Probably the most common advise given to any newbie is to pick up a sample pack of razor blades. If you could put together a sample pack, which blades would you include? How many of each would you recommend? The sampler sets out there usually have packs of five of between three and ten various blades. For someone starting out, I think it takes two or three of any blade to get a good feel for it. My ideal sample pack would have two each of the top ten or so blades that get the most positive feedback on this site. That said, the twenty blades would be made up of ten each of the following; Feather, Redpack IPs, Iridium Super, Gillette 7 O'Clock Sharp Edge (Yellow), Astra Superior Platinum, Derby Extra, Kai, Merkur, Shark Super Stainless and Wilkinson Sword. I have eventually come around to try most of these but a selection such as this when I was just starting out would have been very helpful. I am curious what suggestions other members have. Maybe it will give a vendor or two some ideas on what newbies may find useful.
What would be your ideal blade sample pack?
- Thread starter mdevine
- Start date
My sample pack would be astra sup. plat. Thats it
Feather, Astra SP, Iridium Super, Shark Super Chrome, Dorco, kai, and ASCOs are all nice.
Get the largest pack available...seriously everyones face is different and everyone here will recommend a different blade, the only way to find what works best for YOU is to try as many as possible.
Personna Red pack
Iridium
Feather
Paul
Iridium
Feather
Paul
This isn't how I would do it, this is how I did do it (thanks to all the guidance here!): I started with this sampler pack (2 blades each of 20 different brands), then added Iridium Supers, Gillette Super Thins and the rest of the Gillette 7 O'Clock family (Green Indian Permasharp, Yellow Russian Sharp Edge and Indian Black Super Platinum). I think that covers most of the bases!
Still not through even half the brands!
Still not through even half the brands!
What I would recommend to a newbie:
Astra SP (Keep that SS crap away from my face)
Wilkinson Swords
Sharp
Derby
What I want to see
3 of every decent blade that's still being made.
Astra SP (Keep that SS crap away from my face)
Wilkinson Swords
Sharp
Derby
What I want to see
3 of every decent blade that's still being made.
- Thread starter
- #8
This isn't how I would do it, this is how I did do it (thanks to all the guidance here!): I started with this sampler pack (2 blades each of 20 different brands), then added Iridium Supers, Gillette Super Thins and the rest of the Gillette 7 O'Clock family (Green Indian Permasharp, Yellow Russian Sharp Edge and Indian Black Super Platinum). I think that covers most of the bases!
Still not through even half the brands!
This looks like the perfect way to go. I hadn't seen that sample pack but it seems like as good as any out there. I agree it is lacking in not having the Gillettes and Iridiums.
It's from our own ntguy; PM him directly for a quote, and you may save some.
Derby
Personna Red
Astra Superior Stainless
Treet Platinum
Astra Superior Platinum
Super Iridium
Feather
that's pretty much the spectrum from mild to super-sharp
Personna Red
Astra Superior Stainless
Treet Platinum
Astra Superior Platinum
Super Iridium
Feather
that's pretty much the spectrum from mild to super-sharp
Say one acquires a nice blade sampler pack, and has access to a number of razors. Which razor would be the most neutral as to allow for an unbiased look at the blades themselves? Or would you just say to stick to the one razor while you work through the pack?
Would you say stick to a tech? fatboy? Merkur HD? Old type ball end? SS?
Or am I thinking too much and should just enjoy the ride? heh.
Would you say stick to a tech? fatboy? Merkur HD? Old type ball end? SS?
Or am I thinking too much and should just enjoy the ride? heh.
Would a fatboy and tech be a good 2 razors to test with? Or fatboy and merkur hd?
Every new blade I try I use it first in my Tech. If for no other reason than my tech was my first DE, and the one I have the most use with. Personally when testing blades I look for smoothness first then sharpness.
Well for me my first was the merkur HD, I only recently started using the tech and fatboy (and have like 7 more I haven't tried yet). Really digging the fatboy tho.
Hm. Today I'll say Feather, Kai, Zorrik, any three from St. Petersburg, any three from Gillette of India, U.S. and Israeli Blue Personna, and both Shark flavors. Today. ¿Mañana? 
