Item Description
I was impressed by Fido’s first brush effort, the New Forest 2201, so when he announced his new brush, the New Forest 2211, allegedly stuffed with more and better “silvertip badger” bristles, I immediately bought one.
However, when the NF2211 arrived, I was disappointed. It looked exactly like the 2201. I mean exactly. I kicked myself for laying out the money for it. I really, really wanted to hate it.
Then I used it.
Don’t use this brush. If you do, you will kick yourself over every brush you ever spent more money on. Which, based on Fido’s pricing, will be most of your brushes.
In appearance, the NF2211 knot is a bold bulb shape. It really does look exactly like the NF2201, but only until you use it once. Then it blooms nicely. The density looks the same as the NF2201, but it's not. It's more dense, and it feels softer yet thicker. Comparing it to other brands, the density isn’t quite the equal of a good Simpsons, but it’s close; it’s more like a Rooney, but not as soft. [Then again, I think Rooneys are too soft.] The bristles hit a sweet spot, with excellent backbone but very soft tips. Dry, the bristles feel slightly stiffer and coarser than a Simpsons Best, but the tips are about the same; wet, there's virtually no difference. The size is about ideal, big enough to lather you up quickly and thoroughly, but not so big that lather ends up in your ears or up your nose. I measure it at 23mm diameter, 49mm loft.
Fido apparently copied the Simpsons Persian Jar handle shape for the 2201; I guess he believed it the optimal handle for a shaving brush, and who’s to say he’s wrong. It’s very grippable for bowl or mug lathering, works well for face lathering, and has no crevices for soap to gunk up in. The 2211 is *almost* identical; the base is a bit chunkier, not totally tapered like the earlier version. Whether that is an intentional refinement, or an accident of production, I do not know. It doesn’t affect grip or usability at all.
The brush quickly whips up great lather with both soaps and creams, and does an especially grand job on my favorite, mixing soap and cream. It lays down a smooth, thick, full lather coat that is just a joy on the face. When loaded with lather, it feels as soft as any Simpsons I have used, and nearly as soft as a Rooney. There is no scratchiness.
As I say, I wanted to hate the NF2211. I wanted to say the Fido cult is silly and the Fido brushes are vastly overrated. I wanted to say something snarky like “it’s the best brush you can buy for 35 pounds sterling shipped.” Well, it IS the best brush you can buy for 35 pounds sterling. It’s at least as good as any brush you can buy for 70 pounds sterling. It isn’t clearly outranked by any brush you can buy for 100 pounds sterling. But the Fido cult is still silly. He’s just a man. A man who makes excellent brushes.
However, when the NF2211 arrived, I was disappointed. It looked exactly like the 2201. I mean exactly. I kicked myself for laying out the money for it. I really, really wanted to hate it.
Then I used it.
Don’t use this brush. If you do, you will kick yourself over every brush you ever spent more money on. Which, based on Fido’s pricing, will be most of your brushes.
In appearance, the NF2211 knot is a bold bulb shape. It really does look exactly like the NF2201, but only until you use it once. Then it blooms nicely. The density looks the same as the NF2201, but it's not. It's more dense, and it feels softer yet thicker. Comparing it to other brands, the density isn’t quite the equal of a good Simpsons, but it’s close; it’s more like a Rooney, but not as soft. [Then again, I think Rooneys are too soft.] The bristles hit a sweet spot, with excellent backbone but very soft tips. Dry, the bristles feel slightly stiffer and coarser than a Simpsons Best, but the tips are about the same; wet, there's virtually no difference. The size is about ideal, big enough to lather you up quickly and thoroughly, but not so big that lather ends up in your ears or up your nose. I measure it at 23mm diameter, 49mm loft.
Fido apparently copied the Simpsons Persian Jar handle shape for the 2201; I guess he believed it the optimal handle for a shaving brush, and who’s to say he’s wrong. It’s very grippable for bowl or mug lathering, works well for face lathering, and has no crevices for soap to gunk up in. The 2211 is *almost* identical; the base is a bit chunkier, not totally tapered like the earlier version. Whether that is an intentional refinement, or an accident of production, I do not know. It doesn’t affect grip or usability at all.
The brush quickly whips up great lather with both soaps and creams, and does an especially grand job on my favorite, mixing soap and cream. It lays down a smooth, thick, full lather coat that is just a joy on the face. When loaded with lather, it feels as soft as any Simpsons I have used, and nearly as soft as a Rooney. There is no scratchiness.
As I say, I wanted to hate the NF2211. I wanted to say the Fido cult is silly and the Fido brushes are vastly overrated. I wanted to say something snarky like “it’s the best brush you can buy for 35 pounds sterling shipped.” Well, it IS the best brush you can buy for 35 pounds sterling. It’s at least as good as any brush you can buy for 70 pounds sterling. It isn’t clearly outranked by any brush you can buy for 100 pounds sterling. But the Fido cult is still silly. He’s just a man. A man who makes excellent brushes.
