i'm definitely the type of person who would rather say he shaves with water only, but after trying it, i have to say i think even a little bar soap applied with the hand to lubricate the skin makes a world of difference regarding comfort. really, the five dollars i spent on a boar brush and the four dollars i spent on a cake of soap seem like a small price to pay given how long they last. also, i don't spend a lot of time on the lather; i just wet the brush before i get in the shower to let it soak up water, wet the soap to let it soften, then when i get out of the shower i spend 15 or 20 seconds lathering up. no worries.