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This gets filed under the heading of "It’s A Tough Job, But Someone Has To Do It". 
To satisfy the compulsions of BOSC SCIENCE, I bought a Lambda Athena and a Wolfman Ti WR2 1.25 SB to see how they would compare to each other, and also to the razors that currently hold the Alpha Big Dog Razor title.
This is still a work in progress as I intend to keep shaving with both of these top tier razors.
Process:
Also of note: my preferred shaving angle is steep. Both the Athena and the Wolfman work beautifully with a steep angle.
Razors evaluated:
Between the Athena and the Ti WR2 1.25 SB:
Lambda Athena:
Wolfman Ti WR2 1.25 SB
Both razors provide very similar results in use. Both razors can be used every day, They are both incredible razors and worthy of consideration. They need different techniques and do have a different "feel", so any decision ultimately boils down to personal preference. To simply: If you don't care for blade feel and want a razor that almost provides a "Zen-like" shaving experience, choose the Athena. If you don't mind blade feel, and want a razor that will effortlessly slice through anything you throw at it, choose the Ti WR2 1.25 SB.
I really like both razors - a lot.
How do the Lambda Athena and the Wolfman Ti WR2 1.25 SB stack up against the DE Alpha Big Dog Blackland Razors Ti Blackbird SB and the Overall and AC Blade Alpha Big Dog Blackland Razors Ti Vector SB? As good as the Athena and the Ti WR2 are, they do not dethrone the Ti Blackbird nor the Ti Vector. The Ti Blackbird is better at navigating the nooks and crannies of my face. It is at least as efficient, as smooth, more nimble & maneuverable and (for me) more predictable. The Ti Vector improves on all of these attributes even more.
Having said that, these are not huge differences. If the Ti Blackbird and Ti Vector did not exist, could I be happy with the Athena and/or the Ti WR2 as my Daily Driver? Yes to both. Forced to choose one? Glad I don't have to do that. Pending additional shaves and consideration, both the Lambda Athena and Wolfman Ti WR2 1.25 SB razors will be categorized as DE Alpha Big Dog Honorable Mention.
More to follow.
To satisfy the compulsions of BOSC SCIENCE, I bought a Lambda Athena and a Wolfman Ti WR2 1.25 SB to see how they would compare to each other, and also to the razors that currently hold the Alpha Big Dog Razor title.
This is still a work in progress as I intend to keep shaving with both of these top tier razors.
Process:
- Whip up the lather in my Captain's Choice Copper bowl
- Splash water on my face
- My usual steep angle 3-passes plus a touch-up pass to use the diagonal and oblique strokes required to shave my wiry, chaotic and swirling beard
- Light rinse between passes
- Final rinse and dry, then apply aftershave
- Disassemble razor after each use, rinse thoroughly, dry
- Flip blade after every shave, air dry blade
Also of note: my preferred shaving angle is steep. Both the Athena and the Wolfman work beautifully with a steep angle.
Razors evaluated:
- Lambda Athena (used with 80mm TiBam Radiator Ti Handle)
-
- Wolfman Ti WR2 1.25 SB (used with 80mm TiBam Radiator Ti Handle)
Between the Athena and the Ti WR2 1.25 SB:
Lambda Athena:
- "Sneaky" efficient
- Highly smooth
- Medium nimble & maneuverable
- Medium/highly predictable (caveat: some folks have reported issues with the sharp corners of the baseplate - an issue that I could replicare, but that did not manifest itself to any great degree during my shaves)
Wolfman Ti WR2 1.25 SB
- Highly efficient
- Medium/highly smooth
- Medium/highly nimble and maneuverable
- Medium/highly predictable
Both razors provide very similar results in use. Both razors can be used every day, They are both incredible razors and worthy of consideration. They need different techniques and do have a different "feel", so any decision ultimately boils down to personal preference. To simply: If you don't care for blade feel and want a razor that almost provides a "Zen-like" shaving experience, choose the Athena. If you don't mind blade feel, and want a razor that will effortlessly slice through anything you throw at it, choose the Ti WR2 1.25 SB.
I really like both razors - a lot.
How do the Lambda Athena and the Wolfman Ti WR2 1.25 SB stack up against the DE Alpha Big Dog Blackland Razors Ti Blackbird SB and the Overall and AC Blade Alpha Big Dog Blackland Razors Ti Vector SB? As good as the Athena and the Ti WR2 are, they do not dethrone the Ti Blackbird nor the Ti Vector. The Ti Blackbird is better at navigating the nooks and crannies of my face. It is at least as efficient, as smooth, more nimble & maneuverable and (for me) more predictable. The Ti Vector improves on all of these attributes even more.
Having said that, these are not huge differences. If the Ti Blackbird and Ti Vector did not exist, could I be happy with the Athena and/or the Ti WR2 as my Daily Driver? Yes to both. Forced to choose one? Glad I don't have to do that. Pending additional shaves and consideration, both the Lambda Athena and Wolfman Ti WR2 1.25 SB razors will be categorized as DE Alpha Big Dog Honorable Mention.
More to follow.
