Best all around blade? My thoughts.

[Christopher_loaf]

I remember when I started this venture I bought a Merkur Classic and it came with Merkur blades. I think I exclusively used Merkur blades for a good two years off and on when I would give up DEs then go back etc. Some time in late 09 or early 10 I remember getting a Red Tip SS and possibly another SS and was thinking to myself, "if these shave this nice with Merkur blades...there has to be a better shave out there with a better blade." That in turn lead me to the blade sampler pack from West Coast Shaving. In that I found that my favorite blade for almost any razor I've used thus far has been Red IPs. Feathers were good, Lords not so much, Derby was sort of middle of the road, kind of like the Merkur but a little less refined...ish.

Recently this has lead me to wonder if there is such a blade as a best workhorse blade. The Red IPs come close and so does Merkur. Now, I don't have extensive blade use, I found what I liked and have stuck with it. But what would be my second choice? Probably Merkur, maybe Derbys or even Wilkinson Sword which are pretty close to Red IPs.


Thoughts on a good mediocre blade? Not for my shopping purposes, just for my curiosity. Obviously, not an all inclusive list. I just picked some of the most common blades and sort of the "sampler pack" choices.

 

[PMT]

Sorry bro, but what about ASTRA???

 

[Goden]

So many things missing on that list!

 

[Christopher_loaf]

Yeah, I left off a few but I kind of just made a quick list of some of the choices I see spoken of most on here. Not saying Astra isn't good, just threw them up there.

 

[Goden]

Personna Lab's and Med's and the Gillete SilverBlue and NACET's should be on that list as well. All of those are warmly regarded.

Edit: And PolSilver!

 

[Mick]

I have a large selection of blades to pick and choose from and I would have to say that if I were "forced" to use just one, it would have to be the astra platinum blades.

 

[Christopher_loaf]

Well...I suppose of a Mod had poll edit ability they could throw Astra in there....


...though your Wilkinson test is intriguing.

 

[Mick]

Well...I suppose of a Mod had poll edit ability they could throw Astra in there....


...though your Wilkinson test is intriguing.

I sort of ruled out blades that you can't buy any longer.

The Wilkinson that refuses to die is a NOS chrome, ceramic, and teflon coated blade that they have not made in a number of years (maybe a decade or more).

I stumbled across 100 of them in 5 blade dispensers on card stock while looking for a Wilkinson Empire set. I figured... why not.... so bought them. So far I have only been able to use one blade and it refuses to get dull for some reason. It is looking like I will shave every day for 2 months with that blade easily.

 

[Ski-Patroller]

You left out a lot of very popular blades, including the: PolySilver SI, Gillette Silver Blue, and the Persona Med/Labs as well as the Astras. I voted for Feathers, because that is the only one listed that I have in my rotation.

 

[Nomad1600]

Always hard to say "best" or "best all around" since blades are very personal and there are so many variables (razor, shaver's skill and experience, shaver's face and skin being just a few). Added to that many really good blades were missed on your list, including Astra SP, Iridium Super, Super Iridiums, Personna Meds, and Gillette Silver Blues to name just a few.

Of your list, I'd suggest the Wilkinson Sword as a milder blade and the Feather as a sharper blade. But neither is "the best all around".

 

[Christopher_loaf]

Let me clarify here...I'm not wanting to know which is the best razor blade period. I'm wanting to know....IF you had to go with a blade that you know you could count on working reasonably in most if not all of your razors for three or four days of shaves. Obviously blades and even blades paired with certain razors are subjective to personal opinion and usage. I hate DORCO and think they're a waste of shelf space. That being said, doesn't mean they're not great for somebody else. I think some are nit-picking blade choices. I picked some of the more common blades. Common being the key word, and I just threw them up for a vote. Yes, Astra was admittedly left off due to oversight but meh, these are the blades I see pop up in topic most often. I'm not even quantifying any of the blades as even the best blades out there, just ones that are good blades. Workhorse would be the best definition I think I'd use for my thought process.

C'mon, what's the one blade that you're thinking to yourself, "yeah...it's not my favorite but I could definitely use it for a while?"

 

[onadraw]

Gillette Yellow is "My" favorite but for your question, Crystal is the blade I'm thinking of.

 

[jwilock]

I remember when I started this venture I bought a Merkur Classic and it came with Merkur blades. I think I exclusively used Merkur blades for a good two years off and on when I would give up DEs then go back etc. Some time in late 09 or early 10 I remember getting a Red Tip SS and possibly another SS and was thinking to myself, "if these shave this nice with Merkur blades...there has to be a better shave out there with a better blade." That in turn lead me to the blade sampler pack from West Coast Shaving. In that I found that my favorite blade for almost any razor I've used thus far has been Red IPs. Feathers were good, Lords not so much, Derby was sort of middle of the road, kind of like the Merkur but a little less refined...ish.

Recently this has lead me to wonder if there is such a blade as a best all around blade. The Red IPs come close and so does Merkur. Now, I don't have extensive blade use, I found what I liked and have stuck with it. But what would be my second choice? Probably Merkur, maybe Derbys or even Wilkinson Sword which are pretty close to Red IPs.


Thoughts on a best all around blade? Not for my shopping purposes, just for my curiosity. Obviously, not an all inclusive list. I just picked some of the most common blades and sort of the "sampler pack" choices.

You actually have a few blades there that I know I've seen mentioned as ones people hate, and you're missing very many of the ones that are well liked here.

 

[ackvil]

My favorite blades are not listed: Personna Med and Labs.

 

[treewhale]

Yeah, my two favorites are Astra SP and Persona Med/Lab too. I voted for Red IP because that is one that I like nearly as much.

 

[Niles]

Polsilver SI and Red IP are my favourites.

 

[VerbaVolant]

I believe I would lose all credibility if I open a poll called "Best All Around Blade" and have first two choices Derby and Dorco.

 

[Chadao]

Crystal or Personna Blue

Let me clarify here...I'm not wanting to know which is the best razor blade period. I'm wanting to know....IF you had to go with a blade that you know you could count on working reasonably in most if not all of your razors for three or four days of shaves. Obviously blades and even blades paired with certain razors are subjective to personal opinion and usage. I hate DORCO and think they're a waste of shelf space. That being said, doesn't mean they're not great for somebody else. I think some are nit-picking blade choices. I picked some of the more common blades. Common being the key word, and I just threw them up for a vote. Yes, Astra was admittedly left off due to oversight but meh, these are the blades I see pop up in topic most often. I'm not even quantifying any of the blades as even the best blades out there, just ones that are good blades. Workhorse would be the best definition I think I'd use for my thought process.

C'mon, what's the one blade that you're thinking to yourself, "yeah...it's not my favorite but I could definitely use it for a while?"

 

[crfcom]

Any blade polling on B&B that doesn't have Gillette Blacks, Personna Meds or Labs, Polsilver SI's, Or Iridium SI's is missing all the most likely winners, IMO.

 

[razorhead63]

I would try the Astras if I were you, or better yet, the Personna Med Preps......

John