The Gold Standard?

[skembomatt]

I’ve been DE/Wet Shaving for a few years now. At first I searched hard for new stuff (still do but not as much) till I found a kit I was happy with.
My question is what would be the Gold Standard for Shaving equipment?

My "standard"
DE – Tech or HD
Blade – Persona Platinum (the one they sell at Walmart)
Brush – Crabtree and Evelyn Best badger
Cream – Proraso (C.O. Bigelow)

I’m interested to see what y’all say.
Matt

 

[miamimoe]

You have posted an amazingly difficult question without a definitive answer. IMO, the "gold standard" is what works for you. Some guys will get great results with an inexpensive boar brush, an inexpensive soap, and an old user grade Gillette with their choice of blades. At the end of the day, everyone's face and beard is different, and for me, the "gold standard" is what gives the best result. I am still working on it, although I am getting closer.

 

[skembomatt]

Miamimoe,
What I posted was biased on availability, price and reputation.
Though I now have a Silver Tip brush, long for a Murgress and plan to try a full spectrum of blades and creams I think what I listed are my baseline. Could sub the Van Der Hagen shave soap I started with as the soap standard. Defiantly wouldn’t use William's soap or the VDH bore brush as the gold standard. Maybe those would be the bubble buster of the shaving world.

 

[Eclectic]

How about.

Brush: Simpson Chubby 2 in Super.
Cream: Castle Forbes.
Razor: Eclipse Red Ring
Blade: Personna 74

 

[Alec79]

This week so far, I've shaved with Ingrams cream, Lord three piece razor, Men-u bristle brush, Tesco blade. Excellent shaves and proof that it doesn't need expensive kit.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Still working on razors here:

Have an EJ 89l--but find myself looking longingly at the Merkur Futur or possibly a slant when I'm online---probably in the near future.

Haven't tried enough blades to say any is best yet.

VDH brush and soap for now--at least till I start to get picky---still pretty new at this.

 

[ducatisteve]

If I know that I want a great shave and don't feel like testing the waters with different hardware and software I know I can go to:

Merkur Classic
Red Pack Personna
Rooney 3/1
C&E Sienna Soap
Aqua Velva

 

[proxymoron]

3/4 of your kit sounds dead on, but I recommend trying a sampler of new blades from one of the online vendors (check out the Vendor Corner). I'd be very surprised if you didn't find one that shaved a lot smoother.

And welcome to B&B.