Price: I got this off the B/S/T for a lower price, but I'd say it'd be a good deal even at full price. For ~$50 for black horn, it's solid competition for the New Forest 2211 (as soft, mid-range silvertips go), and you can get other neat horn patterns for prices up to about $100 (~$70 for the normal, yellow-black pattern, which is what I have).
Quality: I don't have any problems. As I say, mine came to me in used condition, so I can't comment on initial shedding and the like, but it's been a solid, wonderful brush for me. The handle is the real selling point -- real horn for a price that won't break the bank -- and, surprisingly, the knot doesn't disappoint. Though, of course, you could always just get the handle and supply your own knot from TGN or the like.
Density: Not bad at all. Not as dense as my Simpson's Eagle, of course, but much denser than my Fendrihan silvertip. It's about on part with the New Forest. I got it for bowl-lathering creams, so I haven't really tried face lathering with it, but it'd certainly work. It wouldn't be a face-lathering beast like the Simpson, but it certainly would be serviceable for a face lather.
Stiffness of tips: This isn't a scrubby brush, and doesn't pretend to be. It's soft and pillowy, and the stiffness of the tips is nothing to write home about. However, I haven't experienced any problems with it either, and I didn't buy a silvertip to be a scrubbing monster. Is it "floppy"? A little...depends on what you're looking for. It's got its niche, and stiffness isn't it.
Softness of tips: It's soft. Really, really soft. I haven't used a Kent or Rooney, so I haven't really felt the benchmark of soft brushes, but it's soft enough that I can't feel any scritching, which is enough for me.
Ergonomic: Aside from the horn handle, this is the Kimson's real triumph over the New Forest in the realm of midrange silvertips. Whereas the New Forest feels cheap and is kind of uncomfortable to palm, the Kimson feels great no matter how you hold it, and the handle works perfectly for me. It's a great, classic design.
Latherability: No complaints here!
Overall: It's soft, it's luxurious, and it feels like a quality item. Similarly priced brushes (like the New Forest I keep comparing it to) feel like they've cut corners to get to their price point, whereas the KimSon feels like the real deal. Highly recommended.
Quality: I don't have any problems. As I say, mine came to me in used condition, so I can't comment on initial shedding and the like, but it's been a solid, wonderful brush for me. The handle is the real selling point -- real horn for a price that won't break the bank -- and, surprisingly, the knot doesn't disappoint. Though, of course, you could always just get the handle and supply your own knot from TGN or the like.
Density: Not bad at all. Not as dense as my Simpson's Eagle, of course, but much denser than my Fendrihan silvertip. It's about on part with the New Forest. I got it for bowl-lathering creams, so I haven't really tried face lathering with it, but it'd certainly work. It wouldn't be a face-lathering beast like the Simpson, but it certainly would be serviceable for a face lather.
Stiffness of tips: This isn't a scrubby brush, and doesn't pretend to be. It's soft and pillowy, and the stiffness of the tips is nothing to write home about. However, I haven't experienced any problems with it either, and I didn't buy a silvertip to be a scrubbing monster. Is it "floppy"? A little...depends on what you're looking for. It's got its niche, and stiffness isn't it.
Softness of tips: It's soft. Really, really soft. I haven't used a Kent or Rooney, so I haven't really felt the benchmark of soft brushes, but it's soft enough that I can't feel any scritching, which is enough for me.
Ergonomic: Aside from the horn handle, this is the Kimson's real triumph over the New Forest in the realm of midrange silvertips. Whereas the New Forest feels cheap and is kind of uncomfortable to palm, the Kimson feels great no matter how you hold it, and the handle works perfectly for me. It's a great, classic design.
Latherability: No complaints here!
Overall: It's soft, it's luxurious, and it feels like a quality item. Similarly priced brushes (like the New Forest I keep comparing it to) feel like they've cut corners to get to their price point, whereas the KimSon feels like the real deal. Highly recommended.