Sample Pack or whole hog?

**VegasShaver** · 01-21-2009, 10:13 PM

Okay, so I think I'm finally ready to go beyond the Wally-world Personnas. I've heard a lot of good things about Derbys, so I'm considering getting a few, but I'm also torn between that and getting a sample pack. I can't justify getting both, so if I get the sample pack,

. For the cost of a standard sample pack + shipping, I can get 100 Derbys at Amazon. I thought that if it turned out I didn't like them, I could try to trade them at the B/S/T board to pick up something different. Your thoughts?

**RILEY** · 01-21-2009, 10:54 PM

My 2 cents for what its worth, it sounds like you are ready to leave the Wally World blades behind and enter a whole new world that lays before you, so why not experience all it has to offer.

You might eventually find Derby as your go to blade someday, but there are so many great blades in a sample pack to be experienced, each offering something good vs bad, mediocre vs stellar, smooth vs rough.

Why not see how each brand of blade is going to treat your face? You cant put a price on quality

**Mr. Igg** · 01-21-2009, 11:16 PM

Another vote for the sampler pack. Low cost, low risk, high reward!

**Skidoo161** · 01-21-2009, 11:24 PM

I recently got a sampler pack and I am very glad I did. I too was looking to upgrade from Walmart's standard.

**Aevum** · 01-21-2009, 11:37 PM

blade selection is a personal thing, you can bet on a "safe" blade like Derby or Red personna, but you risk ending up with a stock of blades that either provide a not so smooth shave, or even hurt your skin, when i use feathers, i end up bleeding, badly,

one of the most common sources of irritation dosnt come from a too sharp blade, it comes from a blade thats too dull for the person, and then that person uses excessive pressure and passes to get a clean shave, which can cause very serious irritation,

the sample pack insures the get a nice wide selection, insted of having to burn through 100 blades which are "not quite right"

**mketz747** · 01-22-2009, 06:18 AM

I started out with a sampler pack. It gives you the opportunity to try a variety of blades and makes it easy to figure out what works best for you. I initially thought of going with derby because of reviews I'd read and price but after trying them from my sampler pack they were just O.K. for me.

**Slack** · 01-22-2009, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by Aevum

blade selection is a personal thing, you can bet on a "safe" blade like Derby or Red personna, but you risk ending up with a stock of blades that either provide a not so smooth shave, or even hurt your skin, when i use feathers, i end up bleeding, badly,

one of the most common sources of irritation dosnt come from a too sharp blade, it comes from a blade thats too dull for the person, and then that person uses excessive pressure and passes to get a clean shave, which can cause very serious irritation,

the sample pack insures the get a nice wide selection, insted of having to burn through 100 blades which are "not quite right"

+1 to that

I started with a sampler pack and found that every blade was either too dull or too sharp because I had not yet found the correct angle. Since that time, I shaved with the Walmart Personnas for a number of months. While these blades weren't sharp, they were cheap. I endured a number of bad shaves by my own hand only to get better by finding the correct angle, pressure, stroke, etc.. Only earlier this week, I decided to give a Feather another try and it resulted in 2 great shaves so far with (hopefully) a 3rd to come.

**Mainecanefan** · 01-22-2009, 08:51 AM

Sampler pack vote here. Derbys are highly touted, but not everyone loves them. You may find something you love a hell of a lot more than Derby's for a nominal investment.

**Mr. RazorBurns** · 01-22-2009, 09:05 AM

Well I thought like you, VegasShaver. I bought 100 Red Personas after moving up from the CVS brand. I was very lucky that they work for me. Since then I have tried a couple of the sample packs and have found a few other blades that work just as well or better. I still use the reds for everyday shaves but I have found some others that I use for special occasion shaves. If I got a "do-over" I would try the sample first. Another thing I've found is that as you acquire more razors (and you will

) different blades work better in some razors than others. Having sample allows you to experiment with that.

**MrFusion** · 01-22-2009, 09:06 AM

Get the sampler - I did.
I tried Derbys first and like them ok but I am keen to try the others and see if I find something I like even better.

**mankini** · 01-22-2009, 09:17 AM

Do not even consider not getting a sampler pack. In fact I am on my 2nd sampler pack in about a year. It is true what others have said. Early on before you have mastered your beard/face/shaving technique it is unfair to the blades and to you for passing judgement on a blade.

You are bound to increase your soap or cream collection at some point and you may even get another razor. Those blades you dismissed may suddenly become top contenders when paired with new combinations.

You owe it to yourself to get a good, broad, sample pack of blades. There will be a learning curve for each brand so go carefully until you master that blade.

Go ahead what are you waiting for, place that order for a blade sampler, it may be a little costlier in the short term but looking ahead when you select a few blades to stay with...well...that is money well spent.

**Plott** · 01-22-2009, 09:26 AM

you get the drift.. Just go buy a sample!

**Lucius** · 01-22-2009, 09:27 AM

Derbys are popular, but I got the worst shaves with them as far as a close shave is concerned. Sampler pack.

**dmnall** · 01-22-2009, 11:08 AM

When I started, I bought a 100 pack of Derbys and tried out the Walmart Personna's *Hated them*, loved the Derbys and then I tried out Astras *loved them more then Derbys*.. Then I tried out Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge and a Feather. I ended up liking the feather a lot and bought 250 of them. Now if I could go back, I would have gotten a sampler pack and then loaded up on blades! But I do use all 3 blades I have.. I just prefer the Feathers, Astra and Derbys in that order! I just got my 250 pack last night, I loaded up all 3 razors with feathers! I just shaved with my most gentle razor and least used *SuperSpeed*. I got a great shave because the derbys took 4 passes, Astras were a hit and miss in the SS and Feathers 2.5 passes BBS.. SS with Feathers is rivaling my favorite razor too *Slant*...

**Tha Baron** · 01-22-2009, 11:47 AM

+1 for the sampler...

I actually purchased 100 derbys for about $20, just because of the bargain. Then the sampler came and I tried the feathers, which is probably what I will use from now on.

The blade is where 'the rubber meets the road' and probably has the most influence in how the shave turns out.

Keep in mind you could make your own sampler... just buy 1 pack of each blade you want through WCS. You dont have to get the one with 10 blades of everything.