VDH Badger vs Boar

[crleftwich]

Still relatively new at this traditional wet shaving thing and enjoy it. Leaning lots along the way, too. For example, I recently learned that the brush in my kit was a boar when I thought all along it was badger. Keep reading to find out how that happened.


So my first purchase toward traditional wet shaving was a Van der Hagen luxury kit which included a brush, stand, puck of soap, and a cool apothecary mug. I assumed the brush was badger because all of the reviews I've read said it was badger. Recently I leaned that VDH stopped placing the badger brushes in the kits and used a decent quality boar brush instead. I was a bit skeptical at first but finally accepted it.


Wellast night I stopped by a local Walgreens and they had some VDH products in the shaving section. I found that they were selling individual VDH shaving brushes. The box said badger. I opened it up and lo and behold it was remarkably different than the boar brush I've been using. They even had the same set I bought but WITH the badger brush included. Old stick or new stock??


So I bought the brush and gave it a spin today. It's much softer yet feels a little more prickly. Lost a few bristles during lathering so I didn't like that. But I believe it made a marignally better lather than they boar brush does.


Am I thrilled about it? Not really but I'm happy about finally actually having a real badger brush...even if it's only pure badger hair.


Do you have these same products? What are your reviews?

 

[Little Joe from Mexico]

Yes. The badger brush is a truly fine brush - especially for the price. It is a bit prickly and will continue to be for a while since the tips were undoubtedly trimmed. I'm pretty sure the hairs you initially loose are just loose hairs to begin with and soon enough you will have a brush that does not shed at all and eventually will not be so prickly (though some of us like that). What more can I say. You got a very good badger brush for a great price. Oh, I've never had the new boar brush you have, but I'm sure it's better than the previously available VDH boar brushes, which I have had experience with. Not good at all, but that's just me.

 

[UnCL3]

I love badger vs boar...even pure badger...there are lots of folks here that feel the opposite way, though.
I have a couple badger brushes, one small Simpson Case 1 Best Badger, and a large Mason Pearson Pure Badger. Both have their pluses and minuses.

 

[Trek2100]

Another reason to dislike this area. NONE of the Walgreens within at least a 25 mile radius carries the VDH kits or stand alone brushes. I wanted to see if any of the brushes were badger. The online site indicates only Boar but not available in any close stores. Also Walgreens price for the soap is $2.99 for 1 or 2 for $5.00. I picked one up at Walmart for $1.56.

 

[The Dean]

My first brush was the VDH boar. I was too impatient to wait for a delivery and it was the only thing available locally. While not a great brush, it did the job, and convinced me quickly that a brush was for me. Within a month or so, I had a nice badger brush. The VDH eventually found the round file. Looking back, I should have kept it and given it away to someone.

I now have a few badgers, a quality synthetic and one pretty nice boar. I prefer the two-band finest badger brushes, but the boar is also nice and has its place. The only brush I do NOT like, is the Tweezerman badger, which is just too prickly for me. I'm guessing by your description it is a bit like the VDK badger. Some people like this kind of brush, though, and mine will go out in a PIF in the near future.

 

[OkieStubble]

My very first two brushes years ago was the VDH Boar with black handle that comes in the kit bought at walmart. I also purchased a Moisture Shave brush Black Badger from target. The wife uses the Moisture shave now because the prickly brush exfoiliates her legs and the brush's floppyness covers large areas quickly.

I was lucky enough to of gotten a well made VDH boar, because after 4 years it is nicely broken in and is still in very good condition.

 

[nocutsnonicksnoweepers]

In B & M stores in my area, I have noticed that there are two VDH Kits for sale.

One kit has the green, shaving bowl + Boar brush + Deluxe soap. The other kit has the black, apothecary mug + Badger brush + Luxury soap.

 

[Bhenderson]

The only boar brush I ever had I used once and passed on to a friend. It wasn't for me at all, I am sure that there are some Boar brushes that are probably just fine but so far Badger is the only way I go.

 

[Torky]

I started with the bowl/boar brush combo. Didn't care for the brush at all, or for the idea of putting swine on my face. I hastily ordered a Parker Best Badger brush that was much better, but shed a bit, then an Omega Silvertip which has been fantastic. But I kept reading B&B, and have conquered my fear of the pig, so a Semogue 830 will be here Wednesday. That's how this place works.

 

[JSB33]

The luxury kits from Amazon come with the badger, the ones from Target seem to have the boar. I have them both in the rotation and have to say that with some use, the boar is getting nicer as it gets broken in. Surprisingly I find I reach for the VDH Badger the least of all.

 

[Little Joe from Mexico]

The luxury kits from Amazon come with the badger, the ones from Target seem to have the boar. I have them both in the rotation and have to say that with some use, the boar is getting nicer as it gets broken in. Surprisingly I find I reach for the VDH Badger the least of all.

I'm not surprised. If that boar brush is anything like the Omega boars - It's a pretty darn good brush period.

 

[crleftwich]

The luxury kits from Amazon come with the badger, the ones from Target seem to have the boar. I have them both in the rotation and have to say that with some use, the boar is getting nicer as it gets broken in. Surprisingly I find I reach for the VDH Badger the least of all.

Yes, these are it. These are the exact two brushes I have and was describing above.

 

[crleftwich]

Here they both are. Boar left, my new badger on right.

 

[gulfbravo]

Havent tried the vdh badger but i do like my boar now that it is broken in....i only started wet shaving a few months ago and like alot of guys after hearing about all the gear i was gung ho to get a really nice badger brush of some sort....at the advice of many of you i stuck with my 8.00 vdh boar and im glad i did...