Best Blade - value edition?

[insomniac]

We've had several polls over the years for best blade. Usually something a bit on the high side wins it (or makes it into the final four) - Feathers, Polsilvers, Super Iridiums, etc.

In these trying economic times, though, not everyone can (or wants to) drop 30c+/blade.

So I am proposing a value version - inexpensive blades only!

Rules for nominations:

Must be available for 15c/blade (or less) in packs of 100.
Online vendors count, including B&B vendors. EBay stores count.
BST does not count. EBay individual sellers don't count. Neither does a group buy. All are transitory by definition.
You must provide a link to the vendor selling the blade at that price.
Blades must be in stock.
Clearances don't count. Neither do "daily specials."
In short: someone must be able to buy the blades at any time for that price.


Blades contending so far:

Astra Platinum (vendor link (http://shop.bestshave.net/100-astra-platinum-razor-blades-green-pack-p-100.html))
Crown (vendor link (http://www.ebay.com/itm/260750782078?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649))
Crystals (vendor link (http://www.ebay.com/itm/250885627571?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649))
Derby (vendor link (http://shop.bestshave.net/100-derby-extra-double-edge-razor-blades-p-36.html))
Dorco 301s (vendor link (http://www.westcoastshaving.com/DORCO-ST-301-Double-Edge-Razor-Blades-100-Blades_p_110.html))
Indian Wilkies (vendor link (http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-GILLETTE-WILKINSON-SWORD-DOUBLE-EDGE-RAZOR-BLADES-/180801943296))
Lord Platinum (vendor link (http://www.razorbladesandmore.com/content/100-lord-platinum-double-edge-blades))
Lord Super Stainless (vendor link (http://www.razorbladesandmore.com/content/100-lord-super-stainless-double-edge-blades))
Personna Super Blue "labs" (vendor link (http://myworld.ebay.com/beautyzone2007))
Rapira Super Stainless (vendor link (http://shop.bestshave.net/100-rapira-double-edge-razor-blades-p-110.html))
Shark Super Stainless (cardboard box) (vendor link (http://shop.bestshave.net/100-shark-super-stainless-de-blades-p-98.html))
Supermax Platinums (vendor link (http://shop.bestshave.net/100-supermax-super-platinum-razor-blades-p-105.html))
Treet Dura-sharps (vendor link (http://www.bullgooseshaving.net/trdudeblpof1.html))


Note: vendor links are not an endorsement of the vendor, it's just to prove that the blades can meet the 15c/100 threshold. As always, you should buy from B&B vendors if possible :001_smile

[turtle]

100 packs of personna super blue (called labs by many). 13 ¢ a blade delivered to your door

Voskhod teflons can now be bought for 10 ¢ a blade delivered (100 pack card)

http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u414/turtle-web/P1010362.jpg

[talibeard]

My overall fav blade fits that description with ease at $10.99/100 overhere (http://www.razorbladesandmore.com/content/100-lord-super-stainless-double-edge-blades); the Lord Super Stainless.

[HoosierTrooper]

Treet Dura Sharps and Vidyut Super-Max Platinums are two that I believe meet your criteria that I have had great results with.

[insomniac]

100 packs of personna super blue (called labs by many). 13 ¢ a blade delivered to your door

Voskhod teflons can now be bought for 10 ¢ a blade delivered (100 pack card)


Gotta provide a link. Online vendors count (including ebay stores and vendors here at B&B) if they have it in stock at that price. BST postings don't count. I don't think group buys should count either, since they are by their very nature transitory. And of course blades we know are no longer made are out, but they are usually expensive anyway.

[turtle]

Gotta provide a link. Online vendors count (including ebay stores and vendors here at B&B) if they have it in stock at that price. BST postings don't count. I don't think group buys should count either, since they are by their very nature transitory. And of course blades we know are no longer made are out, but they are usually expensive anyway.

Personna thread on B&B (seller always has them at this price)

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/258476

The Voskhods are going to be hard to buy since the multiple group buys have flooded the market for them. Phil has dumped his stock and has no more. He was selling for $8 per 100 card but they are gone. I doubt that any vendor will stock them again when they can be directly imported. Who knows, they may go from a great easy to acquire blade to an obscure never seen again anomaly. I have several hundred so no big for me.

[insomniac]

Treet Dura Sharps and Vidyut Super-Max Platinums are two that I believe meet your criteria that I have had great results with.

I'd prefer submissions to have a link but I know the sites that have these. Both are in.


My overall fav blade fits that description with ease at $10.99/100 overhere (http://www.razorbladesandmore.com/content/100-lord-super-stainless-double-edge-blades); the Lord Super Stainless.

In. I'm also including the Shark Super Stainless ($6.25/100 at bestshave) and Astra Platinum ($8/100 at bestshave.)

[insomniac]

Personna thread on B&B (seller always has them at this price)

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/258476

The Voskhods are going to be hard to buy since the multiple group buys have flooded the market for them. Phil has dumped his stock and has no more. He was selling for $8 per 100 card but they are gone. I doubt that any vendor will stock them again when they can be directly imported. Who knows, they may go from a great easy to acquire blade to an obscure never seen again anomaly. I have several hundred so no big for me.

Are those the Labs or the Barbers? Pretty different.

I'd include the Voskhods if you can buy them from the wholesaler in packs of 100 for $15 or less (this is a rumor), or someone's store still sold them and in quantities of 100. Same thing for the other blades from this manufacturer (Rapiras, Ladas, I think that's it.)

[jwilock]

Astra SPs can be bought for less than $10 per hundred including shipping. That's got to earn them a spot on this list.

[edgerunner]

Are those the Labs or the Barbers?...

They are Labs

I'd suggest Derby and BIC from bestshave, and Indian Wilkies/Gillette from eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-GILLETTE-WILKINSON-SWORD-DOUBLE-EDGE-RAZOR-BLADES-/180801943296

[eastomjac]

astra sp's derby xtras and super max green/yellow

[insomniac]

They are Labs

I'd suggest Derby and BIC from bestshave, and Indian Wilkies/Gillette from eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-GILLETTE-WILKINSON-SWORD-DOUBLE-EDGE-RAZOR-BLADES-/180801943296

Derby, BIC, and the Indian Wilkies are in.
EDIT: BICs are out, they're over 15c/blade at BestShave. Sorry...

My concern with the Labs - and I say this because I want input on how to handle it - is this: they are different from Meds which are a hot blade right now. Some say the only difference is the washing process, some (in the thread you pointed to) claim they are quite different (see this thread (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/210487-Med-Preps-vs-Labs).) What I don't want is to put the Labs up on a poll and have people vote for it thinking "I read in a thread that they were the same as the Meds, which I like, so I'm basically voting for Meds." And yes, I can put text in the top post saying "you are voting for Labs not Meds" but sometimes we don't bother to read the post :whistling:

Input on how to handle this is appreciated.

[insomniac]

astra sp's derby xtras and super max green/yellow

Astras and Derbys are already in. Can you provide a link to the Supermax blades you are talking about?

[rockviper]

Rapira Super Stainless (http://shop.bestshave.net/100-rapira-double-edge-razor-blades-p-110.html) (pink and blue packaging) from Bestshave.net are my go-to blades.

[5savages]

Astra SPs can be bought for less than $10 per hundred including shipping. That's got to earn them a spot on this list.

Can I ask where? Lowest I've seen, including shipping to US, is about $12.50. I need to order some, not that $2.50 will break the bank.

[BroJohn]

The Yellow-Green Super-Max Super Stainless are a decent blade for super cheap <$9/c, shipped. eBay.

-- John Gehman

[Gordy2]

When I returned to DE shaving I bought 100 Derby's for $8 (Amazon) or 8 cent a blade and did not like them. I recently retried them and find them not great but not bad at all either. I would recommend Derby's and I found these on
Amazon for $17.85 for 200 blades or just about 9 cents a blade:

http://www.amazon.com/Derby-Extra-Double-Razor-Blades/dp/B0032Q41LS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1327284478&sr=8-4

[insomniac]

The Yellow-Green Super-Max Super Stainless are a decent blade for super cheap <$9/c, shipped. eBay.

-- John Gehman

Link please.

[Kilakro]

Lord Platinum 10.50 for 100 @ http://www.razorbladesandmore.com/content/100-lord-platinum-double-edge-blades

[marcel]

The Treet Durasharp blades can be had for US$10.88 at connaugthshaving, including shipping (no VAT): http://connaughtshaving.com/carbon.html

[cfender]

Derby, BIC, and the Indian Wilkies are in.
EDIT: BICs are out, they're over 15c/blade at BestShave. Sorry...

My concern with the Labs - and I say this because I want input on how to handle it - is this: they are different from Meds which are a hot blade right now. Some say the only difference is the washing process, some (in the thread you pointed to) claim they are quite different (see this thread (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/210487-Med-Preps-vs-Labs).) What I don't want is to put the Labs up on a poll and have people vote for it thinking "I read in a thread that they were the same as the Meds, which I like, so I'm basically voting for Meds." And yes, I can put text in the top post saying "you are voting for Labs not Meds" but sometimes we don't bother to read the post :whistling:

Input on how to handle this is appreciated.

You make an excellent point. I've seen some examples where a user has rated the "Lab" based exclusively on their experience with the "Med" despite never having actually used a Med. I read the opposite as well. Some have tried both and report that "they can't tell the difference". Some summarily dismiss the suggestion that they are different blades either based on their actual usage OR by referencing the often cited email communication from ASR that the blades are identical EXCEPT for a final manufacturing/cleansing/coating process of some kind that doesn't effect the performance.

It's not fair to exclude the Lab from the poll but it should be emphasized to those voting for the Lab that their vote should be based on actual usage of the Lab rather then the Med.

[insomniac]

Lord Platinum 10.50 for 100 @ http://www.razorbladesandmore.com/content/100-lord-platinum-double-edge-blades

That's a sale price, but regular price is $14.99/100 so it's in!

[edgerunner]

That's a sale price, but regular price is $14.99/100 so it's in!

http://www.italianbarber.com/100-lord-platinum-de-blade-20-packs-of-5-100-blades

[insomniac]

http://www.italianbarber.com/100-lord-platinum-de-blade-20-packs-of-5-100-blades

Fine too, as I said it's in, you just need to find it under 15c/blade. :001_smile

[Kilakro]

That's a sale price, but regular price is $14.99/100 so it's in!

Oops, I didn't notice that was a sale, even though they qualified otherwise...

[insomniac]

It's not fair to exclude the Lab from the poll but it should be emphasized to those voting for the Lab that their vote should be based on actual usage of the Lab rather then the Med.

I think it's perfectly fair to do so if there is sufficient concern that voters will ignore instructions and vote even if they haven't used that particular blade.

[dreadpirate]

DORCO blades - hands down - best value. You can get 4 or 5 good shaves from one.

http://www.westcoastshaving.com/DORCO-ST-301-Double-Edge-Razor-Blades-100-Blades_p_110.html

[insomniac]

DORCO blades - hands down - best value. You can get 4 or 5 good shaves from one.

http://www.westcoastshaving.com/DORCO-ST-301-Double-Edge-Razor-Blades-100-Blades_p_110.html

Nice catch. Dorco 301s are in.

[shanman]

Crystals (Israeli Blues) 100 for $14.76 with free shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/250885627571?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Seems like an eBay "store" to me per the rules, but I could be wrong.

[Robenstein]

I have to go with the Lord Super Stainless and I got Crystals for around the same cash which work in my more mild razors where I use the Lords in my more aggressive units.

[mikey]

I have never really understood the disdain for so-called "expensive" DE blades:

Bulk pricing of Feather New Hi Stainless is $0.35 per blade.
Bulk pricing of Gillette Sensor Excel is $1.56 per cartridge.

It appears to me that the Feathers are a bit on the low side.

Thanks,
Mike


We've had several polls over the years for best blade. Usually something a bit on the high side wins it (or makes it into the final four) - Feathers, Polsilvers, Super Iridiums, etc.

In these trying economic times, though, not everyone can (or wants to) drop 30c+/blade...

[BrookR1]

Crown Super Stainless...my favorite all rounder.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/260750782078?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

[insomniac]

Crystals and Crowns are in.

[Stubblefield]

Derby, BIC, and the Indian Wilkies are in.
EDIT: BICs are out, they're over 15c/blade at BestShave. Sorry...

My concern with the Labs - and I say this because I want input on how to handle it - is this: they are different from Meds which are a hot blade right now. Some say the only difference is the washing process, some (in the thread you pointed to) claim they are quite different (see this thread (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/210487-Med-Preps-vs-Labs).) What I don't want is to put the Labs up on a poll and have people vote for it thinking "I read in a thread that they were the same as the Meds, which I like, so I'm basically voting for Meds." And yes, I can put text in the top post saying "you are voting for Labs not Meds" but sometimes we don't bother to read the post :whistling:

Input on how to handle this is appreciated.Just call them Labs. By now most users should know that the Meds do not sell for 13 cents per blade. If people can't read . . . that is not your fault.

[5savages]

Just call them Labs. By now most users should know that the Meds do not sell for 13 cents per blade. If people can't read . . . that is not your fault.

It's not his fault, but it can affect the data.

[natchez]

My regular DE blade is the Personna Blue, the only other one in that proce range I use quite a bit is the Astra.

[SteveWY]

Gents, may I indulge my more experienced DE brethren (or start a debate!). I am about 4 months into DE traditional wetshaving and working my way through trials of sample packs, soaps/creams, a couple vintage Gillettes. Based on my results so far and my beard and skin type, I am about at a place where I think my "go to" blade may be the Astra SP or Crystal, with Reds just behind. The generic Personnas, Derbys and Reds leave me wanting a sharper blade. So, for the experts that have been down this road, what other blades close in sharpness, quality, smoothness, and durability to Astras and Crystals would be worth a try before I settle on a blade for a 100-count order? I'm thinking I probably need to give the Gillette 7 O'Clocks a run but they seem a little pricier than the aforementioned brands. Ultimately I am looking for a blade that will be a good value (maybe 15-20 cents/each in a 100-count order) and be on the upper end on the sharp scale.

Any advice?

[edgerunner]

I guess by 'generic Personna' you mean Barber Personna or store branded Personna.
Based on the provided info, I think you'll like Personna Lab, Perma-Sharp, Shark SC, and maybe Lord Platinum and Indian Wilkinson. But I'm afraid those are out of scope of this thread except Lord and Wilki.

[SteveWY]

Edgerunner: Thanks for your insights. Yes, I meant the generic discount store-brand blades that come in a dispenser. I have heard those are some sort of Personna. I may have to try some of the brands you mentioned.

[5savages]

Based on the provided info, I think you'll like Personna Lab, Perma-Sharp, Shark SC, and maybe Lord Platinum and Indian Wilkinson. But I'm afraid those are out of scope of this thread except Lord and Wilki.

The Personna Labs are in scope. They can be had for 13¢ each through the link at the top. It will take you to an Ebay store, where you can click on the "Vanity, Perfume & Shaving" category.

[edgerunner]

The Personna Labs are in scope. They can be had for 13¢ each through the link at the top. It will take you to an Ebay store, where you can click on the "Vanity, Perfume & Shaving" category.


Thanks for the reminder. Apparently I'm tired and have to go home now. I bought my Labs from the same place some months ago.

[cfender]

Gents, may I indulge my more experienced DE brethren (or start a debate!). I am about 4 months into DE traditional wetshaving and working my way through trials of sample packs, soaps/creams, a couple vintage Gillettes. Based on my results so far and my beard and skin type, I am about at a place where I think my "go to" blade may be the Astra SP or Crystal, with Reds just behind. The generic Personnas, Derbys and Reds leave me wanting a sharper blade. So, for the experts that have been down this road, what other blades close in sharpness, quality, smoothness, and durability to Astras and Crystals would be worth a try before I settle on a blade for a 100-count order? I'm thinking I probably need to give the Gillette 7 O'Clocks a run but they seem a little pricier than the aforementioned brands. Ultimately I am looking for a blade that will be a good value (maybe 15-20 cents/each in a 100-count order) and be on the upper end on the sharp scale.

Any advice?


I used the Perma-sharp Super this morning after several days with Feather, Iridium Super, & Personna Med (All above the price point you mentioned.) The Perma-sharp @ $.20 per blade from Bestshave (when you purchase 100 and at least $50 of products on your order) competes respectably with those premium priced blades. Actually, my last blade was the legendary Iridium Super and this time I got noticably better results with the Perma-sharp. Thats my strong suggestion for a $.15-$.20 blade.

[Kilakro]

I've got a couple spots for Dorco 300's the first one is about 8.45 cents per blade before shipping: http://www.amazon.com/DORCO-Platinum-Double-Razor-Blades/dp/B001KNKCG8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327784173&sr=8-1
and the other one is just under 7 cents per blade after shipping: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YHWR0K/sr=8-2/qid=1327784173/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1327784173&sr=8-2&seller=

I know, 1000 blades is a bit overkill but somebody might be interested.

[raisindot]

I have never really understood the disdain for so-called "expensive" DE blades:

Bulk pricing of Feather New Hi Stainless is $0.35 per blade.
Bulk pricing of Gillette Sensor Excel is $1.56 per cartridge.

It appears to me that the Feathers are a bit on the low side.


Well, consider that (for me at least) one Sensor Excel (or any cartridge blade) can last me up 20 good shaves. I don't use Feathers anymore, but when I did I could get no more than 3 shaves each. So, to get 20 shaves with Feathers, you'd need 6 shaves, or $2.10. So, there isn't always an economic argument in favor of more expensive DE blades over cheaper blades. But, then, I'm not one to talk since I do tend to buy more expensive blades anyway.

[5savages]

Well, consider that (for me at least) one Sensor Excel (or any cartridge blade) can last me up 20 good shaves.

Wow! I could never get more than 5 or 6 shaves from a cartridge.

[NICKED&CUT]

No Sharks? http://shop.bestshave.net/100-shark-super-stainless-de-blades-p-98.html

(says "sold Out" for now, but is usually available at the same price)