What is Your Blade of Choice?

[Memphis]

Curious as to what your blade of choice is?

Also be curious to those Futur users out there, what blade you go to.

Being fairly new to this, and shaving every other day, or every other other day, I have yet to find a blade I can call my own.

Maybe I am going about it the wrong way and switching up brands every few shaves, and not sticking with one for a longer period of time.

I also have no idea when a blade is going dull.

I have used to date these blades, Merkur, derby, Astra, and Feather.

I have used them all two times in row and then switched.

I like the derby's, the Merkur's and I like the feathers, I didn't really like the Astra's.

but like I said, not sure which ones are my fav of those, and not sure if I'm going about testing them the right way.

Thanks
Craig

 

[Raydermiike]

I am fairly new to this as well but what I have done is use one particular blade pack (5) blades then move on to another brand and do the same. I didn't care for Derby or Astra. I like Feather, Gillette 7 O'clock yellow pack and Red Personna. If I read your post right and you use the blades only twice and move on you should have no major issue with dullness. It really depends on the blade, how often you shave, and just what it feels like as when to change a blade. Some people use them only once, others many, many times. Being new to this as I am, I believe that most issues with blades will be the user not equipment, I find that no reason to not try new blades but some much more knowledgeable people here have said pick one blade and use it for 2 or 3 months.

 

[BigNickel]

Average is 3-6 shaves, but everyone is different. You should aim to change blades once a week, and try to find a brand that you can do that with.

I can get 6 shaves out of an Astra SP. Right now that is my blade, but the jury is still out. The first shave can be harsh, if technique is not perfect. After breaking in the blade it is good for another 4-5 (2 or 3 pass) shaves before it needs to be replaced.

If you are dumping your blades at 2 shaves, you are not getting the whole picture of how that blade suits your face. Stretch them out a little, and focus on your technique, before discounting a particular brand. Also if the first shave with a new blade seems harsh, try hand stropping the blades before first use.

 

[Jack Russell]

I have tried quite a few different blade & razor combos.

I have narrowed it down to my flare tip loaded with a yellow feather.

5 straight shaves per week.

 

[eth]

Merkur 34C is my travel razor, and I always carry a pack of red Personnas (gives 3-4 shaves) and Astra SPs (gives 3-4 shaves). I like the Astras better, but the Personnas are more forgiving, which is useful when having water difficulties on travels. At home I use a Mühle R41, which works very well with red Personnas, but only for two shaves. I'm experimenting with Bolzano (so far so good) and Super-Max Titanium, since I read that titanium coated blades can last longer. I also use a half-DE shavette, where Astra SPs and Feather have proven to be the best blades so far, but I have not tested all the blades I own.

 

[penn1313]

I'm thinking more and more that the red IPs are the DE blade for me. They aren't as sharp as a feather or Astra, but are very smooth and forgiving. I really have to try to cut myself with one.

Penn

 

[Borked]

I'm still in the training stage (well, in a hiatus currently, yet considering starting again soon) so have only tried Astra PE's

 

[hookem11]

Currently I am using Feathers. For the previous 4 years, I used Gillette 7 O'Clock Sharp Edge Yellows. I did the sample packs and have now pretty much settled on these two. Gave all my other blades to a friend who has started wet shaving. I think you need to try a number of blades before deciding. Different strokes for different folks

 

[Mad Man]

+1 to the 7OC Yellows.

 

[HUF]

Average is 3-6 shaves, but everyone is different. You should aim to change blades once a week, and try to find a brand that you can do that with.

I can get 6 shaves out of an Astra SP. Right now that is my blade, but the jury is still out. The first shave can be harsh, if technique is not perfect. After breaking in the blade it is good for another 4-5 (2 or 3 pass) shaves before it needs to be replaced.

If you are dumping your blades at 2 shaves, you are not getting the whole picture of how that blade suits your face. Stretch them out a little, and focus on your technique, before discounting a particular brand. Also if the first shave with a new blade seems harsh, try hand stropping the blades before first use.

+1

 

[Mick]

I use a different razor and blade every day.

So far I have not found a DE blade that won't last 6 +/- days for me.

I will use a blade until it starts to tug or pull. Then out it goes and in goes a different one. I am not adverse to dropping a blade mid shave and in fact I will usually do this rather than pick an arbitrary number of shaves and just toss a blade.

I've used some blades as long as 14 days before they felt like it was time to give them the dark ride down the wall.

The hardest part is deciding what new blade to unwrap

 

[Sir Lurkalot]

I've had good shaves with Gillette Thins, Derbys, 7 am platinums, Dorcos, Schick Deluxe w/Krona Edge blades. I've had great shaves with Wilkinsons, Vintage Gillette super stainless "The Spoiler", Shark SC, Schick Krona stainless and Astras. I had poor shaves with the Gillette Blue blades. The Spoilers lasted me for 8 shaves and the Gillette Blue Blade was changed out after the first pass. I have Personna 74's I have yet to open and try, but, I've heard, these are supposed to last the longest, up to several months on a single blade, some have reported.

 

[Mendel]

My go to blades:
Gillette Blacks
Personna Labs
Astra Sp
Gillette Yellows

Blades I will never, ever use again:
Derby
Merkur

 

[SteveWY]

My everyday, go-to blades are:
- Astra SP
- Personna Super ("Labs")

My occasional, love 'em, use 'em if I feel like it but don't stcock 'em becasue of the cost blades:
- Gillette Black
- Feather

 

[Evbo]

I've settled on the Cobra Classic/Feather Pro combo. Those Feather Pros are some bitchin' blades. IMO, this combo is as close as you can get to using a straight w/o using a straight.

 

[Snuff-Belgium]

For DE's I use Feathers and Iridiums. But that doesn't mean anything, it's very personal. I received some bolzano's from a guy a few weeks ago, fantastic blades according to him, I couldn't even complete a 3 pass shave with them. btw he didn't like the Feathers either.

 

[FL shaver]

34C with an Astra SP all week long! Almost hate changing the blade because the first shave is the worst!

 

[mcdidher]

I've tried a lot of blades and a lot of razors, but now that I've settled on keeping just my Gillette Adjustables (one of each), I've found that my blace of choice is the Gillette 7 O'clock Super Stainless (green). Works well in all three (especially the Fatboy and Super Adjustable). As a matter of fact, all of the 7 O'clocks work well for me, but the Super Stainless seem to be a little smoother than the others.

 

[Graybeard57]

Personna Reds, Silver Star

 

[Hodari D.]

Shark Super Stainless. They seem to be hated by many and loved by some. I fall into the some. Just love these blades. Smooth from day one and sharp enough. They give me a week of shaves but I do not shave every day.