I went from a bar of soap (30yrs ago) to foam..... then I bought one can of Nivea Gel and that clogged my cartridges....did not use it till last year when I started shaving DE and using a brush. Well one day I decided to try that horrible gel again but lathered it with a brush and it worked OK!! Try that....it's a good back up, or maybe an option before tossing that can of gel.
Over the years, I've used all sorts of canned foams and gels. For canned, I'd have to give the nod to Edge gel. But my recent initial use of Proraso Red, in a tube, has swayed me to that. Give yourself a shot at that in a bowl with a brush. You might be surprised. I was!
Back in the day, it was either Edge Gel (Schick) or Gillette Fusion Gel, depending on what was on sale.
I generally prefer shave soaps, face lathered with a brush. BUT... When I use canned shave cream, it is because I am short on time for the shave. I use both gels and foams, but I find that gels require more time to use effectively. Ideally, both are worked into your beard by massaging into your face either by fingers or brush. My experience is that the gels give a better glide during the shave and a better face feel after the shave. But, that may be the products that I use. Barbasol & Gillette Foamy are both good foams. I really like the Aveno and Gillette gel products, but have used the Edge gel also. Just learn the strength and weakness of each, and use that product to its potential. YMMV.
I'm in the same boat @Primotenore. I can't remember the last time I used a Gel or a Foam. I have to many brushes to use those products any more, besides I have and/or take my time now.