These seem to be the 2 major players amongst DE razor blades and also seem to generate the most emotions Why the love hate relationship between these two brands ?
Really? I don't know that I'd pick Derby and Feather as competitors. Derby's are a moderately priced, baseline performance type blade. (By 'baseline', I mean most people would want any blade they use to shave as well as or better than a Derby) Feathers are more expensive and have the overblown reputation for being dangerously sharp. They are often favored by people who desire a more aggressive shave. (or what Bob said... to get the most out of an otherwise mild shaver) Of the two, I can see people being very polarized about Feathers... but Derby's? :think002
I don't know about love hate. I have both of these brands in my blade hoard. Feather's work great for me in adjustable razors and mild razors like a Tech. While Derby's really shine in aggressive razors like my Aristocrat and also my opened comb razors.
I have used Derby's and Feather's. The Derby blades aren't as smooth and don't last as long as Astra Superiors and I get similar performance from Astras as I do Feathers, so for me, I use the Astra blades. Gives me some pocket change to spend on other stuff Have to go with what works for you.
I've got a whole lot of both. I have yet to find a razor that the Derbys don't work very well in. They're my test blade for almost every new razor I get. The Feathers are excellent in quite a few of my razors, and almost perfect in a Tech. They both have their merits.
I like Derby's as they seem to mesh with the razor they are being used in - had some issues with Feathers , but when they work for me the shave is unmatched!!!.
I dont consider these blades to be on the same playing field. Not even in the same league. Ones super sharp. Ones not. Ones super cheap, ones not. I would consider feather competition to be Astras, 7 o' clock(s), and Irridiums.
I get packs of Feathers here in Thailand for a bit less than $1.50 for a pack of 5 blades Others seemed suprised when I mentioned the cost of these here in Asia. Astra's are sold here for a bit less... Derbys I have to get online :ashamed001
I remember them being very cheap when I was having a friend pick me up a case. I think I found cases for about $30 for 1000. In the US feathers cost upwards of 50 cents a blade. Compared to most they are pretty expensive. Astras are pretty reasonably priced and can be had for 100 < $20 shipped in the US. So they are cheap and good. Even if you take out the price differential, the feathers are still much sharper than derbys. I've never met a derby I've liked.
Do the Astra's have the same type of packaging as in this photo ? Would be interesting as they are basically the same price as feathers here in Thailand.... Some of the other brands are very cheap here
The Astra Superiors I get are differently packaged, with olive-coloring. People tend to talk pretty poorly on these forums about Derbys - some even say you'll get a few defective blades fresh out the wrapper - but I've always regarded them highly. Where do you get your blades - places like Carrefour?
I don't care for either Derby or feather blades. Derby's give one shave for me after which they've gone from barely sharp enought to shave to worthless. Feathers are OK in a mild razor if I don't use them consistantly, but they're just irritating enough I'll notice if I use one for more than 4-5 days in a row. 7 O'Clock Sharp Edge (yellow) and Astra Superior blades (not the stainless ones in the picture above) are great for me. Almost as sharp as feather, and much smoother IMHO.
I get them from beauty supply places as they seem to wholesale them in boxes of 20. Feathers do seem sharper to me but there is also a lot of hype surrounding these blades on these forums.
Ohh, didn't notice that Erik - they're Superior Stainless blades, not the olive-boxed Platinums. Why doesn't anyone ever talk about the Keramiks?
My friend sent me some Derbys, and I find them smooth blades, sharp, but pretty gentle. Feathers, I must to stay away from if I want to live.
I haven't tried a Feather, but the Derbies I've used ranged from meh to awful. I've got years worth of NOS U.S. made Gillette blades to go through before I have to consider this question again.
I'll add that the merkur blades were absoulte shite IMO - one of the blades had a huge nick in it straight out of the wrapper !!!!
Derbys versus Feathers.... Well in my limited experience, I definitely have to go with Derbys. Why? Well, they are simply the cheapest blade I've used that yields astounding results. Feathers are more expensive, and unfortunately dull faster than the Derbys. The only thing better (in my opinion of course) is that the Feathers have a wonderful disposal mechanism in their packaging. Other than that, there really isn't a noticeable difference. To each their own I suppose?
