Omega 49 Pro or 80265?

[winky]

Okay, so I've been reading online all over the place for a couple hours and simply can't decide on my first boar brush. I know the Pro 49 is the standard, but I also read that a shorter loft may help with face lathering, so I'm thinking the 80265 because of the shorter loft plus I like the look and it comes with the stand (I know it's not necessary, but I like it for aesthetics in my shave den).

Any thoughts? Anyone want to convince me to consider a different model?

 

[Don]

I am very happy with my Omega Pro 48.

 

[rsaltonstall]

I have the 10065--which is the 80265 without the band--and it is great for face and bowl lathering soaps. It was soft with excellent backbone straight from the box, and only gets better.

A Pro model was at the back of my mind when I was shopping for a boar, but I decided on the 10065 because of price and bristle loft. I thought that the Pro's loft was too unweildy to face lather; that it would be hard to control and splay all over my face. I have to admit, however, that I will probably purchase a taller lofted Omega Pro model sometime in the future just to give it a try.

This is because of what I read on another thread regarding how to lather a boar brush. Unlike badger, which requires the whole brush to be wet, only the top half of the boar bristle needs to be moistened. This will give the brush more backbone and control when face lathering.

 

[Royall Lyme]

Go with the PRO 49. Excellent brush and lathers on the face just fine.

 

[Bertilak]

I have the Pro 49 and it is a fine brush but I think I might like a shorter loft. Not because I find anything wrong with the Pro 49, but my tastes have changed since I got it. I now have a Semague 620 which has a shorter loft and I like it a lot. Actually haven't used the Pro 49 in quite some time.

 

[winky]

I have the 10065--which is the 80265 without the band--and it is great for face and bowl lathering soaps. It was soft with excellent backbone straight from the box, and only gets better.

Thanks. I was not aware of this model being the same. Is the band on boars simply put there to make it look like badger or is there some difference in the hair?

 

[rsaltonstall]

Thanks. I was not aware of this model being the same. Is the band on boars simply put there to make it look like badger or is there some difference in the hair?

Purely for aesthetics. When using boar, personally, I like it to look like boar, no band.

Although the 10065 and 80265 are the same, the 10065 does not come with a stand, and the color options for the handle may be slightly different.

 

[winky]

Purely for aesthetics. When using boar, personally, I like it to look like boar, no band.

Although the 10065 and 80265 are the same, the 10065 does not come with a stand, and the color options for the handle may be slightly different.

Agreed. One of the things that was drawing me to the 49 was the fact that it looked more like what I thought boar should look like. Now that I know about the 10065, the decision is even harder.

 

[Blondie]

Purely for aesthetics. When using boar, personally, I like it to look like boar, no band.

Although the 10065 and 80265 are the same, the 10065 does not come with a stand, and the color options for the handle may be slightly different.

I have boars with the band and without. The process is referred to as "sketching". It is mainly for aesthetics, but I have found "sketched" boars to have less smell, and be a little softer out of the box.

Agreed. One of the things that was drawing me to the 49 was the fact that it looked more like what I thought boar should look like. Now that I know about the 10065, the decision is even harder.

I have both the brushes mentioned. As cheap as they are, just buy both. You'll end up doing it anyway and pay for shipping twice if you don't. You didn't think coming here would get you an answer that extinguished the fire of SBAD, did you?

 

[rsaltonstall]

I have boars with the band and without. The process is referred to as "sketching". It is mainly for aesthetics, but I have found "sketched" boars to have less smell, and be a little softer out of the box.



I have both the brushes mentioned. As cheap as they are, just buy both. You'll end up doing it anyway and pay for shipping twice if you don't.

How true! I'm looking at the 10098 and 20102 right now; I love the handle on the 10098. And there's the jade resin handle on the 31156, which I also like, but I don't like the banded bristle. I may be adding to the difficulty of you choosing more than helping.

This may help your decission: the 10065 really had a foul odor for a week. Out the box it had a faint smell, not bad, but once it was wet ... it reeked!