Blade quality/price points

[pipskicks]

I've been trying tons of blades, probably similar to everyone else here, it's just addictive! But I also am a cheapskate and I tried cheaper-end blades and compared them to see how cheap I could go with my blades. I have very thick whiskers and some sensitive skin on my neck, so I am a bit picky I guess.

Well what I think I've concluded is that the cheap cheap blades, I'd say in the range of $5-8/100 is pretty bad (Rapiras, Supermax, Derby). Some people of course may like one of those, but they didn't work well with me, constant razor burn. Yet if I try a cheap blade that's a step up, let's say Astra, Sharks, Red IP's or the $9-12/100 range, those seemed to be definitely usable as a daily blade. They were good and caused little to no razor burn. However, where I think it gets interesting is the next step up where blades range from $20-40/100 and are in the "expensive" range (feathers, Gillettes etc). Now those are definitely not bad blades at all, and I would love to shave with them daily, but what I did notice was that the difference between the mid-range (Astras etc) to expensive blades was just not that big of a leap. Maybe it's a tad smoother, maybe it's a little more forgiving, but I don't NEED them and don't know if it would even be that much of a difference if I used them daily.


Does anyone else see this? I guess I went through all this testing and I now feel like the cheap cheap blades are a waste because they don't work well (for me), and the expensive ones are unnecessary (or good but not worth double the price good).

 

[Agravic]

I too have tried several different classes of blades. For me, Astra SP represent the best 'bang for the buck'. Despite this fact, I still prefer using more 'expensive' blades such as Polsilver SI and don't mind the added cost. In the big scheme of things, the additional premium for these blades is not the issue in terms of overall shaving-related expenditures. Blade expenditures are a small fraction of total monies spent ... it's all the other stuff that I accumulate/collect/hoard that raises eyebrows !

 

[mpmartinez99]

I too have tried several different classes of blades. For me, Astra SP represent the best 'bang for the buck'. Despite this fact, I still prefer using more 'expensive' blades such as Polsilver SI and don't mind the added cost. In the big scheme of things, the additional premium for these blades is not the issue in terms of overall shaving-related expenditures. Blade expenditures are a small fraction of total monies spent ... it's all the other stuff that I accumulate/collect/hoard that raises eyebrows !

+1 on the Astra Sps. They have been the best all around for me in terms of cost and performance, and they work great consistently in all of my razors. For the same price of 100 Feathers, I can buy 100 Astra blades and a new cream, soap or aftershave (or two) and still maybe have some change. Don't get me wrong, the more expensive blades are of better quality, but when it comes down to quality & price overall, Astras can't be beat.

 

[SmoovD]

The cost of even the more expensive blades is relatively cheap. I don't mind paying for Feathers because they work well for me. But I am cheap as well so I stock cheaper blades that also work well for me. Bottom line: if they work I will buy and use them.

 

[talibeard]

I can't see a real correlation between price and quality. There are definitely good blades in the 'expensive' category but also some mediocre ones and some that are downright awful in my book. Same counts for the 'budget' category.

 

[filedog]

Me, I just like the sharpest ones. Current faves: Feathers and Super Iridiums.
Both fairly expensive blades. The only other blade I've found that can "run with"
them is the Lab blues. At $13/100 shipped these are a HUGE value.

 

[bryan1980]

I've found that my preferred blades are on the cheaper end (Red IP's, Lord Plats, Astra SP's). It's just the way it worked out. I also like some more expensive blades, like 7 O'clock blues and blacks, but I don't "have" to use them, although I might add them to my rotation at some point.

 

[mikej7193]

Here at college, I've been trying to stay to a minimalist approach, so I only have four soaps/creams, my synthetic brush, a horse hair, and my R41 and a yuma. I also have a yuma and a horse hair brush for the use of others. I've also got some Wilkinsons, Sharks, Astra SPs, Rapiras, and my favorite, Lab Blues.

I've been able to get any blade of these blades to work great in my R41 easily, and the yuma takes a bit of fiddling occasionally. The Sharks and Rapiras were about $6 /100 blades from Turkey, and others don't mind if I use those in the yuma, so I keep trying out different combinations on others.

 

[mdevine]

I have tried cheap blades that I love, the best being Astra SP. My least favorite blade, Merkur, were the most expensive. My favorite are Super Iridiums, were moderately priced when I stocked up on 600 of them a couple of years ago. For me, price hasn't been the best indicator of performance.

 

[Teddyboy]

Rapiras are a top-flight blade that should not be mentioned in the same sentence with Derby.

 

[pipskicks]

I agree 100% that price isn't a good indicator. My point is more the difference between derby and astra vs the difference between astra and feather. I'm not saying feathers aren't worth it, but it does seem as if a lot of people will pay the extra money for astra/personna but not feathers.


This is ALL YMMV. I happen to think Rapiras are sharp but harsh as can be, just my experience so far.

I agree 100% with Merkur, it's definitely a complete anomaly since it's fairly pricey and the majority of people agree way overpriced.

 

[jwilock]

I bought 100 Astras and 100 Voskhods both for close to $9 per hundred including shipping. These are definitely my best value blades. And frankly, I find them almost as good as my favorites, which cost considerably more. I've never bought a quantity of blades at a lower price point but a fellow member sent me some Lord SS blades that I thought were very nice and are even cheaper than my Astras or Voskhods. So I believe you can buy really good blades at just about any price point you want to pay for them. As with any other product that is marketed price is often a reflection of scarcity (like blades no longer in production) or name-brand recognition, not necessarily a reflection of quality.

 

[mattymatt]

Me, I just like the sharpest ones. Current faves: Feathers and Super Iridiums.
Both fairly expensive blades. The only other blade I've found that can "run with"
them is the Lab blues. At $13/100 shipped these are a HUGE value.

I agree with this, I am a cheap SOB. I love Feather blades, but hate to pay that much for them. $13 for Labs have been favorite purchase I have made on blades so far.

 

[Silence!]

Just because a blade costs more doesn't mean that it's better. Take for example the Personna Med Prep blades and the Personna Lab Blue blades. They both feel the same to me, yet the Med Prep blades cost almost twice as much. I have to also agree that there might not be any difference between a blade that costs mid-range and ones that are in the expensive range. The most important thing is to find a blade that fits your needs.

 

[CB1]

Hmmm... very interesting conversation. I have to admit, on more than one occasion it has crossed my mind at least subconsciously that the pricier blades seem somewhat better. Out of the ones the OP posted as the "cheap" ones I have only tried the Derby's but I've tried others in the price range. Next price point listed were the Astra and Sharks and Red IP's. I have tried those three and you could probably throw Labs in there too. Out of those I really like the Astra's. The Labs for some reason seem rough on the first shave and then comparable to the Astra's on the next two shaves. I'm not going to "strop" a DE blade. I didn't care too much for the Shark chromes (still have to try the SS) and the Red IP's were just okay. Lords were also in the okay range. Then moving to the higher price point I do like the Feathers, Blacks, Polsilver SI's and Silver Blues. So I think I could make a basic general statement that I like some more expensive blades. BUT I would never let my stock of the Astra's run too low.

 

[gmgaj]

I bought 100 Astra SPs and they are good, but I get a better shave with less irritation using black 7 O'Clocks. I also get an extra day or 2 out of each blade. So my cost per day for Astras is .03, and the 7OCs is .045-.057. Is the reduced irritation worth .015-.027 more every day? IMO, yes. I'd gladly give 3 cents daily for reduced irritation.

 

[steve71]

Astra SP and the Personna Labs to me are the best values/ smooth blades out there. I can't tell a difference between the labs and the Med Preps and the Med Preps are one of the smoothest blades I've ever used. Voskhods are also very good for the price but harder to find.

 

[cfender]

The blades that many believe perform beyone their price point are Astra SP & Personna Lab. I've had inconsistent experience with the Labs and consistently BAD experiences swith the Astra. My idea of an acceptable value blade is the Perma-sharp Super at $.20/100. My best shaves have come from Feathers @ $.27/100 and frequently great shaves with the Super Iridium at $.46/100