I am contemplating my first Simpson and would like to pick up a Chubby 2, however I am torn between the Best Badger or the Super Badger. Is it really worth it to go with Super?
Chubby 2 in Best Badger or Super?
- Thread starter ajw1297
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Nothing wrong with asking the question, but I doubt anyone's reply can really answer it for you. It comes down to personal preference more importantly than any characteristic difference between the brushes. And I inserted characteristic for a reason. Not all Chubby 2s with Best Badger knots are created equal. And neither are all Chubby 2s with 2-band Super Silvertip knots.
FWIW, I have a 58 with a Best Badger knot that I prefer hands-down over my Chubby-2 in Super. But I have an M7 in Super that I prefer over the 58. I've learned I don't personally care so much for 1) big knots, i.e., >26 mm base diameter or 2) highly dense knots. Which might suggest I'm a poor person to be responding to your query in the first place. Except I do happen to have both a really nice Chubby 2 in Super and also a really nice Chubby 2 in Best. Problem is I can't compare them for you because it's been so long since I've used either of I don't remember my impressions very well.
So tomorrow morning I'll do the left side with the Chubby 2 in Best and the right side with the Chubby 2 in Super and report back.
But then you still won't know the answer for yourself.
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- #3
That would be greatly appreciated! I personally am not a huge fan of an overly dense knot and enjoy more scritch from my brush. I knew going in that this was going to be a hard question because it has to do with personal preference and I just wanted to hear what others had to say. So I'm assuming the Super is overly dense then?
I would say that the Chubby 2 Super is dense, but I have a Shavemac D01 Silvertip and a couple Rooney Heritage XL's that are more densely packed than my Chubby 2. I see your dilemma. Simpson Chubbys are pricey in the first place, but to add in the lack of consistency between the best hair and the super hair makes it a difficult decision. I have a couple Simpson two band super knots that are almost perfect IMO. Soft tips, plenty of backbone, scrubby but not scritchy, good flow through, not overly dense, etc..... but my Chubby 2 in Super three band has been a bit of a let down. It's a little scritchy for one thing.... when I expected nothing but scrub. I don't think it's overly dense because it splays fairly nice and the flow through is good.... but overall the feel on my face is more harsh than my other two Simpsons in two band super. I feel a little bit like I got a Chubby 2 in best for the price of a super..... but I've also never used a Simpson in best..... so I may be being a little presumptuous.
Ben
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- #5
If only I could find a 2 band super somewhere, I have been unsuccessful so far. I believe that would be my best bet, however everyone seems to be sold out. Thanks for the input, I just honestly can't justify a 3 band super that is available being worth the extra money over the best knot and meeting my wants and needs.
If you enjoy more scritch from a brush, then the Chubby 2 in Best might suit you very nicely. I would say that it is a dense knot, but not overly dense.
Ben
If you want a Simpsons, and based on what you wrote above, I'd say get a Duke 3 in Best and see what you think.
Chubbys are quite dense.
FWIW I really like Simpsons Best hair.
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- #8
I have heard the Simpsons best is great, I was kicking around the idea of a Duke 3, however I already have two other brushes with almost identical specs and wanted to get a larger brush.
I have a Simpson Chubby 2 in best and a Chubby 3 in super. For me, I like the Chubby 3 in super much more. It feels much softer and seems to retain water much better. However, this difference can be from the fact that the two brushes are different in size. If I were to redo my buying process again, I would skip the chubby 2 and buy the chubby 3. However, that is only because I like larger brushes for some reason. To each his own.
Hope that helps.
Hope that helps.
please take it from someone who has both - super and best - chubby 2.. I urge you to consider buying it from a vendor willing to pick out the brush for your. There is considerable variation among both and my best (sheds) is LOT softer than super (acquired here) but has a little less backbone and scritch. Get the best first and if it is what you need/want - you don't have to look further 
,
I have sold all of my brushes except these two and now I rotate so that each has enough time to dry - otherwise I would not mind sending you both so that you can see what I mean.
I understand your concern as these are very very very expensive brushes.
,I have sold all of my brushes except these two and now I rotate so that each has enough time to dry - otherwise I would not mind sending you both so that you can see what I mean.
I understand your concern as these are very very very expensive brushes.
- Thread starter
- #11
please take it from someone who has both - super and best - chubby 2.. I urge you to consider buying it from a vendor willing to pick out the brush for your. There is considerable variation among both and my best (sheds) is LOT softer than super (acquired here) but has a little less backbone and scritch. Get the best first and if it is what you need/want - you don't have to look further
I have sold all of my brushes except these two and now I rotate so that each has enough time to dry - otherwise I would not mind sending you both so that you can see what I mean.
I understand your concern as these are very very very expensive brushes.
Thanks so much for the input, I will be ordering a best today and getting it from WCS so they can help me pick out the brush.
I picked up a Chubby 2 Best today to go with my Chubby 1 Best. Both were selected by me from the stock on hand at my local store, both feel lovely to me. No scratch or scritch, just a nice soft wall of badger to scrub with and both whip up a wonderful lather. (Ive only bowl lathered creams fwiw).
Travis.
Travis.
please take it from someone who has both - super and best - chubby 2.. I urge you to consider buying it from a vendor willing to pick out the brush for your. There is considerable variation among both and my best (sheds) is LOT softer than super (acquired here) but has a little less backbone and scritch. Get the best first and if it is what you need/want - you don't have to look further
I have sold all of my brushes except these two and now I rotate so that each has enough time to dry - otherwise I would not mind sending you both so that you can see what I mean.
I understand your concern as these are very very very expensive brushes.
I agree with this. If I had to do it over, I would've bought my Chubby 2 Super from my local shave shop. Nothing against the online vendor that I ordered mine from, but they were out of Spain for one thing and I think I got the last Chubby 2 Super that they had in stock at the time. I got mine before I spoke with the owner of my local shave shop and he's the one who told me about the variations in Simpson Best and Super hair. The owner of the shave shop basically verified what inspectoring is saying above.
Good luck with your purchase..... hope you get what you are looking for on the first try.
Ben
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- #14
I would have much rather stepped into a local shop, however I don't have anywhere near me that sells them that I know of.
Sorry to be late posting this as follow-up. I used both my Chubby 2s on Saturday morning, alternating sides between 1st and 2nd passes. The one with a Best Badger knot was a little on the scritchy side for me. More so than my 58. The Super 2-band (note that both 2-bands and 3-bands as well as Manchurians have been labeled as "Super") was considerably softer.
I probably haven't mastered using Chubbys and other highly dense brushes. In any case, they just don't work all that well for me. Both brushes were quite effective at eating soap (Tallow-based AoS unscented supercharged with T&H 1803), but the lather seemed to disappear into a pair black holes. Yet another example of YMMV.
I probably haven't mastered using Chubbys and other highly dense brushes. In any case, they just don't work all that well for me. Both brushes were quite effective at eating soap (Tallow-based AoS unscented supercharged with T&H 1803), but the lather seemed to disappear into a pair black holes. Yet another example of YMMV.
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- #16
Great feedback, thank you very much for doing that for me, I really appreciate it. As I mentioned before, I like the scritch feeling for some reason. I will go with the best off the bat and if it doesnt cut it, I'll sell it and wait until I've saved enough for a super! I appreciate your time and effort!
I think individual selection of brushes in the Simpson Best grade is critical. As for 3 band Super, I have owned only one, and it underperformed all of my carefully selected Best brushes in the area of face feel. Maybe I was unlucky, but that Super was the prickliest Simpson I have tried excepting my Eagle 3 Pure.
My most recent new Simpson is a Chubby 1 Best. It has distinct lovely 3 band coloration and the density for this hair to really show some great backbone and scrub. A carefully selected Best is hard to beat .
My most recent new Simpson is a Chubby 1 Best. It has distinct lovely 3 band coloration and the density for this hair to really show some great backbone and scrub. A carefully selected Best is hard to beat .
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- #18
After much help from WCS in getting me my Best Badger Chubby 2, it is here! I can't wait to take it for it's first run tonight!
Congrats! Looks like a good one.
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- #20
Thanks! I think it has some real nice white tips, I hope it performs to my expectations!
