Suggestions for a travel brush

[Rivguy]

I used to travel for business and pleasure much more frequently than than I do now, but I still do travel some. For short trips I would just toss in one of my inexpensive boar brushes and it would be fine. For longer trips the badgers were tossed into my dopp kit,somewhat protected by a make shift plastic cylinder or an empty TP core. I have never owned a travel brush with its own case and I see that they can range in price significantly. I would appreciate any suggestions from you gents.

Thank you,

Doug

 

[luvmysuper]

I use the Muhle in Best, and it works quite well for me.
I am very pleased with it.

 

[drandall]

i've owned a couple and here are a few general observations:

1) i would avoid travel brushes in pure badger. it's too prickly and often the knot is even less dense than a non-travel brush.

2) synthetics lather well and dry quickly. i use an EJ synthetic when i travel. it doesn't quite splay like badger and can feel a bit different, but the performance is solid. check out EJ, men-u, TOBS and omega.

3) even though i have not tried this particular model, i'd consider the simpson case or wee scott. my other simpson brushes are incredibly dense and well-constructed.

 

[Fozz7769]

I grab 1 or 2 out of my rotation & go.

 

[whydert]

Simpson Case or the 55 that also fit's the tube.

 

[rsaltonstall]

If you just want a case to place the brushes you already own, Muhle has a plastic case that sells for about six to seven dollars. This is a large case 2x5", so you can can probably place one of your regular brushes in it.

If you want a brand new brush, Simpson sells the Case brush with travel case for about $50. The travel case without the Case brush is under $15. The Simpson's 55 and Commodore X1 can fit in the Simpson's travel case. The Commodore X1 is about $55 and the 55 brush is about $90.

The Commodore XI is more dense than the Case brush but less dense than the 55.

 

[Doc4]

Look at the turnback models. The original and best is the Simpson Major. It's a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for, here!

Other companies make turnbacks, too. Avoid the Vulfix version, which is too floppy. Kent makes a better version along the same lines in "pure", and if you can handle using that grade of badger, this is a good one to get.

Beyond those, I cannot offer personal experience.

 

[Rivguy]

Thanks for the tips gents. I was considering the Vulfix travel brush which someone has on the bay for $33.00 but if it is not a good brush I won't waste my time or treasure. I will continue the pursuit.

Cheers,

Doug

 

[john parker]

My favorite travel brush is the one I would least mind getting lost, either because I forget it or it goes missing from the airlines.

 

[brianw]

simpson case or the 55 that also fit's the tube.

+10

 

[Rivguy]

I neglected to mention that I have used a large prescription bottle that I drilled holes in for ventilation. It got broken on a trip and I could not find another one.

Cheers,

Doug

 

[The Nid Hog]

I had a discount coupon for Crabtree & Evelyn a couple of years ago and, on a whim, I bought their travel brush in white/ivory. I use it quite a bit and it works fine. In fact, I've been using it exclusively for the last three months and it never fails to deliver.

 

[Gamma]

The Muhle is an awesome brush. The chrome-plated brass one is heavier, but it feels good in the hand. Not too expensive either.

 

[krmathis]

I use a Simpsons The Major - and absolutely love it.
Beautiful brush, rather small but do the work nicely on-the-road. Helps that it is built like a tank as well, and that the case also duals as a extended handle.

 

[StillShaving]

I would recommend a synthetic brush, if you look around you can find one for less than $10 and some can feel softer on your face than a high mountain badger, though without as much backbone. Advantage of synthetic is that they dry out faster and they are cheap. So if you forget it while traveling, no big loss. Originally I thought that synthetics only worked well with shaving creams (especially those from a tube which could be dispensed directly onto the brush), but after experimenting found they can work equally well on soaps.

 

[Gamma]

The Jack Black synthetic is pretty good.. it's big, the box it comes in is also a stand and ventilated carry case.

 

[binowatch]

I prefer to use a brush I would't mind loosing and just use a prescription bottle-it has a twist lock cap, is clear orange so TSA can look at it/thru it without having to hold up everything. I just took the dremel and drilled a number of holes for ventillation. I went to my usual pharmacy with the brush and asked the phamacist for a bottle to fit it. As a courtesy I pick up so other items at the time. She tossed it in for free. I have a travel brush from caswell massey which is quite nice but the thick tube is too dense and TSA made me show it and as it is opaque I had to unscrew it etc. It is just for car trips now.

 

[Darjeeling Express]

$12. http://www.shoeboxshaveshop.com/omega-80257.html

Check out this thread

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=129416&highlight=80257

 

[ccnutman]

I have about 15 or so home brushes, most silver tips. For travel, I use a $15 Tweezer Man pure badger that I purchased from a local grocery store. I made a brush case out of 2" PVC pipe with PVC plug caps. I drilled several 3/8" strategically placed holes in pipe and one in each cap. Not classy but works very well. I use shaving soap twist up sticks from Saint Charles Shave. The pure badger works great with these as the stiffer bristles really help face lather. I have never been dis-appointed with any purchase from Saint Charles, wonderful fragrances and great lather. The difference between the pure badger and the high end silver tips, according to me, is splitting hairs (pun intended).

 

[woodfluter]

I suspect that your travel modes might affect your choices...I haven't had luggage losses so far, just temporary misplacements!

I like the Wee Scot. Have had good experiences with that for stays of a week. If you go to Container Store or to REI (in the U.S.) you'll find polyethylene snap-top containers, sometimes as an assortment. The medium size fits the W.S. perfectly. I punched 8 holes in the top and 8 more in the sides at the level of the base of the hairs, with a rotary leather punch. If you remember to air it out a bit on arrival, should be no worries.

But really, any brush that fits your size requirements and can be protected and dried properly in reasonable time should work for you!

= Bill