Vulfix, Rooney or Jagger?

[Cuttingboard]

I've read several comments and reviews and when describing shaving brushes, the term "floppy" is used to describe the bristles. What does this mean?

I will be buying my first brush that did not come in $25 Art of Shaving kit and I've been told that some brushes work better with shaving soap and some with cream. I plan on using both Soap and Cream to see which I prefer but would like a brush that is good with both. I prefer to buy something a little more expensive out of the gate because I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for. Below are the 3 brushes that I'm considering, I think I'm leaning toward the Rooney because I like the faux horn but the fact its a "small" and have not heard much about them on this board has made me a little leary. Is it my imagination but is the small Rooney larger than the Medium Jagger? I think the Jagger may be the best "bang for you buck" model. I saw the Norm posted a link to Duluth Trading Company's Jagger which looks very good right now.

Rooney "Small" Dimensions:
Overall brush height: 107mm
Handle height: 55mm
Brush Loft: 52mm
Knot diameter: 22mm

Jagger Medium Dimensions:
Overall height 99mm (3.9 inches)
Handle height 46mm (1.8 inches)
Handle diameter 33mm (1.3 inches)
Knot size 21mm


1. Vulfix 376 Super Badger ($70);

2. The Rooney Style 2 Size 1 (Small) Super Silver in faux Horn ($75);

3. Edwin Jagger Medium Best Badger ($37);



Thanks in advance.

[ari95]

Floppiness refers to how tightly packed the badger hair is, as well as how stiff it is. Vulfix is usually considered a floppy brush because the knots are not very dense. Vulfix is however, a good quality brush that lathers up a storm, and I don't hear much about them shedding. As far as Rooney's small size, it really is more of a medium in my opinion. 52mm loft and 22mm knot is not tiny to me. I bought a C&E brush for my brother which is supposes the be the same as EJ medium, but that brush really did seem tiny. I'm not knocking small brushes but it felt much smaller than my Rooney 3/1.
These brushes you are looking at are all good brushes. If I were choosing I would narrow it down to Vulfix and Rooney. The Vulfix will seem larger because of the 24mm knot, it will be soft and lather well. The Rooney is the best quality brush I own, and for the price they are tough to beat. It will be much denser, and needs some break in time, because mine didn't lather very well at first. It took some time and technique but now it's great.
Good luck with the decision any one will be a nice brush.

[jkh]

Get the Rooney #3/1(small) in super for $75. This is considered by many around here to be the best all around (i.e., soap and cream) brush for the $$$.

[dwestenk]

... The Rooney is the best quality brush I own, and for the price they are tough to beat. ...

My EJ is floppy and my Rooney 2/1 is not. I would vote for the Rooney!

[walds11]

I just received a C&E BBB in the mail yesterday and used it this morning. .Great brush for the money. .I have been using a cheap, synthetic brush from the Body Shop. .I think my C&E BBB flops a little. It is hard to describe,..but when it is wet,..the hair tends to lean a little, .if I am explaining it properly...Is that what you mean by flop?..I though this brush did not flop? .Anyway,..I am new to this,..but still got a great face lathering with the C&E BBB,..whether it flopped or not...The synthetic Body Shop brush is fairly stiff and does not lean or flop at all.

[thirdeye]

Get the Rooney #3/1(small) in super for $75. This is considered by many around here to be the best all around (i.e., soap and cream) brush for the $$$.

My EJ is floppy and my Rooney 2/1 is not. I would vote for the Rooney!

We can wrap this up in three words....Rooney, Rooney, Rooney....

[Confilo]

We can wrap this up in three words....Rooney, Rooney, Rooney....

+1 Rooneys are excellent and work great with soap and IMO if they do soap, they'll do cream just as well,
I sometimes use the Rooney with cream before soap to built a superlather and it is just divine

[whitebar]

Rooney 3/1 in Super. You won't be sorry.

[ambrose]

Check this out bud

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=77692

[Cuttingboard]

Great deal Ambrose, thank you very much for the link. I'm not a fan of Rooney Styles 1 & 3. I'm looking for a brush that's more has a more contemporary style and in a chocolate brown/faux horn. I would reconsider if the $39 Rooney was in faux horn.

[professorchaos]

Rooney!

[cjlutzo]

My Rooney 2/1 was my first "non-dime-store" brush. In fact, it was my only brush before a wicked case of SBAD set in and led me to places like Simpson's, Omega, C&E/EJ, and Vulfix. I, too, liked the fact that the Rooney 2/1 shape was a little more contemporary, and different from most of the other brushes out there (even before I knew about anything called a persian jar). I have been extremely pleased with my 2/1. I still keep it in the shower as my everyday brush when I don't have time to do a "full" shave at the sink with either soap and my Chubby 1, cream and my C&E/EJ Super, or one of the other brushes I try to keep out of sight and in frequent use. Although I now only use it with the GFT Almond tub or Proraso Green tube I keep in the shower, it performed equally well with soaps (Nomad and Tabac) when it was my only choice. I heartily recommend the Rooney 2/1, and think you will be pleased. Good luck whatever you decide.

[Bristlingbeardofodin]

All three brushes are fine choices. I am a Vulfix fan but that is based on what works for me. Try one and if you don't like it sell it on BST.

[muddy250]

Can only comment on the EJ since I don't have the others and would say it's an excellent brush for both cream and soap. Not floppy firm with a little prickle and surprisingly big once bloomed. I also have a Kent but only because I needed to see what silvertip felt like. I use both now. EJ for soap and Kent for cream.

[wavescrashing]

I just received a C&E BBB in the mail yesterday and used it this morning. .Great brush for the money. .I have been using a cheap, synthetic brush from the Body Shop. .I think my C&E BBB flops a little. It is hard to describe,..but when it is wet,..the hair tends to lean a little, .if I am explaining it properly...Is that what you mean by flop?..I though this brush did not flop? .Anyway,..I am new to this,..but still got a great face lathering with the C&E BBB,..whether it flopped or not...The synthetic Body Shop brush is fairly stiff and does not lean or flop at all.

Thank goodness for the search button. I was about to post a thread asking about the Body shop's synthetic brush. By fairly stiff, do you find it harder to get a good lather or uncomfortable on the face?
My wife shops there a lot and for the price of this brush, I may just tag along next time.

[walds11]

It is not a bad brush. Small and lathers ok, stiff, but the tips are soft. You really can't go wrong for $11, but I would just go right to the next step if I was in your shoes. I'll keep the Body Shop brush for a back-up or for travel.

Thank goodness for the search button. I was about to post a thread asking about the Body shop's synthetic brush. By fairly stiff, do you find it harder to get a good lather or uncomfortable on the face?
My wife shops there a lot and for the price of this brush, I may just tag along next time.

[pj_rage]

If you don't get the Rooney now, you'll get it eventually. Might as well cut to the chase. It's a great brush and you won't regret it!

[TorzJohnson]

Rooney 2/1!