New DE user, which blade to start with? Feathers? j/k, But which to learn on?

I'm about to be a new DE user.

I have a Merkur Futur, and a Vintage D1 Gillette Superspeed on the way. (still in the mail)

I understand that Feather blades are the sharpest, and are not the ones to start with.

Should I start with Derbys? Other?
I understand a combo pack of blades is a good choice, but which are good starting blades?

 

IMHO, Feathers are overrated in terms of "newbies shouldn't use them" (all blades will slice and dice you if you don't use them correctly) and in price considering there are cheaper blades out there that give just as fine a shave as a Feather.

But to answer you specifically, I would suggest getting a blade sampler pack because blades are a YMMV thing. What I like and think is the best blade, isn't the same for the next person. So I always recommend to new DE shavers to try many different blades and keep a list of how each did for you. A good place to start for samplers is here at our own TSD store. Other vendors have sampler packs with different brands as well.

Additionally, if you'll PM me your name and mailing address, I'll mail some to you to try as well at no cost to you. BIC, Voskhod and Israeli Personna, 5 of each.

 

Yeah, what Jody said.

Get a sampler pack. If you find that you like a blade, great! On the other hand, if you find that blade was terrible, set the others of that brand/style aside and wait several months and try them again. Your initial problem may have been a technique issue that the bad blade wasn't forgiving about. Also, you will find that some blades just work better in some razors than others. Now with getting a superspeed and a super adjustable you will probably find similar blade peformance at the milder adjustable settings. After all, the super speed and super adjustable are both TTO razors with the same profiile head. However, as you crank in on that adjustable you may find different blades do better. This will be more noticeable when you start switching razor types and brands as well.

 

Jody and Justin saved me the typing.

I couldn't agree more.

 

so did you.

 

:sihns011

 

that's the same advice I was given and it's true. You just have to try and see what works. When I started, I went through a couple brands of a sample pack and I found one that I loved and also one that I didn't like at all. Now 5 months later I went back to the one that I didn't like before and, well.................I still don't like it. But you just never know. I'm in the process of revisiting those blades from my sample pack, one; because I have a different razor and two; because I have better technique now and can attribute whether a blade is good or bad for me based on the blade itself.

 

Thanks Guys!

I really appreciate the help!

 

They are giving you tried and true advice.
Be sure to get a sampler pack that does not contain too many duplicates of the same brand. Get one that includes some Gillettes, Lord, Astra, Derby, Red Personnas, and maybe a Supermax if possible.

Good fortune in your search.

P.S. You are asking good questions and you seem to be following the advice that the members are providing. This will speed up your acclamation to DE Wetshaving.

 

Thanks!

 

I use a Feather in a Futur every day, and have no problems. You shouldn't either.

Start at "1" on the Futur. I have a dense, wiry beard, and keep my Futur at "1.5" and get a good close shave daily...

Enjoy it! I'm in my 60s so I have a selection of razors, but my daily choice is the Futur!

 

When I started DE shaving, I used the Gillettes from sampler pack and loved them. Feathers are too sharp for me and my skin. I recommend getting a sampler pack and go from there. Use one blade for a weak and them a different one the next week and if it you like the shave better with the new blade, use that one and compared the next one.

 

Forget what everybody said. Gillette Blacks are the way to go!!!

Of course they're right...there's as many answers as there are shavers. After much trial and error I find the Blacks to be the best blade for me but they are a bit pricey'er and harder to come by. So I also keep Dorco 301's on hand because while not as sharp they do last at least two shaves which for the price ain't bad. I'm not a Feather fan. I get one and only one good shave out of them. Too expensive for one shave per. But that's me. Good luck.

 

I've only been DE shaving for almost a month. I started with Merkur blades but later switched to Derbies and found them much more forgiving. In hindsight, a sampler pack would've been the smarter way to go, for sure.

 

:angry037
It's probably just me, but I hate the term "forgiving" when describing a blade. Any blade, unless it has absolutely no edge, will cut you if you are careless or sloppy with your technique. That's why we buy blades - to cut. If you want a blade that will cut your whiskers, that blade will not forgive your carelessness or attention to technique.

<rant over>

 

Have you tried the Russian blue box version of the Indian blacks? I bought a pack last time I was in NYC and IMO they are at least as nice as the blacks. They are well worth a try if you happen to see them.

 

I think I have both the Blues and the Blacks but I haven't tried them yet since I've been mostly playing around with my Str8s and SEs lately. If memory serves, I have a Blue locked and cocked in the Fatboy so I could try a Gillette in my Gillette but kept going back to the Gem.

 

Get a sampler, throw them in a bag, grab one and shave. Shave with that blade for a few days or until you feel it tugging, then reach in the bag and grab something else.

After you find "your perfect blade" go back and try them all again.

I remember when I first started, Derby was all the rage. I tried one and did not care for it. I tried another one about a year later and I still don't care for them. But I will take a Derby over a cartridge any day.

 

I dunno the Mach 3 is pretty sweet compared to a derby.

The rest of the advice here is spot on, not an iota of derby love comes from me.

Yuck.

 

There ya go.

BTW, I'm not a Derby lover, either.