Oumo ST-2 test knot

[Omega48]

Super Fiber-ST-2 shaving brush knot

About Express Delivery 2023.11.23 Alibaba Freight Adjustment Notice ST-2 is a brush knot that mainly features a soft touch. After global testing, we optimized it by increasing the density and reducing the loft. The brush knots under 25mm are very soft, and if you need a more backbone, it is...

oumoshavingbrush.com

 

[walpan]

Well I just couldn't wait any longer. I just ordered the ST-2 Bulb 25mm knot with the Lighthouse Starry Night handle. This company is just a pleasure to deal with and their products are excellent. Their customer service is awesome.

 

[Omega48]

I ordered a 30mm, of course. Bulb.

 

[Stikeyoda]

This helps a lot.
Thanks for sharing such a detailed review.

I've read many reports in recent times about the EJ synth being so prickly that it's borderline useless. Many guys are bowl lathering with it as it's too harsh for face lathering.

I'm reading mixed reviews about the ST-2. Will be interesting to see what changes they make once all feedback is received.

You have to be careful with the mixed reviews. Oumo sent three knots to the testers; no one knew which one they got. Two were made of different fibers, and one was a combination of the two. The difference between the two fibers was at the microscopic level (same fiber, different treatment). The one I got compares very well to my Wald A1s. Factor in price and it is a walkway win. I cannot tell the difference dry, wet the the Wald has a little more backbone but the ST-2 has a better lather flow (IMO). Ihaven't finished all my testing but it seems to gobble up and hold water a little better than the Wald (Milton disrupted my plans to finish all my tests). Here are the results of my dry testing if you are interested.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[Slapo]

You have to be careful with the mixed reviews. Oumo sent three knots to the testers; no one knew which one they got. Two were made of different fibers, and one was a combination of the two. The difference between the two fibers was at the microscopic level (same fiber, different treatment). The one I got compares very well to my Wald A1s. Factor in price and it is a walkway win. I cannot tell the difference dry, wet the the Wald has a little more backbone but the ST-2 has a better lather flow (IMO). Ihaven't finished all my testing but it seems to gobble up and hold water a little better than the Wald (Milton disrupted my plans to finish all my tests). Here are the results of my dry testing if you are interested.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Curious that yours was a #23 and mine was a #24.

I think it would've been nice to have a tip softness ranking column as well, even though most recent knots have pretty soft tips (with, perhaps, the exception of premium Edwin Jagger knots).

I haven't used a Wald, but I'd agree with the assesment in the final table.
The brush it the softest one I've tried, tips and fibre, with no backbone to speak of. And it still whips up a storm for me.
I think I'm going to order another one, now that they're available.

 

[walpan]

Curious that yours was a #23 and mine was a #24.

I think it would've been nice to have a tip softness ranking column as well, even though most recent knots have pretty soft tips (with, perhaps, the exception of premium Edwin Jagger knots).

I haven't used a Wald, but I'd agree with the assesment in the final table.
The brush it the softest one I've tried, tips and fibre, with no backbone to speak of. And it still whips up a storm for me.
I think I'm going to order another one, now that they're available.

According to Oumo, they set the knot a bit deeper to offer a bit more backbone without sacrificing the softness.

 

[Slapo]

According to Oumo, they set the knot a bit deeper to offer a bit more backbone without sacrificing the softness.

For what's it worth, I don't mind the lack of backbone. I find it a different experience and I rather like it.

 

[TLetums]

and will they add this handle style to regular offerings?

Yes - the new handle style is named "Lighthouse"

 

[Omega48]

Yesterday I receive the new ST-2. I had ordered the 29mm bulb, but actually it is a 30.5-31mm, depending on how you measure it.
OUMO specifications for the loft of the 29mm bulb are 52mm. I set it at 60mm and I like it already. Tomorrow I will try by setting it at 56mm to see the difference.
Super dense, very different from the floppy 24mm test brush.

 

[Dark Stag]

First shave today with my ST-2 27mm fan with Destiny Crushed Stone Cosmic Reality handle.

I liked it a lot. It can hold tons of water. It's very soft, splays easily, very little backbone and no scrub.

Compared to my Wald A1, it's almost as soft, but not so dense.
Still, I think this might be my second best synthetic brush after Wald.

 

[walpan]

FIRST USE OF OUMO ST2 BRUSH
I used the brush for the first time today. It built a lather rather quickly, but the knot holds more water than I anticipated. As a result the lather was watery. I was too lazy to start over so I just went with it. The bristles are exactly as everyone has said, extremely soft and gentle on the face. There is no scratch and nearly no backbone. That is something I need to get used to. I have 2 ST-1 knots and they are my best brushes. This ST-2 is no where near the results of the ST-1. That is not to say it isn't a very good brush, it is just very DIFFERENT to me. I will need several more shaves to get the hang of this knot and its water retention. I also need to stop being so damn lazy. Below is a picture of the lather it built and the way the bristles look after I towel dry them and how they flop over, weird.

 

[Omega48]

Today, I set it at 56mm (again, mine is a 30.5-31mm knot). It didn’t make much of a difference; it just feels slightly smaller on the face, but it's still a nice, super-dense pillow. I like it a lot, and in my opinion, compared to the Muhle STF or the Boti Mother Lode, this is top-tier—as long as you enjoy this type of brush.

 

[The Coffee Bandit]

See, this is one I may need to try.

 

[Flanders]

See, this is one I may need to try.

There's a sale right now; I am pulling my hair out. They make nice brushes, but I am not completely happy with my ST-1.

 

[walpan]

There's a sale right now; I am pulling my hair out. They make nice brushes, but I am not completely happy with my ST-1.

The ST1 is an excellent knot. You aren’t making a bad decision. I own 2 and the ST2.

 

[The Coffee Bandit]

Can anybody show the profile of their knots, please? I'd like to see how bulbous their bulbs are and how flat their fans are before I pull the trigger. I don't like either extreme

 

[The Coffee Bandit]

There's a sale right now; I am pulling my hair out. They make nice brushes, but I am not completely happy with my ST-1.

That's right! 11.11 ! Thank you

I don't think I'd like the ST-1 either, but the ST2 I suspect I may.

 

[spacemonkey42]

Great, they are continuing the sale, 20% off handles 10% off knots until 11/18. I got my ST-2 with that sale. It is now in the US, looking forward to trying it.

 

[walpan]

Can anybody show the profile of their knots, please? I'd like to see how bulbous their bulbs are and how flat their fans are before I pull the trigger. I don't like either extreme

here are shots of my 3 Oumos. From left to right in both pictures are: ExDens ST-1, ST-1 and the ST-2.
all are 25mm knots, or they are supposed to be. If I had it to do over again on the ST-2, I would have ordered a much larger knot.

 

[The Coffee Bandit]

here are shots of my 3 Oumos. From left to right in both pictures are: ExDens ST-1, ST-1 and the ST-2.
all are 25mm knots, or they are supposed to be. If I had it to do over again on the ST-2, I would have ordered a much larger knot.

View attachment 1940778View attachment 1940780

Thank you

All bulbs, I presume? The left most almost looks hybrid, but closer to bulb than fan.

I'm leaning towards a 27mm fan