Morning Folks - 1st look and shave of the Asylum RX SE Razor.
It should be noted that I am in NO way affiliated with BullGoose, nor is this an official endorsement or recommendation on behalf B&B, just a client.
Since I do not spend much time here in the SE fora, a bit about me. I have been traditional shaving most of my adult life (now 52) and have a fairly extensive collection of DE's, and straight razors, and for the better part of the last year I have been shaving exclusively with straights and the Feather DX Kamisori. Also, my 1st experience with an SE was not very good, so this review is based on limited experience with SE razors.
As mentioned earlier the fit, finish of this razor is outstanding, the tolerances and fitment are top notch with no noticeable gaps, unfit parts, etc. I do not have calipers, nor a scale, so I will not be reviewing weight I will leave that to the Engineers, LOL
The balance of this razor is also very nice, just below the neck taper, and feels very good in the hand. It was designed to take the Feather Pro-Blade or equivalent, however due to fitment the Pro-Guard blade will not work.
I loaded a fresh Feather Pro and prepared the lather. This razor does like a bit thinner wetter lather, as the safety bar, which is small, but effective, and the overall head shape does lend to he razor building up excess lather rather quickly, so it does require rinsing often during the shave for best performance. Which to me was no big deal.
The maneuverability of this razor is amazing, and the best way I can put it is this: The is like shaving with a straight razor with DE ergonomics.
The safety bar allows the shave to be very much like the Feather Artist Club SS, pushing the skin, thus stretching it ahead of the blade, however during the shave the feedback is nice and resonates through the handle, all the while knowing you have a Feather straight blade doing the work. It does not have the inherit danger that the Feather DX version has due to blade exposure, so technique with this razor does not gave to be perfect. This razor shaves like a straight.
The benefit is that you can get into those places that with a straight, you much do interesting contortions to achieve BBS. This allows great buffing for any clean-up, although with a 3-pass shave not much was required, other than a tad bit in the Adam's Apple area.
The balance also allows to hold this razor very lightly in the hand, the weight does the work, and the shaver can just concentrate on removing lather with a light touch. You may find yourself wondering if this razor is working, but rest assured it is.
Without reservations I can honestly say this razor gave me the best shave I have ever had, from any shaving system. This in itself, in my world is a feat, as I am a BBS chaser, and I never expected to have this razor give me a shave even approaching a straight shave. This was the BEST shave I have EVER had. Period!
When you are post rinse, drying your face, and it feel literally like glass, and even a slight reflection from the skin, you know it is good. No irritation, absolutely no feedback from aftershave, and just smooth, smooth, smooth.
Will it replace straight shaving for me NO WAY, however it will be in the rotation. Yes it is that good.
It is $230.00 and I was lucky enough to be lurking on the website when it went live. Is it worth it. Well that is subjective and only you can answer that, for me however, NO doubt a definite YES! The machining is perfect the matte finish is great and the knurling on the handle will not allow this razor to slip, and frankly feels like an extension of you arm.
A great shaver!
This was m set-up for the shave:
Summary ( 1-10 scale )
Price: 8 ( it is an expensive razor so cost justification is up to you )
Fit & Finish: 10
Build Quality: 10
Performance: 10
Balance: 10
Blade loading: 7 ( does require you to be careful as the tongue & grove tolerances are so tight )
Ease of use: 9 ( would not recommend to a beginning shaver)
PROS: Fit & Finish, Shave Results, heft, balance, Overall Look
CONS: Price (again subjective ), Blade loading 9 just need to be careful, need to rinse often
This was only my 1st dance with the RX, however I can only expect the more comfortable I become with this razor, it will become like 2nd nature. Would I recommend. ABSOLUTELY.
Hope this help those of you that are wondering
It should be noted that I am in NO way affiliated with BullGoose, nor is this an official endorsement or recommendation on behalf B&B, just a client.
Since I do not spend much time here in the SE fora, a bit about me. I have been traditional shaving most of my adult life (now 52) and have a fairly extensive collection of DE's, and straight razors, and for the better part of the last year I have been shaving exclusively with straights and the Feather DX Kamisori. Also, my 1st experience with an SE was not very good, so this review is based on limited experience with SE razors.
As mentioned earlier the fit, finish of this razor is outstanding, the tolerances and fitment are top notch with no noticeable gaps, unfit parts, etc. I do not have calipers, nor a scale, so I will not be reviewing weight I will leave that to the Engineers, LOL
The balance of this razor is also very nice, just below the neck taper, and feels very good in the hand. It was designed to take the Feather Pro-Blade or equivalent, however due to fitment the Pro-Guard blade will not work.
I loaded a fresh Feather Pro and prepared the lather. This razor does like a bit thinner wetter lather, as the safety bar, which is small, but effective, and the overall head shape does lend to he razor building up excess lather rather quickly, so it does require rinsing often during the shave for best performance. Which to me was no big deal.
The maneuverability of this razor is amazing, and the best way I can put it is this: The is like shaving with a straight razor with DE ergonomics.
The safety bar allows the shave to be very much like the Feather Artist Club SS, pushing the skin, thus stretching it ahead of the blade, however during the shave the feedback is nice and resonates through the handle, all the while knowing you have a Feather straight blade doing the work. It does not have the inherit danger that the Feather DX version has due to blade exposure, so technique with this razor does not gave to be perfect. This razor shaves like a straight.
The benefit is that you can get into those places that with a straight, you much do interesting contortions to achieve BBS. This allows great buffing for any clean-up, although with a 3-pass shave not much was required, other than a tad bit in the Adam's Apple area.
The balance also allows to hold this razor very lightly in the hand, the weight does the work, and the shaver can just concentrate on removing lather with a light touch. You may find yourself wondering if this razor is working, but rest assured it is.
Without reservations I can honestly say this razor gave me the best shave I have ever had, from any shaving system. This in itself, in my world is a feat, as I am a BBS chaser, and I never expected to have this razor give me a shave even approaching a straight shave. This was the BEST shave I have EVER had. Period!
When you are post rinse, drying your face, and it feel literally like glass, and even a slight reflection from the skin, you know it is good. No irritation, absolutely no feedback from aftershave, and just smooth, smooth, smooth.
Will it replace straight shaving for me NO WAY, however it will be in the rotation. Yes it is that good.
It is $230.00 and I was lucky enough to be lurking on the website when it went live. Is it worth it. Well that is subjective and only you can answer that, for me however, NO doubt a definite YES! The machining is perfect the matte finish is great and the knurling on the handle will not allow this razor to slip, and frankly feels like an extension of you arm.
A great shaver!
This was m set-up for the shave:
Summary ( 1-10 scale )
Price: 8 ( it is an expensive razor so cost justification is up to you )
Fit & Finish: 10
Build Quality: 10
Performance: 10
Balance: 10
Blade loading: 7 ( does require you to be careful as the tongue & grove tolerances are so tight )
Ease of use: 9 ( would not recommend to a beginning shaver)
PROS: Fit & Finish, Shave Results, heft, balance, Overall Look
CONS: Price (again subjective ), Blade loading 9 just need to be careful, need to rinse often
This was only my 1st dance with the RX, however I can only expect the more comfortable I become with this razor, it will become like 2nd nature. Would I recommend. ABSOLUTELY.
Hope this help those of you that are wondering