Experienced Straight to Feather SS Users

I am wondering what the experiences of gents who have used straights for prolonged period of time thought when either trying, or moving onto using Feather Razors. Particularly Feather Artist Club SS razors.

I have read my fair share of gents who use them starting off - but little from men who have switched to them.

Myself personally, I always thought they were for men who couldn't hone; what with me being ignorant and all lol. But here lately, I can't seem to create a travel kit that isn't cumbersome. I either have too many razors - just in case. Or to many stones - just in case. Or too many balsa strips with... well you get the picture. I just dread having to suffer a sub-par shave on the road. Hence, I find myself taking my DE which isn't a crime but... it got me to thinking Feather.

The Feather SS seems like the perfect compromise. Certainly a great travel companion.

Now please don't make this about me not being able to pack lightly. I know I can't - it's a sickness. I just want to know what an experienced straight user who's given a Feather a try thinks of the tool.

Thanks gents.

I have used the Feather systems

They only require a slight adjustment in angle, and no more adjustment to weight and balance then is required between several different SR's

If I were traveling a lot they would most certainly be an option I would look at..


I would not be a person to switch away from SR's in favor of the Feather because I enjoy the entire SR experience way too much, but for "Shaving" and for occasional use while on the road I see no downside..

I have the Feather AC SS Japanese style, and rarley use it. The times I do I'm always impressed at the ease of use and results. If you ask me it's a smart choice for traveling. Soap/Cream, brush, AS,Feather AC SS, blades and your ready.

I bought myself a 'feather ac SS' last christmas.
As Glen said, the angle is a bit different and it doesn't quite have the same feel as a traditional straight, the shave is usually very good but it's a lot easier to give yourself razor burn or nicks.

I rarely use mine except when I can't or am too tired for a straight shave.
It's great for traveling, I used mine when I spent a week in Spain, both because of the low maintenance and because I was always too hungover to strop properly.

I find it interesting you guys don't use your Feathers often :).

So many claim it's an awesome shave - i would have thought that at least someone would keep it in the old rotation :).

It's a great razor but it's just not the same.

I use mine fairly often. It's very handy if you are running late and don't have time to strop.
I do prefer my "regular" straights though.

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Originally Posted by earcutter

I find it interesting you guys don't use your Feathers often :).

So many claim it's an awesome shave - i would have thought that at least someone would keep it in the old rotation :).

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i have mine in rotation simply as i dont always have much time etc.

i dont shave in the mornings as i dont want to get up earlier than 5:30 if i dont have to.

personally though ive got a cjb not a feather as there a lot cheaper.

im going to save up and eventually buy a ss razor

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Originally Posted by Baxxer

It's a great razor but it's just not the same.

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+1 :p I also enjoy the stropping and the honing,,, the whole experience, and there is a slight comfort improvement going to the Traditional SR, at least for my face, perhaps if I used a Feather more I would get better at it :shrug: But you just don't have the same ability to adjust the edge as you do with a SR

The thing I find the most unattractive about them is the price. I'd really like to try one, but you could buy one or two real straights for the price of one Feather.... :(

I bought mine from a japanese ebay vendor who does free shipping on smaller items, it was still a bit pricey but it was cheaper than the other options. If you're interested I can try to find the link for you tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

The thing I find the most unattractive about them is the price. I'd really like to try one, but you could buy one or two real straights for the price of one Feather.... :(

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Well at $109USD it's not that bad. Add another $28, and you have 40 blades too. I don't remember anymore but (with respect to new blades) I think that even my little Dovo 4/8 Best was more expensive than that... actually no it was cheaper but not by much.

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Originally Posted by earcutter

Well at $109USD it's not that bad. Add another $28, and you have 40 blades too. I don't remember anymore but (with respect to new blades) I think that even my little Dovo 4/8 Best was more expensive than that... actually no it was cheaper but not by much.

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Yeah, that's the base model price. Though of course I figured if I was to get one I'd want a model that at least looks nice (as opposed to, well, a disposable razor system ;)), which bumps you up to the $200+ price point.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

Yeah, that's the base model price. Though of course I figured if I was to get one I'd want a model that at least looks nice (as opposed to, well, a disposable razor system ;)), which bumps you up to the $200+ price point.

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i bought a cjb (feather clone)

Gmarket - CJB(¾¾Á¦À̺ñ)ÀÏÀÚÇü ÀÌ¿ë·¹ÀÚ±â WH100B »ï¼º¸éµµ±â£¯·¹ÀÚ³¯...

Attachment 132605

works out about under $40

it uses feather blades as well, so buy blades local and off here and you will get a feather clone cheap.


the site is partially in english and you can guess your way through it.

if you cut silicon handle off you can attach a pair of scales as there is about a 5mm hole in the tang, ive done it with micro bolts can i can keep it nice and tight

I've had the Feather SS, the $109.00 model, for over a year. It is capable of extremely close shaving. However, if I get one of my vintage straights exactly how I want it, the shave I get from it is pretty close. I tend to stay away from the Feather and stick with my straights for plenty of reasons, but one of them is that if you make even the slightest poor judgment with one, you pay a serious price. I can get away with a lot more with my straights.

I enjoy using my SS. It is much easier to shave with than any of my straights. I have changed my view of shavettes after shaving with a couple of them. The ones that use half a DE blade shave fine, buy it is difficult to avoid nicks and cuts. The Feather is much easier to use due to heavier, more rigid blades and better handles. It is, of course, less forgiving than a straight which is another way of saying the blade is sharper. If you want to shave with a "straight" without the edge maintenance, the Feather is an excellent system. I do have it in my rotation.

Here's a thought ~ take a 2nd backup straight on the road & maybe all you need is a travel strop.

Not as "cheap" as I remembered but I reckon it's still one of the better options(excluding the cjb) for a lot of us europeans.
Feather Artist Club SS Folding Handle Shaving Razor Black | eBay

I used a shavette for almost 7 years. I know the feather is not just a shavette. Every so often I break it out and compare my hones to a machine edge. I can see how some would always use them, no stropping honing etc. As was mentioned they dont shave as comfortable, like a de, your face is a tad itchy 1/2 hour later. I even used a heel leading stroke today on the face. I find my edges to be very sharp but not as sharp as the feather. I dont care as I like the whole experience, honing, stropping etc. But is it possible to get a straight as sharp as a feather blade?

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Originally Posted by bill3152

I used a shavette for almost 7 years. I know the feather is not just a shavette. Every so often I break it out and compare my hones to a machine edge. I can see how some would always use them, no stropping honing etc. As was mentioned they dont shave as comfortable, like a de, your face is a tad itchy 1/2 hour later. I even used a heel leading stroke today on the face. I find my edges to be very sharp but not as sharp as the feather. I dont care as I like the whole experience, honing, stropping etc. But is it possible to get a straight as sharp as a feather blade?

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I think (do not know scientifically speaking) the answer is no. But the edge on a straight can give many shavers a superior experience. Unfortunately, not all shavers can enjoy this experience. When only a select number of machine edged blades can comfortably handle your very coarse beard, it is unlikely that a straight will work comfortably and efficiently for you. More and more, I just do a pass or 2 WTG using a straight and then I use a machined blade (DE, SE, Shavette) to get a DFS

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Originally Posted by bill3152

I used a shavette for almost 7 years. I know the feather is not just a shavette. Every so often I break it out and compare my hones to a machine edge. I can see how some would always use them, no stropping honing etc. As was mentioned they dont shave as comfortable, like a de, your face is a tad itchy 1/2 hour later. I even used a heel leading stroke today on the face. I find my edges to be very sharp but not as sharp as the feather. I dont care as I like the whole experience, honing, stropping etc. But is it possible to get a straight as sharp as a feather blade?

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I think the answer is yes with emphasis on the word "possible". It is not guaranteed as honing experience & the razor itself will play a major role but I know of 2 recent Shavette converts to Straights who would agree with me.
Also if your straight is not shaving comfortably there is something wrong.

Also if your straight is not shaving comfortably there is something wrong.[/QUOTE]

My straights shaves very comfortably. I think a WTG with a shavette takes off more than the straight. I dont have to go over the same area with the same pass with the exception of the neck. I can do 1 pass atg on the neck and its done with the shavette. The straight needs a little more touchup. I have experimented with .3 micron film and got very sharp edges but they didnt last long. Maybe I will go into that again.

I would not equate Feather razors with Shavettes - they are different and the Feather is far closer to a straight. Given that regular users report in excess of 20 shaves with the same blade, they are a good option when travelling. especially with weight restrictions on planes. The other advantage is that you have no worries about taking them to hot and humid countries.

Personally, I find the Feather very similar to 'the straight experience' in that I use exactly the same pre and post routine as with a straight. Add to this the choice of 4 different blades and they are a useful addition to the bathroom cabinet.

+1 UKRob. I could not have said it better.

Like to see that can u post a pic?

I have the CJB, a folding SS and a Nonfolding DX..

I rarely use the CJB. It was a good entry into the system, but the build isn't that nice, especially when compared to the Dx. My plan is to strip the handle and mount it in a set of cheap scales.

The SS is somewhat of a disappointment as well. I don't see (feel) a difference with the safety bulges. The razor is extremely light and the shank is extremely narrow. Plus, I think the one piece scale is butt ugly.

The Dx Kamisori style is my favorite, by a long stretch. Solid build, nice heft and a great handle.

The shaves are awesome and for me lie neatly between the DE and a traditional straight. I keep it loaded with a Kai Mild blade, my favorite of all the system blades, and use it in regular rotation.

Sharp as heck.

Having said this, I don't see it replacing traditional straights. It's an adjunct to them. I entered the system with two objectives. First, I wanted to learn to maneuver a straight style blade without figuring out which way the scales should point. One less variable to deal with. In this respect, it was a huge win. The second reason I tried the Feather is because I thought I wasn't going to like the care required to maintain straights. I was wrong. I thoroughly enjoy it.

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Originally Posted by UKRob

I would not equate Feather razors with Shavettes - they are different and the Feather is far closer to a straight. Given that regular users report in excess of 20 shaves with the same blade, they are a good option when travelling. especially with weight restrictions on planes. The other advantage is that you have no worries about taking them to hot and humid countries.

Personally, I find the Feather very similar to 'the straight experience' in that I use exactly the same pre and post routine as with a straight. Add to this the choice of 4 different blades and they are a useful addition to the bathroom cabinet.

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Very good comment about the humid countries

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Originally Posted by shanky887614

i bought a cjb (feather clone)

Gmarket - CJB(¾¾Á¦À̺ñ)ÀÏÀÚÇü ÀÌ¿ë·¹ÀÚ±â WH100B »ï¼º¸éµµ±â£¯·¹ÀÚ³¯...

Attachment 132605

works out about under $40

it uses feather blades as well, so buy blades local and off here and you will get a feather clone cheap.


the site is partially in english and you can guess your way through it.

if you cut silicon handle off you can attach a pair of scales as there is about a 5mm hole in the tang, ive done it with micro bolts can i can keep it nice and tight

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Like to see pics of that!

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Originally Posted by TauntingBull

Very good comment about the humid countries

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If Kansas was a country lol... Traveling here in the summer would be considered traveling to a humid local. Its stifling!

Thanks for letting me rant lol.