New drop happening today 2pm CST for some more 29MM A1's and there are more new color combo's showing!! Too bad I'm in a sabatical right now...
They all said sold out the same time I saw the email.
None are sold. The drop goes live at 9pm CET today. 3.5hrs after I’m typing this. Until then the brushes are not available to buy, but you can view them.They all said sold out the same time I saw the email.
2PM Central Standard TimeNew drop happening today 2pm CST for some more 29MM A1's and there are more new color combo's showing!!
See aboveThey all said sold out the same time I saw the email.
The Wald A1, I have the 29 mm bulb version, is something totally different compared to any other synthetics, or any other shaving brush per se. The SF is also a super synthetic, so, for me both are great and worth to have, however, the price difference is huge, so not everyone is able or willing to spend the coin for the Wald. Then handle is something to get used to, I do not like it a lot, the very wide top ring always clonks on the sides of my scuttle.Last week I bought the STF XL from Muhle eshop at Germany for 70€ plus 10€ for shipping. The total amount I paid was 80€. The 25mm STF is really great. Soft fibers, easy to splay and enough backbone to work even with hard soaps. So I put aside my other two brushes, a Simpson Trafalgar T3 (value 30€) and a Zenith 502GIADA SB Silvertip (it costed me 100€).
The handle design of STF XL is nothing special, especially against my Zenith, but I understood that my face can tolerate only soft synthetic brushes like the STF. And when I decided that the STF XL is the best synthetic brush I found this thread….
From what I read here I understand that the Wald A1 synthetic is the top synthetic brush if you like the category of soft fibers with good backbone and splay. The design and the colors of the Stratos and Nimbus handles are also unique and beautiful with top quality materials. It looks like that the 29mm A1 brush is the king of synthetic brushes.
But the total cost of the 29mm A1 for me is 292€ (229+24% VAT+8€ EU shipping). Outside EU the brush costs 246€ and I have to pay almost 300€ for the same brush. Way too much...
Wald also sells A1 with knot of 24mm and 27mm for 230€ (with shipping) but they aren’t that good as the 29mm model, I don’t like their handles design at all and their price is still high for what they offer. Unfortunately there isn’t any A1 with 29mm knot and a less costly nimbus handle to buy.
So, my question for owners of Wald A1 and Muhle STF XL, is a nimbus A1 with 29mm knot that better to pay almost 4 times the price of an STF XL?
So, my question for owners of Wald A1 and Muhle STF XL, is a nimbus A1 with 29mm knot that better to pay almost 4 times the price of an STF XL?
This says it all, in my opinion. I felt the same - the Wald was the one synthetic brush that made me feel there was nothing I was missing compared to using badgers, and I am happy to use the Wald exclusively for months at a time. It could be my only shaving brush and I think some prolific badger collectors have said the Wald is the first synthetic they have been truly happy with (not saying that the Wald feels anything like a badger - but saying that it is as good as the best badger brushes).What you like is what you like, and certainly "better" depends heavily on what you like. For all I know some shavers are thrilled that their synthetic likes to fling lather around the room.
The Muhle is my travel brush and I think it's a lovely brush. It's a little short on backbone for me, but I like it a lot - fabulous brush for the $$$. The Wald is in another class altogether. It is the first synthetic I've owned that almost makes me think I could live without my badgers. In a perfect world mine would have 3% less backbone, but they are really spectacular synthetics. Is it worth 4 times as much as the Muhle? That's one you'll have to answer for yourself. I'm glad I have mine, but I only have one - because that is a lot of money.
I haven't used the Muhle since the Wald arrived, so it was worth it for me. If the Muhle does everything you like in a synthetic it might not be for you. The law of diminishing returns definitely applies here, and if you want it to be 4 times better you're going to be very unhappy.
Not a single hair has left my knots.Given the significantly thinner fibers in the A1 node, are they more likely to fall or break? Have any of the owners noticed fibers falling from their brush?
No. I’m pretty sure the knot will remain perfect forever. There’s nothing fragile about it, like fine silvertip badger hairs can be if you don’t look after them.Given the significantly thinner fibers in the A1 node, are they more likely to fall or break? Have any of the owners noticed fibers falling from their brush?
same here, not one fiber has left the Wald knot.Not a single hair has left my knots.
You have made up your mind, and I am not trying to persuade you against your own better judgment. For anyone reading in the future, I will just add that the Calyx handle is very comfortable, and the 27 mm knot is probably not too different from the 29 mm (from what I have heard from someone who has both knots).Judging from your comments I think Wald A1 29mm is a very good brush and I will like it. Most likely I will like more from my STF XL. But I also think that is way overpriced. I have the feeling that I am calling to pay a lot of money for the handle of the brush and not for the true reason that makes the Wald A1 a good brush. I want a good synthetic knot with ergonomic handle and the choice to pay a logical amount of more money for a better looking handle. Wald is selling artworks but I want to buy a shaving brush and not an exhibit for my living room.
Great write up!In January, I was fortunate to have a new brush made for me by Jannik. I opted for a 29mm Stratos with the Bulb knot in a unique colorway (since I already have a Nimbus with Fan knot).
The brush arrived in February and I’ve just completed 30 shaves with it, so I thought I would give some personal impressions to help people try to decide which knot shape they might prefer.
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First off the Fan.
I bought this brush last summer and have used it many times since the purchase. It feels soft on the face, splays easily, and feels truer to list size (maybe like a 26mm badger). It also holds water easily and releases the water quickly, behaving more like other synthetic brushes that I own in this regard. I need only dip this brush in water up to the distal edge of the dark band to get all the water I’ll need for building a lather and a 3 pass shave. If I dunk the brush any deeper in the water, I’ll have lather running down the handle. Building lather is an easy process either on my face or in a bowl (I do both regularly). Lather release is easy and the brush is cloud soft against my skin. Cleaning is also an easy rinse followed by towel drying and leaving out in open air. I find it is dry by next morning.
The bulb. Please note this is the “standard bulb,” not the “OG bulb.” This is the brush that arrived in February. It has the same soft fibers. It took me about 20 shaves to get this brush to really open up. Once it was fully opened up, I have noticed some differences in the way it behaves relative to the fan. It handles water much more like a badger brush. Meaning I need to actually dunk in water and squeeze out some excess to get the right amount of water to start the loading and lathering process (rather than just a light tip dip for the fan). It also holds the water more like a badger brush, releasing it evenly over time rather than all at once like other synthetics. The brush splays, but not as easily, giving this brush more backbone than the fan. Also, this brush feels smaller on the face, closer to a 24mm badger. I like this brush as a contrast to the fan, given the different experience it provides.
If you made it here, thanks for reading along. I wonder if others have had experiences similar to mine?
TLDR:
Fan: Easy splay, releases water quickly, feels like a 26mm knot on the face.
Bulb: More backbone, releases water more evenly (like a badger brush), feels smaller on the face like a 24mm knot.
Both: beautiful handles and well tied knots made by a great artisan. Super soft material and I’m grateful to own them both.