Razor Review - The Mach Zod

Got a pleasant surprise out of my trip to Target the other night... a free sample of the new razor from Jilette - The Mach Zod! I'd heard they were doing this, so it was in the back of my mind that I might be one of the lucky few to test drive the new model that I've been reading about in the trade magazines for a while. It's pretty rare for a new razor to get universal support in the reviews, but this one's been an industry darling throughout the testing process. Here's a snippet from Blade and Bath:

"...for those of you who like to be surprised, we're sorry, but we've gotta let the cat out of the bag. Who knew the addition of a guidance roller wheel would make such a difference in the blade experience? It hardly feels like we need to move our hand at all - this thing practically shaves on its own, and of course the shave itself is top notch. A very close crop indeed. Kudos to the Mach Zod. Kudos!"

When the most stingy of all razor mags gives a glowing review, and to a disposable no less, well that's just flat out shocking.

They're not the only ones, though. Check it:

"Best new shave of 2003!"
-Disposable Monthly

"I can't even feel the 5th blade at all!"
-The Razor Review

"Wow!"
-The Edge

(I can't even remember the last time The Edge didn't poo poo anything but a flat blade shave from their local barber.)

"Strong enough to be from another planet! Kneel before Zod!"
-Haircutter's Implements Weekly

(Double special kudos from me to them for the Superman reference. What a hip mag...)

I'm sure many of you are surprised at the fact that I keep such a close eye on the disposable razor scene, given that I rarely appear in public clean-shaven. But I argue that just the opposite is logical - when I do shave, I need something that's really gonna cut through the forest in record time, and without drawing blood at every other stroke. So It's definitely in my best interest to keep up with this stuff, and the Mach Zod has been the worst kept secret in the industry for months... but in a good way.

Let's face it, anyone who shaves should be interested in five independent blades, a guide wheel, a lubricating strip, a rather chamois-esque drying strip, and a special chemical that takes the place of aftershave and instantly cools the burn. Even if you're unnerved by the prospect of approaching your face with a sharp object roughly the size of a weed whacker, you've got to admit that the time savings are astronomical.

The one thing that they did manage to keep fairly well hidden is the look. I'd been surfing around the web for it, and this artist's rendition is the closest thing I've been able to find to how the finished product looks.

Ok, so it's really not close at all. I told you it's been kept a secret.

I'm sure you'll hear plenty about it in the coming weeks, though. Insiders have secretly dished out the scoop for a very intense advertising blitz for the release, featuring the fastest aircraft our armed forces can display in peacetime. I have to admit, I'll have the VCR ready.

I suppose I should mention at this point that this product doesn't actually exist. It's just been a running joke of Jake's and mine for years that there should be a Blade and Bath magazine, and I wanted to write something up that would reference it... I hope you haven't been too inconvenienced. I did get a free sample of the Gillette Sensor 3 the other night... it is a damn fine blade. I think even B and B would agree.