Simpsons Duke 3 or Chubby 1- which is better for hard soaps?

[Guest111]

I'm going to treat my self to a Simpsons brush and have been doing a bit of research, and narrowed it down to these two brushes. Both come highly recommended here and around the internets. There's very little price difference (around $10). Specs are nearly identical (23mm diameter, 47mm loft for the Chubby 1, and 23mm diameter, 46mm loft for the Duke 3.

Is one of these really any better than the other for face lathering hard soaps? Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[Mike H]

I have a Duke 2 and a Chubby 2. Both great brushes, but I like the Duke better. The Chubby has a denser knot, and has slightly softer feel. The Chubby is a bit of a lather hog (my Chubby 2 is anyway).

 

[garyg]

I've had both - the Chubby's that I have seen are quite a bit denser than the Duke's, and thus have more "backbone". The Duke has a taller handle at 47 mm vs 39 for the Chubby. The Chubby due to its density in my experience requires more soap. I have both in rotation, if I had to pick just one it would be the Chubby for strictly face lathering, as the extra hair seems to be more efficient in picking up the soap. That said, my mileage will vary, as will yours

 

[Kooze]

I've had both - if I had to pick just one it would be the Chubby for strictly face lathering, as the extra hair seems to be more efficient in picking up the soap. That said, my mileage will vary, as will yours

I too have had both. The chubby 1 was more enjoyable to use for face lathering, and is considerably denser. The duke 3 has better flow through, IMO. Also, if you bigger hands, you may prefer the duke 3.

 

[lt114]

They both work well with hard soaps, but the handle on the Chubby makes it unusable for me.

 

[MaxP]

They both work well with hard soaps, but the handle on the Chubby makes it unusable for me.

+1. Get the Duke. You'll not regret it.

 

[Face&Head]

Specs are nearly identical (23mm diameter, 47mm loft for the Chubby 1, and 23mm diameter, 46mm loft for the Duke 3.Is one of these really any better than the other for face lathering hard soaps? Thanks in advance for the input.

It's important to remember that when you think about specs for a Simpson brush that these are more of a "in the general area" than exact measurements. A quick look at The superior Shave website and you'll see CH-1s with lofts from 44 to 46.5 and the knots between 23 to 24 and Duke-3 lofts from 45.5 to 49 with the knots all 24 mm. I prefer the extra density of the Chubby.

 

[Henrik]

The superior Shave website and you'll see CH-1s with lofts from 44 to 46.5 and the knots between 23 to 24 and Duke-3 lofts from 45.5 to 49 with the knots all 24 mm. I prefer the extra density of the Chubby.

True. Although the specs are about the same- more or less- the density of the CH1 makes all the difference (more hair). Which one would I choose..? Hmm. I like both brushes for their individual characteristics. The handle of the D3 is more comfortable. But you can´t go wrong with either. Very nice classic brushes both of them.

 

[dougr]

Definitely the Duke 3 and it could be the only brush that you will ever need unless BAD sets in which it usually does.

 

[UW_Badger]

It's a question of what handle you prefer. The knot in the Duke 3 and Chubby 1 are the same according to Simpsons.

 

[marcel]

I couldn't get on with the handle of the Chubby 1, I love the handle of the Duke 3. Flow through of the Duke is also much better IMHO, although the denser knot of the chubby is also very good but in a different way.

 

[u2u]

For face lathering hard soaps the density of the Chubby puts it ahead. If you preferred creams or soft soaps the Duke would be fine. For face lathering both have more than adequate handles. (Don't forget some guys use the Wee Scot in regular rotation) Both will perform well and if operating costs are a concern the Duke wins as Chubbies are product hogs. You could email Simpsons and get the makers opinion. They respond very quickly, well inside of a day in my experience.

 

[Chuckaluck]

Chubby 1!