I know blades are about as YMMV as it gets; I don't want to put an absolute verdict on these two blades but since they both seem to have a mythical status on B&B, Merkur very bad/superblunt and Feather great/supersharp, I simply couldn't resist to tell you how they behave and were they stand in my shave den. Just an attempt to put things into perspective based on an (at least I think so) unbiassed encounter with both of them.
First of all; I am an experienced DE shaver (since '90) and I started with neither of these blades so I never used them as an inexperienced shaver. I like them both but neither of them has the right qualities nor the right value/quality ratio to be one of my favs. That said I like them both enough to use them every now and then and have a pack of both around if just for the sake of variety. I don't buy these blades in bulk so I pay about the same for a 10-pack of each; between 4,50 and 5 euro.
Both shave well; I could easily live in a world were no other blades were available. To get a DFS/BBS shave both need 3 passes to get there but after only 2 passes the Feather is closer than the Merkur. At the same time a 2-pass shave with either delivers a fine shave that is presentable as well as close. Usually I use a 2-pass shave with the Feather and a 3-pass shave with the Merkur. As such the Merkur shave is slightly closer but not by much.
The funny thing is that both blades when used like that give me the same number of shaves which is 3; so I get 6 passes out of a Feather and 9 out of a Merkur. Both are over 15 cents a shave and I can get 3 nicer shaves out of a 15 cents blade (Lord SS) so as far as economics go they are both completely out.
Both blades certainly feel different but they are neither supersmooth nor harsh. A 2/3-pass shave delivers no problems for my skin. Both have something else in common; when overstretched they both get nasty, especially the Feather can go bad with hardly any warning. A matter of counting the passes.
A thing on the legendary sharpness of the Feathers. Yes they are sharp and one of the sharper blades I used but with other good blades I think the difference is marginal. They are good enough to go ATG on the second pass but so are my Lords (which are way more comfortable ATG) and Elios. But the legendary sharpness is a bit overdone here and there; they didn't give me more nicks than other blades and I never felt an endangered species using them. Blades I do dislike for being blunt or having an edge without staying power (like 7A.M., Sharp, Derby or Dorco, both the ST's 300 and 301) gave me far more discomfort than the Feathers ever did.
The legendary pulling and tugging of the Merkurs never happened to me either. I have a handfull of blades I really love, a handfull of blades, including Feather as well as Merkur, I really like and used dozens and dozens that don't even come close. In total I used over 50 different blades (low estimate) and both Feather and Merkur are in my top 10 but not very high.
So all in all both blades come a little short, both in price and comfort, to become a real favourite but both are more than adequate for the job. At the same time their scores are very much alike. At least in my shave den.
Hopes this helps for those staying away from both of these blades to give them a try. You should!!
First of all; I am an experienced DE shaver (since '90) and I started with neither of these blades so I never used them as an inexperienced shaver. I like them both but neither of them has the right qualities nor the right value/quality ratio to be one of my favs. That said I like them both enough to use them every now and then and have a pack of both around if just for the sake of variety. I don't buy these blades in bulk so I pay about the same for a 10-pack of each; between 4,50 and 5 euro.
Both shave well; I could easily live in a world were no other blades were available. To get a DFS/BBS shave both need 3 passes to get there but after only 2 passes the Feather is closer than the Merkur. At the same time a 2-pass shave with either delivers a fine shave that is presentable as well as close. Usually I use a 2-pass shave with the Feather and a 3-pass shave with the Merkur. As such the Merkur shave is slightly closer but not by much.
The funny thing is that both blades when used like that give me the same number of shaves which is 3; so I get 6 passes out of a Feather and 9 out of a Merkur. Both are over 15 cents a shave and I can get 3 nicer shaves out of a 15 cents blade (Lord SS) so as far as economics go they are both completely out.
Both blades certainly feel different but they are neither supersmooth nor harsh. A 2/3-pass shave delivers no problems for my skin. Both have something else in common; when overstretched they both get nasty, especially the Feather can go bad with hardly any warning. A matter of counting the passes.
A thing on the legendary sharpness of the Feathers. Yes they are sharp and one of the sharper blades I used but with other good blades I think the difference is marginal. They are good enough to go ATG on the second pass but so are my Lords (which are way more comfortable ATG) and Elios. But the legendary sharpness is a bit overdone here and there; they didn't give me more nicks than other blades and I never felt an endangered species using them. Blades I do dislike for being blunt or having an edge without staying power (like 7A.M., Sharp, Derby or Dorco, both the ST's 300 and 301) gave me far more discomfort than the Feathers ever did.
The legendary pulling and tugging of the Merkurs never happened to me either. I have a handfull of blades I really love, a handfull of blades, including Feather as well as Merkur, I really like and used dozens and dozens that don't even come close. In total I used over 50 different blades (low estimate) and both Feather and Merkur are in my top 10 but not very high.
So all in all both blades come a little short, both in price and comfort, to become a real favourite but both are more than adequate for the job. At the same time their scores are very much alike. At least in my shave den.
Hopes this helps for those staying away from both of these blades to give them a try. You should!!
I used that title just because there is so much fuss about Feather. I do like them, a lot. But there are other blades like the Treet carbon, that for me are about as sharp and smooth but only cost 3 cents per shave. Feather comes at about 8 cents when I use them 4 times (which I could not until recently; before it was just one shave at 32 cents).
