The other day, I finally had the chance to run the Beast, the true Beast, the Yaqi Beast -- against my grail razor, the Ikon Tech. Please note that, unlike last time when I mistook the Matador that showed up in the post for the YB, this time I'm sure it's "the real MacKay".
Unlike the unreal McCoy, which showed promise but I was not able to master, this thing was easy to run. Like the iTech, it shaves best at a steep angle. Perhaps just a hair shallower but still steep. It also offers outstanding blade feel. Again, not quite as much as the iTech, but for most people that's a good thing. The iTech is both extremely "blade forward" and extremely smooth. This is a bit less blade forward and a bit less smooth, but still nicely balanced between the two.
The shave was excellent. Nothing so far has been quite up to par for me with the iTech, but this is one of the few razors that comes close. It's also wonderful to shave with. The only downside is that the bulbous head makes it a bit of a challenge under the nose.
In terms of the shave experience, running it with an Ikon Bamboo handle felt just about perfect. Nice heft and also nice balance. Will try it with the OSS sometime. I think the Bulldog would have been a tad too light and too short for my taste given the weight of the head, though the the Bulldog seems ideal with the R41. Perhaps the Beast head is heavier.
What's most remarkable with this thing is cost. Ali Express has it for $4.50 plus shipping. They run occasional sales but, at that price, don't bother waiting. Shipping adds almost as much as the cost of the razor (think I paid $4.11 for mine, which came to $7 total with shipping). Far more than fair considering the quality of the head and the distance from China.
Given the price, I'll add there were no obvious defects. In fact, the finish seems nice. Of course it's plated Zamak and one shouldn't expect it to last forever. But at that price, who cares. Moreover, it doesn't feel at all like junk (as many low-cost razors do). It's satisfying to hold, behold and use. A whole bunch of fellas have spoken highly of the Raspira but I found it truly unsatisfying because it's constructed of cheap pot metal with a resin handle. My Raspira wasn't nearly as aggressive as promised either (but given the low quality of the build, perhaps it differs from one to another). The Beast is very much a beast. And the build quality is solid, though not something one should expect to hand down to one's children. I have no doubt that yours will be exactly the same as mine.
For $7, it has to be the best value out there for the guy who likes aggressive razors. If you don't have one, buy it! Don't think about it; it's not worth your time. Don't pass go; don't collect $200. Just buy it!
Unlike the unreal McCoy, which showed promise but I was not able to master, this thing was easy to run. Like the iTech, it shaves best at a steep angle. Perhaps just a hair shallower but still steep. It also offers outstanding blade feel. Again, not quite as much as the iTech, but for most people that's a good thing. The iTech is both extremely "blade forward" and extremely smooth. This is a bit less blade forward and a bit less smooth, but still nicely balanced between the two.
The shave was excellent. Nothing so far has been quite up to par for me with the iTech, but this is one of the few razors that comes close. It's also wonderful to shave with. The only downside is that the bulbous head makes it a bit of a challenge under the nose.
In terms of the shave experience, running it with an Ikon Bamboo handle felt just about perfect. Nice heft and also nice balance. Will try it with the OSS sometime. I think the Bulldog would have been a tad too light and too short for my taste given the weight of the head, though the the Bulldog seems ideal with the R41. Perhaps the Beast head is heavier.
What's most remarkable with this thing is cost. Ali Express has it for $4.50 plus shipping. They run occasional sales but, at that price, don't bother waiting. Shipping adds almost as much as the cost of the razor (think I paid $4.11 for mine, which came to $7 total with shipping). Far more than fair considering the quality of the head and the distance from China.
Given the price, I'll add there were no obvious defects. In fact, the finish seems nice. Of course it's plated Zamak and one shouldn't expect it to last forever. But at that price, who cares. Moreover, it doesn't feel at all like junk (as many low-cost razors do). It's satisfying to hold, behold and use. A whole bunch of fellas have spoken highly of the Raspira but I found it truly unsatisfying because it's constructed of cheap pot metal with a resin handle. My Raspira wasn't nearly as aggressive as promised either (but given the low quality of the build, perhaps it differs from one to another). The Beast is very much a beast. And the build quality is solid, though not something one should expect to hand down to one's children. I have no doubt that yours will be exactly the same as mine.
For $7, it has to be the best value out there for the guy who likes aggressive razors. If you don't have one, buy it! Don't think about it; it's not worth your time. Don't pass go; don't collect $200. Just buy it!