Feathers are just a great blade! "Just" being the operative word here ...

[barrycv]

For me, it's the ATG pass that put some distance between Feathers and other blades. Though I agree that the end result is not *that* different from other comparably sharp blades, they do perform awfully well for me.

I'm finding that to be the case w/ me. The ATG is where I see the difference the most.

[latetolathering]

I had a terrible experience with a feather last night.

I tried feathers about 2 months ago and thought they were okay - nothing special compared to the others I had been trying.
I now believe that Personna reds and gillette 7oc blacks are my favourites.

I think my technique has come along and I have been getting very good shaves so I decided to try the feather again last night.

I have mentioned previously that I am very hard on blades with tough stubble and that I am now a one and done guy with blades. I felt the feather starting to pull halfway through my XTG (2nd) pass. Then on the ATG it was very poor.
I ended up with a lot of weepers and a reasonably poor shave.

I reckon feathers and I just don't get on.

[cfender]

For me, it's the ATG pass that put some distance between Feathers and other blades. Though I agree that the end result is not *that* different from other comparably sharp blades, they do perform awfully well for me.

Similar for me. It's especially the ATG passes on my neck, jawline, chin, and upper lip that distinguish the Feather to be superior. I've used a lot of blades that work brilliantly on my cheeks but simply don't get the stubble as reliably on these stubborn areas.

For most other blades, I have to force myself to accept the performance on those stubborn areas and resist my compulsion to get every stray piece of stubble. Often when I fail to resist, I'll give myself irritation and even nicks and cuts with the non-Feather blades.

I've used a Personna Med for my last six shaves and I have resisted the urge toduplicate the performance of the Feather. It's a good blade when I accept that it just isn't as sharp as a Feather. It also has allowed me to be less surgically cautious than I need to be with the Feather so it's been a satisfying experience.

[bkfist]

John was nice enough to send me a few Gillette Black blades (I'd only previously used one and that was years ago in a Fat Boy) I was actually quite impressed at the smoothness of the Black in my Feather AS-D1 Very comparable to a Feather. I'm not really sure I'd be able to tell the difference in a blind trial between these two blades in the AS-D1. I've only got one shave on it, but I'm all "into" the first shave feel of any blade, as in the AS-D1 razor any blade lasts well due to the low blade angle optimal for this razor.

It at least gives me another blade to watch for if I happen to see a sale.

[Commander Quan]

I just found this thread, and agree with all of it. I use the Persona Reds in all my razors. For $0.12 per blade I use each blade twice and pitch it, I find the 3rd shave is never as good as the first 2 so I don't push it. When I tried the feathers, I got the exact same results, 2 good shaves 1 marginal shave and then poor shaves after that in that order.

[TallyShave]

John was nice enough to send me a few Gillette Black blades (I'd only previously used one and that was years ago in a Fat Boy) I was actually quite impressed at the smoothness of the Black in my Feather AS-D1 Very comparable to a Feather. I'm not really sure I'd be able to tell the difference in a blind trial between these two blades in the AS-D1. I've only got one shave on it, but I'm all "into" the first shave feel of any blade, as in the AS-D1 razor any blade lasts well due to the low blade angle optimal for this razor.

It at least gives me another blade to watch for if I happen to see a sale.

I agree on the blacks. I am really liking this blade the more I use it. I just ordered 100 from an ebay seller for about $30. Not cheap, but not bad either. These may be my favorite blade in the Weber razor with Feathers also working really well.

[Hayden]

Im glad your enjoying the feathers and I hope you never go back. I only shave three to four times a week so I usually do throw my feathers out after three shaves.

[noelekal]

I'm sorry to ask but what does "ATG" stand for?

[man00ver]

I'm sorry to ask but what does "ATG" stand for?

ATG = Against the Grain

[bkfist]

I'm sorry to ask but what does "ATG" stand for?

Against The Grain
oops. man00ver beat me by a few seconds.

[noelekal]

So obvious when one sees it.

Thanks

[bkfist]

John,

How many shaves do you typically get from the Gillette Blacks? I just had my 5th shave (I *think* it was #5, could have been #6, but about 99% sure it was #5) and the performance seemed to drop off pretty dramatically. It wasn't horrible or anything, but the ATG pass was noticeably rougher than the previous 4 shaves.

BTW, the first 4 shaves were "buttery smooth", as in "not knowing if there was a blade in the razor or not" kind of smooth, so any decrease in performance, obviously, was noticeable. I find Feathers to be good for me for 7 to 10 shaves, but the performance drops off so slowly that it's more

[JCinPA]

Hi, Brian!

I use the Blacks for a week, but I admit the Saturday and Sunday shaves are not quite as close as the weekday shaves, not quite as smooth, but in no way uncomfortable. I change to a new blade on Monday.

I could change after 4-5 shaves to get very close, smooth shaves, but it works well enough for a week for me.

[JCinPA]

Brian, are you getting more smoother shaves out of the Feather than the blacks? I may have to push the next one.

[bkfist]

Brian, are you getting more smoother shaves out of the Feather than the blacks? I may have to push the next one.

Actually, the first 4 shaves they are indistinguishable. Both extremely smooth/sharp. It was just the last shave on the Black that surprised me in that it dropped off so quickly in sharpness on shave 5 (or 6). I can use a Feather for 7 to 10 shaves easily... As sharp as the Black was for the first 4 shaves, I fully expected the Black to last pretty equally to the Feather blade. No change in routine this morning, just considerably more tugging on the pass, and a *little* more tugging on the WTG pass... We aren't talking horribly dull, like a new Derby or anything, more along the lines of a new Personna Red or Astra, or a Feather with 13 or 14 shaves on it.

It was more the suddenness increase in the tugging. The first 4 shaves I didn't feel any decrease in sharpness at all, then suddenly it lost it's buttery smoothness.

[JCinPA]

Hmmmmm. I'm having better results with the Feather than I did last year, I may have to just order a pack and work them a bit more. It never ceases to amaze me how personal a thing this shaving business is, though. It seems if you get the same products together with two different shavers, you'll end up with three opinions!

[Hayden]

Hmmmmm. I'm having better results with the Feather than I did last year, I may have to just order a pack and work them a bit more. It never ceases to amaze me how personal a thing this shaving business is, though. It seems if you get the same products together with two different shavers, you'll end up with three opinions!

If you need a couple more just PM me.

[AirForceMX]

I think the Feathers are going to be a 2 shave blade for me as well! I haven't found another blade that is as smooth or close though. My hair is like steel braided cable!

[JCinPA]

Hey AF, glad to see you checking in! Change your location to "The Sandbox"

Hayden, I think I'll just order 10 and go back to really giving them a go. I had settled on the blacks but your two feathers behaved so much better than I remember them I owe them a good wringing out. Boy, I'd hate to have to post that eating crow pic. Again.

[mongo1958]

I have Glocks and 1911's Both are great for me.