When I first got into DE shaving two years ago, I had started with a Supply Razor and also got a backup Rockwell 6C. As I got more into knowledge about this activity, one thing stood out the most in my final choice of what I would stick to: blade variety. Injector-style blades were very limited and after using Schick injector blades two times and having subpar shaves (nice way to say that I HATED it), I switched to the Rockwell and it was magic. Since then, I've come to Razor Emporium many times to get a sample pack and individual blade packs to test and try blades (as well as looking around eBay for other blades that RE doesn't carry) and I've finally narrowed down my favorite blades after months and months and MONTHS of testing: Personna Lab Blue (Comfort Coated), Rapira Platinum Lux, Feather, and one you guys DON'T have...the Gillette Minora (the ONLY Gillette -- apart from Perma-Sharp -- that I can use without issues for some reason). And now, I absolutely love love love shaving with all of my heart and have become another grand fanatic of all things shaving, lol.
I tried several sample packs from razor emporium when I first started and found several of my favorite razor blades. I still vividly remember my first Kai blade, it was so smooth and efficient compared to most other blades I had tried up to that point. These sample packs are a fantastic way to find what works for your beard which really helped me so I highly recommend these.
Good vid and good on you/RE actually putting the blades on a scale for some kind of comparison. The semi serious demeanor is working to keep it light. A Sampler pack was how I started out after trying some Astra greens. Future vid idea- non Russian replacements for the supposedly soon to be retired Russian blades. I guess we could go and look within the same category but a comparison would be good to narrow down.
I went down the DE rabbit hole trying various DE razors and blades, of several different manufacturers. My favorite DE razor is the Karve Overlander & I found the blade didn’t matter that much. With that being said, I also found that no DE razor shaves as close, comfortable and nick free as the Gillette Sensor 2 Plus disposables. They easily last 10 shaves before I toss them, and NOTHING can equal the shave I get from them whether it be daily shaves or shaving every few days. I tried double edged razors that cost $500 and if I could only have one razor to use for the rest of my life, it would definitely be the Gillette sensor 2 Plus disposables…. THEY ARE THAT AWESOME.
Sampler packs are absolutely the way to go. Blades are the most YMMV part of a YMMV hobby. Plus, the best blade varies between razors. Part of the joy of tweaking your equipment to achieve the best shave for your preferences and skin.
I started traditional wet shaving with Astra SP Greens. Then I bought Gillette Platinum. I bought a tuck of Feather blades as well. The Feather blades gave me the closest shave but my neck felt a little raw afterwards. So out of the 3 I have tried, my favourite is Gillette Platinum. They are nice and sharp without the harshness of a Feather.
Personally, Feather blades are what I use in my Eclipse razor, which is my favourite. But, not every razor is equal. I'm no expert but I've found that an aggressive razor deserves a mild blade, and vice versa. There are exceptions, such as my Lady Gillettes. I only use Astras in those. It's what works for me, based on trial, error, and experience. For anyone new to DE shaving, Astra is the way to go. Very forgiving. YMMV. Great video.
I once tried a Razor Emporium sample pack. What came out of it was my continued use of Kai, Feather, and Personna Blades. I later bought 100 packs of each brand, and I use them as a four-way cycle with Nacets. And of course, Nacets are saying do svidaniya not long from now.
After trying each blade on the “sensitive sample pack” twice, i have settled for Perma-Sharp and Astra Green. Could not decide which one was the best for me, so i decided to buy them both and i will be alternating between them. Thank you for your time.
Good one Matt👍👍 Almost all major retailers in the shave world offer up some form of razor sample pack/s and have done so for many years as customers were having to buy individual "tucks" to experiment with. This obviously became a problem to retailers so sample packs were born and it was a great idea. Easy to buy, maybe painful to use but definitely better than buying one or two tucks at a time. Thanks for the video.
For me the Personna Med Prep is head and shoulders above any other blade. Super smooth but sharp and long lasting. I do multipass shaves finishing with ATG on my head and face at the same time and get 7 to 8 shaves per blade. The next best for me is Astra, Gillette SharpEdge and Super Iridium give about 5 to 6 shaves and Feather dont work for me, I find them harsh for the first couple of shaves and then they are dull. Great info
I have the same take when starting a Feather blade. For me corking the blade before the first shave has worked. After corking I get at least 5 shaves before the metal hits the bin.
I have a sample pack and found that within the same box some blades are more agressive than others from the same 5 pack. The best advice is to get an adjustable razor to add or remove blade feel.
That’s great that you went through all of the leg work for the consumer Matt, helps tremendously for new and seasoned wet shavers👏🏻lol the outtakes are 😂
A good idea Matt though I have come to my own selection some time ago and I am using a Feather or Gillette Silver Blue but use the Feather more than the latter as (I have also used in the past the Rapira blades though they were not that reliable for quality) - a very stubborn beard growth and still have sensitive skin as I am now 76 years old I still have to be careful because of that.
Hey Matt, have you tried the Astra Green made in India? I saw a RUclips wet shaver the other day try one of those. He said they're basically the same blades. Do you have any more info? I'm interested if they (P&G) have moved the whole razor blade production from Russia to India.
Have you seen that website where someone tested blade sharpness with multiple shaves? It's a sharpness tester where a digital scale measures the force required to snap a monofilament line held in a plastic holder. The lower the number the sharper the blade. Feather starts as the sharpest then gets less sharp on shaves #2 and 3. Perma Sharp is sharper after one shave than Feather on the first shave, and its second use had the lowest number (sharpest) of any blade on any shave. Bic Chrome Platinum after 2 shaves is the same as Feather on the first, and had the sharpest 3 day average. Kai actually came out less sharp than Derby Extra. Obviously, we're not shaving monofilament lines, but different thickness and texture hairs, so none of these numbers matter. It's just really interesting for people who like nerdy stuff. My theory is that perceived sharpness is probably due to small differences in blade width and thickness rather than just the edge.
@@Leenunes007 Oh wow, that is interesting. I’ve heard lots of good things about Permasharp blades, so I’ll have to try one again. I think I may have one left from back when I got my last Try-a-blade pack. I’ll definitely check out the blade packs featured in this video!
Most blades are super great, so it's not uncommon to have multiple favorites. It's a good problem to have. Today, double edges razors are so well made compared to 50 years ago and definitely 100 years ago. That's because the industry has been improving the process over the years!
I will say this when it comes to blades. The Razor makes more of comfort than the blade. However, when it comes to blades, it is about your beard. But for most people (medium to medium aggressive) I think Gillette Platinum and Astra Blues are good. But even in the end, just don't go too mild and you'll allways have a good shave. My wife and i both do DE shaving and primarily Astra and Parker Blades. I have sensitive skin but my beard is a little course so no FEATHERS for me.
Honestly, all modern blades are pretty good. They're different from each other, but pretty good. I have liked all the Dorco blades. I think they're South Korean and they seem to be serious about making good products. Matt's sample packs are very helpful.
All absolutely true! I am so happy I checked out Razor Emporium when I started! I got the beginner pack at the same time I purchased my TWIG … my first razor that was not a cartridge! From the beginner pack, I found 2 really good options. I have since settled into them and found a 3rd great blade option that works great with my Henson mild. The blade really makes a difference and varies In feel from razor to razor. The 3rd blade for my Henson is too aggressive in my TWIG for me!
@@bobjones8321 I have soft skin, tough whiskers, and the Twig was the first single edge razor I had ever used. I tried all of the blades that arrived in my beginner pack as well as the blades that came with the razor. Dorco Red label worked very well for me at that time. The Personna platinum Blue label also did very well and in fact is now my favorite blade. The green label Astra which were recommended by several experienced shavers didn’t and still don’t work well for me at all. What surprises me is the difference in feel with the same blade between my 2 razors. More recently, I wanted to try the Gillette King C blades. I didn’t like them on the Twig, but on my Hansen mild, they worked very well.
@@bobjones8321 by the way, for me there is a big difference between the Dorco Red, Blue, and Prime. I have tried all 3. The Red, I liked, but much more prefer the Personna I mentioned. The Dorco blue and Prime Labels that I tried I felt a lot of drag and yes… it was with the same shave gel.
When i first started using a DE razor, i bought a beginner pack from your store. Granted this was about 5 or 6 years ago so the blades were a little different. That's what got me started tho! 😁👍🏼💈
Here is a great business idea for you that will draw a lot of buyer for your DE razor pack if you can figure out a way to manufacture the push up and out razor dispenser that could hold 100 blades neatly. This can help with bring blades to travel or just storage. Would love to buy it from you guys if you can make it
Congrats - you're the winner of the Weekly T-Shirt give-away! Please contact us at help@razoremporium.com with your address and size and we will get it shipped out right away! Thanks everyone! Stay tuned next week for another giveaway! - Razor Emporium Team
As a beginner, I find five blades overkill. I have a lot of leftovers. I wish someone would create samplers with one blade each. I know that creates extra labor, but I bet if you crunched the numbers, you'd end up with a higher margin.
Sample Packs are way to go unless you have MAGIC 8 BALL. Can not believe Matt is not do have ESP to tell people what will work wonderful in my DE Razor to get BBS shave. Matt is honest sure some trolls on Shave Forum will trash Matt for no ESP. Would rather have honesty verses B*ll. 🤯
I've tried them all. None of them are as good as Wesley Snipes.
“Some mf’s are always trying to ice skate up hill.” 😎
Indeed.
Exactly!
He has a good blade.
😂
When I first got into DE shaving two years ago, I had started with a Supply Razor and also got a backup Rockwell 6C. As I got more into knowledge about this activity, one thing stood out the most in my final choice of what I would stick to: blade variety. Injector-style blades were very limited and after using Schick injector blades two times and having subpar shaves (nice way to say that I HATED it), I switched to the Rockwell and it was magic. Since then, I've come to Razor Emporium many times to get a sample pack and individual blade packs to test and try blades (as well as looking around eBay for other blades that RE doesn't carry) and I've finally narrowed down my favorite blades after months and months and MONTHS of testing: Personna Lab Blue (Comfort Coated), Rapira Platinum Lux, Feather, and one you guys DON'T have...the Gillette Minora (the ONLY Gillette -- apart from Perma-Sharp -- that I can use without issues for some reason). And now, I absolutely love love love shaving with all of my heart and have become another grand fanatic of all things shaving, lol.
I tried several sample packs from razor emporium when I first started and found several of my favorite razor blades. I still vividly remember my first Kai blade, it was so smooth and efficient compared to most other blades I had tried up to that point. These sample packs are a fantastic way to find what works for your beard which really helped me so I highly recommend these.
Thx 👍
Good vid and good on you/RE actually putting the blades on a scale for some kind of comparison. The semi serious demeanor is working to keep it light. A Sampler pack was how I started out after trying some Astra greens.
Future vid idea- non Russian replacements for the supposedly soon to be retired Russian blades. I guess we could go and look within the same category but a comparison would be good to narrow down.
I went down the DE rabbit hole trying various DE razors and blades, of several different manufacturers. My favorite DE razor is the Karve Overlander & I found the blade didn’t matter that much. With that being said, I also found that no DE razor shaves as close, comfortable and nick free as the Gillette Sensor 2 Plus disposables. They easily last 10 shaves before I toss them, and NOTHING can equal the shave I get from them whether it be daily shaves or shaving every few days. I tried double edged razors that cost $500 and if I could only have one razor to use for the rest of my life, it would definitely be the Gillette sensor 2 Plus disposables…. THEY ARE THAT AWESOME.
Sampler packs are absolutely the way to go. Blades are the most YMMV part of a YMMV hobby. Plus, the best blade varies between razors. Part of the joy of tweaking your equipment to achieve the best shave for your preferences and skin.
I started traditional wet shaving with Astra SP Greens. Then I bought Gillette Platinum. I bought a tuck of Feather blades as well. The Feather blades gave me the closest shave but my neck felt a little raw afterwards. So out of the 3 I have tried, my favourite is Gillette Platinum. They are nice and sharp without the harshness of a Feather.
Personally, Feather blades are what I use in my Eclipse razor, which is my favourite.
But, not every razor is equal.
I'm no expert but I've found that an aggressive razor deserves a mild blade, and vice versa.
There are exceptions, such as my Lady Gillettes. I only use Astras in those.
It's what works for me, based on trial, error, and experience.
For anyone new to DE shaving, Astra is the way to go. Very forgiving.
YMMV.
Great video.
I once tried a Razor Emporium sample pack. What came out of it was my continued use of Kai, Feather, and Personna Blades. I later bought 100 packs of each brand, and I use them as a four-way cycle with Nacets. And of course, Nacets are saying do svidaniya not long from now.
After trying each blade on the “sensitive sample pack” twice, i have settled for Perma-Sharp and Astra Green. Could not decide which one was the best for me, so i decided to buy them both and i will be alternating between them. Thank you for your time.
I’ve used over 100 Astra Green blades. They work awesome for me. Just bought 100 perma sharp. We will see how it goes!
Good one Matt👍👍 Almost all major retailers in the shave world offer up some form of razor sample pack/s and have done so for many years as customers were having to buy individual "tucks" to experiment with. This obviously became a problem to retailers so sample packs were born and it was a great idea. Easy to buy, maybe painful to use but definitely better than buying one or two tucks at a time. Thanks for the video.
For me the Personna Med Prep is head and shoulders above any other blade. Super smooth but sharp and long lasting. I do multipass shaves finishing with ATG on my head and face at the same time and get 7 to 8 shaves per blade. The next best for me is Astra, Gillette SharpEdge and Super Iridium give about 5 to 6 shaves and Feather dont work for me, I find them harsh for the first couple of shaves and then they are dull. Great info
Right on
I have the same take when starting a Feather blade. For me corking the blade before the first shave has worked. After corking I get at least 5 shaves before the metal hits the bin.
I have a sample pack and found that within the same box some blades are more agressive than others from the same 5 pack. The best advice is to get an adjustable razor to add or remove blade feel.
Great tip!
These packs are a really great service and a good deal. The comparison to choosing beer or wine is a good metaphor. It's all about shave feel!
That’s great that you went through all of the leg work for the consumer Matt, helps tremendously for new and seasoned wet shavers👏🏻lol the outtakes are 😂
Thanks for building my fatboy prospector!!! Cant wait to try, u just emailed said ur shipping it!!
You bet!
Didn't see gillette minora/minora gold series, and also some of the chinese brands are getting good
I really like Voskhod blades
A good idea Matt though I have come to my own selection some time ago and I am using a Feather or Gillette Silver Blue but use the Feather more than the latter as (I have also used in the past the Rapira blades though they were not that reliable for quality) - a very stubborn beard growth and still have sensitive skin as I am now 76 years old I still have to be careful because of that.
Thx for all ur help setting mw up with the old style razors. I am gonna go on ur website and buying some stuff.
Hey Matt, have you tried the Astra Green made in India? I saw a RUclips wet shaver the other day try one of those. He said they're basically the same blades. Do you have any more info? I'm interested if they (P&G) have moved the whole razor blade production from Russia to India.
I hope that they are, basically, the same, quality-wise, because there’s been so much uproar about this move.
Have you seen that website where someone tested blade sharpness with multiple shaves? It's a sharpness tester where a digital scale measures the force required to snap a monofilament line held in a plastic holder. The lower the number the sharper the blade.
Feather starts as the sharpest then gets less sharp on shaves #2 and 3. Perma Sharp is sharper after one shave than Feather on the first shave, and its second use had the lowest number (sharpest) of any blade on any shave. Bic Chrome Platinum after 2 shaves is the same as Feather on the first, and had the sharpest 3 day average. Kai actually came out less sharp than Derby Extra.
Obviously, we're not shaving monofilament lines, but different thickness and texture hairs, so none of these numbers matter. It's just really interesting for people who like nerdy stuff.
My theory is that perceived sharpness is probably due to small differences in blade width and thickness rather than just the edge.
@@Leenunes007 Oh wow, that is interesting. I’ve heard lots of good things about Permasharp blades, so I’ll have to try one again. I think I may have one left from back when I got my last Try-a-blade pack. I’ll definitely check out the blade packs featured in this video!
Not yet
I just purchased 400 Astra SP MIR from Matt at Razor Emporium. I think they still have stock!
Nice update! I've learned to basically try them all lol.
Hey is yhe cheat sheet for razors available online anywhere?
Yes in the product description
Most blades are super great, so it's not uncommon to have multiple favorites. It's a good problem to have. Today, double edges razors are so well made compared to 50 years ago and definitely 100 years ago. That's because the industry has been improving the process over the years!
Great point!
Nice to get in matching blades like that by sample pack idea great Shaw Matt
I will say this when it comes to blades. The Razor makes more of comfort than the blade. However, when it comes to blades, it is about your beard. But for most people (medium to medium aggressive) I think Gillette Platinum and Astra Blues are good. But even in the end, just don't go too mild and you'll allways have a good shave. My wife and i both do DE shaving and primarily Astra and Parker Blades. I have sensitive skin but my beard is a little course so no FEATHERS for me.
Honestly, all modern blades are pretty good. They're different from each other, but pretty good.
I have liked all the Dorco blades. I think they're South Korean and they seem to be serious about making good products.
Matt's sample packs are very helpful.
All absolutely true! I am so happy I checked out Razor Emporium when I started! I got the beginner pack at the same time I purchased my TWIG … my first razor that was not a cartridge! From the beginner pack, I found 2 really good options. I have since settled into them and found a 3rd great blade option that works great with my Henson mild. The blade really makes a difference and varies In feel from razor to razor. The 3rd blade for my Henson is too aggressive in my TWIG for me!
@@bobjones8321 I have soft skin, tough whiskers, and the Twig was the first single edge razor I had ever used. I tried all of the blades that arrived in my beginner pack as well as the blades that came with the razor. Dorco Red label worked very well for me at that time. The Personna platinum Blue label also did very well and in fact is now my favorite blade. The green label Astra which were recommended by several experienced shavers didn’t and still don’t work well for me at all. What surprises me is the difference in feel with the same blade between my 2 razors. More recently, I wanted to try the Gillette King C blades. I didn’t like them on the Twig, but on my Hansen mild, they worked very well.
@@bobjones8321 by the way, for me there is a big difference between the Dorco Red, Blue, and Prime. I have tried all 3. The Red, I liked, but much more prefer the Personna I mentioned. The Dorco blue and Prime Labels that I tried I felt a lot of drag and yes… it was with the same shave gel.
Matt, Astra Green works great for me, been using them for years!
Good to know!
When i first started using a DE razor, i bought a beginner pack from your store. Granted this was about 5 or 6 years ago so the blades were a little different. That's what got me started tho! 😁👍🏼💈
Thanks for sharing!
@@RazorEmporium 😁👍🏼
Excellent video !! Really helped me take the first step in buying blades.
Here is a great business idea for you that will draw a lot of buyer for your DE razor pack if you can figure out a way to manufacture the push up and out razor dispenser that could hold 100 blades neatly. This can help with bring blades to travel or just storage. Would love to buy it from you guys if you can make it
Keep real records of each shave of each specific blade! I really mean that.
Another great video! Thanks guys!
Thanks for watching!
Great vid, Matt, and good advice...always appreciate your passion!
Congrats - you're the winner of the Weekly T-Shirt give-away! Please contact us at help@razoremporium.com with your address and size and we will get it shipped out right away! Thanks everyone! Stay tuned next week for another giveaway! - Razor Emporium Team
wizamet super iridium- dapper shaves
As a beginner, I find five blades overkill. I have a lot of leftovers. I wish someone would create samplers with one blade each. I know that creates extra labor, but I bet if you crunched the numbers, you'd end up with a higher margin.
Great video as always!!
Gillette Blue Blade supremacy!
Nice video, but you might want to consider staying away from the caffeine. As an aside, my favorite blade...is the one I'm using.
Noted!
Personna 74 is the best blade
Agreed
I enjoy Dorco blades since it has no wax spots.
Matt.....right on...💪💪💪
Person who hates beer, when they base it all in that 1 Milwaukee's Best Light, that they had forever ago.
Sample Packs are way to go unless you have MAGIC 8 BALL.
Can not believe Matt is not do have ESP to tell people what will work wonderful in my DE Razor to get BBS shave.
Matt is honest sure some trolls on Shave Forum will trash Matt for no ESP.
Would rather have honesty verses B*ll. 🤯
I wish someone would of said try sharp brand, cause there the sharpest ive tried outa them all
BLADES!!! 😂😂😂
Very nice sample packs. You should sell a ton of these
Thank you!
I'm past collecting blades. I collect entire sample packs. It's much more efficient. Sigh. I need an intervention. 😅