Duke 2 or something else?

[(DE NH)]

Evening all,

I currently use a Simpson special pure badger that I bought when I first started DE back in 2012, but have been pondering a brush upgrade for a little while now. I like the special well enough, but find it a bit small these days and could use some more lather for my 3rd pass.

I had my eye set on a Duke 2, and am looking for a bit of input from users. I face lather exclusively, mostly use cold water, and tend to like my brush fairly contained (i.e not floppy). Also, I prefer a balance of skritch and softness, which is why I thought I'd stick to badger.

Does the Duke 2 seem like a good fit? Any recommendations for an equivalent or better brush for the price? Replies would preferably be from those who have first hand experience with said brush. Thanks!

 

[MrSmith83]

I've owned two duke 2's and from criteria they're absolutely the sort of thing you're looking for. If you can see before buying try to get s more fan shaped one for a perfect face latnerer.

 

[ddillas]

I used a Duke 2 in Best Badger as a travel brush for a while but it still felt a bit small for everyday use.... For me 24mm is the sweet spot for face lathering... A Duke 3 at 23mm in Best would be a very nice everyday brush only to be outdone be a Classis 2 in Best Badger (sometimes referred to as a Chubby 0).... in that same ballpark a Chubby 1 in Best would be a nice long term option as well.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

 

[ddillas]

Here's a post from a few years back comparing the aforementioned brushes...

Chubby 1 vs Classic 2 vs Duke 3

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

 

[JMax]

I bought a Chubby 1 in Super and haven’t found anything I like more.

I’m a believer in spend a little more the first time so you don’t have to worry about upgrading later.

 

[SliceOfLife]

I am a big fan of the chubby 1 in best. And duke 2 is a somewhat similar brush. If you want more lather though, consider something in two band, less densely packed with the same backbone than 3 bands lets them hold more lather.

 

[BigJ]

The Duke 2 is a great choice!!

Other Simpson favorites here are the Chubby 1, Classic 2, and Tulip 2! I recommend any of these also!

 

[Macfrommichigan]

Yeah...if you can buy in person, that's helpful. Simpson brushes vary a bit. Sometimes quite a bit. I recall lining up four of the same model one day at a store before selecting one.

 

[(DE NH)]

I appreciate all the input. @MrSmith83 I hadn't thought of a more fan-like shape being better. That's a good point.

It seems like the general consensus is that the Duke 2 is great, but some like the slightly more dense Duke 3 or Chubby 1.

Just browsing WCS...
Duke 2: 21mm Dia, 46mm Lft, $92
Classic 1: 22mm, 44mm, $101
Classic 2: 23mm, 44mm, $112
Duke 3: 23mm, 46mm, $115
Chubby 1: 23mm, 47mm, $127

All seem very similar. Reading through @ddillas link it seems a bit of personal preference between a firmer or more cushiony feel.

Does anyone have any recommendations that meet the criteria above and is not a Simpson? These seem like the best fit to me, but I haven't done an exhaustive search.

 

[UTVol]

I've owned two duke 2's and from criteria they're absolutely the sort of thing you're looking for. If you can see before buying try to get s more fan shaped one for a perfect face latnerer.

+1 I have one in pure badger and it hits the criteria you're looking for. I love it, especially the scritch and backbone.

Sent from my Vivo 8 using Tapatalk

 

[JimL911]

Duke 2 will work. I use mine with smaller soaps and for travel. Duke 3 knot is not much larger but the handle is much nicer to hold.
Also look at a Shavemac D01.

 

[macintoshBR]

My Classic 1 feels like a baby child compared to my Chubby 1. Both are great

 

[Northstonehill]

I am a big fan of the chubby 1 in best.

+1. My daily driver.

 

[(DE NH)]

My Classic 1 feels like a baby child compared to my Chubby 1. Both are great

Good to know. It can be hard to tell from photos how much smaller the Classic is. I'm not a big guy but have bigger hands, so I may want to steer clear of such a small handled brush.

 

[(DE NH)]

Duke 2 will work. I use mine with smaller soaps and for travel. Duke 3 knot is not much larger but the handle is much nicer to hold.
Also look at a Shavemac D01.

Yeah, I had someone else recommend Shavemac also, but D01 is a little out of my price range, as I was hoping to keep it around $100.

Do you have any experience with their Finest or Silvertip? Would you say they are comparable to Simpsons Best? Considering I don't mind a bit of skritch, I thought it may be nice to configure my own. Especially since I could get a fan shape instead of bulb, for face lathering.

 

[JimL911]

Yeah, I had someone else recommend Shavemac also, but D01 is a little out of my price range, as I was hoping to keep it around $100.

Do you have any experience with their Finest or Silvertip? Would you say they are comparable to Simpsons Best? Considering I don't mind a bit of skritch, I thought it may be nice to configure my own. Especially since I could get a fan shape instead of bulb, for face lathering.

Simpsons' Best can be hit or miss. My Duke 2 and M6 have very little scritch, much less than the Shavemac Finest I had. My Duke 3 has much more. Almost feels like pure.
If you don't mind some scritch go for the Shavemac.

 

[ddillas]

I appreciate all the input. @MrSmith83 I hadn't thought of a more fan-like shape being better. That's a good point.

It seems like the general consensus is that the Duke 2 is great, but some like the slightly more dense Duke 3 or Chubby 1.

Just browsing WCS...
Duke 2: 21mm Dia, 46mm Lft, $92
Classic 1: 22mm, 44mm, $101
Classic 2: 23mm, 44mm, $112
Duke 3: 23mm, 46mm, $115
Chubby 1: 23mm, 47mm, $127

All seem very similar. Reading through @ddillas link it seems a bit of personal preference between a firmer or more cushiony feel.

Does anyone have any recommendations that meet the criteria above and is not a Simpson? These seem like the best fit to me, but I haven't done an exhaustive search.

At a lower price point but still acknowledged as pretty nice brushes are the 2 band offerings from Stirling Soap Co on their website and the Maseto Shaving brushes sold on eBay. I have our have had variants from each brand and have been very pleased.

MS - Extra Density 2 Band 100% Finest Badger Shaving Brush "Atlanta-B&I" 24mm Knott

Stirling Soap Co - Finest Badger Shave Brush - 24mm Fan Knot (Black Striped) or (Green Striped)


Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

 

[macintoshBR]

Good to know. It can be hard to tell from photos how much smaller the Classic is. I'm not a big guy but have bigger hands, so I may want to steer clear of such a small handled brush.

I have average sized hands and sometimes get lather on my fingers when using the classic

 

[(DE NH)]

At a lower price point but still acknowledged as pretty nice brushes are the 2 band offerings from Stirling Soap Co on their website and the Maseto Shaving brushes sold on eBay. I have our have had variants from each brand and have been very pleased.

MS - Extra Density 2 Band 100% Finest Badger Shaving Brush "Atlanta-B&I" 24mm Knott

Stirling Soap Co - Finest Badger Shave Brush - 24mm Fan Knot (Black Striped) or (Green Striped)


Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Very good suggestions. I think that I've always looked at stepping up to a brush in the Simpson range, but perhaps there's not much sense in spending more if I don't need to.

That Stirling looks well suited to face lathering, with the fan shape, moderate loft, and comfortable (looking) handle.

 

[JMax]

Good to know. It can be hard to tell from photos how much smaller the Classic is. I'm not a big guy but have bigger hands, so I may want to steer clear of such a small handled brush.

I was shocked when I saw the Simpson lineup in person by how small most of the brushes are. Even the Chubby 1 is smaller than I thought I would’ve been OK with but find it perfect.

Also there’s a large jump when going for the Chubby 2 which I found too large, and the Chubby 3 which in Pure I think would make a fine hairbrush. I think my ideal brush would be a Chubby 1.5 but I’ll probably never find out. I think the 58 is my second favorite brush I’ve ever owned and I’ve owned a Duke 3.

As far as hair goes I would highly recommend Super as Best can go either way (as has been said) and imo it’s tough to impossible to tell how scritchy a brush is without using it.