First trial of Feathers and... damn!

I ran out of Gillette 7am blades for both my DE and my shavette(non DOVO) so I though I'd get a sample pack and see what else is out there. I'd grown used to the fact that I would always have a certain amount of razor burn, thinking it's just my skin/beard type.

Feathers were the first of the sample pack to try, and the difference is quite astounding. First of all, not a spot of razor burn anywhere, using either the DE or the shavette. I barely need to do a second pass! Secondly, I've picked up more cuts that I ever have before, even though I did not feel any of them.

I figure that I had been using too much pressure with the gillettes just to get a half decent shave, and this sort of pressure is simply not needed with the sharper feathers. Its almost a matter of waving the razor over the skin rather than shaving the stubble off.

Not exactly forgiving though :)

Dump the shavette and get a straight, your face will thank you for it...

Hello, JoelVDM:

Yes, the Feather blades are great shavers. When shaving with the double edge razor, I use Feathers and Gillette 7 O'Clock "Sharp Edge" blades (yellow packs). I find these Gillettes almost as sharp as the feather, though a bit smoother. Neither blade gives me cuts, because I shave carefully, as I would with any blade, and rely on the razor's pressure only.

Regards,
Obie

Definitely the most unforgiving blades I have ever tried!! I have a scar under my chin that I re-named Nick because of them.

Have fun,

Lynn

Very coincidental....

I just picked up my first pack of Feathers when I visited Rasage Poulin a couple weeks ago. I've yet to try them out, althought I'm not too worried because, like Obie, I'm an overly cautious shaver. We'll see.......

I'll keep you guys posted.

I like the feather's. Very sharp and give a great shave you just need to be careful with them.

JoelVDM,

For me, the Feathers are the best blades I have used in a DE razor.

They are very closely followed by the Russian blades - Gillette 7'o Clock SharpEdge and the Iridium Supers; you might want to give them a try.

As Obie has siad, they are almost as sharp as the Feathers, but quite a bit smoother.

Good luck :)

Have fun !

best regards

Russ

I'm another fan, but on an occasional basis. Their sharpness seems to me to be combined with a somewhat less than smooth edge which causes irritation if I use them continuously, no matter how carefully. They do seem to work well in almost any razor, from a mild Tech to a wide open Fatboy, the key being to use no pressure worth speaking of at all.

Hi Joel,

Yeah, they are a bit on the unforgiving side.....heh. You have about zero time to react before something bad happens. Very little buffer there.

Seeing as how you'd been using only one type blade before, I can understand how surprising the difference was. Actually, the Feather's different from any other blade anyway. You may have to alter your technique a tiny bit, but it won't take long. They can be a pretty fun blade.

I don't care for a Feather in any of the many razors I use, except for one. That one razor( fatboy dialed in perfectly at #4) tames the Feather into something magical. The combo is one of my top two favorites......amazing.

Sadly that blade is just too sharp in all other cases for me to use comfortably on my face. The Feather blade is an odd duck that's not for everyone. In my case, it was a question of finding the correct razor to fit that blade.

I use Iridiums in almost all my razors and they're the best all round blade for me. As others have mentioned, it's very sharp but gives you plenty of time to correct technique.

Hope that helps,

Martin

Quote:

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Originally Posted by De Layne

Hi Joel,

Yeah, they are a bit on the unforgiving side.....heh. You have about zero time to react before something bad happens. Very little buffer there.

Seeing as how you'd been using only one type blade before, I can understand how surprising the difference was. Actually, the Feather's different from any other blade anyway. You may have to alter your technique a tiny bit, but it won't take long. They can be a pretty fun blade.

I don't care for a Feather in any of the many razors I use, except for one. That one razor( fatboy dialed in perfectly at #4) tames the Feather into something magical. The combo is one of my top two favorites......amazing.

Sadly that blade is just too sharp in all other cases for me to use comfortably on my face. The Feather blade is an odd duck that's not for everyone. In my case, it was a question of finding the correct razor to fit that blade.

I use Iridiums in almost all my razors and they're the best all round blade for me. As others have mentioned, it's very sharp but gives you plenty of time to correct technique.

Hope that helps,

Martin

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This gives me a good reason to dust off the 1959 Fatboy I have not tried yet..

Richard

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

Very coincidental....

I just picked up my first pack of Feathers when I visited Rasage Poulin a couple weeks ago. I've yet to try them out, althought I'm not too worried because, like Obie, I'm an overly cautious shaver. We'll see.......

I'll keep you guys posted.

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Alright, I had my first shave with a Feather tonight (loaded in my trusty Merkur 38C), and I'm a believer! Shave was very smooth, as is my BBS face, and not a single cut or weeper. I can't speak for irritation yet; if I get any at all it will always be the next day.

My first impressions were somewhat mixed. Although sharp, I did not get the squeegie effect that some guys talk about. It felt like, well, a DE blade. I still shaved carefully though, being careful not to get complacent. The real difference came during the ATG passes - no need for any blade buffing, hardly any tug or pull I've become accustomed to with other brands. And then I touched my face, post shave. Wow! Definitely not your average blade after all.

Overall, I'm hooked. Thanks to several members here, especially JimmyHAD and Obie, whose persistence in continually recommending this brand lead to me (finally) pick up a pack.

When using a DE or an artist club straight I too always use the Feather blades.
The sharpness and durability of these blades are unsurpassed in my opinion.
Especially when going against the grain on my head shave, they mowe thru like nothing else I have ever tried!

I really appreciate this thread. I have had a beard for several years and shaved it off last month. After experiencing sticker shock at the price of new blades I purchased a DE razor and pack of feather blades online a couple of days ago. I will be shaving with a DE for the first time in about 35 years! I will definitely remember to use ONLY the weight of the razor-especially around my mouth since I'm a professional french horn player!!

+1 to Phatman the Feathers are pretty awesome as well as the yellow 7 O'Clocks and the Irridiums.

Feathers are great, don't get me wrong but the only problem with them is that once your face gets used to them, it takes a while to get used to the previous blade. Switching to a previous blade doesn't feel as clean as a Feather might.

Another update (from yesterday),

I passed that important 24 hour mark (during which if I will get any irritation it will show in that time frame) with no sign of any redness or irritation. Not only that but the next morning my face was still damn near smooth (some members may recall that I'm a night shaver during weekdays), which is pretty rare for me.

It seems that Feather is a definite winner for this wet shaver.

I too have two packs of Feathers. Plan to use them one day, perhaps in the fall when I run out of Wilknson Sword's.

No DE blade should nick or cut your face--unless you are applying an undue amount of pressure to the razor. Feathers are indeed sharp. The company that makes them produces surgical instruments for eye surgery. Enough said.

After a couple of weeks of adapting to the almost theoretical sharpness and surreptitious savagery of the feather blades, I'd got to the point where I could get through a shave with fewer bleeders, but still with some moderate razor burn on the jawline and upper neck.

Today I thought it time to try the Gillette Yellows - what a difference! I've managed to achieve my first ever cut free, burn free, completely smooth shave using the shavette. Wow :)

I managed three passes, WTG, ATG and XTG. Completely baby-bum smooth and nary a hint of irritation to be found anywhere. Truly chuffed :)

The great grandfathers Bengal is off getting honed up by Jimbo (thanks once again Jimbo!), and I'm looking forward to seeing if I can get similar results with some old-school Sheffield.

Feathers are working great for me now that I have gone from canned goop to Neutrogena soap. Evidently it is the glycerin that really helps me control the razor glide across my face. No nicks!

I have been using a DE for about 10 years now, if not longer, and only using the blades that I find at the store. Some kind of rebranded blades. I just ordered some feather out of curiosity.

Feathers are very sharp!.."careful" said "the face to the hand"

I used an american personna today and b4 that a yellow feather..either way..nicks, cuts n a look on my wifes face like "wadda hek happened"..yea..easier than my str8 razors even though im only in 6 months in str8 razors..but the burn n razor burn marks don't pay..anyways..my strop is soon to come back to me ;-)..now I realize why I gave up DE/Se blades..nothing personal..other than my opinionated opinion :argue:

pcdad

The Feather DE blades are my 'go-to'... once you use them for a few weeks with the same razor, you will master the pressure and you'll have a hard time using any other blade.

I also just tried feather blades this weekend (Gillette flare tip super speed) and what an amazing blade. I have always heard about how unforgiving they were so I was extra careful and it produced one of the smoothest shaves I have ever gotten. No pressure is the key!

The Feathers are also my favorite blade. They turn a conservative razor (like a Gillette Super Speed flare tip or Tech) into the smoothest easiest shaver around.

They are great in the more aggressive shavers like the red tip Super Speeds and Diplomats as well - but Feathers demand more care than the 'average' blade when so much of the blade is exposed.

Made in Japan these are said to be the "Samurai Sword" of razor blades - I have to agree.

I've cut myself a few times with these back when I was learning - and never even felt it..(mixed blessing for sure)