Gillette Sensor Excel Cartridges, 5-Count Packages (Pack of 2)
Review by Mark : Tried almost everything else

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.

Gillette Sensor Excel Cartridges, 5-Count Packages (Pack of 2)
Review by zebras5 : Great blades, good price

The Sensor Excel blades were exactly what I ordered and expected. They were delivered on time and in excellent condition. I can highly recommend this vendor, and would do business with this vendor again.

Gillette Sensor Excel Cartridges, 5-Count Packages (Pack of 2)
Review by VA Reviewer : almost a classic

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.

Gillette Sensor Excel Cartridges, 5-Count Packages (Pack of 2)
Review by Rob Streit : Good blades at a reasonable price

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!

Gillette Sensor Excel Cartridges, 5-Count Packages (Pack of 2)
Review by J. W. McGhee : A fine shave, perhaps surpassed by other razors

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.