Suggestions for a good second brush?

[Blackbeard's Delight]

Ok, I am going on a camping trip in July. I was thinking of getting a second brush (*Ahem* Using the camping trip as an excuse to get a second brush...!) and was thinking of getting a travel brush that collapses into it's handle, etc.

But then I thought, I probably won't travel again until next summer, so why get a travel brush? I should get one to use year round in my rotation.

The brush I have now is the Vanderhagen Badger brush from their luxury kit on Amazon (here's the kit:)


I do like the brush a lot, it's served me well (it's actually been a great starter set as a whole that I'd recommend to any new wet-shaver!). The brush does poop out a hair or two a couple times a week, but other than that, it's broken in, works fine, and I like it.

I do like the badger in general, and would like to get a solid performing mid-range badger brush. But I am not partial to badger... I'd try a boar or horse hair to pair up in a rotation, whatever may be a good follow up purchase.

I'd like to get something in the $30 to $50 range... and something that will last for a very long time. I know the Vanderhagen is an entry level brush, and I can't help but not feel confident with it's shedding problem. I also don't want to stockpile brushes with a short life-span and have them all fall apart at the same time.

I know the different grades of badger hair, but I don't know anything about brands/prices/quality of craftsmanship out there. I went to a couple websites and it's almost impossible to tell by pictures if it's a good brush, or reliable brand, etc.

So what did you all do when it was time to get brush #2? Would you have gone a different path than the one you took? A different price range? Brush type? Brand? Do people switch from badger to boar and back, or is it polarizing, like you use all boars or all badgers?

It's funny, I've been wet-shaving for a couple months now, and I feel pretty confident with my knowledge and skills. Then something like this comes up and I realize how much I have yet to learn!

Thanks in advance for your advise and knowledge, and happy shaving!

[gus1942]

I don't switch back and forth or get polorized. I just rotate lots of brushes because it's fun. For a price range of $30-50, a Semogue boar like a 620 or 830 would be a good choice, but boars need breaking in and would probably not be the best choice for a July trip. I would suggest a Simpson Berkley Best at $49 from WCS. But really I would go the $65 for a Simpson Colonel X2L for one of the best badger brush bargains in shaving.

Gus

[kmev]

I have a Simpson Colonel Silvertip - the Ehsan. It's a very nice brush that I didn't want to travel with so I bought a Simpson Case. It came with the Simpson travel tube for $50 from The Superior Shave in Jacksonville. After using it for a week I have to say I like it just as much as the Ehsan and will be using far more than just traveling. It's a nice little brush.

[Perished]

Travel, and a bargain price?
Duke 1 in best.
Great brush, for home or trips away. Can't go wrong.

[turtle]

Travel, and a bargain price?
Duke 1 in best.
Great brush, for home or trips away. Can't go wrong.

+1 on this suggestion.

The Duke 1 and Case are basically the same height so both will fit in the Simpsons travel case

Simpsons	Wee Scot	Case	Duke 1
Loft	35 mm	42 mm	46 mm
knot	14 mm	19 mm	19 mm
Handle	32 mm	42 mm	39 mm
Total Height	67 mm	85 mm	85 mm

[BallisticBurrito]

I wanted a second brush that was entirely different from my first one just to try something different.
So I got a Omega 10086 boar from Italian Barber when it was on sale..$7.
It's also so small it'd easily fit into one of those larger pill containers for travel purposes.
I've only used it once so far but already love it.

Yes...$7.

http://www.italianbarber.com/omega-1...ar-brush-white
Out of stock in both colors right now, though.
Omega boars are a GREAT deal if you're looking for something different/something to travel with without worrying too much about. They have a LARGE selection for $10 and under.

EDIT: I should add that my first brush is a Omega 636 Silvertip($45 at West Coast Shaving). I heard all the love that boar got on here so I figured "Eh..why the heck not."

[dundak]

Vulfix 660 Badger. Either medium or large. Great knot, in your price range and will be a noticeable difference from the VDH

[Blackbeard's Delight]

Cool, thanks for all the tips on this. I never would have known to pick any of these brands in particular, it would have been a roll of the dice. The brushes all look pretty solid. Though I'll admit my untrained eye I probably wouldn't be able to spot a bad brush from a picture. I am definitely the type of person who would want one of every kind of brush style... a boar, badger, synthetic, etc. From what I've seen it's pretty much my destiny now that I am wet-shaving! Guess I've got some more thinking to do...

[BallisticBurrito]

Cool, thanks for all the tips on this. I never would have known to pick any of these brands in particular, it would have been a roll of the dice. The brushes all look pretty solid. Though I'll admit my untrained eye I probably wouldn't be able to spot a bad brush from a picture. I am definitely the type of person who would want one of every kind of brush style... a boar, badger, synthetic, etc. From what I've seen it's pretty much my destiny now that I am wet-shaving! Guess I've got some more thinking to do...

I also want to eventually have one of every 'type'...but that won't be for a while.

So for now I'll be quite happy with my 2 Omega brushes.

EDIT: BTW
http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Omeg...ush_p_485.html

Check out the "Most Underrated Brush Manufacturer" thread..a lot of Omega love going on in there~

[Huxley]

Semogue 1520, for the money one superb brush.

[wimbouman]

Synthetics make for good travel brushes.
Can I suggest an Omega artificial badger or a Muhle Black Fibers or Silvertio fibers?

Not too expensive, great performers and they dry fast!

[chrisgayle885]

I can make a suggestion, but this is something that you will need to figure out on your own. No one can tell you what works best for you. Also what you like today will probably be different from what you like in a year or two. That said, I do like Tom's suggestion of both a badger and a boar. Boar brushes take time to break in, so don't be put off by the feel of a new boar brush. It will be worlds different after a few months of use.

I used to have a bunch of brushes, but have only kept a single badger brush that was gifted to me last year. When I first received it, I didn't really like it much, but it really has grown on me. It is a Truefitt & Hill branded Rooney 3/2 Super. It is a nice soft dense brush, but it retails for about $120. Using one of the forum discount codes gets it down to $101 shipped and they throw in a nice cream sampler.

There are plenty of good brushes out there.

[leonidas]

....not really a travel brush, but small in size is the Omega 599..... good price and it is a silvertip.....

[attime6]

Spend $10 extra and get a Simpson Colonel IMO.

[Marco]

The Duke 2 Best is an excellent choice. Great for home and travelling, with both soaps and creams. One of my all-time favourite.