Hardest/ Most Durable Blades

[helicopter]

What was the test? Are there the SS Clouds and Peral Max and is GSB missing?

I really wanted to try the Pearl Max blades but I think I would survive without them.

The test was cutting calibrated (to BESS standard) nylon monofilament and measuring the force. Artificial wear was cutting office paper strips.

I tested over 300 blades, and then took the standard deviation of cutting force from each wear point in the test. Low standard deviation should indicate a durable blade. I sorted the list by standard deviation then removed some blades of different format or obscure blades. I removed some Indian blades because the collapse of the Supermax Malhotra family businesses means it is hard to keep track of what is actually still in production. The editing was quick and from memory, so if I wasn't sure it got chopped.

GSB just didn't perform well enough in this regard to make the cut.

 

[cranewarrior]

What was the test? Are there the SS Clouds and Peral Max and is GSB missing?

I really wanted to try the Pearl Max blades but I think I would survive without them.

PearlMax blades feel very mild on my face, probably too mild, but I could definitely see it lasting at that consistent level of performance for many, many shaves. I'm not too surprised to see it appeared on @helicopter 's mini-list above. Much appreciated by the way!

 

[Zora]

Don’t take random advice based on member’s subjective views on blades, take a look the @helicopter list of tested blades. It is clear that the blades that use the better steel/heat treatment will be sharper longer (Personna CC variants, German Wilkinson Sword/Schick, Ladas, Lord Cool, Dorco STP-301, etc).

 

[VerbaVolant]

Any suggestions?...

My suggestion, so to avoid headaches and complications. That is what I would do, anyway...

Spoiler: Alaska suggestion

 

[Barberbite]

PearlMax blades feel very mild on my face, probably too mild, but I could definitely see it lasting at that consistent level of performance for many, many shaves. I'm not too surprised to see it appeared on @helicopter 's mini-list above. Much appreciated by the way!

I had previously also read about favorable tests of @helicopter but specifically it's the first time that I have read very positive opinions on the Chinese Pearl Max blades, so if I find them without any rush I will see about buying a package to try them.
In the specific discussion on this blade another forum member had absolutely advised me against them but you can try a package.

They return to your friend, certainly ours are only indicative advice, vague suggestions.
We don't know, for example, how often your colleague will shave.
If when he's in Alaska he only plans to shave twice a week I thought as @helicopter and his tests suggested the Dorco blades are great too and don't forget the long lasting performance of the Titan blades.

In my opinion Dorco blades of any type could be suitable for your friend's specific requests.

 

[TheVez2]

I usually use my blades for at least 30 shaves each. I have tried stropping them with various different methods, but never found it to be of much use. There are a few blades that, for me, last much longer than others. Feather is one that I can get a few months of shaves with. My record on that blade is 131 shaves with that one. But the best blade I've ever used, that I can routinely get 6-12 months with is the Personna Platinum Chrome. I just completed my best run ever with the PC at 650 shaves. I think this is the 3rd time I've taken a PC past 365 shaves. It works really well for me.

 

[Zora]

I usually use my blades for at least 30 shaves each. I have tried stropping them with various different methods, but never found it to be of much use. There are a few blades that, for me, last much longer than others. Feather is one that I can get a few months of shaves with. My record on that blade is 131 shaves with that one. But the best blade I've ever used, that I can routinely get 6-12 months with is the Personna Platinum Chrome. I just completed my best run ever with the PC at 650 shaves. I think this is the 3rd time I've taken a PC past 365 shaves. It works really well for me.

How in the h*ll do you get 650 shaves from any blade?

 

[cranewarrior]

I had previously also read about favorable tests of @helicopter but specifically it's the first time that I have read very positive opinions on the Chinese Pearl Max blades, so if I find them without any rush I will see about buying a package to try them.
In the specific discussion on this blade another forum member had absolutely advised me against them but you can try a package.

They return to your friend, certainly ours are only indicative advice, vague suggestions.
We don't know, for example, how often your colleague will shave.
If when he's in Alaska he only plans to shave twice a week I thought as @helicopter and his tests suggested the Dorco blades are great too and don't forget the long lasting performance of the Titan blades.

In my opinion Dorco blades of any type could be suitable for your friend's specific requests.

@Barberbite I think @helicopter tested the ones in the colorful tuck, not the Astra SS look-alike packaging. FYI, if it makes a difference.

 

[Barberbite]

@Barberbite I think @helicopter tested the ones in the colorful tuck, not the Astra SS look-alike packaging. FYI, if it makes a difference.

I remember the PearlMax blades in similar packaging to the Astra SS to confuse them are the ones you tried.

I would never buy those, just the colorful packaging which I had looked for on Aliexpress and can't find them anymore.

 

[BigJ]

For me, Personna Labs, Wizamet SI (or Polsilver), and Kai would fit the bill. But as always YMMV is the rule.

 

[Zora]

PM me and I will PIF your buddy some blades, then nobody has to think too hard about this situation.

 

[TheVez2]

How in the h*ll do you get 650 shaves from any blade?

I'm not the only one that gets that type of performance.

Excalibur Club - Blade Longevity DE, SE and Injector

What: A club with a focus on getting the longest useful life from DE, SE or Injector blades. Why: There have been a number of posts on "above average" blade life in the Blades forum, and elsewhere. These include the legendary "One blade in February" threads, and of course the 100+ shave...

www.badgerandblade.com

 

[Zora]

I knew about the Excalibur Forum, but I simply can't believe it

 

[Barberbite]

Honorable mention for PearlMax and Cloud SS.

@helicopter I always get confused them, are these the Cloud SS blades with red package

or the light blue Cloud package B2004? The red package in another discussion here they were described as nanosized nitrogen-alloy?! All this to make them more long-lasting?

Cloud "nanosized nitrogen-alloy" blades - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/cloud-nanosized-nitrogen-alloy-blades.326938/

​

 

[helicopter]

@helicopter I always get confused them, are these the Cloud SS blades with red package

or the light blue Cloud package B2004? The red package in another discussion here they were described as nanosized nitrogen-alloy?! All this to make them more long-lasting?

Cloud "nanosized nitrogen-alloy" blades - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/cloud-nanosized-nitrogen-alloy-blades.326938/

​

The red one.

 

[musicman1951]

Med Preps (sorry, forgot the new name) were always the best for longevity. You might want to consider an AC SE razor. The blades last me three times longer (but are more expensive) and the blades are very small out of the package. I don't know if the extra thickness would help with stropping.

 

[Space_Cadet]

Your question and your friend's story brought on some memories that are now more bitter than sweet. I remember how our friend @Demolition got to 54 shaves on one of the blades we were piffing a couple of years ago and finally got tired with it, saying five of them would suffice him for a year. Those particular blades were vintage, and they don't make anything to match them today, but that's not that bad, really. What is much worse and much more sad, for all of us, I think, is that they really don't make men like him anymore.

This is a picture of his logging boots:

https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/media/pierre_paris_logging_boots_800x600-jpg.70059/

To Derrick.

 

[Quaznoid]

I usually use my blades for at least 30 shaves each. I have tried stropping them with various different methods, but never found it to be of much use. There are a few blades that, for me, last much longer than others. Feather is one that I can get a few months of shaves with. My record on that blade is 131 shaves with that one. But the best blade I've ever used, that I can routinely get 6-12 months with is the Personna Platinum Chrome. I just completed my best run ever with the PC at 650 shaves. I think this is the 3rd time I've taken a PC past 365 shaves. It works really well for me.

Why ?