Challenge: Entry level kits

[stagepin]

Ok gents, I have a challenge for you. A few weeks ago when I first started reading this site, there was a ton of excellent information on what to do once I got stuff. I was able to get a great deal of information on what products people felt were either excellent or horrid. However, short of posting a "What do I get? kthxby!" I felt like I had to do a bit of guessing as to what to start out with.

Looking at the first three lists in the "If I was starting again" thread, a cursory look online showed each kit to be about $200. Which might be a bit intimidating for someone starting the hobby. So, considering the various ADs that seem to be evident here, I thought this might make for an interesting thread (one that I hope hasn't been done before that I completely missed). Can you assemble a kit on a budget?

Challenge:
Come up with three entry level kits for someone just starting wet shaving. One $60 kit, one $100 kit, and one $150 kit including shipping.

Conditions:
1) Our newbie is unable/unwilling to venture out on foot to a shaving store.
2) Our newbie has saved 60/100/150 for his first kit, with no overages in his budget.
3) Our newbie has access to a moderately equipped dwelling and is smart enough to cobble together basic things using common household items. He can't make an electric kettle out of a paperclip, McGyver-style.
4) Our newbie is able to go to his local drugstore and purchase generic supplies. He is only willing to spend $15 on this.
5) Our newbie lives near you, so you can use your zip code to determine shipping costs.
6) You do not need to list your vendor/vendors if you don't want to, but please list your total after shipping.

 

[Dpflaum]

I love this idea. I shall make it my priority to search. I will be assuming my preference for smaller brushes and DE razors.

Here is my labor (of love)

$60- Edwin Jagger 89 // Omega Pro 49 // 1x Derby, Blue Bird, Shark blades // Col Conk Almond Soap $59.60 Shipped

$100- Edwin Jagger 89 // Simpsons Wee Scot // 1x Derby, Blue Bird, Shark blades // Edwin Jagger Sea Buckthorn Soap // TOBS Eton College Cream $98.47 Shipped

$150- Mühle R89 // Simpsons Case // 1x Derby, Blue Bird, Shark blades // Irisch Moos Shave Stick // T&H Trafalgar Cream $141.60 Shipped I forgot the B&B discount the first time...

 

[perogee]

If your newbie is Canadian, then my suggestion would be:
Shoppers Drug Mart - Proraso soap/cream and pre/post, Omega Brush (should come around $30 )
Ebay for vintage SS and blades (again, should be around $30 shipped)
obviously for the $60, lol

 

[insomniac]

If I may suggest:

Vintage Gillette Tech. They're inexpensive and got the job done for our parents and grandparents. Probably the cheapest of the classic Gillettes. What do these go for, under $10 shipped?

Tweezerman badger brush. $15 at Amazon.

Three packets of blades. I figure one of the Israeli blades (Crystal or Red IP), one of the Russian blades (Astra), and Sharks. Enough so the person gets an idea about what kind of blade they like and can explore further.

Real Shaving Company cream. $5 at Rite Aid and other local markets.

Nivea balm. Available everywhere.

Cappucino mug, available at Target/Bed Bath & Beyond/Big Lots/etc.


You can get it done for under $50.

 

[huntmol]

Here's the set that I would recommend:
(actually this isn't a baseline starter set, more like a kit that you could use for the rest of your shaving career!)

Merkur HD $41.95
Edwin Jagger Best Badger $39.95
Tabac Shave Soap w/ Bowl $16.95

Shipping's about $8 if you buy them all from the same place, so that comes to about $105 total.

 

[mblakele]

This isn't hard if you start with a boar brush and a less-sexy vintage razor. I'll use westcoastshaving.com (WCS) for most of this, but I'm sure I could hit each target with bullgooseshaving.net too. Naturally I'm going to pick items that I like: I'm sure there are other, equally good options.

Here's some ballast for every kit: alum block from WCS ($8), blade sampler from WCS ($5.50), total $13.50. I'll add shipping for each bundle, because it will be free after the first one.

Drugstore budget for every kit: witch hazel ($4) and pinaud clubman ($7).

No mug or bowl. If you don't have one handy, face lathering is easy to learn.

$60: Omega 81052 from WCS ($14), choice of Godrej cream ($5.50). Shipping will be about $6 USPS priority, so we need a razor for less than $21.50. We could get the Feather Popular ($18 for $56.50 total), but I'd rather get a shaver-grade Tech or Krona from the B/S/T for about $12 shipped (fair price, but it may not be pretty). That's $50 total. If you like, you can spend the extra $10 on some Kiss My Face cream or Speick cream from WCS, or upgrade the blade pack.

At this point I would recommend that you stop and shave with the new gear for a while. But if you really want to spend it now....

$100: Omega 81052 from WCS ($14), choice of Godrej cream ($5.50), choice of Kiss My Face cream from WCS ($8), Mühle R89 from WCS ($43). Add the ballast above and it's $84, so you are getting free shipping. You also have $16 left, if my math is right, so you could add Speick splash ($15) - or upgrade the blade sampler or add more creams.

$150: Keep the $100 kit as is, and pocket that extra money for the oncoming ADs. But if you really have to spend it now... add a Rooney 3/1 in Pure from classicshaving.com or vintagebladesllc.com ($40 + shipping... probably pretty close to $50). That setup could last you some time.

 

[bigstick]

I would recommend to budget conscious newbies:

Semogue 1470 Boar brush $16.50
Proraso cream in tube 8.95
Weishi razor 17.95
Derby/Astra/Lord Sampler 6.95

this comes to $50 and change plus shipping. Aftershave they probably already have. Styptic pencil adds a couple of bucks. A bowl not required, as Proraso face lathers nicely, but anything from the kitchen works just dandy, thanks. Later, when they see how easy it is to get a great shave, then they can discover the joys of DEAD and it's brethren.

 

[luvmysuper]

Van Der Hagen Kit $ 7.96
Personna Blade pack $ 1.89
True Gentlemen Pure Badger Shaving Brush with Black Handle $ 50.00
Total $ 59.85

Van Der Hagen Kit $ 7.96
Personna Blade pack $ 1.89
eShave Finest Badger Shaving Brush with Clear Handle $ 90.00
Total $ 99.85

Van Der Hagen Kit $ 7.96
Personna Blade pack $ 1.89
Kent Shaving Brush - Medium Size - T8 $ 150.00
Total $ 159.85