Thread: Boar Vs Badger opinions

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Yea Obie, my dog has feasted on some boars and badgers too. She says she prefers the boars because they are more succulent besides, the Badgers are too mean and ornery. Either way she prefers them with some steak sauce. How about you?

My good man, steak sauce is for peasant dogs. My dog — if I had one — would prefer its boar brush wrapped in a savory strip of ground meat shish-kebab, sprinkled with sumac and served on a bed of rice with saffron.

Originally Posted by dhat

Hello all,
I have a nice badger brush that is my main brush but picked up a cheapo boar brush for travel recently and haven't been that happy with it. I do like the firmness of the boar but it doesn't lather like the badger at all. I am wandering if it is because I bought a super cheap boar brush versus my nice badger or if it is just because I will always prefer badger. Anyone have a similar experience?

I had a similar experience when I first started wet shaving. I got a cheapo boar brush at the local pharmacy and used it as my main brush. I was never satisfied with the lather. I kept thinking that I was doing something wrong. Well, the day that I got and used my first badger brush I noticed a significant difference in my lather. I switched back and forth between boar and badger brushes during different shaves and noticed that my badger always gave me the best lather. So, my guess is that the cheapo boar brush isn't working out for you.

A few months ago I got a cheapo ($13) Shea Moisture badger brush at Target for travel purposes and noticed that it gives a great lather, despite its price. Check them out.

IMHO It's all in the individual brush, and what works for you.

I started out with a cheap Boar brush and wasn't satisfied at all.

I bought a Semogue 2015 Silvertip Badger Brush, and although it makes good lather I wasn't really happy with it either. To be honest, I couldn't see what all the hype was about.

So I decided to give another boar brush a shot. I bought an Omega 49 boar, Wow, am I a happy shaver. Took around 15 shave break in period, but what a lather monster. I couldn't be happier, the silvertip spends a lot of time in the rack.

YMMV

Sounds like I need to break the boar brush in a bit before I make a decision. Thanks for all the posts. Ill update after twenty or so more shaves to see if this thing can change my mind.

Have you tried the Semogue boars? Fantastic brushes when broken in.
You should try a Frank Shaving synthetic for traveling! Great brushes as they lather beautifully and dry within two hours.

I have 4 badgers and 1 boar in my rotation. My most expensive was $140 and my cheapest (the boar) was $18. Every one has it's own personality when it comes to softness and lathering and I look forward to using every one when it's turn comes around. My boar is an Omega and did take some time to break in (20+ shaves) but now that it's broken in it is equally enjoyable as any of my brushes and by far the best value IMO. If I was forced to choose it would definitely be in my top 2.

Well, after 12 or so shaves, I stand corrected. The boar has broken in rather nicely and I am enjoying the stiffness of the badger. The biggest advantage so far that I've seen is that it dries out much quicker and I don't have to worry about tossing it in the shave kit and forgetting about it. Also don't have to worry about the handle getting scratched up or damaged like I do the badger. I used to just use the cheap boar brushes for cleaning my guns but I guess they are great for the face too!

Originally Posted by dhat

Hello all,
I have a nice badger brush that is my main brush but picked up a cheapo boar brush for travel recently and haven't been that happy with it. I do like the firmness of the boar but it doesn't lather like the badger at all. I am wandering if it is because I bought a super cheap boar brush versus my nice badger or if it is just because I will always prefer badger. Anyone have a similar experience?

Man just picked me self up my first silver tip badge brush this week. Man Man it's like
i ben in the dark ages using a boar brush. The Softness of the brush feels so good.
Holds so much water too. I guess if ya ever on the road a cheap brush would be
useful cause they need to dry upside down. I guess it just will not dry right in a bag.
wouldn't want to ruin a nice brush.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

On some shaving forums this is a hot button issue that some people turn into class warfare (because boars are cheaper). They will say that an expensive boar outperforms a cheap badger with some justification. For them is the Semogue 830, which is priced in the $20-30 range that performs similar to a good badger brush.

But generally speaking, the badger has more absorbency and is the better brush. I will always prefer badger. My favorite is the finest badger because it lathers best.

Actually, it's not expensive at all if you're willing to do a little work. I am the least mechanically inclined person I know, but what I do to get a top notch brush is to get an old brush on ebay, drill out the old knot, and buy a knot for around $20 and glue it in. I have ruined a couple of handles because I'm a klutz, but have succeeded with many more.

I know this isn't a good picture, but I got this brush on ebay for 99 cents and put in a knot I got from The Golden Nib for $20. The handle says "Everready Badger and Nylon" but it has a brand new finest badger knot in it.

Attachment 110381

Oh man i should find out how you drill them out. Cause i got some old ones that cann't be used.
That where grouped together with sharpening stones.