With a 27mm knot and 57mm loft, the "Wild Hog" may become my favorite. Come on April!
@Chan Eil Whiskers I have been eying ProPro but I am not sure about loft feel. I am OK with knot but very high lofts don't feel right to me. I benched my jade, on the other hand, because I don't like lather slipping down to handle due to rather short loft.
Is the ProPro almost equal height as Zenith B28 copper? That knot is my ideal.
I have two Pro 48 and one 98. Each has the same knot. One 48 has been used for 11 years. I love thes brushes for all the reasons one could love a brush. I have one expensive and large badger that I never use. If you are need of a large silvertip Vulfix, just let me know.What are your three favorite Omega boars? What makes them your favorites?
These are mine.
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That's ^ the Jade handled Premium Boar by Omega & the Proraso Pro (by Omega) & the Might Midget, Omega 40033.
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The Jade is the boar I regard as the best boar on the market. It has a well made and great looking, turned, solid resin handle which nicely fits my hand. The knot was initially quite stiff, but it was useable from the beginning. It's broken in nicely and become a brush which has great backbone and scrub but is also soft. The brush is not too large overall, but the knot is pretty big.
The current version of the Jade (the version sold by Connaught) lacks the emblem; I've seen it available somewhere else with the emblem, but don't recall where.
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Here you can see how much larger the Proraso Pro is. The ProPro has enormous backbone. Initially a bit overwhelming, it took awhile to break in. Broken it, it's soft but still has loads of backbone and scrub. Not too much backbone for me as a face latherer. The ProPro handle is cheap plastic but still not a bad handle. I've read the loft of this brush varies.
If buying the ProPro shop around for price. It's sold at widely varying prices by different vendors, including on eBay.
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You can see the size difference between the Proraso Pro and the Mighty Midget. Their knots feel very similar. The Mighty Midget as pictured has three #13 O Rings added (by me) which helps the grip of it and looks way cool.
What are the measured sizes of these three brushes (by my calipers).
I have other boars - the SOC, a bunch of Zeniths, a couple of unbanded Mondials - I like a whole lot, but these are really nice Omega boar brushes. These Omegas cover a significant price range from very low to pretty high, and also are of varying sizes. However, all are brushes I have no reservations about recommending to you. I use them all and like them all.
- Omega 011829 Jade Handle Connaught Premium Boar: Knot 27mm. Loft 49mm.
- Proraso boar: 27mm knot. 55 mm loft.
- Omega Mighty Midget: 24mm knot. 47 mm loft.
What are your favorite three Omega boars?
Happy shaves,
Jim
- Zenith Copper Handled Pro Big Boar Shave Brush: Knot 27mm. Loft 53 mm.
- Proraso boar: 27mm knot. 55 mm loft.
You mentioned in a previous thread that you have some Zenith brushes. There are Zenith brushes that share almost identical knot measurements as the Jade. What sets the Jade a cut above in your opinion?I have Omegas other than the ones I mentioned here, but these three are the ones I like best of my Omegas.
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Here's my Jade, damp after its very first use.
I wish everybody would always include photos. They add so much to the picture.
Happy shaves,
Jim
You mentioned in a previous thread that you have some Zenith brushes. There are Zenith brushes that share almost identical knot measurements as the Jade. What sets the Jade a cut above in your opinion?
It helps, thanks.Good question. I'll give it a shot, but please understand a couple of things.
Let's talk about two brushes.
- I like the Zeniths a lot. They're fine boars.
- Much is subjective.
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Very close in knot size...
- Zenith Chubby Scrubby: Knot 28mm. Loft 50mm.
- Omega 011829 Jade Handle Connaught Premium Boar. Knot 27mm. Loft 49mm.
Both have great handles. I like the Omega Jade's handle a bit more, but only a bit, in terms of how it feels in my hand. That's not saying it's better as this is entirely my impression and subjective. I also like the color better, but, again, that's subjective, and marginal as I like the appearance of the Zenith handle just fine.
The Zenith knot breaks in of course, but it's much more useable right out of the box than the Omega. The Omega is useable out of the box, but very stiff. It's slow to break in, but it breaks in to become what I think of as fabulous - very strong in the backbone, very scrubby (which is entirely good in my view of it), and also quite soft in the way some boars can become. None of that is to say or imply the Zenith is deficient in any regard.
The Zenith knot is clearly bleached by appearance, and the fact it's bleached is published. The Omega looks to me to be unbleached or at least a lot less bleached than the Zenith. That in itself may account (assuming it's correct) for some of the differences I notice in the knots.
Both load and lather well. Neither are deficient in any way.
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Over time, the Jade has grown on me. The Zenith, although a very good brush has always seemed just a tad disappointing to me. Both are good stuff though.
Overall I like all my Zeniths so don't get the wrong idea. If I had only one boar - and it was any brush selected from at least 75% of the boars I use on occasion - I'd be a happy camper.
Not sure that helps at all, but it's all I know about that.
Happy shaves,
Jim
@Chan Eil Whiskers unless I got a real lemon, compare to other Omegas I have used, the jade knot is not very densely packed and perhaps the reason it gets going on lather making faster than any omega I have known. In spite of that I can't say I love this knot, it sure lack that 'fingertips full of lather' feel and scrub I am used to in other Omegas.
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I wish everybody would always include photos. They add so much to the picture.
Happy shaves,
Jim
Which Omega has the least backbone & scrub? I’m looking to add one after reading this thread. I don’t mind taking the time to break it in, but I don’t care for brushes with strong backbone &/or scrub. I am intrigued by the softness many describe that a good boar brush develops. I’ve been reading all I can find on the different Omega offerings, but can’t determine if any of them would really be suitable. If all else fails, I’ll get a Pro 48.
Jim,David,
I don't really understand what you're looking for exactly but in my view a boar needs decent scrub. A boar brush can be very soft but also have loads of scrub.
To be honest, I think a Zenith may be closer to what you are looking for. The bleached Zenith boars with taller loft are very soft but borderline floppy. They are very inexpensive. Also rebranded as Razorock brushes. Dimensionally similar to an Omega Pro boar.Which Omega has the least backbone & scrub? I’m looking to add one after reading this thread. I don’t mind taking the time to break it in, but I don’t care for brushes with strong backbone &/or scrub. I am intrigued by the softness many describe that a good boar brush develops. I’ve been reading all I can find on the different Omega offerings, but can’t determine if any of them would really be suitable. If all else fails, I’ll get a Pro 48.
Thank you, I’ll look at the Zenith line now.To be honest, I think a Zenith may be closer to what you are looking for. The bleached Zenith boars with taller loft are very soft but borderline floppy. They are very inexpensive. Also rebranded as Razorock brushes. Dimensionally similar to an Omega Pro boar.
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Jim,
Thank you for your reply. I’m not sure if what I want is available in a boar brush.
I prefer softer brushes, less scrub & back bone. My Paladins have about as much scrub as I care for. I also have an M & F in finest that is one of my favorite brushes. I also have several silver tips that are quite nice. I’ve had many synthetics & have sold most of them. I have kept a few 2 band badgers after trying many others.
I am intrigued with boar & would like to give them a try. I face lather, BTW. I am wondering if a boar has soft tips & would provide a good experience for me.
I hope this information helps, please let me know if there’s additional information you need in order to make a recommendation.
And in the long run, I’m only out 10-$12 if I try a Pro 48 or 49 & end up not liking it!