Simpsons Chubby 3 Manchurian Badger faux Ivory Approximate brush specifications: Overall brush height: 102mm Handle height: 48mm Loft: 54mm Knot diameter: 28.5mm Simpsons Chubby Super Badger Shaving Brush (Chubby CH3 Super) Overall brush height - 102mm Handle height - 48mm Knot loft - 54mm Knot diameter - 29mm Weight - 108g Both same price
Sorry, but neither. My prefered knot size is 22 +/- 2. I know you mentioned you're new to this. Welcome! Have you ever tried a knot this size? If you have, and you like it, more power to ya. My suggestion is to start smaller, say 24, and less expensive. But that's me. It's your shave. Enjoy it your way.
The Chubby 3 is a huge and dense brush. I would look at that as a special occasion brush more than just an every day driver. I had the Chubby 2 in Best that I really enjoyed, but it was larger than I preferred and passed it along.
To me at least, having a brush with a 29mm knot is like having a Ford F450 as a daily driver! A nice conversation piece but not really that practical for getting around town. I just can't imagine ever needing more lather than a 24mm or even a 22mm knot is capable of producing. I mean if you really want to collect every model Simpson makes then that's fine and good luck to you, but for an everyday brush something much smaller is more practical, and wastes much less soap. I have a bunch of brushes in various sizes - badger, synthetic, boar, horse - and while I rotate them all a little I mostly find myself grabbing a humble Simpson 46 in best badger. It's only 20mm but it produces a mountain of lather.
Both are great brushes. Good advice here but go with the one you want. Please don't find yourself asking yourself in six months - Why didn't I get the 28/29mm knot? You are the one that is going to be using it. Just a thought.