[blinkingled]

I have long pondered using old fashioned blades - but the ones I used in my time were all very much inferior to Gillette or Harrys which is what I am using right now ( they are cheaper, are good quality and last far longer than Gillette btw.).

If you don't mind answering - what blades/razor combo you're using and are there any downsides (ex. easy to cut yourself, shave quality etc.) that you choose to live with?

[crdb]

I've tried probably a dozen brands. Counter-intuitively, I found that the sharpest were the ones least likely to cut, because you apply so little pressure (and maybe because they notch the hair immediately, instead of sliding down to the skin). Feathers are easily the best at least in my experience, beating even the "premium" offerings from Gillette and Wilkinson and making it easily worth the (rather large) premium; not only are they sharp but they stay sharp almost forever - I've occasionally had several weeks' use on a single Feather.

I cut myself all the time with the cheap no-name Israeli blades (rebranded Personna?), so called it a false economy. Not impressed with Astra either. YMMV - softer hair doesn't require as much cutting.

[jdmichal]

> Counter-intuitively, I found that the sharpest were the ones least likely to cut...

This is actually a pretty common phenomenon among pretty much any kind of blade. The logic is that (supposedly) the majority of knife accidents are caused by losing control of the knife through applied pressure. When something unexpected happens, the knife has a lot of force behind it and travels quickly to places it isn't supposed to be, like inside you. A well-sharpened kitchen knife will cut through vegetables with barely more pressure than the weight of the blade, so unexpected forceful interactions are very rare.

[scubadude]

Take a look at http://reddit.com/r/wickededge

Many believe that shaving technology reached its peak quite some time ago.

[swampthinker]

http://www.reddit.com/r/wicked_edge Fixed it for you.

[jessaustin]

These are the ones I use:

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QY8QXM

They are quite well-reviewed, so I'm not the only person who likes them. I have a no-name butterfly-style handle, for which I think I also paid about $10. I splurge a little to get the gel-style rather than the white-foam shaving cream, although I always get store brand so I don't splurge too much. b^)

[steadicat]

Check out https://getbevel.com, another modern startup with a polished brand and service that focuses on double-edge razors instead.

[unwind]

The article mentioned that the German factory bought by Harry's also manufactured the blades for Bevel. It doesn't say how the takeover affects this, though.

I guess it would make sense to not continue building a competitor's product, but on the other hand there might have been contracts in place before the takeover. I found it confusing that this rather interesting point wasn't invetigated. Perhaps I missed it?

[jessaustin]

Much more has been invested in purchasing this factory than had been in the rest of the company. This would be the wrong place to impose a strategy tax.