What is your gold standard blade(s) to judge other blades?

[Your Majesty]

What are the blade(s) you use to judge all other blades?

I use Astra sp and Gillette platinum.

I compare things like smoothness, sharpness, comfort to these two blades.

 

[Toulouse]

For me it’s Astra SP, mainly because it is my go to blade and the blade I have the most experience with.

 

[Jim99]

Personna lab blue blades for me. I’ve been using them for so long and judge any other blade to it.

 

[BigJ]

I have a ‘top tier’ rather than a single gold standard because I like variety (in no particular order):
GSB
Nacet
Astra SP
Personna lab
Personna red

 

[Dryphter]

Astra or GSB.

 

[StratMan]

my top two...

1. Personal Platinum Chrome, very sharp and super smooth
2. Feathers, super sharp but slightly less smooth than the above

 

[Invicta]

Astra SP is my benchmark all others are measured against. I find the GSB slightly better in smoothness and longevity though.

 

[ShavePastor]

GSB & 7 o'clock blacks

 

[Strayhair]

Gillette Silver Blue because they're sharp and smooth and last a pretty long time. Polsilvers last the longest.

 

[santamariasteve]

Personna Lab Blue's

 

[Capisco Capisce]

Love 'em, or hate 'em, Feather is my gold standard.

But Gillette Yellow has a special place in my heart, too.

 

[Space_Cadet]

Personna Red

 

[Tokyospike]

Polsilver SI or
KAI Stainless Steel

. . . but I’m strictly an AC man, now, and use Schick Prolines exclusively . . .

 

[Joncr]

Feather - sharpest but not always smooth enough to be comfortable
Derby/Derby Premium - Smoothest but not always sharp enough to shave close
Astra SP - right in the middle, smoother than Feather, sharper than Derby

 

[Villalobos]

Vintage Gillette Super Stainless “The Spoiler”

 

[bkatbamna]

Polsilvers or Nacets. Rapira Platinums and Vidyut Super Max platinums are seconds.

 

[Your Majesty]

I'm surprised feathers had so few mentions. On amazon reviews, highly dubious I must say, nearly everyone would pit their new blades against feathers.

 

[Minniegoon]

My daily driver is an Astra SP always get a good shave with them so a test blade must meet or exceed it. For me sharpness equals smoothness certain so called smooth blades irritate the hell out of me. The worst offender is Derby Extra, not keen on Voskhod's, German Wilkinson Swords, Sharks or Bic's either. My top blade's are Polsilver, Perma Sharp, Feather, Rubie's, GSB's and Nacet, I'll use any those if I'm after an irritation free BBS. For a daily shave Astra SP, Supermax blue diamond any 7 o'clock, Indian Gillette Wilkinson Sword, Personna red or Rapira Platinum Lux.

 

[Esox]

 

[Canadian Mountain Man]

BIC
7 O'Clock SharpEdge (yellow pack)
Astra Platinum