Safety Razor Review

Parker 98R Review – A Heavyweight BarberPole Razor

The Parker 98R is known as the super heavyweight barberpole safety razor, and weighing in at 120g –it is very weighty.

The design mentioned ‘barberpole’ comes from the handle being designed like a sign that you’ll see outside a barbers shop.

After just using and reviewing the Merkur 15C it was going to be a fun contrast of very different razors to use. The 15C is the opposite of the 98R in every way.

Please don’t use the above two razors to compare. And you’ll find the smaller 15C is at the smallest end of the handle length scale, whereas standard razors are longer but not as long as the Parker 98R.

In this review we will take a look at the features and design of the 98R, tell you all about how it shaved with various days of beard and stubble growth, and I will also give a recommendation of who it’s best suited for.

The Brand – The family owned business Parker Shaving has been trading since 1973. They’re based in India and make a wide range of shaving supplies, including a range of safety razors like the Parker Variant recently reviewed here. Parker is up there in popularity with many of the world’s leading companies that make safety razors.

Parker 98R Description & Features

As mentioned, the 98R is a heavyweight safety razor that’s bulky in every way. Parker Shaving state this is a razor for those gents with large hands, and I agree, although some guys with average-sized hands just like a heftier razor.

• Materials and finish – Brass construction with an attractive chrome finish. Brass materials are not as strong or durable as stainless steel, but they’re much cheaper.
• Handle – The handle is deeply engraved and one directional like the movement of a barbers pole that provides grip for users. While this does not offer as much grip as a deeply knurled handle it is sufficient and attractive. This razor has a long and thick handle that’s longer and thicker than most.
• Double edged – Each side of the razor head exposes the razor blade that enables users to change sides while shaving, reducing rinsing somewhat.
• Closed comb – The closed comb means the bottom safety bar of the head is straight without any gaps. This does help to stretch the skin slightly before the blade cuts the hair to make it more efficient and give a closer cut. There are also indents on the bottom bar to help make each stroke easier.
• Three parts – Like other three-part razors, this comes apart into 3 pieces when screwing off the handle. Three-part razors clean up very well as the whole razor comes apart, but they are a bit more tricky regarding blade replacement.
• Blade replacement – A user must unscrew the handle from the head and place a blade within the top cap before screwing the three pieces back together. A bit trickier than two-part and butterfly razors, and attention must be given to keeping the blade aligned when tightening the handle.
• Dimensions & Weight – This hefty razor weighs in at approx 120g. Overall length: 109mm.
• Warranty – Parker Razors have a warranty for 1 year. After contacting Parker they informed me that they would also deal with each customer on a case-by-case basis which means they offer flexibility.

How well does the Parker 98R perform and Shave?

What a contrast this was going to be after spending time shaving with the super light Merkur 15c that has a very small handle. Quite the opposite in every way apart from being metal, chrome finished, and made up of three parts –it was going to be fun!

I tested and used the Parker 98R for about three weeks and shaved with various levels of beard and stubble growth. I used it over 2, 3, and 4 days’ worth of growth and tried out a couple of razor blades (Astra & Feather).

Because of the bulkiness and weight it kind of felt like I was using one of the heavier adjustable safety razors like the Merkur Futur, which I am not sure I really liked.

The weightiness is something I appreciated, as always, and what many other guys appreciate as well.

This razor performed best on 2 – 3 days of growth and seemed to struggle with coarse hair after 3 days. There was quite a lot of tugging when shaving with 3 days or more growth which I thought might not happen once I changed the blade to a Feather blade, but it did still tug quite a lot after using the Feather.

I would say the aggressiveness is within the moderate range. It’s not overly mild and not too aggressive.

The long handle made head-shaving easy enough. Long handles for head shaving do seem to work very well.

I do find the head on the 98R quite big and awkward to get to the little bits of hair left under the nose. I get to it, but it can take a few tries.

Overall I can’t say I was impressed or dissatisfied with how this razor shaves and performs, and I kind of felt neutral about it. It has its pros and cons, though!

I would like to add that I did find this razor very forgiving in terms of avoiding cuts and irritation. I have hair growth that goes in various directions and have to make a lot of strokes with a razor even after 2 or 3 passes with some razors, and the 98R did this without any problems, giving me a very close shave when I finish.

Handle and Grip 7/10

The handle design with the barberpole engraved grip and long thick handle ensures there is plenty of grip available, even for those with the biggest hands. Engraved does not offer as much grip as knurled, although engraved can look more attractive.

The thickness and length of the handle is ideal for some guys with big hands or who have a preference for bigger handles.

Weight and Balance – 7/10

If a guy needs some weight in his razor then the 120g of the Parker 98R provides plenty. It could be too heavy for those transitioning from cartridge razors, though.

It all seemed to balance out well enough between the head and handle, and the weight supports helping a user use less pressure during shaving at times.

Look & Design – 8/10

If a user does not mind or like the bulkiness of the 98R then the razor is a great-looking tool. Chrome always looks shiny and attractive.

Although the razor head is bulky, the drainage underneath works really well. I could see the shaving debris coming through the gaps while shaving.

There is only a small amount of blade overhang on each side of the blade head which is fine.

Ease of Use – 7/10

While the large size of the Parker 98R will make shaving easier for gents with large hands, I am not sure the bulkiness or even the length enables it to be one of the best razors for shaving under the nose, neck (shaving upwards) and the chin area.

Value for Money – 9/10

The 98R does shine in this area (forking out the cash). It costs around $30 USD, £23 GBP, and 26,00 € Euros, which is not expensive for this type of razor.

Any Common Consumer Issues, Complaints or Positive Reports?

There are plenty of positive reports from buyers and users and no consistent negatives worth reporting, which is encouraging.

Most of the guys using the Parker 98R were pleased with the heftiness of the razor and thought it was well worth its affordable price tag.

Final Thoughts – and who is the Parker 98R best suited for?

The Parker 98R is not what I would call an impressive safety razor, and as mentioned above, it has its pros and cons.

Its medium level of aggression allows it to work well up to 3 days worth of growth, and the overall length suits those blokes with larger hands or those that just prefer longer handles on a razor.

The price tag is very good for a good quality razor like the 98R.

This would not be my first recommendation for the beginner transitioning from using cartridge razors to wet shaving with safety razors. This is not to say a beginner would not eventually come to prefer this type of razor; it’s just not where I would advise them to start.

For the right guy wanting some heft to his razor he should be happy with the close shaving results!

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