any cons or pro's to having more than one type of blade...i.e. Personna, Derby and lets say..Feathers..as apposed to JUST Derby's in your shave cabinet/area...comments/thoughts..always appreciated and shared!
Sample packs are the way to go. I'm relatively new to DE shaving (a few months) and I'm currently going through a few sample packs and have found a few blades that are clearly easier on my face than others. Unfortunately I did not know about sample packs before I bought a few brands in bulk only to find that they don't agree with me. I've also found that in some packs you might get a dud blade. It's always good to have variety and find what works for you. This makes it more fun and interesting. I've always hated shaving until I started taking DE shaving more seriously and started trying new products. Shaving is fun now and I look forward to it. Hopefully this is the same for you.
I have somewhat over a dozen different brands of blades. Some are more favorite than others, but I'm still trying everything there is available
I use about 3 different kinds of blades dependent on what razor I use. I like more forgiving blades like Lord Stainless in my Merkurs and Feathers in some Gillettes.
I have three different brands that I consider my go to brands, so I have a good stock of those three. Then I also have a lot of different brands that I am still sampling just for fun.
Some guys like to find their favorite(s) and then remain loyal. I have always been the kind of a guy that likes variety. That is why I have close to 50 different brands of blades. I'm a perpetual blade sampler.
I'm much like Bill. I have a stock of Astra and Dorco ST-301 blades. Then maybe a half dozen assorted brands left-over from sample packs.
I have a good stock of Astras, Crystals, and Dorco ST301s. I also have a few individual packs of blades I either hadn't tried or like only in certain razors. For me, I have the Astras as my primary face shaving blade, and the Crystals and Dorcos primarily for head shaving. I find I don't want as sharp/aggressive of a blade for head shaving as for my face. I'll add that I could replace the Astras with 7 O'clock SE and the Crystals or Dorcos with Red Pack Personnas and not miss anything, except a few extra dollars spent on the 7 O'clocks. I also don't think I'll reorder the Dorcos, simply because in a few razors I distinctly prefer Crystals and in others I find the Crystal and Dorco to be equal.
Primarily Red Pack Personnas and Dorco ST300 right now, with quite a few other brands for occasional sampling. I want to try some of those newer yellow and black package Gillette blades, too, soon. Erik, you implied the Red IPs and Dorco ST301 were similar on your face - do you find you get on average the same number of comfortable shaves from them? That's my biggest complaint with the ST300 - though comfortable and reasonably sharp, the 300s only last about 3-4 shaves before they go downhill fast. I've heard conflicting reports regarding differences in ST300 and ST301s, hence my question. Thanks!
this, this right here, that's my answer, right up there I have a good stock of Red Pack Personnas and Astra Superiors, and a bunch of various other blades. When you're starting out, get sampler packs. Lots of sampler packs, lots of different blades. Try 'em all. Give each brand at least a week, maybe even two. After you've tried a good number of blades, you should be abe to identify 3 groups: Reliable go-to's Every once-in-awhile (this has two sub-groups) Special occasion blades (either b/c of price, or rarity) Certain blades for only certain razors and The rest (also with two sub-groups) Some you keep, they weren't terrible, maybe they'll work later) Chunk it - you'd be better using sandpaper and glass shards If you don't have such groups, it's okay. If you have one brand of blade that is the absolute cat's meow, by all means, corner the market. But, I'd dare say the majority of folks have a list like above, whether they've mentally identified it or not, they probably have blades in mind they could immediately put into the appropriate category for their tastes. It goes with out saying that everyone's list will be different. Every one talked about how great Derbys are when I got started - they're in my group 2, sub B group, I can only use them every once in a while, in one specific razor. As to pros and cons: Stocking one blade: Pros - always have plenty of blades; always consistent shave results; no hem-hawing over what blade to use that day. Cons - if you've tried a number of different blades and this one is your favorite, not really any cons. If you haven't tried any different blades, then you may or may not know if there's a better blade for you out there. Various blades: Pros - variety is the spice of life; can match a blade with that shaves "mood" - i.e., last shave was kinda rough, you can choose a milder blade that day, or you've not shaved over the long weekend, you can grab the samurai's choice for a smooth facial bush-hog Cons - aauugh! which one am I going to use today!!! So, no serious "cons" I can think of, depends on which "pros" you want, I guess. Actually, one more "con" for one blade preference - if you get set on one blade and it goes out of production....
I found the ST300s VERY inconsistent (I've used 15 total of these blades). The best ones where like having an ST301, but the worst barely gave one decent shave. Overall, Crystals, ST301s, and RPPs are similar on my face in most razors. RPP are ever so slightly sharper than the other two, and ST 301s will give a very slight drag in a couple razors, but are just like Crystals in most. On how they last, no modern blade I've tried gives me more the 4 shaves. Given the low cost of the blades we're discussing I don't see that as a problem.
Well, the pro would be using what's best for your face! This may be multiple brands of blades for some guys, others it may be just one. I used the Walgreens/Wal-mart Personnas for a while then went to Astra Superior Platinums just based on their high accolades. I wish I had listened a little more closely to all the recommendations of getting sample packs. I've been working through a 90 blade sampler from ntguys (on ebay) and have found blades much worse for my face (Kai) and much better (Gillette 7 o'clock stainless, the green package). I ended up selling off my Astras and as I finish going through this sampler pack If I don't find anything else I'll order some packs of the Gillettes. To me, the blade is something you want consistent. I'll play around with creams all the day long, but the blade I want consistency from. But, that's MHO. Oh, just for reference, I use a 1960 Fatboy. Cheers, KS
I've had similar experience with the Dorco line- the st301 were better but still had some variation. I ended up with a stock of Red Pack Personna and Crystals by accident. (Blade Aquistion Disorder). I also tend to keep a pack or two of American Personnas around. I guess I just like the Personna line. I have a few other brands + GEM stainless SE in my supply o' blades. Different blades really do work for different razors. Took me forever to learn that.
I'm still new at this as well, and currently have around 10 brands of blade for me de, I enjoy having the chance to try a new blade every few days and really get a feel for whats out there before I settle down with one...or two
Agreed, I don't know why I try to push a blade to 6 or 7 shaves sometimes. Good to hear the ST301s are noticeably better, or at least more consistent. Perhaps it was the few packs of ST300s I had, but they were consistent enough. Think I'll grab a few ST301s and give 'em a try. Had another killer shave with the RPP and Futur this morning, though. Fortunately I've laid in a stock of those. Thanks for the info!
Definitely have more than one blade favorite, but not finished trying others to see if one unexplored blade will trump one of the favorites, yet.
If you have one brand of blade that does an excellent job for you, and if that brand is not among the most expensive, then there is no compelling reason to try others. A lot of us around here have a sort of tinkerer mentality, where we can't leave well enough alone, and just keep trying new things, even though we've already got something that works. Based on shave quality alone, there's no reason for me to look farther than Feathers. Based on shave quality and price, Astra. I've also tried Shark, Sharp, Gillette 7 O'clock Yellow, Gillette Super Thin, Derby, Personna Reds, Equaline, Lord, Dorco, and maybe something else that I'm forgetting at the moment.[Oh yeah, Merkur] That's not even counting the single edge blades and injectors. And I have samples of a number of other DE blades waiting to be tried.
