comparison or review of (beginner) starting sets

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08-09-2011, 12:03 AM
christophe

comparison or review of (beginner) starting sets

Hello all,

I recently started straight shaving by buying here and there all the basic equipment (razor, strop, brush, cream). For christmas or later, I want to buy a complete (new) wet shaving kit (at least razor, strop, brush, plus maybe stand, bowl or even a finishing/polishing honing stone...) as a treat.

One remark:
- I find it too bad that under the equipment section of this forum, there is no sub-section for kits or sets. That would be particularly useful for beginners or people who wants to make a gift to a to-be-beginner.

I also understand that this particular forum could have a bias toward SRD (straightrazordesigns) for some reasons :) .

Three questions:

1) do you know any comparison or review of the current traditional shaving starter sets and sellers (online or not)?

2) I have a total budget of about $250 - $300 (or 200 euros). For this (coming) kit, I'd prefer to invest mostly in the brush and the strop, as I understood it is an investment that you never regret. So my questions are:

a) is it sound to buy a kit (and to save the hassle of buying separately)? Or, conversely, would it be more sound to buy the equipment separately (and to save money).

b) could you advise me any particular set or seller?

Thank you all
Christophe.
08-09-2011, 12:08 AM
Slartibartfast

too be honest, any razor/strop/cream/etc... is for beginners. If you are talking about price point, that is a different discussion though.

Check out this article Robin wrote:
Shopping list for beginners - Straight Razor Place Wiki
08-09-2011, 12:20 AM
christophe

I may have been unclear.
If I have $300 to spend on a complete straight shaving starting kit:
- what should I do, buy everything together (a set) or separately?
- what kits or sets would you advise me?

And more generally speaking, are there reviews of kits or sets?

(Remark: I already read most the beginner literature online, including this website forum and wiki.)
08-09-2011, 12:32 AM
richmondesi

I've never seen a review of beginner's kits. Similarly, I've never seen a beginner's kit that I would buy, or recommend buying. What you should do is read reviews, scour every resource out there, and buy one of the very best implement that fits your budget. I'd wager, that'd be a Dovo Best quality Razor *or 2 more appropriately (68.99 x 2 = $137.98), a Thäter 4125 Finest brush ($130.99), a SRD Premium IV ($85 don't even think about another strop, especially not a so called "beginner's strop"), and Speick shave soap $5. So, with an extra razor, that would bring your total $358.97 plus shipping. Or you could drop one and be comfortably under your $300 budget. But, that's only a guess of what you would do if you read through all the resources available... It's unquestionably what I would do if I were starting again.
08-09-2011, 12:34 AM
bharner

Quote:

Originally Posted by christophe

I may have been unclear.
If I have $300 to spend on a complete straight shaving starting kit:
- what should I do, buy everything together (a set) or separately?
- what kits or sets would you advise me?

And more generally speaking, are there reviews of kits or sets?

(Remark: I already read most the beginner literature online, including this forum.)

I haven't seen any reviews of kits because nothing that is in a kit is something that isn't available seperatly. The big upside to a kit is getting a discount vs. buying seperatly.

The upside to purchasing seperatly is that you get exactly what you want.
I've taken my sweet old time purchasing exactly what I want that is in my budget. Several of the vendors offer monthly specials where you can purchase sets or individual items at decent discounts.
08-09-2011, 01:01 AM
carazor

Quote:

Originally Posted by christophe

Hello all,

I recently started straight shaving by buying here and there all the basic equipment (razor, strop, brush, cream). For christmas or later, I want to buy a complete (new) wet shaving kit (at least razor, strop, brush, plus maybe stand, bowl or even a finishing/polishing honing stone...) as a treat.

One remark:
- I find it too bad that under the equipment section of this forum, there is no sub-section for kits or sets. That would be particularly useful for beginners or people who wants to make a gift to a to-be-beginner.

I also understand that this particular forum could have a bias toward SRD (straightrazordesigns) for some reasons :) .

Three questions:

1) do you know any comparison or review of the current traditional shaving starter sets and sellers (online or not)?

2) I have a total budget of about $250 - $300 (or 200 euros). For this (coming) kit, I'd prefer to invest mostly in the brush and the strop, as I understood it is an investment that you never regret. So my questions are:

a) is it sound to buy a kit (and to save the hassle of buying separately)? Or, conversely, would it be more sound to buy the equipment separately (and to save money).

b) could you advise me any particular set or seller?

Thank you all
Christophe.

What do you have in your current kit?
08-09-2011, 01:22 AM
christophe

a $50 razor from SRP's classifieds
a body shop synthetic brush (gift)
a shaving cream from the body shop (gift)
a filly strop

why?
08-09-2011, 01:51 AM
bharner

Quote:

Originally Posted by christophe

a $50 razor from SRP's classifieds
a body shop synthetic brush (gift)
a shaving cream from the body shop (gift)
a filly strop

why?

What don't you like about them?

Most of the razors you're going to find in the classifieds are as good as if not better than anything new production under $150-175.

I don't have any experience with a synthetic brush. I've got two Omega boar brushes. Neither is bad but I prefer the feel of the 10048. It's much softer than the other. I also have a Frank shaving best badger brush. I quite enjoy it. I am planning on picking up a Wee Scot because I find myself wanting a smaller brush.

I have a PMSK and it's not bad. I also have an SRD Premium II is amazing. I also picked up a star shaving 2" latigo to try for travel.
I find myself enjoying the light draw of the Premium II. I think I would enjoy a bit more draw but not tons more so I am foreseeing a nice English Bridle leather strop in my future.

The Body Shop Macca Root cream is next on my list to try as I've heard great things about it.

How long have you been wet shaving? I've not been at it long (christmas 2010) but in the 8 short months I've been at it I find myself not just getting better with my techniques but also really finding what I do and do not like about my equipment. What I have has given me a good baseline AND time to figure out if it's equipment error or, most often, operator error.
What I know isn't operator error allows me to better figure out what I want.

My advice is to pick up another razor from the classifieds of a different size or grind. I've got a wedge and a full hollow. The wedge ain't bad but I much prefer the hollow.

Then, keep at it for a bit and develop some preferences and try out some soaps & creams and develop some preferences there.

After those few, relatively minor, expenditures, you'll be able to put the money in to some good gear that you'll enjoy. Not what I say is amazing but is equipment YOU WANT to be using and enjoy using.
08-09-2011, 02:04 AM
Christian2100

I use a DOVO Astrale 5/8 Ebony Straight and an old Henry Sears and Son vintage. However, other than that, my kit consists of:

A VDH Brush
A VDH Mug
And VDH Shave soap.

And these three work perfectly for me. You can buy them in a cheap kit on the internet and at Walmart and I see no complaints with them. Sure, the boar brush may be a little rough, but it doesn't cause me irritation and you get what you pay for. I started off with this and have seen no reason to not continue using it.

I supplement this stuff occasionally with some Geo F. Trumpers almond shave cream, some extract of limes/coral skin food and some decent cologne, but there is nothing like the barebones package that Van Der Hagen provides. Trust me, it's cheap and it works great.

Don't ask me about strops. I use the one my girlfriend got me and it works great. It was only 30 bucks or so off Amazon
08-09-2011, 02:18 AM
christophe

Quote:

Originally Posted by bharner

What don't you like about them?

I do like the one I have (so far), but, as I said, it would be a treat.

The main reason I want to "start over" is that it would be easier for me to get a feeling of what I want and like by having at least 2 different items of each. And since I already have lower end ones, I aim at good (better) quality for the second set.
08-09-2011, 02:45 AM
carazor

Quote:

Originally Posted by christophe

I do like the one I have (so far), but, as I said, it would be a treat.

The main reason I want to "start over" is that it would be easier for me to get a feeling of what I want and like by having at least 2 different items of each. And since I already have lower end ones, I aim at good (better) quality for the second set.

I think the better question is: This is what I DO, this is what I HAVE, this is my RESULT, how do I improve my RESULT? Beginners probably only get 10%-20% of the maximum performance out of their set up but think that more equipment equals better results, WRONG! A master shaver could probably get BBS shaves with what you have now. An observation from RogueRazor: Straight razor shaving is low technology/high skill, which is why most shavers don't pursue it, they want high technology/mindless skill (ie electric razor). So IMHO you probably don't need to "start over" you should look for areas of improvement and do that first. I would think the first money to be spent would be sending your current razor to be professionally honed. Then some better soap. Then a better brush. Then a better strop after you've nicked your current one up. Then some paste for your current strop. Then a new stone for finishing/touch up, etc. With each addition, find someone who can help you get the most out of that addition. Then you can begin comparison shopping.

But have the mind set, acquire SKILL (this is the real treat), not STUFF (I admit I am guilty of acquiring too much STUFF and not enough SKILL!)...
08-09-2011, 12:23 PM
Stubear

If you're already set up with a kit that works I wouldn't bother buying another kit, just cherry pick the items you want to upgrade next.

You've got everything you NEED to shave, so now it's a case of getting the stuff you want over and above that.

Do you want a new razor, or a strop or brush or soap?

If you have $300 to play with I'd say grab a new blade and a new strop. I just upgraded to a custom Neil Miller strop and it's the best money I ever spent, it's made a huge difference to my edges.

If you pick right you could probably grab the blade, strop and still have a but left over to grab a new soap a well!

I have one brush and it's the same one I bought right back when I started, a trumpers best badger. It does the job and works great so I'm happy with it. That's why I've invested in blades, hones and more recently strops.
10-10-2011, 05:29 PM
regularjoe

Title isn' accurate anymore. your question mutated.

Hey ikm very new as well. I've been hoping I might eventually find something to contribute
on. This site really has it all though. Anyways, if you already got the goods, there's no need.
to buy more. For those who might read your post and really be looking for an economical
starter kit, I'd highly

suggest whippeddog.coms sight unseen deal. I'm sure it's been mentioned before, but
Larry will set you up right for just under fifty bucks. I do mean everything a beginner
would need for probably the first 6 months of shaving.
10-11-2011, 02:09 PM
Str8nSharp

I've never been to keen on the starter sets, I'd rather build my own set to my wants and needs. You don't need to or should blow that much money while your learning unless the cash is burning a hole in your wallet.
10-11-2011, 02:23 PM
pmburk

Quote:

Originally Posted by Str8nSharp

I've never been to keen on the starter sets, I'd rather build my own set to my wants and needs. You don't need to or should blow that much money while your learning unless the cash is burning a hole in your wallet.

I got a great starter set from SRD that gave me one heck of a nice bang for my buck. I still use all the components and I am one happy shaver. But each to his own.
10-11-2011, 06:54 PM
jdto

Quote:

Originally Posted by carazor

But have the mind set, acquire SKILL (this is the real treat), not STUFF (I admit I am guilty of acquiring too much STUFF and not enough SKILL!)...

This is great advice. I admit that, even though I'm a total noob, I have purchased 4 razors already. Not because I need them or because I think they will somehow make me a better shaver, but mainly because they were so darn nice!

Anyway, I'm doing my best to put my acquisitions on hold and I'm trying to concentrate on my technique.
10-11-2011, 07:36 PM
justalex

I'm worried at your willingness to throw money at this to achieve a better result.

I bought three razors for £5 each from ebay (vintage razors) got them honed by a honemeister on these forums (£10 each) got a leather neil miller paddle or hanging strop (£34.99) a omega professional brush (I forget which one £10) soap MWF (£5) =>> £95 <=> $148

I think you should change the mindset, spending more money won't get you a better shave. See how little money you can spend, upgrade incrementally. you could change your soap for $5 tommorow and your shaves might get miraculously better. change one thing at a time and see how you like it