I have been testing the new WR4 head. Based on the initial pic, I was very skeptical. I thought it would be too big and bulky. It's actually very slim and, despite having a big "face," it weighs very little. My aluminum head weighs 6.8g, so that would be about 21g for the SS version. That's even lighter than the WR1. I think it's about the most intuitive razor I've ever used in terms of getting the angle just right. It's totally mindless in that respect. Just hold it to your face and the optimum angle is right there.
I tested it with Feather Pro Supers and Kai Cap'n Titan Milds. I also did a half face shave with the WR4 vs a SS Vector. The Vector is a little mild for me with the Kai Milds, but is good with the Supers. With the WR4, the Milds were perfect for everyday shaves and the Supers kicked it up a notch for 48 hour + growth. The gap is .88 mm and I think I'd stick with it if I ordered a WR4 in a different material.
My only criticism was that the cap and base of my tester are somewhat tricky to separate, especially when wet. I devised a "work around"...I leave it loosely attached to the handle and separate them with my fingernail. I'm not sure if this is more pronounced because it's aluminum...maybe the cap would fall off easier if it was heavier? I dunno. I relayed this info to James and he's going to check it out.
Overall, I am very impressed by the performance of this head. I've been a bit burned out on buying/trying new gear. I was happy to get the offer to test it, but didn't expect to like it as much as I do. I actually bought a used Timeless aluminum razor for its handle so I can make this an all-aluminum, permanent addition to my razor lineup. I spoke with a couple other testers and it sounds like they really enjoyed it, as well. I look forward to reading more reviews.
I tested it with Feather Pro Supers and Kai Cap'n Titan Milds. I also did a half face shave with the WR4 vs a SS Vector. The Vector is a little mild for me with the Kai Milds, but is good with the Supers. With the WR4, the Milds were perfect for everyday shaves and the Supers kicked it up a notch for 48 hour + growth. The gap is .88 mm and I think I'd stick with it if I ordered a WR4 in a different material.
My only criticism was that the cap and base of my tester are somewhat tricky to separate, especially when wet. I devised a "work around"...I leave it loosely attached to the handle and separate them with my fingernail. I'm not sure if this is more pronounced because it's aluminum...maybe the cap would fall off easier if it was heavier? I dunno. I relayed this info to James and he's going to check it out.
Overall, I am very impressed by the performance of this head. I've been a bit burned out on buying/trying new gear. I was happy to get the offer to test it, but didn't expect to like it as much as I do. I actually bought a used Timeless aluminum razor for its handle so I can make this an all-aluminum, permanent addition to my razor lineup. I spoke with a couple other testers and it sounds like they really enjoyed it, as well. I look forward to reading more reviews.