Putting together my own sampler, any suggestions?

[cjcs]

After looking around at some of the blade samplers available on Amazon, WCS, etc. I find myself without a clear choice. Most of the sample packs offered seem to be either missing a couple of the more talked-about blades, or contain a bunch of brands that I've never heard of. I'm thinking that I might be better off asking for some advice from the community here on B&B, and then putting something together myself.

So here's my question to you: If you could make your own sample pack, which blades would you include, and why?

A little bit of background on my blade experience so far: I started off using the Derby blades included with my razor (EJ89) and found them to be hit or miss with irritation. My shaves got better as my technique improved, but I still wasn't overly impressed. I'm willing to come back to them for a second try though. After finishing up the Derbys I was feeling adventurous and decided to try out Feathers. I've been using them for about a week now and I'm pretty happy with the shaves I've been getting. I do two passes (WTG & ATG) and have been getting very smooth shaves with only mild discomfort. My skin is very forgiving - no cuts at all so far!

Cheers,

Craig

 

[wquiles]

These so far have been very good to me:
Feather
Gillette Black
Crystal/Israeli
PolSilver SI
Lord Super Chrome


Will

 

[CB1]

You'll get a lot of different responses to this question but I think your on the right track with a custom sample order. I did that at West Coast Shaving after scouring the blade forum and getting a general idea of what the popular blades are. Everyone's face is truly different. When two people like a certain blade you may have a a decent chance of liking similar blades but not always. Reading through the forum will give you a good idea of some of the popular ones and I've found these do tend to be some of the ones I like. But again there are some that are popular that I find a little rough. Maybe some people will chime in here and give you a little consensus of a decent custom sampler pack to get you started. When you try the different ones if you can try and keep other things constant like your favorite cream/soap and brush you like as well as your favorite razor that will help. Then use a blade for a few days and decide yeah or neah and put the next ones below or above that one. You already like the Feather so lay that on the counter and put your next ones above or below that.


That being said some of my favorites are:


Gillette Black
Feather
Gillette Silver Blues
Polsilver Super Iridiums
Astra SP (Green Box)

 

[MajorMoran]

Made my own sample pack too after extensive reading:
Feathers
Astra SP
7 o'clock blue
Shark SC
Now I must add: Perma Sharp super, Polsilver SI, 7 o'clock black & yellow. That should do it, if I stop reading.

 

[Shave_Rat]

I also custom ordered a sample pack when I started...

I went with Personna Red, Personna lab, Gillette 7o'clock blues, Astra SP, and Feathers, at the time.

 

[Toothpick]

i actually did this yesterday on WCS. im pretty sure all their razor blades are available in a 5pk or a 10 pk and are between $1.50-$2.75 per pack. so i just added every 5 or 10pk they had to my cart. right now it's 14 different blades and is about $30. 80 blades total. i think thats a good price for the huge selection. i even removed the blades i had already tried, such as Feather, BlueBird, Shark, Bic, Astra SP. with those added it was around 125 blades for about $42. still a great deal. and it allows you to try 17-19 DIFFERENT blades, and some of the best/worst available. i haven't pulled the trigger yet, but i plan on it.

considering i paid $21 for a sample pack on amazon that only had 5 different blades, i think the WCS "make your own sample pack" is the way to go.

 

[Deano]

I use an EJ 87 and find the Derby Extra's work well for me. Others I like are the Red IP, Personna Medical, Lord SS and Plats and German Wilkinson blades. The Derbys and Wilkies arnt well recieved by many but I find they work well for me. Of those listed, Derby, Wilkinson and IP Reds are the ones I bought in quanity.

 

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Be sure to include some Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Platinum Blacks. (See my avatar)
You won't regret it.

 

[Slyko]

Nice!

I've found my favorite after 6 different brands. But I'm so spoiled now I can't stand sucky blades. I've even trashed a blade 1/2 way through my 1st pass. I've got about 100 blades still left in this sample pack. I'll be using this damn stuff way too long.

I see a PIF in my future.

 

[ricardo9505]

so far here are some of the most raved about... some... and of course, ymmv.
gillette blacks
crystals (my daily blade)
feather
personna labs med
Lord wilkinson (yes, I said wilkinson, avail. at walmart)
astras but most ppl graduate from astras
gillette blues
ninja blade (I forget what company but my brother raved about this)
best of luck.

 

[dbconlin]

Astra SP - smooth and sharp
Bic - one of my faves
Gillette Blue/Black/Yellow/Green (Russian) - all of these variants get high reviews by different people
Polsilver SI - could they be the return of the beloved Iridium Supers? Haven't tried them yet but I just ordered a pack...
Feather - love it or hate it, but you have to try it...undisputedly THE sharpest blade

 

[cjcs]

I ended up just going to WCS and ordering 5/10 packs of anything that sounded familiar from the forums:

- Astra Super Platinum
- Derby Extra
- Gillette Black
- Personna Red
- Shark Super Stainless
- Wilkinson Sword
- Polsilver SI
- Gillette Silver Blue
- Gillette 7 O'clock Sharpedge (yellow)
- BIC
- Lord Platinum
- Lord Super Chrome
- Feather

Looking forward to the next few months, it makes me wish I could shave multiple times a day!

Any recommendations on order?

 

[edw]

I ended up just going to WCS and ordering 5/10 packs of anything that sounded familiar from the forums:

- Astra Super Platinum
- Derby Extra
- Gillette Black
- Personna Red
- Shark Super Stainless
- Wilkinson Sword
- Polsilver SI
- Gillette Silver Blue
- Gillette 7 O'clock Sharpedge (yellow)
- BIC
- Lord Platinum
- Lord Super Chrome
- Feather

Looking forward to the next few months, it makes me wish I could shave multiple times a day!

Any recommendations on order?

I think is a perfect start. I bought almost the same and I still testing. Maybe you should begin with Astra and Gillettes, black and yellow.

Soon you should got some russian Perma Sharps. Serious candidate to be THE blade you will want to use.

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

What?? (како́й??), no Russian Blades (the ones I really like are Rapria's Super Stainless, Swedish Supersteel and Platinum Lux blades. I also like Voskhod Teflon Coated, Ladas Super Stainless, Gillette Rubie Platinum Plus and Schick Premium blades in my Merkur's 23C & 38C)?

"Dа...бритва [лезвие] не может быть обострена на части бархата". Автор неизвестен (translation...“Yes...a razor [blade] can’t be sharpened on a piece of velvet”. Author Unknown)

 

[Jussi]

Um. Astras, Polsilvers, Silver Blues and Yellows are Russian blades, from PPI. But you're correct, Christopher - I'd include Rapiras or other Mostochlegmash-blades (Voskhods, Ladas, Platinum Lux's) into the set, as they differ a bit from PPI-blades.

 

[gus1942]

Astra SP's, Gillette blacks, Polsilver SI's, Feathers, in no particular order.

 

[mikej7193]

I'd definitely include Rapira Super Stainless, Personna Labs, Wilkinsons, and Astra SPs. They are all very good blades. I have reasons for each of them:

The Rapiras are the cheapest blade that I have that I enjoy. I think they work much better than Shark blades, though Sharks aren't terrible. But when they're the same price (from Bestshave.net), I give the nod to Rapiras
The Personna Labs are great blades. Long lasting, smooth shaves, and made in USA. The USA factor is big to me since I'm in the USA.
Wilkinsons are a nice blade. They're shark feeling, but more than anything, they're available locally at Walmart for much cheaper than the CVS or Walgreens branded blades.
Astra SPs are a very good quality cheap blade. It's smooth, and pretty long lasting. Many people rave for them, but I don't think they perform twice as good as Rapiras, for costing twice as much.

 

[tfinch]

All of the above, plus Silver Star and Asco.

 

[Yuritau]

My picks for a sampler (what I would give to a friend as a starter kit):

Astra SS (probably 20)
Astra SP (probably 20)
Feather (10)
Polsilver Super Iridium (10)
Personna Lab (10)
Shark Super Chrome (10)
one of the Gillette 7 O'clocks, probably black or blue (probably 20)

 

[Jussi]

Astra SPs are a very good quality cheap blade. It's smooth, and pretty long lasting. Many people rave for them, but I don't think they perform twice as good as Rapiras, for costing twice as much.

Interesting, especially since the wholesale price is pretty much same for both. Resale price is $7-12 for Rapira, $8,50-13 for Astra per 100, so both are pretty much in the "tapwater" price group.