Disappointed in Personna Israeli Reds

[Doug123]

Seems like everyone here loves these blades so I got 100 on ebay to try. Didn't know about WCS yet or I would have bought them there.

I don't know if I pulled a dud out of the box or what but it has been about the worst blade I have tried so far. I couldn't even get close to getting a decent shave. I put it in my Merkur HD just to make sure it wasn't the new razor I was trying. Really poor results, I couldn't get any kind of shave with it.

I'm going to try another blade just in case that one was bad for some reason. I ordered some Derby's anyway though. I got much better results with those. Feathers are my favorite so far but the Derby's are doing well for me considering the price difference.

Anyway, has anyone else had this experience with these blades or is it just me?

Thanks...

 

[mmack66]

It's just you.

They are all I use. Not all blades work for all folks though.

 

[thirdeye]

It's just you.

They are all I use. Not all blades work for all folks though.

Very true, what works for one may not work for another. I would suggest that you take some time away from them and revisit them in a few months. You may just find that they work for you.

 

[Rutgers Football]

these didn't work for me either. bought 100 and tried two -- awful, awful shave.

last time i mentioned this, I got many pm offers for the RIPs. not ready to sell my other 98 yet though -- just don't have the time to the post office. will probably package them with a razor when it's time.

but you are not alone.

 

[gollum83]

Very true, what works for one may not work for another. I would suggest that you take some time away from them and revisit them in a few months. You may just find that they work for you.

+1

Try them again in a few months. I've been doing that with some blades over the past few weeks that I initially dismissed early on. Some are as bad as I thought, while others aren't bad. It's quite amazing how fine tuning one's skill with a DE razor will affect a blade's performance. Really you have nothing too lose, considering that by the time you try them again you should be at the point where you can always sell those Reds on the BST if they truly don't work for you.

 

[ytsejammer]

Reds are great for me but definitely YMMV...and by the way...derbys did not work for me...so we are perfect opposites and prime example of YMMV...take care!

 

[isaacc7]

Yeah, me too. I have done a few shaves with them and I have had a much rougher shave than I am used to. My only other blades are the SHARP stainless ones and I can't really complain about those. As a matter of fact, I had never drawn blood until I tried these RP blades. The shaves are close, but I'm getting more irritation and some weepers. I'm going to stick with them through at least 5 blades and see if things change.

 

[pablo_h]

Reds are great for me but definitely YMMV...and by the way...derbys did not work for me...so we are perfect opposites and prime example of YMMV...take care!

There may be a trend there. I can't stand derbys but I don't mind red personnas either.

OP, there has been a few threads on here about some people not liking derbys at all, most of those people don't mind the reds.

There's been a couple of comments on here about some people not liking red IPs too, and those people seem to like derbys.

 

[Doug123]

The reason I didn't like them was I couldn't get the blade to cut anything. I did my best and it basically looked like I hadn't shaved when I was done. I had to switch to another razor with another blade in it.

I haven't used them in a couple weeks now, I'm going to try another new one right now. Thanks.

 

[Gringo]

I like Derbys and Red IPs about as good. They're cheap and do the job, but aren't my favorite blades of choice.

 

[TSWebster]

Red Personnas and Crystals are the worst blades I've tried. I used both early on and decided I liked Dorcos and Merkurs better than them and those 2 are amongst the most maligned blades out there. I went back again recently and still got poor results, Derby's are pretty much my go to blade now that Swedes are gone plus being able to order my Derby's direct from the source and use a B&B discount code is a big plus. I don't agree on the Feathers though super sharp but not very smooth, I get a close but uncomfortable shave from them.

 

[pablo_h]

I like Derbys and Red IPs about as good. They're cheap and do the job, but aren't my favorite blades of choice.

Red IPs for me are like that, cheap and do the job, but not my favourite. But for some reason I can not shave with a derby at all. Strange hey?
I tried about 20 derby blades and about 5 razors with them, they just tug badly and don't cut at all. Red IPs tug a tiny bit and don't cut the best in some razors I have, but there's some razors where they work OK, but derby have never done that for me.

I don't agree on the Feathers though super sharp but not very smooth, I get a close but uncomfortable shave from them.

Feathers are the same, good on razors in the middle of the aggressive band, I think superspeeds work OK with them. But I think I lose a lot of skin with a New Improved head or any other razor with a lot of blade exposure.

 

[RBE17]

I've yet to try the Red Personnas. I've read good things about them and am excited to try shaving w/ them, but my expectations are low. I read the same great things about Derby's, but they do not work for me. Since then my expectation for blades is low. I'll try the Derby's again in a few months. The fun thing about wetshaving is that your technique is always improving along w/ your preferences. It is very subjective and your results will change according to your input.

Good luck.

 

[markb]

That's a shame.. These are my go-to blades. Haven't had a bad one yet!

 

[mretzloff]

Blasphemy!

Just kidding. YMMV is true. I have found IPs are the only blades that work for me.

 

[Azza]

YMMV indeed!

- Aaron

 

[DGS]

Anyway, has anyone else had this experience with these blades or is it just me?

As you can see from all the posts above, everyone has different experinces, and "YMMV" is certainly true. What I've found with the Israeli Personas is that they are just okay but not fantastic, at least in my Gillette Adjustable. I haven't tried them yet in a Super Speed or a Merkur HD, or my Fat Boy, and they may be better in one of those. What I'm getting at, as the other posters have said, is that you shouldn't give up yet. Your technique may improve and change the way you feel about them. Or, as I've found, maybe trying them in a different razor will be like a night and day change. That happened for me with just about any blade I tried in my Super Speed versus my Fat Boy; terrible in the Super Speed and great in the Fat Boy (well, except for Merkur which is garbage in anything, and Dorco 300 which is slightly better than garbage). So, give them a rest and come back to them after a month or so or try them in a different razor and let us know how they work for you at that time. Good luck!

 

[krevo]

I find that Red IP's and Derby Extras give me about the same results. They're cheaper so I can usually use a fresh razor more often.

None of them touch the Feather though, imo.

 

[Maestro9]

Red pack personna's in a Merkur Classic HD were a GOD SEND for me!!! I'm hooked for life.

 

[Nils]

Red pack personna's in a Merkur Classic HD were a GOD SEND for me!!! I'm hooked for life.

+1
Indeed, and they are even better in a Slant. They are terrible in my Parat, however...