Astra SP's are better than Med Preps!

[AirForceMX]

For me at least! I mostly read that every thinks the opposite. They say Med Preps are in a totally different league. For me they feel about the same in the sharpness category, but the smoothness of the Astra totally trumps the Med Prep. I get alot of tug and pull with the Prep, but not so much I can't shave with it. Anyone else feel the same?

[AirForceMX]

Oops! thought I was posting in a different thread. I edited this post and put it where it belonged! HA!

[The Creepy Kid]

If you're getting alot of tug and pull with the ASR Lab/Prep, adjust the angle of of your razor to change the pitch of the blade. When I first started using them I felt like my face was baby smooth and on fire from having every follicle ripped out. After about 9 shaves I realized my technique was at fault, and now Labs/Preps are my go-to blade.

[Predict]

I can't stand Astra sp, but I love med preps.

[sychodelix]

Med preps are okay, but I loooove my Russian and Israeli blades.

[turtle]

Astra is a very nice blade and one that a lot of folks poo poo...

[Yuritau]

I'm with the OP on this one. The Astras are just plain more consistent, and shave better.

[AirForceMX]

Today I brought 3 blades with me for my morning shave. Gillette 7 OC Yellow Sharp Edge, Gillette 7 OC Blacks, and an Astra SP. I wanted to try out the first two blades, and brought the Astra for back up. A few strokes with the Sharp Edge and I could tell it was sharp, but it also felt like it was scraping my face! Same thing with the "black" so I put the Astra in, and BAM...smooth as butter. I think I finally found my blade!

[Lephturn]

If you're getting alot of tug and pull with the ASR Lab/Prep, adjust the angle of of your razor to change the pitch of the blade. When I first started using them I felt like my face was baby smooth and on fire from having every follicle ripped out. After about 9 shaves I realized my technique was at fault, and now Labs/Preps are my go-to blade.

In what way did you change your angle? More shallow (handle perpendicular and maybe sliding the cap) or more steep? I have my guess but I am interested to see what worked for you with these blades. What razor are you working with?

[vferdman]

I too have better luck with Astra SP than with Personna Super (Med/Lab). In fact I just traded away my small stash of 25 Med/Prep Personnas for mostly Feathers and some Gillette 7 O'clock yellows, which I like a lot. As for Astras, it's one of my go-to blades. It is very good and smooth and consistent. I usually wipe the glue off before the first shave since there is way too much of it. Other than that a pretty much perfect blade. At the price they go for right now ($10/100) I don't need to push them beyond a 3rd shave and they do 3 very easily and usually can be use for the 4th and part of the 5th, but at $0.10/each why bother finding out when it's going to stop being good? I also enjoy Feathers and Most Gillette 7 O'clock versions. Med preps just never did it for me. They always seemed on a harsh side. Sharp, yes, but not beyond 3 shaves and even those I would not really enjoy. Also, they are pricier than Astras, so I had to get rid of them. I know many people enjoy them and I hope the person I traded with is one of them, but me, I'll stick with Astras, Feathers, and my current favorite Super Max Super Platinum. These are absolutely amazing and truly almost rival Feathers in sharpness, but are smoother. Also easy 5 shaves on consistent basis. I think that's going to be my next 100 count purchase.

[martym]

I shave with Astra SP's only.
When using a super speed, I get 2 wonderful shaves.
When using a slim adjustable or fatboy with both set at 9, I get at least 6 wonderful shaves.
I haven't yet tried beyond 6.
The adjustable simply took the blade to another even higher level.
I can even use alcohol instead of witch hazel.
marty

[waine]

Astra Superior Platinums give me the best head shave out of any blade I have tried.

[barrycv]

I recently went back to Astras to give it another go around. I originally thought they were just OK, a bit rough.

Now, after a few months, I think they are pretty smooth & seem to have a decent longevity. However, where they fall short, is how long the shave lasts. After using a Med or Feather, I can go most of the day & won't feel much/any stubble until like dinner time. After the Astra, I feel it start at lunch.

So, not awful, just not as good as others.

[JimK]

Astra SP's have become my favorite all around blade regardless of price. I have bought into a fairly large collection of brands, including the blades that win the greatest applause on the net, but when it comes down to shaving, I'd rather have an Astra SP in my favorite razor than anything else. That's not to say the others are bad in any way. It's simply that for me, Astra blades offer the ultimate balance of silent, tug free sharpnes and silky smooth skin feel during and after the shave. Of course that's just for my beard, but I can do a two pass perfect shave with an Astra SP blindfolded, and none of my other blades fall into that category. Not Feathers, not Personnas. I still like the other high end blades, but considering that Astras start my day perfectly, and cost just under 10 cents each including shipping, it's no wonder that I have hundreds of them in my blade drawer.... I don't even know how many shaves they are capable of delivering before they go bad. At less than ten cents each, I shave four days, trim the fuzz at the back of my neck on the fourth shave, toss the blade, and start again.

Being a blade junkie, I often use other blades for fun or simply to test, but if I only had Astra SP's on hand, I would not only be as content as a kitten in a warm place on a winter day, but my annual blade expense on a four day rotation would amount to about $9. That's incredible. In any event, I am glad that Gillette invested in the St Pete razor plant over in Russia. It's still relatively new, and until apathy or worn out machinery spoils everything, we are treated to many of the best blades made on the planet at dirt cheap prices. Pick your favorite wrapper art or brand name, and order in bulk while quality is high and prices are low!

[jwilock]

Astra SP's have become my favorite all around blade regardless of price. I have bought into a fairly large collection of brands, including the blades that win the greatest applause on the net, but when it comes down to shaving, I'd rather have an Astra SP in my favorite razor than anything else. That's not to say the others are bad in any way. It's simply that for me, Astra blades offer the ultimate balance of silent, tug free sharpnes and silky smooth skin feel during and after the shave. Of course that's just for my beard, but I can do a two pass perfect shave with an Astra SP blindfolded, and none of my other blades fall into that category. Not Feathers, not Personnas. I still like the other high end blades, but considering that Astras start my day perfectly, and cost just under 10 cents each including shipping, it's no wonder that I have hundreds of them in my blade drawer.... I don't even know how many shaves they are capable of delivering before they go bad. At less than ten cents each, I shave four days, trim the fuzz at the back of my neck on the fourth shave, toss the blade, and start again.

Being a blade junkie, I often use other blades for fun or simply to test, but if I only had Astra SP's on hand, I would not only be as content as a kitten in a warm place on a winter day, but my annual blade expense on a four day rotation would amount to about $9. That's incredible. In any event, I am glad that Gillette invested in the St Pete razor plant over in Russia. It's still relatively new, and until apathy or worn out machinery spoils everything, we are treated to many of the best blades made on the planet at dirt cheap prices. Pick your favorite wrapper art or brand name, and order in bulk while quality is high and prices are low!

Ahh. I agree. I prefer some to others (with no scientific, blind testing to back that up). But I have yet to find a blade coming out of that plant that is not good, and some are great - Silver Blues, Perma-Sharps, 7 OC Blues and Yellows, Gillette White Platinums, SIs, etc.

[Paddy Pucks]

I agree with the OP. I found that Personna Med/Labs gave a decent shave without irritation, but there was a bit of tugging. For me, the Astras gave a much smoother shave as well.

[SteveWY]

I will be no help here at all. I am firmly and comfortably on the fence. The Astra SP and Personna Super (Lab) are my "top" go-to blades. I keep thinking I can settle on THE ONE but to no avail. For me (IMO) they are both great blades with indistiguishable differences (YMMV). I give a nod to the Personna Labs on convenience for the convenient 100-pk dispenser box and no glue dots on the blade. The Astra gets the nod for best price/blade. Once loaded in the razor, they are both a tie for Top Gun!

[ia_james]

The Lab and my face don't get along. It had been months since I gave myself a weeper with the Walmart Wilkinson, gave myself about a dozen good ones over 4 shaves with the Labs. They are Sharp, but not so sharp as a 7 o'clock Yellow. YMMV, of course.

[the beav]

Astras aren't the sharpest blade out there, but they are probably the best blade for the money. They work very well for me in Single Rings.

[AjaxLepinski]

A lot of blades seem, to me, to be larger or, have more exposure than Astra SPs. I tried Gillette 7 O'Clock Black, Persona Red, Wilkenson Sword and they all seem really aggressive and I'm thinking that they stick out of my razor further. Did anyone ever take size measurements of various blades?