My vote...Boar is Better

**rickboone1** · 09-21-2009, 09:46 PM

This is my theory based solely on my ignorance and lack of intelligence. I have both, I use both. I do NOT have any super high end badgers. Nor, badger hair brushes. I do have one smart German Shepherd, not sure if that helps matters.

Anyway, because of the stiffness, of the boar, not only do you get more backbone and chance of lather with a soap this helps to exfoliate your skin better.

It's like comparing cotton to loofah. Which one will scrub away those dead cells?

**Cutter** · 09-21-2009, 10:19 PM

I have a best badger and a silvertip. I prefer the best badger.

**highball** · 09-21-2009, 10:26 PM

I prefer boar also

**rickboone1** · 09-21-2009, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by Cutter

I have a best badger and a silvertip. I prefer the best badger.

Get a boar so you can be cooler.

**thunderball** · 09-21-2009, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by rickboone1

I have both, I use both. I do NOT have any super high end badgers. Nor, badger hair brushes.

So you do have a badger brush or you don't?

I suppose that if you are seeing a shave brush mainly as an exfoliant then, yeah, boar is probably better. In my experience, badger brushes make better lather quicker...and are still stiff enough for my needs. Of course, YMMV and all that.

**rickboone1** · 09-21-2009, 11:03 PM

Yeah, that didn't come out right. My brain thinks too fast sometimes.

I DO have a badger brush. Yes, I do. Just a regular. Not a high dollar one.

I like it. But, for the exfoliation, I'm voting for badger.

I use a Semogue and an Omega boars. The "better" boars, if you will.

Don't be hatin' boar's the best.

**mdunn** · 09-21-2009, 11:27 PM

doesnt sound like a fair comparison, youre using the higher end boars against low end badgers - im not suprised you prefer the boar

**rickboone1** · 09-21-2009, 11:28 PM

$20 is $20....

**Koss** · 09-21-2009, 11:30 PM

High quality boars rock!

**Cutter** · 09-21-2009, 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by rickboone1

Get a boar so you can be cooler.

Had a cheap boar for a while, but liked the best badger better (say that three times fast) wound up giving the boar to my nephew.

**kooshman7** · 09-21-2009, 11:44 PM

Boar for the most part doesn't do much for me in the way of exfoliation. I don't see where they would stay good for exfoliation either if they're good at the start. The bristles start to split as you use them more and they get softer, so you're losing the stiff tips to work on the skin. But that's just a thought of mine. YMMV for sure. I've about given up on finding a satisfactory boar brush for myself, but I'll try one last one. But they are better than I ever gave them credit to be, so don't discount them!

**rickboone1** · 09-21-2009, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by kooshman7

Boar for the most part doesn't do much for me in the way of exfoliation. I don't see where they would stay good for exfoliation either if they're good at the start. The bristles start to split as you use them more and they get softer, so you're losing the stiff tips to work on the skin. But that's just a thought of mine. YMMV for sure. I've about given up on finding a satisfactory boar brush for myself, but I'll try one last one. But they are better than I ever gave them credit to be, so don't discount them!

Have you tried the Semogue? Or a good Omega?

**kooshman7** · 09-22-2009, 12:01 AM

Semogue 2000, Omega 10081, cheap Kent VS80 I believe it was, and a Boreal 976. Tried a few Boar/badger mixes as well. Omega 21047 and a Vulfix 404 Grosvenor.

It's a bit of a pain that the boars don't keep ahold of the water, and takes a bit longer to get a lather with it too. The boar/badger mixes help with the water absorption but it's still there. The Grosvenor is the closest I've found to giving a nice scrub. I wish that it was denser though and a bit more backbone. I haven't found a brush yet that has had too much of either.

The brush I've had the best luck with so far with getting a nice lather from right away was the Boreal. Best backbone and density out of the boars I've used. Much easier to get a nice lather out of. Still not quite the sweet spot I'm looking for. Going to give a Boreal 977 a chance to find an active spot. I prefer badger overall, 2 band is especially nice, but something out of curiosity draws me to keeping a few boars.

**Koss** · 09-22-2009, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by kooshman7

Semogue 2000, Omega 10081, cheap Kent VS80 I believe it was, and a Boreal 976. Tried a few Boar/badger mixes as well. Omega 21047 and a Vulfix 404 Grosvenor.

It's a bit of a pain that the boars don't keep ahold of the water, and takes a bit longer to get a lather with it too. The boar/badger mixes help with the water absorption but it's still there. The Grosvenor is the closest I've found to giving a nice scrub. I wish that it was denser though and a bit more backbone. I haven't found a brush yet that has had too much of either.

The brush I've had the best luck with so far with getting a nice lather from right away was the Boreal. Best backbone and density out of the boars I've used. Much easier to get a nice lather out of. Still not quite the sweet spot I'm looking for. Going to give a Boreal 977 a chance to find an active spot. I prefer badger overall, 2 band is especially nice, but something out of curiosity draws me to keeping a few boars.

Any reason to why you choose those Omega brushes over the 31xxx line? I really love mine.

**rickboone1** · 09-22-2009, 12:20 AM

Seems like you're experienced to have the broken in prior to making an assumption as to whether or not you like it.

I have no problems with water being held. I guess it's all in what you get used to.

**kooshman7** · 09-22-2009, 12:44 AM

Well the 10xxx Omega brush I thought was like the Pro 48, just in a short loft, but when I got it I was surprised with the 10081 instead. It was a mix up on the website and I just decided to keep that one. But the 31xxx line has tempted me a time or two. Really like the looks of the 31064!

I remember what it was with too much water coming out and didn't like that. It was one of the few times I tried to face lather, and was having problems with dry lather, so I did something I read on here and was just let the water drip from the brush until it stops and then use it. A tremendous help when bowl lathering gets it perfect almost right away, but a bit of a pain when face lathering.

If I ever got to liking boar brushes exclusively it'd certainly be a lot easier on the pocketbook, that's for sure.

**Koss** · 09-22-2009, 02:30 AM

Originally Posted by kooshman7

Well the 10xxx Omega brush I thought was like the Pro 48, just in a short loft, but when I got it I was surprised with the 10081 instead. It was a mix up on the website and I just decided to keep that one. But the 31xxx line has tempted me a time or two. Really like the looks of the 31064!

I remember what it was with too much water coming out and didn't like that. It was one of the few times I tried to face lather, and was having problems with dry lather, so I did something I read on here and was just let the water drip from the brush until it stops and then use it. A tremendous help when bowl lathering gets it perfect almost right away, but a bit of a pain when face lathering.

If I ever got to liking boar brushes exclusively it'd certainly be a lot easier on the pocketbook, that's for sure.

The 31064 is my absolute favorite brush! The length, softness, backbone, feels like it has taken the best sensations of a soft badger, with the best sensations of a boar and mashed them into one.

Its not an exfoliant though. Its very soft to the skin. It still rocks through soaps most likely due to more backbone.

If you want something with a lot of backbone, scrubby or good at exfoliating your face, ULTRA UBER SUPER dense (like a boreal) or nothing to big... the 31064 is not for you.

If you don't mind the differences with boar (harder to get the right amount of water the first time, every time compared with badger, break in time, a tiny bit longer time to load and lather, longer time to dry) you will get a fine example of a luxury boar brush.

The nice quality weight of the handle, the pure asthetics of the brush overall, the softest feel to my skin i have ever felt, and the perfect amount of backbone (in my opinion), length of the bristles (no more clanking in your bowl). This may be the one for you.

I own a semongue, forgot the part number. The Green and White Cream colored two tone handle. I really enjoy it, and I can't wait until it fully breaks in. It has more backbone then my omega, but is not as soft. This brush is soft though, but the Omega is a step above. Again the tips have not split as of yet. Why mention this? It is more dense than the omega, and has more backbone. I still prefer the Omega. But if I had to live with a semongue for the rest of my life then I would still be happy!

**kooshman7** · 09-22-2009, 03:07 AM

When it comes to a brush, or really any other item discussed here, you can get some general ideas talking with others and their experiences, but when it gets right down to it, you really need to experience it for yourself. I just try to keep an open mind.

**Koss** · 09-22-2009, 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by kooshman7

When it comes to a brush, or really any other item discussed here, you can get some general ideas talking with others and their experiences, but when it gets right down to it, you really need to experience it for yourself. I just try to keep an open mind.

Yeah, if the day comes where I can afford a two band finest silvertip from england, I might change my tune on boars. Then again, I might not. For the price of these in the same region as the beginner badger brushes members here suggest for newbies... I think everyone should have at least one top quality boar brush in their shave den.

**jhclare** · 09-22-2009, 03:23 AM

I've just received a Semogue 1305. In the process of breaking it in.

While it is much easier to handle and face lather with than the enormous Omega 48, I don't find it to be particularly exfoliating.

I have a Rooney 3/1 Super and Simfix Chubby 2 in Best, and both of those are more scrubby than the Semogue (due to the density I guess).

The Semogue is very very soft. I find that the stiff bristles lose a lot of their stiffness after soaking, and to me that defeats the point of a boar brush (to pick up hard soaps and to get a invigorating massage during face lathering).

I'm going to continue to use it and break it in before deciding whether to keep it.

I did however make the best lather I've ever achieved with MWF using the Semogue on its first use! Unrecognisable from any later I've got from it before.

I have tried again since and never got it the same. I must have hit the sweet spot with the water ratio! I there is a very narrow spot with this soap....

John