I have spent the past too many days combing through the forum archives, yet still I struggle!
I am new to DE shaving and already I LOVE it. I am still breaking in a beechwood Omega 80005 but starting to get half-decent results. The problem is... I think I have caught the bug, and already I find myself justifying the looming purchase of a badger brush, decidedly in best. I also find I am inexplicably drawn to the Simpson line, a victim of the hype if you will. So essentially I am looking at my first entry into this realm in the form of a small/medium size (and hence affordable) model. The Berkeley 46B seems to be a good choice, but I want to keep the bowl-lathering option open and could stand to pay slightly more for a Colonel X2L or Commodore X2 (this being said, I haven't ruled out the Berkeley). There seems to be more love in general for the Colonel, but I don't see a great amount of difference between the two aside from the handle. Could it be said the Commodore blooms out more? This is not really a bonus for me since I often keep a beard so want to have better control during the face lather. Also, is one really denser than the other? I have read the Colonel is denser but I have also read the Commodore is denser (assuming we are still talking about the X2).
A big problem for me is having nowhere in Montreal (to the best of my knowledge) to see and handle any of these models first-hand, so I am going at this thing blind a wee bit, and the cost factor is non-negligible. Even deciding between the 1, 2 or 3 sizes isn't easy. I imagine the X2 would suit me, but there is no way of really 'knowing'. Judging by a ruler can only really go so far, and there is also variation between specimens (for the record, my hands are small-average in size). Anyhow, I'm essentially looking for a versatile 1st Simpson brush in best badger that will last me several years in the 'medium-sized affordable' department. Thoughts and insights are most appreciated.
I am new to DE shaving and already I LOVE it. I am still breaking in a beechwood Omega 80005 but starting to get half-decent results. The problem is... I think I have caught the bug, and already I find myself justifying the looming purchase of a badger brush, decidedly in best. I also find I am inexplicably drawn to the Simpson line, a victim of the hype if you will. So essentially I am looking at my first entry into this realm in the form of a small/medium size (and hence affordable) model. The Berkeley 46B seems to be a good choice, but I want to keep the bowl-lathering option open and could stand to pay slightly more for a Colonel X2L or Commodore X2 (this being said, I haven't ruled out the Berkeley). There seems to be more love in general for the Colonel, but I don't see a great amount of difference between the two aside from the handle. Could it be said the Commodore blooms out more? This is not really a bonus for me since I often keep a beard so want to have better control during the face lather. Also, is one really denser than the other? I have read the Colonel is denser but I have also read the Commodore is denser (assuming we are still talking about the X2).
A big problem for me is having nowhere in Montreal (to the best of my knowledge) to see and handle any of these models first-hand, so I am going at this thing blind a wee bit, and the cost factor is non-negligible. Even deciding between the 1, 2 or 3 sizes isn't easy. I imagine the X2 would suit me, but there is no way of really 'knowing'. Judging by a ruler can only really go so far, and there is also variation between specimens (for the record, my hands are small-average in size). Anyhow, I'm essentially looking for a versatile 1st Simpson brush in best badger that will last me several years in the 'medium-sized affordable' department. Thoughts and insights are most appreciated.