So I traded a wacker Best Traditions for a vintage superfine wedge and some cash. WOW. now I am a brand noob. Only about 2 weeks worth of very slow "shaves". They are not great shaves to boot. But what a diffeeence the wedge (or maybe it's near wedge) made for me. I have a thick course fast growing beard and the wedge seemed to just slice through it. It was like I was running a butter knife over my face. I did 3 passes on the face ( wtg wtg and pseudo xtg) and even managed two on my neck. One weeper on my lip. I'm impressed, not with myself of course because I'm only about .001 of .001 of .001 % to being proficient with a straight but I really liked that wedge. Now I want another one.