Back with another one.
Credentials:
www.badgerandblade.com
www.badgerandblade.com
www.badgerandblade.com
www.badgerandblade.com
www.badgerandblade.com
www.badgerandblade.com
www.badgerandblade.com
So as you can see, my noob shaver credentials are for real; also that list is getting long. I'm gonna stop buying razors (ha).
I went from the Karve C plate to a Timeless .68 to a Timeless .95 to a Blackbird, used the Muhle r41 (more friendly version), tried out a Leaf razor, used the Rex Envoy for a couple months, have a Merkur Futur that my beautiful wife bought me for Christmas, have a Razorock SLOC that I haven't bothered to review because anyone with 6 bucks or whatever can grab one, snatched a Blackland Sabre with a Level 2 plate and I'm now onto the Vector.
If you've seen any of my SOTDs or seen anyone ask me a question about them, you know I'm a Blackland fanboy.
Shane is doing some weird really cool stuff, and I enjoy that. I'm not a vintage guy, for anything. I'm a tech monger.....I always have the newest phone, computers, guitar plugins etc and I like it like that. I know there are great vintage razors out there but they're not for me at this time. I grabbed the Blackbird and loved it and it's been my #1 for around 8 months, give or take. Nothing else has lasted that long, nor could it have.
I'd grabbed the Sabre and used it a few times and it's a fine razor, but I don't really feel I'm using it to its full potential because the Gem Personna blades I ordered from Connaught are stuck in COVID19 shipping limbo. I'll revisit that razor when they show up, but I feel the carbon steel blades I'm using in it detract from its efficiency somewhat, so we'll leave that one alone for now.
Onto the Vector. First 3 shaves:
First shave...was a first shave. I usually do 2 passes, first XTG and second ATG. This is the test for new razors. I'll do it, see what happens and judge it on my technique and how soon I need to shave again, then start judging the razor.
SHAVE:
Vector was a start on XTG and immediately saw the adjustment, and never lost the line. I said out loud "hey, that's not going to work" and moved it a tad, and there it was. 3 shaves later it's still there.
Interesting thing for me is that it's wide and flat...meaning I can go ATG on my neck with it, which I can't do with any other razor in my den, not even the Blackbird which I'm completely used to and know all the angles on. It's just too risky for that razor, so I make do with the XTG and some form of 'down and sort of across'. I gave it a shot on shave 3 just to see what would happen and it took it like a champ. Just straight across......albeit AFTER the XTG, which means something but hey I don't know what.
Blackland puts the Blackbird OC at a 7.5, the Sabre Level 2 at a 5.5, and the Vector at a 5 and I agree with this; this is a middle of the road shave as far as aggression goes. I didn't really ever feel like this razor was going to cut me, although if you're lacking on your technique I could see it happening; it IS a really wide sharp blade, after all.
WEIGHT:
77 grams puts it under both the Sabre and the Blackbird, respectively. It's a light razor, comparatively speaking. I own a lot that are heavier and use them a lot, so this is a nice change.
LOOKS:
There is nothing like this out there.....and this is one of those things when I talk about Shane doing cool stuff that no one else is doing. Show me another AC razor with this small of a head, or that looks this elegant. Look at it, it's ELEGANT. It's a really well designed machined thing that does exactly what it's supposed to do, while looking nothing else like anything else out there, and doing really cool stuff.
BUILD/MACHINING:
I opted for the machined version...I didn't really feel the need for the polished version; I don't need shiny things, I use my stuff and don't want to polish anything. It looks fine, feels great and works much the same as the polished version, I'd imagine.
In short/tl;dr
This is a really good razor. It's light, nimble, efficient, and fun to use. Really well built, no machining issues whatsoever. Shaves great, really worth the $, if you're jonesing for an AC razor, I'd recommend this.
LAST NOTE:
I'm actually thinking about switching to this razor.....it's quite amazing and I really dig it. It's a whole different vibe from the Blackbird but almost as efficient.....I kind of dig that it's less efficient, meaning I could shave every day and not worry about irritation or nicks/weepers. The Blackbird is just slightly TOO efficient for me and my beard, meaning if I wanted to use it every day I'd have to be really careful about those things. The Vector? NAHHHHHH
All in all for where I'm at on my shaving journey? The Vector is a 10/10....if you're close to where I am and thinking about an AC razor, I HIGHLY recommend the Vector.
Credentials:
Noob shaver, Karve review
Like said above.....been at this about 6 months. For reference, what I've been using mostly is a '66 Eversharp Krona, a Razorock SLOC and a Fatip Piccolo SE using the Gentile plate. I've been kind of lusting after a few razors the last couple months because that happens here; reading the...
www.badgerandblade.com
Noob shaver, Timeless .68 review
So if you guys read this thread: Noob shaver, Karve review You know where I started, the fact that I was jonesing after a couple razors, what I've got, how I'm using it and what my noob credentials are, so take this as you see fit. Timeless showed up today after using the BST on FRIDAY, thing...
www.badgerandblade.com
Noob shaver, Blackland Blackbird review
As stated, been at this just shy of a year. If you guys read these threads, you know where I'm at: Noob shaver, Karve review Noob shaver, Timeless .68 review I sold all my razors except the As you can see, I'd settled on the Timeless .95SB in SS for my daily shaver. Buddy that started me...
www.badgerandblade.com
The Mighty Muhle R41? Short Noob Review
Got gifted a package from my shave guru buddy @guitarslinger and inside amongst numerous other things was this razor. We both shave regularly using a variety of 'aggressive' razors, #1 among them for me being my Blackland Blackbird, so I was interested to see how this thing compares, as was he...
www.badgerandblade.com
Leaf Razor Review
So this was interesting: It's a cool thing. I wouldn't replace any of my razors with this...there's no artifice to it, you don't have to be good at shaving. You just wipe whiskers off your face. I think I was at 3 days, and I got a 2 pass DFS with this thing. I looked at the no name brand...
www.badgerandblade.com
Noob Review: Rex Envoy
Last couple shaves: Disclaimers: I'm only using Gillette Platinums now, and have no idea how other blades perform in this razor. I'm also only using DG Milksteak and Saponificio Varesino for soaps, and have zero idea how this razor would fare using anything else. Review below: I have to...
www.badgerandblade.com
Noob shaver, Blackland Sabre review
Back again with another patented Noob Shaver Review for the shaving homies. If you read these threads: https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/noob-shaver-karve-review.567107/ https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/noob-shaver-timeless-68-review.567451/...
www.badgerandblade.com
So as you can see, my noob shaver credentials are for real; also that list is getting long. I'm gonna stop buying razors (ha).
I went from the Karve C plate to a Timeless .68 to a Timeless .95 to a Blackbird, used the Muhle r41 (more friendly version), tried out a Leaf razor, used the Rex Envoy for a couple months, have a Merkur Futur that my beautiful wife bought me for Christmas, have a Razorock SLOC that I haven't bothered to review because anyone with 6 bucks or whatever can grab one, snatched a Blackland Sabre with a Level 2 plate and I'm now onto the Vector.
If you've seen any of my SOTDs or seen anyone ask me a question about them, you know I'm a Blackland fanboy.
Shane is doing some weird really cool stuff, and I enjoy that. I'm not a vintage guy, for anything. I'm a tech monger.....I always have the newest phone, computers, guitar plugins etc and I like it like that. I know there are great vintage razors out there but they're not for me at this time. I grabbed the Blackbird and loved it and it's been my #1 for around 8 months, give or take. Nothing else has lasted that long, nor could it have.
I'd grabbed the Sabre and used it a few times and it's a fine razor, but I don't really feel I'm using it to its full potential because the Gem Personna blades I ordered from Connaught are stuck in COVID19 shipping limbo. I'll revisit that razor when they show up, but I feel the carbon steel blades I'm using in it detract from its efficiency somewhat, so we'll leave that one alone for now.
Onto the Vector. First 3 shaves:
First shave...was a first shave. I usually do 2 passes, first XTG and second ATG. This is the test for new razors. I'll do it, see what happens and judge it on my technique and how soon I need to shave again, then start judging the razor.
SHAVE:
Vector was a start on XTG and immediately saw the adjustment, and never lost the line. I said out loud "hey, that's not going to work" and moved it a tad, and there it was. 3 shaves later it's still there.
Interesting thing for me is that it's wide and flat...meaning I can go ATG on my neck with it, which I can't do with any other razor in my den, not even the Blackbird which I'm completely used to and know all the angles on. It's just too risky for that razor, so I make do with the XTG and some form of 'down and sort of across'. I gave it a shot on shave 3 just to see what would happen and it took it like a champ. Just straight across......albeit AFTER the XTG, which means something but hey I don't know what.
Blackland puts the Blackbird OC at a 7.5, the Sabre Level 2 at a 5.5, and the Vector at a 5 and I agree with this; this is a middle of the road shave as far as aggression goes. I didn't really ever feel like this razor was going to cut me, although if you're lacking on your technique I could see it happening; it IS a really wide sharp blade, after all.
WEIGHT:
77 grams puts it under both the Sabre and the Blackbird, respectively. It's a light razor, comparatively speaking. I own a lot that are heavier and use them a lot, so this is a nice change.
LOOKS:
There is nothing like this out there.....and this is one of those things when I talk about Shane doing cool stuff that no one else is doing. Show me another AC razor with this small of a head, or that looks this elegant. Look at it, it's ELEGANT. It's a really well designed machined thing that does exactly what it's supposed to do, while looking nothing else like anything else out there, and doing really cool stuff.
BUILD/MACHINING:
I opted for the machined version...I didn't really feel the need for the polished version; I don't need shiny things, I use my stuff and don't want to polish anything. It looks fine, feels great and works much the same as the polished version, I'd imagine.
In short/tl;dr
This is a really good razor. It's light, nimble, efficient, and fun to use. Really well built, no machining issues whatsoever. Shaves great, really worth the $, if you're jonesing for an AC razor, I'd recommend this.
LAST NOTE:
I'm actually thinking about switching to this razor.....it's quite amazing and I really dig it. It's a whole different vibe from the Blackbird but almost as efficient.....I kind of dig that it's less efficient, meaning I could shave every day and not worry about irritation or nicks/weepers. The Blackbird is just slightly TOO efficient for me and my beard, meaning if I wanted to use it every day I'd have to be really careful about those things. The Vector? NAHHHHHH
All in all for where I'm at on my shaving journey? The Vector is a 10/10....if you're close to where I am and thinking about an AC razor, I HIGHLY recommend the Vector.
