Feathers and.......... Astras?

[DMT]

I think both are good Feather's draw back is that they only last two shaves, which isn't so much of a problem if you are a two and out guy. Astra's on the other hand have some quality control issues, while on the whole I find them to be quite sharp and smooth, 1 in 5 seem go through a break in period that gives a very rough first shave then are perfectly fine afterwards. That's why I'm leaning more towards Gillette 7 o'clocks now. I'm trying to decide weather the super sharps or the platinums will be my go to blades

[vocalistbob]

Sorry if both posts are displayed - I tried to delete one of them twice with no apparent luck.

[vitalsigns81]

I think both are good Feather's draw back is that they only last two shaves, which isn't so much of a problem if you are a two and out guy. Astra's on the other hand have some quality control issues, while on the whole I find them to be quite sharp and smooth, 1 in 5 seem go through a break in period that gives a very rough first shave then are perfectly fine afterwards. That's why I'm leaning more towards Gillette 7 o'clocks now. I'm trying to decide weather the super sharps or the platinums will be my go to blades

having 2nd thoughts about buying that carton of Astras now!

[Early Morning]

Astra is ‘winning’ on a price-point basis. Economizing with the Astra, however, means this is the best quality P&G/Gillette you are going to get at that price level. A step down from there would be something like the Gillette Stainless that is sold in parts of Eastern Europe. I would not want to see those become the new Astras because “the demand for luxury double-edge razor blades had all but evaporated in the last quarter of 2012.”

Quality? Last week I shaved with a 45-year-old Gillette Super Silver that was sharper than any Astra Plat will ever be. True, the blade was seemingly thicker and sturdier, but it was so much sharper than the Astra I replaced it with that the Astra felt used in comparison. I cannot get one decent shave out of an Astra, and its performance does not improve with more aggressive razors. With the Feather, I always get a good shave.

[little Big feather]

As I've said in other places....I get 5 Great shaves with Astra. I get 9 Great shaves with Feather...I get only 5 with Astra. I change Feather at 9...Feather may be able to go farther.
I think I'll start Monday and see..

[KodiakAttack]

Gillette 'oclock yellows are now one of my favorites. I tried a Feather for the first time the other day and really destroyed by chin and neck area. I gave up on getting a DFS and resorted to damage control. Maybe i did something horribly wrong...

[DEGuy]

For me, Astra makes one of the best blades for the money re comfort, cutting capability, and longevity. Until today it has been my favorite blade (tried Persona Med Prep blade--fantastic!). Like many of you, I've tried many blades and found no comfort teamed with closeness of shave until I began using Astra blades. However, with my first-time use of the Persona mentioned above, Astra may occupy second place for me. I've had only one shave with the Persona, but it was the best initial shave I've had from any blade I've used over decades of wet shaving.

[DMT]

having 2nd thoughts about buying that carton of Astras now!

A few people I've talked to recommend palm stropping Astra blades to eliminate the occasional rough first shave. On the whole they are worth trying, maybe you'll like them maybe you wont. I might have a spare Astra or two in my blade box if you'd like me to PIF you one.

Gillette 'oclock yellows are now one of my favorites. I tried a Feather for the first time the other day and really destroyed by chin and neck area. I gave up on getting a DFS and resorted to damage control. Maybe i did something horribly wrong...

For me feather stands for use a feather touch. I find them liable to irritate the sensitive and awkward curved areas of my face with even with the slightest bit too much pressure. When I do use a feather it's when I need to be looking my best so I'm paying close attention to detail.

[infiniti30]

I can get BBS on my face with both blades but on my neck it takes so many passes with the Astra blades that I end up with irritation when using my fatboy set to 9. I really want to like them because I have about 90 Astra blades left but it is much more comfortable to use Feather blades. I figure at 3-4 shaves a week using 2 feather blades a week a 15 dollar 50 pack of will last me about a 6 months. Not a bad deal.

[fisca]

people say the feather blades go dull really quickly, whereas astra blades last up to 5 shaves...who wins?

[JimK]

I have plenty of both Astras and Feathers, but only use the Feathers once in a blue moon. I have years worth of blades stocked up, so at this stage I really don't care about price. Yet, I still prefer the Astras. Yes, Feathers are the sharpest blade you can buy, but they certainly are not smooth. Astras have a good combination of smoothness and sharpness. Some things that may make me different from the next person using Astras is that I shave every day and throw the blade out after two shaves (regardless of brand) - so those two factors may play a role in how the blade is percieved.

Well said, and I agree... I go for three shaves before I toss a blade, and I also have many blades stashed, including Feathers.... I prefer Astra SP blades because they are my favorite blade, period. That they also happen to be dirt cheap is just a huge bonus...

[Jtokle]

Astra gives me an incredibly smooth and close shave every time with no irritation or blood. I don't pay attention to how sharp a blade is. They're all sharp; they're razor blades. I've tried Feathers, and while they give me the same BBS shave, they always leave a weeper or two in the process.

I get BBS in three passes with my EJ89 and an Astra SP. I'm sure that the Feather is probably a higher quality blade, but with my skill level and razor choice, the Astra is just a better blade for me at this juncture. I will revisit Feather in the future, but it just doesn't work for me right now.

The Astra SP offers a good balance of smoothness, longevity, and closeness. It's the only blade that I currently own a decent supply of, but I have a box of Labs that should be here tomorrow. I'm excited to try those. The 7 O'Clock black that I sampled was also an excellent blade for the first shave, but subsequent shaves left me with some very minor irritation.

I believe that blade choice is the biggest YMMV variable with our hobby. Astra SP has worked wonderfully in every razor that I've tried it in, and it's also the blade that I've recommended to friends that are interested in trying wet shaving.

[Ron991]

I find the Astra SP blade to give me just a close smooth shave as do Feather blades. I will also add that Feather blades will, and do find every little flaw, and or small issue with your skin, and will defiantly exploit it.

[TonyJ]

Same leaque?... Not for me because I am using at the moment 15 different blades in my 16 different razor rotation bunch and unfortunately I have to say that feathers don't belong and will not become to belong in that bunch. I tried enough and did not like those

[kosby]

I've had one good shave using Astras when I revisited them, good enough to reconsider them as an inexpensive option and then inconsistent rough shaves like I had remembered. Technique issue? No. I've been shaving long enough with a de blade to know what works for me and what doesn't. I usually give a pack of the greens or blues away if I list something in B/S/T as there are lots of folks here that love them. Surely a case of YMMV. Now to the original question, Feathers are in a totally different league. An extremely sharp quality blade that will effortlessly cut through whiskers like a knife through hot butter.

[Charlie NJ]

My first 100 pack order were astras, but for me I like sharp blades. The astras are smooth and forgiving and when I first started wetshaving they were great but they seem to tug at my beard. Now I love feathers and 7 o'clock blacks. The price difference is minimal if you figure that a 100 pack is almost a years worth of blades

[talibeard]

They are not in the same league, not even close for me. The downside of Feathers is that are pretty steep priced and only last for two good shaves. I could live with them but I prefer more economical blades. They are still very good though, as long as they last.

Astra's are at the bottom of the middle-group concerning sharpness, cheaper and last for three shaves for me. Not very convincing to me so they are out and will not return in my den, not even for free.

Astras, on the other hand, are low-quality blades that I don't use at all because they deliver supbar shaves and cut my skin to shreds.

That is a bit stronger than I would put it but I do agree I guess.

[deafficianado]

Originally posted by TonyJ: Same leaque?... Not for me because I am using at the moment 15 different blades in my 16 different razor rotation bunch and unfortunately I have to say that feathers don't belong and will not become to belong in that bunch. I tried enough and did not like those

Feathers work best in mild razors like the Feather ASD1, Tech, EJ, superspeeds, & adjustables at low settings. Like Turtle mentioned, mild blades like Derby work well with aggressive razors such as Fatip, Slant, R41. FYI, I also agree with Feathers not being in my future. If I'm not mistaken aren't Feathers the most overrated product?

[TonyJ]

Feathers work best in mild razors like the Feather ASD1, Tech, EJ, superspeeds, & adjustables at low settings. Like Turtle mentioned, mild blades like Derby work well with aggressive razors such as Fatip, Slant, R41. FYI, I also agree with Feathers not being in my future. If I'm not mistaken aren't Feathers the most overrated product?

I have all mentioned razors except feather (don't want to pay that much for any razor). For me feathers are overrated and not worth the cost but I am happy that Russian plants produce so many good blades which suit for me. I'll let others enjoy feathers.

[crfcom]

people say the feather blades go dull really quickly, whereas astra blades last up to 5 shaves...who wins?

You can't go by what fanboys of any given blade say. The huge majority of posters here, and on other forums, say that Feathers don't offer longevity. Further, there have been threads which featured excellent micro-photographical evidence that Feather uses an extremely shallow grind angle that provides an edge of very thin, and fragile metal which would obviously not last as long as edges ground in multiple angle-steps that leave a thicker edge that reduces to the sharpest point right at the leading edge of the blade. For 2 to 3 shaves, there's no better performing blade, according to most everyone. After that, don't be surprised at a sudden and extensive compromise in the integrity of the blade's extremely thin edge. The more coarse the beard, the sooner this happens.
Astra's are a less expensive blade, and less expensive means lower quality control. I've noticed the same with several less-expensive blades. I've gotten bad Labs, Astra's, Sharks, and heard of same for Bluebirds. That doesn't mean they aren't good blades. Just don't expect to get the same consistency from a 12 cent blade as you do from a 50 cent blade, as a rule. Astra's and Labs are both excellent blades for me, and they have both shown up really well in Oscroft's double-blind comparison tests. There are places to buy 7 o'clock Blacks for 24 cents a blade and Yellows for slightly less. Med Preps are getting less expensive, too.
I don't call any one blade a winner. But if I had to pick between these two? Well, I have 20 Feathers in my blade locker, and 200 Astra's. And 400 each of 7 o'clock blacks, Polsilver SI's, and Personna Med Preps.