I use and love Astra SP blades. My question is for those who also do but have tried some other blades as well. I figure by confining this to like minded shavers I may get a better base for comparison. The Astra for me is a very good combo of smoothness and sharpness. Have you Astra users found a blade that also combines these attributes so well and that is say...a step up?
Astra blade users. Your opinion please.
- Thread starter PDman
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I am sitting on about 600 Astra SPs (I found a mad deal for them about two months ago) because they are a good performer for me for at least two shaves per blade. I have found the Gillette 7 o'clock blacks/yellows to be better performers in terms of smoothess and sharpness but the price was drastically different (them more than double the cost of Astras).
I found Polsilver SI's to be on a par with Astra's, Gillette Rubies I found to be better than both in terms of sharpness and smoothness plus more longevity.
7' O'clock yellows are good, as are red personna. I still come back to the Astra's though. I find them to be a slightly more comfortable shave
I purchased 100 Astra SPs when I saw them on sale for $8.00. I find them to be very smooth. At eight cents a blade I could use a new one every shave. I wish I purchased more than 100 at that price!
I find the Feathers to be sharper than the Astras and I like to use them in my less aggressive razors. Feathers tend to irritate my skin when I use them in aggressive razors.
The Personna Med Preps give me the best performance of any blade to date; sharp like the Feathers and smooth like the Astras.
I find the Feathers to be sharper than the Astras and I like to use them in my less aggressive razors. Feathers tend to irritate my skin when I use them in aggressive razors.
The Personna Med Preps give me the best performance of any blade to date; sharp like the Feathers and smooth like the Astras.
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I have to try these Gillette 7 O'clocks. The Gillette Bleues didn't do it for me.
These are two of my favourite blades aside from Astra SP.
I find the Israeli Personna Reds to be very close to the performance of the Astra SP. Also, the Gillette 7 O'Clock Sharp Edge (yellow). They're an odd blade. When shaving with them I never feel like I love them but I always get a great shave. So those two are equal, but the PolSilver Iridium is a notch above. Just as smooth but sharper. I need to be just a touch more careful but I get no irritation and a notably closer shave than with the Astra SPs.
Scott
Scott
martym
Unacceptably Lasering Chicken Giblets?
I only use Astra SP's.
I have around 2700 left.
no need to go elsewhere when the best is waiting for you at home.
i am in a manogamous relationship with them.
MartyMarty
I have around 2700 left.
no need to go elsewhere when the best is waiting for you at home.
i am in a manogamous relationship with them.
MartyMarty
Of about the dozen blades I've tried thus far, I think the Personna Med Prep and Gillette Silver Blue have been most similar to ASP.
Another vote for Polsilver Super Iridium. They're amazing. I've been meaning to try Med Prep but I really don't want to buy them on bulk 
Bluebird is smoothest of all, i found
Astra blades have the best value for money. They are sharp and I get 6 very good shaves with them. Feather are sharper but they cost much more and the outstanding sharpness is gone after the first two shaves. I have always a few hundred Astra in stock.
In my opinion there are plenty of better blades, but they all come with their price tag. None of the better come even close to Astra, when considering value.
Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge, SuperStainless, SuperPlatinum, Polsilver SuperIridium, Feather
Seems I will have to revisit the yellows! I'm still new and have only tried about half a dozen types of blades, but the one yellow I tried was my roughest to date. The shave wasn't close and I had quite a bit of irritation. Perhaps I just got one bum blade in my pack.
i suppose the good news is that I finally get to revisit a product to see if my own mileage will vary
7 o'clock yellows are definitely better, equal longevity and smoothness but sharper. Also a LOT more expensive so in terms of value Astra still takes the day
Med Preps. Get the Labs if you want something close in price (around $13/100) - many people say they can't tell the difference between the two.
I like them a lot but this time round my bulk buy was the Astra SS they seen just that bit better for me in the way of smoothness.
I have found Polsilver Super Iridiums to be very similar to Astras. I usually get more shaves from the Polsilver which justifies the extra cost. Another blade that is close as far as feel is concerned for me is the Personna Med Prep. However price and longevity do not put it on a level field with the Astras.
