1) PolSilver Super Iridium 2) Vikings Sword 3) Astra SP's While the Super Iridiums are probably my all time overall favorite blade, the Vikings Sword blades compare very well with them in sharpness and lack of irritation on my face and far surpass the SI's in price, making the VS's my most used blade as of now..
Gillette Yellows Astra SP Gillette Black Feathers are IMO sharp but not very smooth. YMMV of course so give them a try.
Voskhod Astra SP Super Iridium Gillette Silver Blue Permasharp Personna Red Personna Blue. I seriously can't choose. It's like picking one of my kids.. Wait... That's not fair, I only have one kid.
Now: Sputnik, Crystal Original Polsilver Used to be Gillette 7 O'clock Black Gillette Silver Blues Astra Green Funny how things change Feathers are... for lack of a better word, boring
Seeing that I have only shaved a few times (see, I am very much a newbie), I have only tried the Astra SP....sounds like I picked a good one to start my new journey. I look forward to trying as many of the blades you guys have listed! Thanks for your feedback. One other, maybe silly, question: How often do you change blades? Is three shaves typically too many with a blade? I am sure that it depends on beard types and the such, but I am just curious as to how I will know when to change. Thanks!
I'm one and done. At ~ $0.15 per blade, I don't care. This is the ultimate YMMV. Basically, when it starts tugging and nicking it is done.
In my case a blade can last up to 6 shaves, but I seldom go that long. Often, especially with Astra's I find the first shave is not the best. I guess the coating on the blade or something has to be worn off. Usually the first shave is decent, the second and third shaves are great, the fourth shave begins to fall off and the fifth and sixth shave are sub-par. I usually change blades after the forth shave, and i clean the razor well before putting in the new blade.
Feathers Personna Blue Astra SP I used to change out blades every 3 shaves. Blades are cheap, shaving too enjoyable to suffer through a slowly-degrading blade.
Alright, I am getting a sense that a few shaves is enough. Using the Astra SP, my first shave was awesome, no irritation at all. Second, I had some tugging and my neck was a bit irritated. Maybe it was technique, but I didn't think it cut as well as the first run. Thanks for the feedback!
So far: Personna Red Astra SP Treet Platinum Yet to try in the slant -Feather -Voskhod -Rapira Plat Lux -Polisilver Super -Gillette Silver Blue
