So I've worked through a number of blades from my sampler pack and have my 2-3 favorites. When do I stop trying blades? Do you guys settle on a single blade or do you rotate? Do I keep the blades that didn't work just in case they might work in razors I acquire down the road? For whatever reason I am not into sampling blades the way I am creams, aftershaves, and colognes. I sort of want this part to be over. However, I don't want to stop too soon and possibly miss finding a better razor/blade combo.
When to stop trying blades?
- Thread starter Emmett
- Start date
I stopped for a while with Derby blades after trying a few. However, based on the recommendations here, when I finished them I went with the (non red pack) IPs from ebay.
I will never, ever shave with a different DE blade- why change now when you have found perfection??
I will never, ever shave with a different DE blade- why change now when you have found perfection??
It's your hobby. Do with it what you want.
The blades will keep, and you probably don't have a lot of money tied up in them. Just put them away for now and maybe a year or two from now you'll have a hankering to go back to them.
Or if you find yourself selling anything off, throw in some free blades as a gift.
- Chris
I narrowed down what worked for me fairly quickly but continued on for a bit to see if my improvement in technique would make me change my mind. As far as I know nobody gets kicked out for doing "it" wrong. Then again nobody knows the boneheaded things I've tried. . .
Keep any blades you didn't use so you can try them in the next razor you buy.
Keep any blades you didn't use so you can try them in the next razor you buy.
It took me about a year and some 15 different brands before I settled on my 3 favorites (Astra-SP, Feather, Derby,) but I continue to experiment whenever I come across something new.
Remember, that any given brand of blade does not perform equally well in all razors. That can add to the confusion, and a blade that you rejected because it didn't perform well in your Gillette Fatboy might give an easy BBS when installed in a Merkur Progress.
The only across-the-board recommendation I can make is Astra-SP ... this particular blade works well in every razor I've tried, but there are some instances where certain other brands work better.
Remember, that any given brand of blade does not perform equally well in all razors. That can add to the confusion, and a blade that you rejected because it didn't perform well in your Gillette Fatboy might give an easy BBS when installed in a Merkur Progress.
The only across-the-board recommendation I can make is Astra-SP ... this particular blade works well in every razor I've tried, but there are some instances where certain other brands work better.
There are a couple of blades that are my go-to blades; I stocked them in larger numbers. When do I stop trying new blades: Never!!
I simply have to try every new blade I come across till Altzheimer will struck (and then every blade will be a new adventure, I guess).
As far as I am concerned this is the most interesting part of DE shaving; after a while you know what kind of brush you want, no new razor really surprises you anymore and you have your favourite soaps/creams but you can also use 95% of all the rest. Not so with blades; some are smooth as silk and some just bite and don't get your beard down no mather how hard you ram your DE in your face!
And then you go to the review section to find out that member XYZ (hope the name is still free) has the exact opposite verdict!
Don't you just love that!!
I simply have to try every new blade I come across till Altzheimer will struck (and then every blade will be a new adventure, I guess).
As far as I am concerned this is the most interesting part of DE shaving; after a while you know what kind of brush you want, no new razor really surprises you anymore and you have your favourite soaps/creams but you can also use 95% of all the rest. Not so with blades; some are smooth as silk and some just bite and don't get your beard down no mather how hard you ram your DE in your face!
And then you go to the review section to find out that member XYZ (hope the name is still free) has the exact opposite verdict!
Don't you just love that!!
Exactly my philosophy - except when I find one I like, I buy a few hundred at least and move on to the next one to try (because it seems every one I like goes out of production pretty rapidly from me deciding I like them)
Keep what you like in stock. From time to time pick up a pack of something new because you never know if it's going to work better than what you've got. I currently have a decent supply of the 3 baldes I like and will try a couple more. If I like them, I'll buy more. If not, I'm out a few dollars and will fall back on the ones I like.
BTW, if you want to give up your extras use the B/S/T to see if there are noobs out there who want to buy a sampler pack of the stuff you don't want minus a few blades. Congrats on finding your go to blades.
BTW, if you want to give up your extras use the B/S/T to see if there are noobs out there who want to buy a sampler pack of the stuff you don't want minus a few blades. Congrats on finding your go to blades.
#1 rule - find the best off all, buy them in tons, discard all the others
#2 rule - why to keep trying blade after blade?Masoch fan...!?
The money spent on bad ones could buy nice ones...
#3 rule narrow your choice to 3 brands
#2 rule - why to keep trying blade after blade?Masoch fan...!?
The money spent on bad ones could buy nice ones...#3 rule narrow your choice to 3 brands
#1 rule - find the best off all, buy them in tons, discard all the others
#2 rule - why to keep trying blade after blade?Masoch fan...!?
#3 rule narrow your choice to 3 brands
You will have to admit that in order to find three nice ones you have to keep on trying.
When you don't want to try new blades how did you ever come up with the first one you liked?
You simply stopped after the first few blades?
I'm still trying new blades. I have a bunch of different blades at home. I have me 100xAstra and 100x Feather that are untouched...
I guess I'm doing it because I love the hobby. I also have something that says 'what if this blade is better'.
I'm almost done with the Gillette Bleue Extra and will review them once I finished them.
I guess I'm doing it because I love the hobby. I also have something that says 'what if this blade is better'.
I'm almost done with the Gillette Bleue Extra and will review them once I finished them.
over 2.5 years, I've probably tried 50 different blades or so.
I've pretty much settled on:
swedes
7ocl black
7ocl green russia
gil. platinum russia
personna red
polsilver
NOS Wilkinson
The rest give me problems.
I've pretty much settled on:
swedes
7ocl black
7ocl green russia
gil. platinum russia
personna red
polsilver
NOS Wilkinson
The rest give me problems.
- Thread starter
- #14
Great advice. Thanks all.
You will have to admit that in order to find three nice ones you have to keep on trying.
When you don't want to try new blades how did you ever come up with the first one you liked?
You simply stopped after the first few blades?
You got me there!!
I started with Derbys, nice...then Feathers, nice too...finally Super Iridiums, i'm happy now
...why to keep trying??!!I have my winner formula.Oh i've tried too wilki's, merk's and greek bics...only.
I stopped before it became an addition!!
I started with Derbys, nice...then Feathers, nice too...finally Super Iridiums, i'm happy now
Well said my friend.
I've stopped here as well. (until the next best blade comes around
)
Settled down to around four blades that work for me.
Just like having the variety.
Plus I can buy them locally and get them surprisingly cheap.
However, it may go to five if I could find Red Pack IPs locally.
Just like having the variety.
Plus I can buy them locally and get them surprisingly cheap.
However, it may go to five if I could find Red Pack IPs locally.
Thats like saying - "When do you stop trying new cigars?"
The answer of course is never. Like cigars, you always have your standbys, but you never stop trying new ones. Kinda like woman when your in your twenties......
The answer of course is never. Like cigars, you always have your standbys, but you never stop trying new ones. Kinda like woman when your in your twenties......
Like Chris said, its your hobby, whenever u want to stop, stop. I did but I started again How can you stop? I was and am happy with IPs and Feather, (slant) but when I discovered Iridiums, I started trying blades again and discovered 7 O'clock yellows, sharks and even Astras. I still like my IPs. (better I've got over 1000) and at least 500 reds, (which I'll never use the red personnas again probably) but thats all part of the fun
How can you stop? I was and am happy with IPs and Feather, (slant) but when I discovered Iridiums, I started trying blades again and discovered 7 O'clock yellows, sharks and even Astras. I still like my IPs. (better I've got over 1000) and at least 500 reds, (which I'll never use the red personnas again probably) but thats all part of the fun
Like Chris said, its your hobby, whenever u want to stop, stop. I did but I started again
Three cheers for Gillette 7 O'Clock Yellows. I love them. I hear Astra's are comparable and maybe I'll give them a shot. They're made at the same factory in Russia so they're probable very similar.
