Ive noticed a lot of us here at B&B list feathers and astras as our go to blades. Does anyone think these two are really in the same league? Or is it the value that attracts some to astras? I ask because feathers are the only blade I've found that will cut my tree trunk whiskers atg without serious stump pulling tuggage. I can use astras if I go wtg only. But I would need 8 passes to be sas. Is this just a case of ymmv? Could there be something wrong with my technique that feather blades cover up? Ive tried astras in slant and r89. Same results. Weird because my slant seems to transform Merkur blades into decent usable blades. It does nothing for tha Astra though.
Feathers and.......... Astras?
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I like the Atras, but they are not in the "same league" as Feathers or Personna Medical PRep blades IMHO. I have recommended the Astras to new DE shavers because I think they are much better than the Derby or Merkur blades that many of them seem to get as a starting blade). Even Sharks are much better than the Derby!
For me, Feathers are incredibly sharp blades of the highest quality that I can't use anymore because while they do leave my skin BBS every time the amount of blood they draw in the process isn't worth the hassle.
Astras, on the other hand, are low-quality blades that I don't use at all because they deliver supbar shaves and cut my skin to shreds.
Astras, on the other hand, are low-quality blades that I don't use at all because they deliver supbar shaves and cut my skin to shreds.
I've only tried one each of green & blue Astra. OK blade. Definitely in a tier below that of Feather & 7 o'clock yellow, but above Derby & 7 o'clock green IMO. [I have another pair I'm going to try some time in the future]
Cut OK, but there are better. A bit tuggy, but not the worst. I can see how some who don't need a ridiculously sharp blade would like them. And the price is good, too, which I think helps out in the overall grading. I wish they worked for me better.
Cut OK, but there are better. A bit tuggy, but not the worst. I can see how some who don't need a ridiculously sharp blade would like them. And the price is good, too, which I think helps out in the overall grading. I wish they worked for me better.
I will agree that Astra is lower-priced and obviously in a different tier than Astra due to price and sharpness.
That being said I disagree about Astras being horrible, Feathers ARE sharp but they are rough and irritate me (a little less than Gillette Greens but still rough) whereas even if Astras are a little duller, they are extremely smooth and give me much less irritation than most other blades.
JMO
That being said I disagree about Astras being horrible, Feathers ARE sharp but they are rough and irritate me (a little less than Gillette Greens but still rough) whereas even if Astras are a little duller, they are extremely smooth and give me much less irritation than most other blades.
JMO
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Our mileage really varies. I find feathers to be smoooooth as butta. Never drew blood with one. It's interesting how different our skin/hair reacts to a blade. A lot of folks say feathers are harsh. I guess skin sensitivity has much to do with this.
I actually find astra to be much rougher after using feathers. I even bought 100 pack of Astra, but they do irritate me. I seem to try to get the closeness with Astra and it just doesn't match. Feathers are definitely the blades for me, and it kind of upsets me because they are the most costly.. However, it's much cheaper and a better shave than the Mach Fusions I came from. Just gotta use the same lack of pressure with Astra, and accept that it doesn't shave as close or easily.
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It is pretty amazing how much everyone's experience varies with the same blades. I can feel the sharpness of the Feather, but I find Astras to be smoother. I have a very tough beard, but I can get just as close a shave with an Astra as with a Feather--same razor with a three-pass shave.
Honestly I do think it's tough beard and sensitive skin (on the neck). I have a friend who has a tough beard but non-sensitive skin and he loves feathers, practically started on them and just stuck with them. I think he can take a dull blade easier, being able to use Derby. I just think if the razor isn't both sharp and smooth, my neck breaks out easier.
I have plenty of both Astras and Feathers, but only use the Feathers once in a blue moon. I have years worth of blades stocked up, so at this stage I really don't care about price. Yet, I still prefer the Astras. Yes, Feathers are the sharpest blade you can buy, but they certainly are not smooth. Astras have a good combination of smoothness and sharpness. Some things that may make me different from the next person using Astras is that I shave every day and throw the blade out after two shaves (regardless of brand) - so those two factors may play a role in how the blade is percieved.
Astra's are my go to baldes. I like the performance and the price. Feathers while super sharp are irritating to my skin, so I don't care to use them. All blades are really a YMMV case. I suspect some people "love" Feathers because they'e one of the more expensive brands, so some may get a bit of a charge out of feeling somehow "superior" because of the blade they use. No different in shaving than anything else.
Your probably right about some users feeling superior because they use a more expensive blade but since Feathers can be readily purchased for $27 per (100) including shipping, they are less costly than several other premium brands in production and less coslty than all of the highly regraded NOS brands. So most of those that prefer the Feather probably just get better results from them the same way some users get better results from budget priced blades.
Think most people go by price/100, but there are others that are close, like Polisilver/SI but those don't get as much press.
If by "same league" you mean quality, i have never had a problem with my astras, but i have had a few feather with some issues on the blade out of box, if you mean sharpness, there is no question feathers are the sharper, but sharper does not mean better.
Everyones face takes to blades differently, in fact with different razors i prefer different blades at times. but i will say astra SP's are my go to to at least start with a new razor and they rarely let me down, Gillette blacks are my next in lines for now, but they are harder for me to get ahold of
btw at 8/100 for the astras they are a much better value, as i dont agree much with my feathers in most razors
Everyones face takes to blades differently, in fact with different razors i prefer different blades at times. but i will say astra SP's are my go to to at least start with a new razor and they rarely let me down, Gillette blacks are my next in lines for now, but they are harder for me to get ahold of
btw at 8/100 for the astras they are a much better value, as i dont agree much with my feathers in most razors
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I bought a carton of the Astra SP Green blades and a carton of the Feather Hi-Stainless blades and I regularly go back and forth between them.
I find that I cannot use the Feather blades for the first couple of shaves in my Muhleskinner R41 razor, it's just too rough and I end up cutting my face. I've tried corking the blades first, but with limited success. I get much better and smoother shaves from the Astra SP on the first few shaves. The Feather blades also do not last as long as the Astra SP blades to for me. After I went through my sample pack, I picked the Astra SP as my go-to blade. I liked it for the shave and the price, not wanting to pay the premium for Gillette 7 O'clock blades and getting inconsistent results with the Feathers. I picked up the carton of Feathers when they were on sale, but I'd say that the Astra SPs remain my go-to for good, consistent results and and a smooth, long-lasting blade. I would rate the 7 O'clocks higher, though.
I think that it may be a case of not only YMMV with the Feather and the Astra but also it may depend on the razor you pair it with.
I find that I cannot use the Feather blades for the first couple of shaves in my Muhleskinner R41 razor, it's just too rough and I end up cutting my face. I've tried corking the blades first, but with limited success. I get much better and smoother shaves from the Astra SP on the first few shaves. The Feather blades also do not last as long as the Astra SP blades to for me. After I went through my sample pack, I picked the Astra SP as my go-to blade. I liked it for the shave and the price, not wanting to pay the premium for Gillette 7 O'clock blades and getting inconsistent results with the Feathers. I picked up the carton of Feathers when they were on sale, but I'd say that the Astra SPs remain my go-to for good, consistent results and and a smooth, long-lasting blade. I would rate the 7 O'clocks higher, though.
I think that it may be a case of not only YMMV with the Feather and the Astra but also it may depend on the razor you pair it with.
I like the Astra SP in my EJDE89(smooth). I have also tried the Feather stainless in this razor, with good results too. Maybe it is a case of brand familiarity, knowing how the blade will perform in a certain razor each time, and what to expect from it. It could also boil down to the price difference. I vote for the Astra, even if it isn't in the same league.
Which Gillette 7 o'clock?
I think Astra is a sharp but forgiving blade. It is no feather. And it's not a Gillette yellow; but it's close, IMHO. And it's cheap.
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