Are all quality boars this soft?

[winkydink]

I got my Semogue 2000 in the mail yesterday. I couldn't get over how soft the bristles felt. Not badger soft, mind you, but not at all scritchy as I had expected. In fact, my Tweezerman is scritchier than this guy is brand new.

Are all quality boars this soft? If so, I may never buy another badger!

 

[Leche]

Once it breaks in that boar will be incredibly soft. Personnally I will probably never buy a badger again. I bought a Tweezerman and a C&E BBB which rarely get used. Currently I have a Omega Pro and 31064 and a Semogue 1305. Also a Vulfix VS/3. They are all softer than the BBB.

 

[Andy]

Once it breaks in that boar will be incredibly soft. Personnally I will probably never buy a badger again. I bought a Tweezerman and a C&E BBB which rarely get used. Currently I have a Omega Pro and 31064 and a Semogue 1305. Also a Vulfix VS/3. They are all softer than the BBB.

+1
Once the boar brushes are broken in they are softer (IMHO) than badgers.
I personally will not buy another new badger brush

 

[Laz]

I am interested in trying a boar brush. How long do they take to break in? What would you suggest for a quality brush?

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

I got my Semogue 2000 in the mail yesterday. I couldn't get over how soft the bristles felt. Not badger soft, mind you, but not at all scritchy as I had expected. In fact, my Tweezerman is scritchier than this guy is brand new.

Are all quality boars this soft? If so, I may never buy another badger!

Yes, the ones I have are. I have Omega 10098, Jaguar 783, 1056 and 1071 and the Semogue 2009 LE.

 

[Saltysteele]

I am interested in trying a boar brush. How long do they take to break in? What would you suggest for a quality brush?

mines just a cheapie, but it only took 2-3 weeks. i kind of like the feeling of mine, and am worried i'm not going to like the 2 badgers i just ordered

 

[Laz]

mines just a cheapie, but it only took 2-3 weeks. i kind of like the feeling of mine, and am worried i'm not going to like the 2 badgers i just ordered

The badger may surprise you. I want to try a great boar brush (and I hope I love it). But I can't see myself replacing the B&B 2008 Limited Edition. I want something to add to the rotation, so I don't wear it out too quickly.

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

I love boar brushes. I have a Vulfix 2236 in Super, rebranded for Trumpers, and even with it being literally 10X more expensive new I still prefer my Omega boar. The badger hairs are just prickly and not at all comfortable. I'm also waiting on a replacement Semogue 1305, which I'm pretty stoked about. By the way, if you have love for The Boar, you need to join the resistance! Boar & Blade.

 

[WhosYerBob]

I used a boar for a couple decades and was lured away by the siren song of the badger. But I missed the stiff scratchiness of my boar brush, bought a VDH Deluxe, sold off all my badgers and am now most of the way through the break-in period.

Love boar brushes.

 

[Rudy Vey]

I just re-handled a boar knot from a customer in Norway (one of his favorite brushes) and must say I was quite amazed how soft it felt. I think I have to try a boar myself these days. Need to ask my customer what kind of brush this was originally, he sent me only the knot that came out of the handle.

 

[SRock]

A quality boar brush can in fact be very very soft. Where Badger is superior isn't necessarily about softness but more about how the brush flexes (or doesn't), holds water, retains heat (if desired) builds lather and allows flow through (just a few examples). The nicest Boar I've used so far is the Semogue 2009 LE. I think it is shaping up to be a mighty fine brush. It is soft at the tips and getting softer with every use but it still falls drastically short of the Two Band Simpsons (for example) in terms of performance.

 

[salisburyyates]

Very soft IMO. Last night as I was shaving I was surprised to find how soft my Semogue 1305 had become.

 

[john parker]

The 2000 is very soft. I cant seem to face lather with it well because of its longer loft but it can whip up creams like no tomorrow.

Which brings up my question. I face lather with cream using my C&E BBB and my BBEv2. With the amount of pressure I use (maybe too much), they both flatten out. If I were to get a boar brush, what loft would be good for a 20-22mm knot, given how I would use it? Thanks for inputs.

 

[kingfisher]

Yes. They're soft. I've been trying to tell people that for the past 9 months or so.

I'm now down to two brushes, and they're both boars; an Omega and the Semogue 2009 LE.

 

[82R100]

Which brings up my question. I face lather with cream using my C&E BBB and my BBEv2. With the amount of pressure I use (maybe too much), they both flatten out. If I were to get a boar brush, what loft would be good for a 20-22mm knot, given how I would use it? Thanks for inputs.

If you want to try an extreme, you can get a Boreal 323 at a blowout price here. The vendor's actually kind of apologetic about it stiffness. He feels that it goes too far. I bought one and I like it very very much. It has a 22mm knot with 50mm loft, according to his listing. Do note that the handle is very cheaply made and poorly painted. the knot, though, is very nice. And stiff.

- Chris

 

[JPM]

I have a Semogue 1305 and a Vulvix #18 and I was surprised at how soft they are. I love them.

 

[arghblech]

If you want to try an extreme, you can get a Boreal 323 at a blowout price here. The vendor's actually kind of apologetic about it stiffness. He feels that it goes too far. I bought one and I like it very very much. It has a 22mm knot with 50mm loft, according to his listing. Do note that the handle is very cheaply made and poorly painted. the knot, though, is very nice. And stiff.

- Chris

I bought both the 323 and that awful gold one on the blowout page. The 323 is really stiff and frankly, I'm really liking it.

 

[mmack66]

I am not sure what the qualifications are for a boar brush to be considered "quality", but my $8 Omega 80265 Boar brush was pretty much soft from day one.

 

[john parker]

If you want to try an extreme, you can get a Boreal 323 at a blowout price here. The vendor's actually kind of apologetic about it stiffness. He feels that it goes too far. I bought one and I like it very very much. It has a 22mm knot with 50mm loft, according to his listing. Do note that the handle is very cheaply made and poorly painted. the knot, though, is very nice. And stiff.

- Chris

Actually I was looking at a Vulfix 18 or 2233. Rather like the quality appearance of the handle. How would one of these do, do you think?

 

[gollum83]

John,
I wouldnt say the knot size has much importance but the overall loft which of course I dont have the specs for at this time. The 2000 has a very high loft which creates that floppy feel. The 1305 has a shorter loft and a small knot size but a dream to face lather with. Sorry couldnt help you out.

The 2000? Floppy?