The past few days I have been using the latest addition to my household, the Kai Captain Excelia (folding), loaded with the Kai Mild blades. I have to say it has been giving me wonderful shaves so far, and I am tempted to compare it with the Feather artist club ss - a comparison that ends with the Kai coming out on top so far simply because it gives an equally good shave but has a more satisfactory noise when it cuts the whiskers (I admit it, I am a sucker for the sound of a razor). I dont see much mention of the Kai here, the feather gets more love. Why is that, am I in the minority?
Kai Captain Excelia
- Thread starter Horned Owl
- Start date
Probably has something to do with the cost?
from what I read the Kai Captain used different materials compared to the SS...but the blade shape is the same...but if you enjoy the shaves...shave onward...
The KAI and DX (and the Korean CJB clone) do have a very similar head design (thin at the end of the lips holding the blade), but the SS has a different head design (even though the actual blades are interchangeable in all of these models/brands).
KAI head design:
Note how the CJB (right) more closely resembles the DX head (middle). Here in this picture you can really appreciate the lip/guard on the SS (left):
As to why folks love more the Feather over the KAI? That is a good question. Maybe the Feather was available here in the USA first?
Myself, I had a folding SS, non-folding SS, CJB, and now the folding DX, and I sold all of them and kept the DX. At some point I would love to try the folding KAI, but since the DX works well, I have not look into buying one yet.
Will
KAI head design:
Note how the CJB (right) more closely resembles the DX head (middle). Here in this picture you can really appreciate the lip/guard on the SS (left):
As to why folks love more the Feather over the KAI? That is a good question. Maybe the Feather was available here in the USA first?
Myself, I had a folding SS, non-folding SS, CJB, and now the folding DX, and I sold all of them and kept the DX. At some point I would love to try the folding KAI, but since the DX works well, I have not look into buying one yet.
Will
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At some point I got the KAI Excelia folding and non folding and they are very beautiful and efficient razors. For me the shaves where equally good as with the feather models. Only reason that I prefer the Feathers is the roundness of the scales. I didn't really like the feeling of the Excelia in my hands but that's personal. I do like the KAI Captain folding and non folding a lot however even if they are cheaper models.
How do you clean the Kai? Does it come apart like the Feather Artist Club razors?
Yes, exactly the same.
@wquiles -Since looks like you have tested both, this question is for fun. Let's put the shaving part aside for a minute, based on pure craftsmanship, which one takes the edge? The Kai or the Feather?
I can't pick based on craftsmanship alone, but after shaving with both in their Japanese (fixed handle) designs :
- The Excelia had the thinnest edge/lip, and resembled a str8 closest - something like the SS is at the opposite side (least reassembling a str8).
- The Excelia's head, with those cuts/grooves, feel good on the face and makes the head stick less when shaving really flat against the face, and also make it easier to open for cleaning.
- But the handle shape and the grippy material on the handle is definitely much better on the Dx/RG.
- The overall ergonomics and balance of the Dx/RG was much better as I shaved around my face.
So if doing I all over again, I would buy the fixed handle DX/RG and don't bother with the other variants.
