"Best" Puck for the Buck

[SteveWY]

First my qualifier, I really dislike any question or thread that asks for or offers any "What is the BEST...?" (I was looking for a short and catchy subject line) We all agree on IMO/YMM and every products has lovers & haters, cheers & jeers. That said, I think it would be beneficial for especially new shavers to hear some value-based opinions on quality products. I'm not opposed to splurging for something real special but I find it something of a treasure hunt to discover a gem for a low price. I have a mug that has a vacancy and I'm always wanting to try something new. Newbies are often on a budget and just can't get in the game with $20-$30 high-end soaps. Some of us just are frugal and look for products that perform at a high level for a reasonable price.

For this thread... What are your opinions on a very good quality hard puck soap for under $10? To get the thread started, I will suggest Van Der Hagen (VDH) soaps at $2-$3. A really decent soap, that lathers and protects well. So, your suggestions?

 

[Disburden]

Williams is my favorite soap. It is $1.50 at my local shoprite and I get it when I buy groceries.
nothing beats it's slip and the way it softens your face after use (it conditions my face better than mitchells does). It just takes time to learn it right as it wont lather for you, its worth it.

 

[SteveWY]

I wondered when the first Williams recommendation might come in! Good job. I have a puck in rotation right now. I think I paid 1.00 for it. It works OK for me and sometimes I squirt some cream on it for a super lather.

 

[rockviper]

Benton Clay's Vetiver Paradisi .... works great and smells even better

 

[Charlie NJ]

This is a tuff one, my 3 best are Mikes, MWF, and Klar. Out of the three I would say Mikes, lathers well great cushin and smells great

 

[razors_ej]

Great thread, I like the simple things in life and don't feel the need to even try any of the high-end soaps. If a low priced soap performs well I'll stick with it. Luckily there are lots of options.

My vote would be for Euro Palmolive. I got 15 x 50g sticks delivered to Australia for $32.50, $2.15 per stick or grate 3 up into a bowl and it's $6.45 for a 150 gram puck of hard tallowy goodness!

Other than that there's the ever present Arko which i find doesn't perform quite as well and dries my face. The scent doesn't bother me but I'm finding it's okay in rotation but starts to cause issues if I use it too many days in a row.

Even the Australian Palmolive is surprisingly good which I can buy locally for $1.89 per 50g stick. Lots of good value soaps to choose from. Van Der Hagen is not easily come across in Australia without importing it. Supposedly it's a good soap but I can't justify importing it just to try when I don't think it could match Euro Palmolive. If it was available locally I would try it as it sounds like my kind of soap, cheap and effective.

Euro Palmolive is that good I find it hard to imagine any soap beating it on performance. Any improvements over that would be marginal at best and not worth the extra price tag IMHO.

 

[Niles]

Proraso is inexpensive and very good.

 

[BillC]

My favorite under $10 is Mike's Orange, Cedar and Pepper. Great performance and great scent and inside your price point.

If 'puck' includes sticks, Euro Palmolive and Speick would be runner's up. Pure performance for the dollar would be Arko for me, but I don't love the scent

 

[Phog Allen]

Definitely a vote for Mystic Water. Refills are $9.91, it is about the best lather I have ever used, the scents are fantastic, and the artisan is tops.

Cheers, Todd

 

[brother cavefish]

i have been a E&C user for a long time, i see no reason to switch-9.00 refills

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Definitely a vote for Mystic Water. Refills are $9.91, it is about the best lather I have ever used, the scents are fantastic, and the artisan is tops.

Cheers, Todd

I second this. MW Marrakesh & Bay Rum are probably my top two soaps. If my rotation magically thins itself out tonight, these would be the first two I would restock. Disburden is on to something though. Williams is the best bang for a buck. Once you learn how to use it, you'll be hooked on the slickness and skin conditioning. It is by far the slickest soap I've ever used.

 

[oc_in_fw]

I wouldn't limit myself to such a small amount, but if I did I would say Speick stick. Great lather, smells great (unlike Arko) and will last twice as long as a melt and pour like VDH.

 

[oc_in_fw]

Benton Clay's Vetiver Paradisi .... works great and smells even better

I like my tallows, but VP works great, and is the best smelling soap I have ever come across.

 

[wireburner]

MWF is only $7.40 for a refill. It gets my vote.

 

[mhdena]

Mike's 4 to 5 oz bar $8

Mike's tin 5oz $11

Best bang for buck I know of.

 

[OldSaw]

MWF is only $7.40 for a refill. It gets my vote.

Where do you get it for that price?

 

[wireburner]

Where do you get it for that price?

www.traditionalshaving.com last I checked. I ordered a few months back.

 

[PMT]

I vote for Mike's, I cut the bar in half and get 2 pucks for $11.00 including shipping

 

[Toothpick]

i've only tried VDH so far. i didnt like it at first but once i played around with it enough to be able to work a good lather its awesome! you can melt it in to any bowl, you can melt and mix it with different things such as scents, you can treat it how ever you like and abuse it and it still just works!

 

[oc_in_fw]

I vote for Mike's, I cut the bar in half and get 2 pucks for $11.00 including shipping

If you guys keep this up, I may have to try some Mike's