chunky. This made me feel that I was exchanging visibility for a more solid and durable shave. In fact, it was a deal that suited me perfectly!
Final Verdict
In conclusion, I really enjoyed using the Sanguine to such an extent that it’s featured among the best shavettes that you can buy online. Currently at 2nd place, I feel that it’s only really let down by the blades that were supplied.
Meanwhile, the Equinox nips it in the bud in the top position thanks to its exceptional value for money and versatility.
Nevertheless, for me this is the better razor. I love the wooden handle and the tightening screw allows you to personalise your shaving experience. Furthermore, it’s not much more expensive than the Equinox at only $14 on Amazon, which even includes the leather pouch!
"A solid and unique shavette. The wooden scales on this shavette make it something really different from the rest!"Rating: 4.0 ★★★★
About the Author: Paul Anthony
2 Comments
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Are there any risks in water damaging the wood?
Hi there,
If you’re careless, you may damage it by exposing the wood to water and leaving it in a humid environment. I suggest that you dry it down after using it then leave it to air dry in a non-humid environment. I’d recommend this with all razors, though.
Best,
CP