Synthetic Brush -Elite Men's care - Any recommendations?

[ArnoldLayne]

Hi to everyone. Newbie here to B&B.

I got back into conventional shaving about 6 months ago and seems like there is a lot of choices these days when it comes to gear and conventional shaving has come a long way (Before I got back into it, I thought it was an obsolete thing and found out other wise).

Anyways, I am looking for a decent synthetic brush recommendation. I am specifically looking for anyone who has had experience with 'Elite Mens Care Synthetic Shaving Brush'. It is something I spotted on Amazon and it seems like a decent brush with good reviews. Anyone tried this specific brush yet? The price looks very reasonable at 12.95.

Currently using a Best Badger brush from Parker safety and while I like the softness and experience of a badger brush, I am not too fond of the shedding and high maintenance. Wanna try out some synthetics which will give a close experience to badger without all the high maintenance. Wanna try something entry level and perhaps buy a good one if I like synthetics ( when I got out of conventional shaving, nylon brushes were the closest to synthetics and I see thi shas come a long way)

I was considering getting one of the Beauty Strokes H.I.S synthetic or Frank Shaving synthetic ( unfortunately I cannot find the Purtech one on Amazon. Something else FS synthetic is all I could find).

I might fork out for a H.I.S brush in a few months if I like the synthetics.

Meanwhile I am looking for anyone who has tried the Elite Mens Synthetic (you can check it out on Amazon. I am not sure what the protocol here is on commercial URLs so I am just leaving it out) and give me feedback on this particular brush. At $13, it seems very reasonably priced and has good reviews on Amazon so far (just 4).

First hand user opinions on this brush are much appreciated. I might go ahead and try this out anyways and I figure at $13, it is not a hefty investment.

 

[Cumberland Sausage]

The Muhle Silvertip Fibre V2 brush is a great synthetic. Lovely soft feel on the face and yet with a bit of backbone. Not used any other synthetic brushes, but it compares well with the badger brushes I have used (which admittedly don't include any classy silvertips etc.)

 

[ArnoldLayne]

Thanks Cumberland. Unfortunately the Muhle brushes don't come cheap and the brush you cite is a $85 shaving brush. Might consider it down the road but for now, I am looking on the budget side of synthetics. $30 ish or under. The Elite one is only $13 and though I am expecting people to say 'You get what you pay for', it is not always true and sometimes you get a quality or acceptable product for reasonable price.

I am specifically looking for someone who has had firsthand experience with this particular brush.

At $85 or $100, there are tons of choices out there which is where the Muhle brush is priced.

 

[Mandina]

btw, Connaught sells excellent, lower-price Muhle synthetics, such as the HJM black fibre for $25 delivered.

 

[ArnoldLayne]

Thanks Mandina. I'll check them out.

Apart from the Elite Mens synthetic, anyone else tried the Every Man Jack Synthetic?

I found this on drugstore and it was $15 and I even read a couple of reveiews on it from here. Figured I'll give it a shot and its not awfully expensive. I want to try a reasonably priced synthetic before I spring in for a nice one, a Muhle or Beauty Strokes or similar. If I like synthetics, I might move away from the animal kingdom brushes to a more eco and PETA friendly synthetic that will offer me the same experience or close one as a badger brush. Let the badgers have a longer and fuller life.

Plus I am assuming synthetics are low maintenance and less odor than badgers or boars.

 

[Christopherj]

It's funny, I actually just bought this brush last week for travel.

The brush is smaller than I expected (looks like only a 21mm or 22mm knot and the handle is shorter than my thumb), but it is a lather monster. My soap decides to lather itself when I take it out.

The handle is black-painted wood and isn't the highest quality I've seen, but it gets the job done. I just wish they hadn't printed "Elite" on the side. It makes the brush look a bit cheap.

The brush itself is very nice. The loft is 58mm by my measurements, and the bristles tips feel as soft as any silvertip I've ever felt. The backbone is where this brush really shines. It's stiffer than my Omega 10083 without being prickly or as "scrubby." The brush also doesn't exhibit too much of the "clumping" some earlier synthetics (e.g. my first Body Shop shave brush) had that forced you to use a painting motion with face lathering. I find that I can face lather fairly well with this brush, and it only clumps together occasionally.

In all, I would recommend this brush for the soft bristle tips combined with a strong backbone. Soaps quiver in fear at its presence.

And for your perusal, here's a picture of some Proraso Green lathered with the Elite.

 

[ArnoldLayne]

Thanks for that firsthand review of that brush, Christopher I might try one of them. It had positive reviews from all the users on Amazon so I figured it is a decent brush for the money. I did go ahead and order a EMJ synthetic from drugstore instead of the Elite but I might give it a shot as well.

When the brush is only $13 or $15, you don't feel bad giving it a try and they always come in handy as travel brushes.

 

[ArnoldLayne]

I just got my EMJ synthetic delivered (drugstore is fast..overnight for free). I am gonna put it to test later and will let you know the verdict. Brush as such looks strudy and nice for a $15 brush and the feel of the synthetic bristles is nice as well. Very soft unlike nylon.

 

[gutbuster]

Thanks Mandina. I'll check them out.

Apart from the Elite Mens synthetic, anyone else tried the Every Man Jack Synthetic?

I found this on drugstore and it was $15 and I even read a couple of reveiews on it from here. Figured I'll give it a shot and its not awfully expensive. I want to try a reasonably priced synthetic before I spring in for a nice one, a Muhle or Beauty Strokes or similar. If I like synthetics, I might move away from the animal kingdom brushes to a more eco and PETA friendly synthetic that will offer me the same experience or close one as a badger brush. Let the badgers have a longer and fuller life.

Plus I am assuming synthetics are low maintenance and less odor than badgers or boars.

I have had great experience with the Kent Infinity, and the Omega Hi Brush. I have an Elite on order. Remember the handle is wood so it needs to be hung to dry or the handle will split and rot. The Omega and Kent have plastic handles, & can be dried upright.

 

[Daiku]

For around $20, the Kent Infinity is an excellent value. As is the Whipped Dog for $22. I have both, and would heartily recommend either over the Elite or EMJ.

 

[gus1942]

The Kent would be an excellent choice for you. $24 at West Coast Shaving.

 

[branford]

For around $20, the Kent Infinity is an excellent value. As is the Whipped Dog for $22. I have both, and would heartily recommend either over the Elite or EMJ.

+1 to the Whipped Dog. Cheap, fairly good and you can pick the resin handle of your choice. Larry, the proprietor, is also great to deal with and a gentleman.

However, for not much more, you can get a Muhle synthetic (Black Fibre or Silvertip Fibre), probably the best synthetics currently available. As with virtually all Muhle products due to their distributor agreements, they are most cost effectively purchased by European vendors. Check out Connaught and shaving.ie.

 

[gutbuster]

Hi to everyone. Newbie here to B&B.

I got back into conventional shaving about 6 months ago and seems like there is a lot of choices these days when it comes to gear and conventional shaving has come a long way (Before I got back into it, I thought it was an obsolete thing and found out other wise).

Anyways, I am looking for a decent synthetic brush recommendation. I am specifically looking for anyone who has had experience with 'Elite Mens Care Synthetic Shaving Brush'. It is something I spotted on Amazon and it seems like a decent brush with good reviews. Anyone tried this specific brush yet? The price looks very reasonable at 12.95.

Currently using a Best Badger brush from Parker safety and while I like the softness and experience of a badger brush, I am not too fond of the shedding and high maintenance. Wanna try out some synthetics which will give a close experience to badger without all the high maintenance. Wanna try something entry level and perhaps buy a good one if I like synthetics ( when I got out of conventional shaving, nylon brushes were the closest to synthetics and I see thi shas come a long way)

I was considering getting one of the Beauty Strokes H.I.S synthetic or Frank Shaving synthetic ( unfortunately I cannot find the Purtech one on Amazon. Something else FS synthetic is all I could find).

I might fork out for a H.I.S brush in a few months if I like the synthetics.

Meanwhile I am looking for anyone who has tried the Elite Mens Synthetic (you can check it out on Amazon. I am not sure what the protocol here is on commercial URLs so I am just leaving it out) and give me feedback on this particular brush. At $13, it seems very reasonably priced and has good reviews on Amazon so far (just 4).

First hand user opinions on this brush are much appreciated. I might go ahead and try this out anyways and I figure at $13, it is not a hefty investment.

Brush snobs may not care for it, but it is my travel brush. Tips feel like Silvertip, but the backbone is Boar like. Once broken in it is great. Dry it knot down since the handle is painted wood. I have 3 synthetics, boar, and badger and this brush works.