Bigger is not always better...!

[carazor]

There's so much focus on whether it's a 7/8 or 5/8 or whatever....What I've determined is the length is more important than the width of the blade. I get the best shaves now with my little 5/8 Flaschner 3" razor! Sure, it's not as impressive looking at the big 8/8 Wade and Butcher 3.5" monster blade, but when it comes to utility, it will shave circles around that big blade. I liken the difference to be like driving a Ferrari versus a Mercedes S500. The Flaschner is my Ferrari. I can get all the nooks and crannies of my face with that smaller 3" length and a more consistent BBS all over. And this after only 2 days of shaving with it, imagine how good it will be once I get used to it.

[Birnando]

I'm happy to see you have found what works for you
Smaller and shorter blades are absolutely not lesser blades than their bigger brethren.

With good technique I'd say most any size will do, but naturally we all have our preferences

[DLB]

I have 4/8s, 9/16s, 5/8s, 11/16s, 6/8s, and one 13/16s. They all shave equally well. I am always amazed that the 4/8s can provide a full, close shave over my whole face including the dreaded chin and upper lip.

While my current favorite razors are a 6/8 Thiers-Issard Le Grelot and a 13/16 J. A. Henckels 72 1/2, I would be loath to give up any of my smaller razors. They also provide excellent shaves, albeit, with a slightly different feel. I enjoy having different brands, sizes, and grinds in the collection. The variety adds a little spice to my daily shaves.

[carazor]

I have 4/8s, 9/16s, 5/8s, 11/16s, 6/8s, and one 13/16s. They all shave equally well. I am always amazed that the 4/8s can provide a full, close shave over my whole face including the dreaded chin and upper lip.

While my current favorite razors are a 6/8 Thiers-Issard Le Grelot and a 13/16 J. A. Henckels 72 1/2, I would be loath to give up any of my smaller razors. They also provide excellent shaves, albeit, with a slightly different feel. I enjoy having different brands, sizes, and grinds in the collection. The variety adds a little spice to my daily shaves.

Well, I do enjoy driving a Ferrari sometimes and a Mercedes sometimes, etc....! Same with me I like the variety of different razors...

[str8fan]

I have a 4/8 – love the thing but can’t stop wondering if the weight of a 7/8 wouldn’t be helpful. Can’t wait to find out : ).

[deighaingeal]

I recently commissioned a longer razor because that has been my preference lately, but I have found myself shaving the last few times with my wife's short 4/8 from the same maker. It just depends on my daily mood.

Heck have you ever held a kamisori?

[Firefighter2]

The smaller blade definitely helps with shaving under the nose & other ''hard to reach'' places. I like a happy medium, a 5/8 or 6/8.

[Maxi]

As my good friend Birnando pointed out, we all certainly have our preferences, and that pretty much any blade will do the job provided it's honed properly.

What I have found is that at the beginning of this journey, the curves of your face are the hardest parts to reach. Yes, a 4/8 and 7/8 will shave the cheek equally nicely, but getting into the nooks under your jawline may be a bit tricky. Similarly, it's potentially easier to learn on a rounded point rather than a spike.

If you've ever done woodwork, and used a rough wood rasp on a tight curve....at the beginning of learning how to rasp properly, it seems impossible that a 1 1/2" wide metal rasp will work in that tight curve. Over time, with experience, you begin to realize that you can indeed make something flat and without flex curve around that wood nicely and evenly. It just takes a bit of experience.