Thread: No more straights! Going all feather!

Wow... ok, so I'm impressed now. Maybe it's more skill (although I've had a shavette for months), but the Feather blade tonight shaved better after sitting for a few days than on my first shave. I'll try again in a few days to see how long these things hold. I was kind of a shavette basher, but I'm really starting to get why some people like them. My $20 Parker was definitely not on par with the feather system.

Originally Posted by MajorEthanolic

Wow... ok, so I'm impressed now. Maybe it's more skill (although I've had a shavette for months), but the Feather blade tonight shaved better after sitting for a few days than on my first shave.

Many of us have noted that the 2nd or 3rd shave on a new blade is were it gets even better. Any time you make a change in blade type or razor there is also a settle in period.
It just gets better...

Smooth Shaving...

I'm really impressed with the Feather. After my experience with the Parker (which wasn't really that bad) I had kind of written off shavettes as it couldn't compare with the straights. This Feather SS still isn't quite to straight level, but minus the stropping and honing, I can see why people like them. This will definitely be my travel razor when I can't do stropping.

Originally Posted by MajorEthanolic

I'm really impressed with the Feather. After my experience with the Parker (which wasn't really that bad) I had kind of written off shavettes as it couldn't compare with the straights. This Feather SS still isn't quite to straight level, but minus the stropping and honing, I can see why people like them.

What exactly is it that you like so much if you don't mind me asking?

@earcutter... about straights or about feathers?

Feathers. You seem to be ramping up on the love lol - I am just wondering if there is something specific, or overall.

@earcutter.. I'm just really impressed with the shave. Almost all my razors have come straight from Lynn, so very well honed. Yet these Feathers seem to be about on par. I still get more cuts (no cuts with straights), but the shave is awesome. I'm really impressed by how well they both feel and cut like a straight with no stropping involved.

Originally Posted by earcutter

Feathers. You seem to be ramping up on the love lol - I am just wondering if there is something specific, or overall.

Like Major when I decided to give the system a try I went "all in"
Not with the idea of giving up the conventional Straight - but to put in the reps in order to master the system.

They are now part of the team, mostly travel but there is a loaded DX in a toothbrush holder in my primary drawer, ready to go at all times.

It is a different kind of sharp - and in that world of balance the trade off is a little comfort and "forgiveness" (IMHO).

They have a place if you are inclined, either as a primary, back-up or as a travel rig.
Steeper learning curve as a first straight (again, IMHO) but for anyone past the 50-100 shave mark (and assuming that you are getting great shaves and don't spend a lot of time at the ER or Plastic Surgeons "getting that stitched up") getting the hang of it is a few shaves away.

Smooth Shaving...

Yup they rock! As MJC said if your willing to give them an honest try you will find they are fantastic shavers. Still making my way through the different variants but have found them to all be on par with a normal straight shave for the most part. I have in this trial period stuck to one rule an that is use them all the same way. I.E.- 3 passes on two days growth (my normal) an leave it. I normally would do a touch up pass but this 3 pass test keeps them equal an also has helped my technique. I am finding the fixed versions a bit easier to use now then at first, but still prefer the folders.

Well its been a little over a month since I started making my way through the different models of feathers. In this time I also tried a Kai an the different blades from proguards, pro, kai's an dorco. All I can say is IMO they are worth the price just in shaves alone. My pick overall surprised to say is the cheaper versions. I really like the SS in both fixed an folding versions. Blade pick for me is the pro an proguard. Todays shave was a 3 pass BBS with the SS fixed an proguard blade. Been rubbing my face all day an 12hrs later still super smooth. Highly recommend this system for anyone that travels or doesn't want the constant maintenance of real straights. Although I wont be stopping my usage of straights an DE's I will have a feather in rotation for sure. Big thanks to MJC for all his help an suggestions through this experiment.