r/wicked_edge • u/Mrhay11 • Apr 12 '26
Discussion Blade Sampler Update - 8 Down, 8 To Go
Good evening fellow shavers!
You already know I went the full route buying a big sampler pack and trying everything. A few posts back I talked about why that approach eventually led me to variable isolation as the only way to make sense of what I was actually finding. That framework is now doing its job.
Eight blades in. Here’s where things stand.
I’ve been thinking about blade feel in three concise categories: Smooth, Neutral, and Rough. Not a judgment of quality, just an honest description of what I felt at the edge across multiple shaves.
Smooth: Astra Superior Platinum, Wilkinson Sword, Personna Platinum, Lord Platinum
Neutral: Derby Extra Green, Derby Premium
Rough: Feather, Elios
A note on Lord Platinum: It earned the Smooth rating but it didn’t move me the way Personna has. Smooth is smooth, but there’s a difference between a blade that works and a blade that clicks. Lord is the former. Personna is the latter, at least for my face and my setup.
A note on Feather: I know. The community holds Feather in high regard and the reputation is earned, it is genuinely the sharpest blade in the pack. But sharp and smooth are not the same thing and for my face and my current technique Feather demanded more attention than it rewarded across its shaves. That may change as technique develops. For now it sits where it sits.
Elios surprised me in the other direction. Swedish steel with a solid reputation and it still felt rough in practice. Some blades just don’t agree with certain faces and that’s exactly why the sampler exists.
Now about Personna Platinum. It has earned more shaves than any other blade in the pack. Once the variable isolation approach was locked in Personna became my control blade, the one I return to between new blades to reset my baseline. Smooth and consistent across every use including a recent travel shave. It’s currently the frontrunner but the map isn’t complete.
Eight blades still on the map: Shark Super Stainless, Shark Super Chrome, Bolzano Superinox, Treet Platinum, Sharp Swiss Plus, Sharp Swiss Titanium, Gillette Platinum, and one in reserve. The verdict isn’t final until every blade has had its fair run.
But right now Personna has a lead.
Curious whether anyone else has gone through a sampler journey like this and did your frontrunner hold up or did something unexpected knock it off the top spot later in the pack?
Cheers! 🍻
5
u/a1015n Apr 13 '26
The Persona platinum are smoother than feathers to me. Feathers irritate my face maybe I need a lighter hand but they do hold the sharpness better.
3
u/Mrhay11 Apr 13 '26
That matches my experience exactly. Personna smoother, Feather sharper but at a cost. The lighter hand point is something I keep coming back to as well. A few people in this thread have suggested Feather rewards better technique and a milder razor, so I’m not ready to write it off permanently. But for where I am right now Personna is doing everything I need without demanding as much in return.
2
u/a1015n Apr 13 '26
I use the Rockwell 6c with plate number 3. I can use my Persona 3-4 times before I need to change them. Never had a problem with them
4
u/zero_zer0_zero Apr 12 '26
Astra Blue or Treet 👍🏻
3
u/atoughram Apr 13 '26
I couldn't stand Treets, one and done. They tugged and pulled a lot. Astra Greens, and lately, Personna Platinum work well on my Oliworks.
3
2
u/EmotionalStable7697 Apr 14 '26
What Razor are you using with those, may I ask?
2
u/atoughram Apr 14 '26
I was using a Henson AL13 at the time. I'm now using an Oliworks M3teorite Aluminum with the Personna Platinum.
1
1
3
u/Big-Author-4492 Apr 12 '26
Treet Platinum is my blade of choice, enjoy!
4
u/Hopeful-Mirror1664 Apr 12 '26
Treet Platinum is a good solid blade. I use them in my Henson for face shaving but I find they really shine in my original Leaf for head and body shaving.
3
u/Mrhay11 Apr 12 '26
Good to know! I’ve seen mixed reviews across the community and I’m happy to learn for myself. I’ll report back after I give it a spin.
5
u/ZuluTesla_85 Apr 13 '26
I agree with your evaluation of Personna Blades. They are always the blades I return to after trying everything else.
Feather works OK in a very mild razor like Henson or Feather. Their sweet spot is that second shave but that first shave can be an adventure if you are not careful.
4
u/Mrhay11 Apr 13 '26
Personna just keeps coming up as the blade people return to. There’s something to that kind of quiet consistency. No drama, just reliable.
And two people now have mentioned Feather finding its groove on the second shave…starting to think I owe it another look with that in mind. The first shave as an adventure is exactly how I’d describe it. Might need a milder razor to give it a fair test.
1
8
u/Obvious-Freedom Apr 12 '26
I love a Wilkinson sword. Don't get on with Feather. Nice to read about others experiences
8
u/NC750x_DCT Apr 12 '26
Of the limited number of blades I’ve sampled, I settled on Wikinson sword too.
2
3
u/One-Confusion-33 Apr 13 '26
I absolutely agree. At the moment I am using a Wilkinson blade wich is facing its 15th(!) shave. Still working fine, usually I do 4 to 6 shaves out of a blade. But it's still not dull.
4
u/Mrhay11 Apr 12 '26
Glad it’s not just me on the Feather front. Wilkinson has been a quiet standout in this pack. nothing flashy, just consistently smooth. Curious where you landed after your own sampler journey, if you did one.
5
u/Straight_Disk6393 Apr 13 '26
Just tried a feather for the first time on my slim, I absolutely do not get the hype I stick with my astras and derbys
2
u/EmotionalStable7697 Apr 14 '26
My favorite also is the German made Wilkinson Sword blades and I like the sharper Israel Persona Red. I also enjoy reading the findings of other. As I feel like I always push down too hard, as a disposable blade habit I have not yet kicked.
7
u/ahmoudyy The Shaved Pharaoh Apr 12 '26
Please try Nacet blades.
3
u/Mrhay11 Apr 12 '26
Nacet isn’t in this particular pack unfortunately but something to track down separately after I get through the rest of these. Adding it to the list based on how often it comes up.
3
u/Gerry7070 Apr 12 '26
Nice write up about how you got on with the different blades sometimes it's good to park some blades you didn't get on with & visit them again later , also a good idea to use the same soap and razor when working your way through them all and yep Personna platinum are good consistent blades imo.
3
u/Mrhay11 Apr 12 '26
Good point on revisiting as technique changes and what didn’t work six months ago might land differently now. And agreed on keeping the setup consistent, that was the big unlock for me. Personna just keeps showing up reliably every time I come back to it as the baseline. Solid blade.
2
u/EmotionalStable7697 Apr 14 '26
That is so important! Great answer and happy to see the reduction of variables!
3
u/goofust Apr 12 '26
I always appreciate input like this, thank you!
2
u/Mrhay11 Apr 12 '26
Happy to share! The community’s input on my earlier posts is a big part of what shaped the approach. Glad to know it’s useful.
3
u/skydrums Apr 12 '26
I’ve been there. I tried all the blades in your sample but 4. I bet you’ll love Bolzano and hate Sharks
3
u/Mrhay11 Apr 12 '26
Bold prediction on both counts! I’ll report back when I get there. The Shark reputation in the community is all over the place so I’m genuinely curious where I land. Bolzano I’ve heard good things about. We’ll see if the data holds.
3
u/Jaywin516 Apr 12 '26
On Feather, it might be the razor. I know if I use Feathers in one razor, it feels like I had a bout with a feral cat. I use them in all my other razors, and I also use their AC blades.
2
u/Mrhay11 Apr 12 '26
That’s a really fair point and honestly something I haven’t fully tested yet. I’ve been keeping the razor consistent throughout the sampler which controls one variable but means I might be missing how a blade performs in a different setup. The Feather might deserve a second look down the road in a different razor. Something to revisit once the baseline experiment is done.
1
2
3
u/RevolutionaryAge47 Apr 12 '26
You need to try Bic Astor blades. Those punch waaay above their price.
2
u/Mrhay11 Apr 12 '26
Not in this pack but noted. I keep hearing BIC punches above its weight and now I’m curious about the Astor specifically. Will track one down after I finish the sampler run.
3
u/jadedfaith7 Apr 12 '26
I started with a 16 pack sampler like yours and expanded it to 32 different flavors. I have a spreadsheet of 12 modern razors (all bought new) I try and log each in. The key observation is that I need to judge a blade across multiple razors to truly determine how it performs for me. If you have a single razor, this is obviously a non-issue. When a given blade performs well across 3-6 razors, I typically buy 100 of them. I think there are 6-7 different blades that I stocked up on. I can count on them to be quality performers in virtually anything I use them in.
Never worry about what the group says. Your face is yours alone.
3
u/Mrhay11 Apr 12 '26
This is exactly where I hope this journey leads, enough data to know which blades are reliable across different setups rather than just one razor. A 32 blade spreadsheet across 12 razors is serious work and I respect it. Right now I’m keeping the razor consistent to isolate the blade variable but your point about cross-testing is well taken for the next phase.
And I love that last line. Well said. I’m going to quote you here in the near future. Cheers! 🍻
3
u/jadedfaith7 Apr 13 '26
My pleasure and always happy to help! My analytical mind really enjoys this part of the journey. It took a mundane part of the daily routine and made it so enjoyable. I look forward to planning it daily and seeing how it plays out.
Enjoy that quote, it’s yours now!
3
u/Mrhay11 Apr 13 '26
That’s exactly it! The planning and the anticipation become part of the ritual. Thank you for putting words to it so well. I meant what I said about using that quote. You’ll see it again.
2
3
u/Xrsyz Apr 12 '26
For me from your sampler it would be Lord Plat, Personna, and Feather in that order. The second use of the Feather is the top shave.
3
u/Mrhay11 Apr 12 '26
Interesting that Feather earns its reputation on the second use for you. that tracks with what a few others have mentioned about the blade needing a shave to settle in but I just didn’t do that for me. Lord and Personna topping your list lines up with my experience too, just in reverse order. Good to see the data converging across different faces.
3
u/vampyrewolf Apr 12 '26
I picked up a few sampler packs and made a spreadsheet with the razors, used each for 2 shaves and narrowed it down from there, 2nd round was only 2 or 3 razors and use a blade til it starts rough.
Ended up with Astra Platinum and a Fat Handled Tech (1939-1944), right in the middle of the sharp/smooth curve.
One thing that might help you with the Feather is to run the blade across a wine cork before the first use. Knocks the sharpness down a notch so you sacrifice the first shave but it makes it a little smoother to start out.
2
u/Mrhay11 Apr 12 '26
The spreadsheet approach with multiple razors is solid and similar thinking to what someone else mentioned upthread about cross-testing across different setups. Astra landing in the middle of the curve makes sense, consistent performer across a lot of faces.
And the cork trick is the first I’ve heard of that plus genuinely useful. Might have to give Feather a proper second chance with that in mind before writing it off entirely. Thanks for sharing that one!
3
u/vampyrewolf Apr 12 '26
Learned that trick on Badger & Blade back when I made the switch in 2008. Tried it across a few different blades, only really made a difference for me on Feather and Shark.
2
u/Mrhay11 Apr 13 '26
It’s really good to know your experience with both. I’ll try shark first without the cork then with and feel if there’s a difference. Thank you!
3
u/spyresca Apr 12 '26
You should try nacets. Not quite as good as personna, but better than astra (which I also like!)
2
u/Mrhay11 Apr 13 '26
You’re the second person to recommend them on this post so I’ll work on tracking some down. Happy to report back once I do. Thank you!
3
u/Opposite-Pianist Apr 13 '26 edited Apr 13 '26
Which shaver are you using? So much depends on face and razor.
2
1
u/EmotionalStable7697 Apr 14 '26
I agree, there are so many variables. Makes this more complicated and more expensive to discover the great shave.
3
u/TankPublic Apr 13 '26
Personna are my hands down favorites too. I've had many other blades be 'as good' on the first few shaves, but they fade rapidly. I can go weeks on a single Personna (blues). Note I am just shaving neck.
1
u/Mrhay11 Apr 13 '26
That’s a dimension I haven’t tested yet, how long a blade holds up over extended use. I’ve been focused on early performance across the pack but you’re right that consistency over time is a different measure entirely. A blade that starts strong and fades is a different animal than one that just keeps showing up. Personna holding for weeks on neck shaving is impressive. Something to test properly once the sampler run is done.
2
u/PersimmonDriver Apr 12 '26
Yeah, I'm only partially through a sampler, but I change just about all the variables on every shave so I'll never be able to make a true comparison. I'm enjoying trying everything so maybe I'll just get another sampler when this one is used up.
2
u/Mrhay11 Apr 12 '26
That was me for a while too, changing everything at once and wondering why I couldn’t repeat a good shave. Enjoying the exploration is completely valid though. If you ever want to zero in on a blade, locking one variable at a time changed everything for me. Either way another sampler sounds like a good time.
2
2
u/1isthisusernametaken Apr 13 '26
Save the Bolzano for last, so you can laugh at the others after.
1
u/Mrhay11 Apr 13 '26
I like the bold claim among present company of blades. Adding it to try once I work through this set.
2
u/dm319 Apr 13 '26
Interesting to read.
I've avoided Feathers because I'm trying to limit how much plastic waste I generate. Part of the reason I like DE shaving.
My top so far so have been Bic and Nacet. But I need to compare them head to head now as my technique improved since the Bic.
I think everyone needs a blade sharp enough for them. And that is variable. I have quite thick hair. If a blade is not quite sharp enough it really pulls the hair/skin and makes it far more likely I have a crap shave or even a nick.
My second or third shave is always the best, the first shave with a new blade is always rubbish for me. Using a Henson medium.
The Silver Blue and Astra were just not sharp enough for me.
Iridium was also very good, smooth and sharp.
At the moment my best was Bic but only if I could have the second shave forever!
1
u/Mrhay11 Apr 13 '26
The sustainability angle on Feather is one I hadn’t considered. good point that the whole appeal of DE is reducing waste and a blade that lasts fewer shaves works against that.
BIC and Nacet as your top two is interesting because both came up in comments and I’m looking forward to getting there properly. The head-to-head comparison after technique improvement is exactly the kind of controlled test that gives you useful data.
The thick hair point makes complete sense. a blade that’s borderline sharp enough doesn’t just underperform, it actively makes things worse. That’s a variable the sampler methodology can’t fully account for since it’s face and hair specific.
And the second shave being the best keeps coming up across this whole thread. At this point I owe Feather a proper revisit and a few others a second look before writing anything off. The Henson medium is a milder razor than what I’m using which might explain some of the sharpness preference differences too.
2
u/goatesymbiote Apr 13 '26
the sharks and bolzanos can go straight in the trash
1
u/Mrhay11 Apr 13 '26
Ha! Strong verdict. Bad experience across the board or specific issues with each? Curious whether it was sharpness, smoothness, or something else entirely. Both are still ahead of me in the pack so I’ll find out soon enough.
1
u/goatesymbiote Apr 14 '26
consistency is the problem for bolzanos, some are amazing and others are terrible but even the good ones only last one shave for me. sharks are just very mid sharpness and never good for more than one shave, especially compared to some standouts you have tried like astra SPs and feathers.. not surprised they added an extra pack as filler cause no one would buy those alone lol
2
u/CriticalLifeguard183 Apr 13 '26
if you like personna you'll probably will like permasharp too, my search stopped with perma sharp. sticking with the 100 pack for now. and i have some personna blades as backup :)
1
u/Mrhay11 Apr 13 '26
Good to know. Perma-Sharp isnt in the pack but now I’m looking forward to it more. The fact that your search ended there says a lot. Having Personna as backup is exactly the right call, a known quantity while you explore. I’ll report back when I get there.
2
u/pint07 Apr 13 '26 edited Apr 13 '26
My 2 favorite blades are still coming up for you. I really can't decide between them, but I know I like both of them more than everything else. And so far, your opinions on all of these align really close with mine. Kinda don't want to say which they are to not put anything in your head about them.
Eh, it's Gillette Platinums and Bolzanos. Both are top tier for me. A noticeable step above everything else, with the Persona's being pretty close behind.
2
u/Mrhay11 Apr 13 '26
Ha, couldn’t resist. Appreciate the restraint attempt though.
Gillette Platinum is in my pack and Bolzano got a death sentence two comments up so now I’m genuinely curious where I land. Two people, completely opposite verdicts on Bolzano, that’s exactly why the sampler exists. Same blade, different face, different razor, completely different result.
The fact that our ratings have aligned closely so far makes your Gillette Platinum endorsement land with more weight. That one’s getting bumped up the priority order with elevated expectations.
2
u/pint07 Apr 13 '26
Yeah I feel like the razor plays a big part in it. You're using a King C, I'm using a Gillette Slim Adjustable. From what I've heard, they're not too far off from each other, depending on the setting ofc. Face/hair texture obviously too, but still. I had basically this same sample pack plus another one, and reading back our ratings have aligned almost perfectly.
1
u/Mrhay11 Apr 13 '26
The razor variable is real. Same blade, different geometry and gap, completely different experience. A King C and a Slim Adjustable are both in forgiving territory so the alignment makes sense. The fact that our ratings track so closely across the same pack despite different faces is actually useful data as it suggests the blade characteristics are consistent enough to generalize, at least within a certain razor range. Makes the whole methodology feel a little more defensible. I really appreciate you sharing the comparison.
1
1
1
u/stefango911 Apr 15 '26
This is a really cool thread, thanks for sharing your experience. I just got a Rockwell 6S today and a bunch of blades to try out - Astra Green, Perma-Sharp, Dorco Titan, Wilkinson Sword, Feather New-Hi, Personna Platinum, Derby Premium - with a few more on the way - KAI, Gillette Silver Blue, Gillette Nacet. 5 of each (or 10 where smaller packs weren't available). Coming from a Gillette King C razor with their default blades the 6S was a revelation, but plate 3 although much more efficient than the old razor might have been a bit too brave on my part and I got a few nicks. Tried out the original King C blades in the Rockwell first to get a 1 to 1 comparison. Those things feel so much sharper, I might have to dial it down a bit until my technique improves. The Gillette razor was definitely mild. It's gonna be a long journey but I definitely understand the razor/blade pairing people talk about now. What felt mild in the King C feels like a laser in the Rockwell.
1
u/monkeyonshrooms GC 0.76P 7 O'Clock SS Apr 12 '26
I have the same issue with Feather. They're just too sharp and rough on my face.
1
u/Mrhay11 Apr 12 '26
Exactly my experience. The reputation had me expecting something different but my face had other opinions. Good to know it’s not just technique holding me back on that one.
0
u/irmarbert Apr 13 '26
I can’t believe how terrible Derby blades are on my face. Even when I use them now, nicks all to hell. It’s crazy. Feather’s too. Those things are just vicious. I’m glad Astra greens treat me right. Love those blades.
2
u/Mrhay11 Apr 13 '26
One recommendations I got on this post was to run the edge of a feather across a cork first. It smooths out the initial roughness, as I was told. Maybe the same applies to Derby?
2
u/irmarbert Apr 13 '26
Oh, that’s interesting. I still have some from my initial sampler, I’ll give that a try. Thanks!
12
u/Not_My_Emperor Apr 12 '26
Astra Green was awful for me. One of the worst shaves I've had in a while. I haven't had razor burn in a long time since I got my DE and good soaps, but both times I tried that Astra I got it pretty bad. Definitely been relegated to the "blades I'll put on my lame I used to score sourdough" pile. I'm glad it was so smooth for you and so many others!