5.0 out of 5 stars Sharper than Astra SP Platinum, slightly less than Feather

B. · May 30, 2013

TL;DR — These are good, sharp blades and provide an extremely close shave. Possibly my favorite blade where cost is no concern. Feather is sharper, but doesn't provide a better shave in my experience. Astra SP Platinum is not quite as sharp, but is half as expensive and still quite comfortable.Here is my review of the blades I've tried. There are a lot of sampler packs on Bolo, but after doing some research I chose to order around 30 each of just a few different blades to try, avoiding all of the lesser-quality "filler". I'll compare here and there to Mach-3 blades since that's what I previously used before switching to electric, and now this.First off, Derby is what came with my razor. These you can practically rake across your face any way you see fit. They aren't very sharp, on par with a Mach-3 that's been used a few times. Shaving requires more strokes which leads to more irritation, especially on the neck. That said, I'd say these are a good blade if you're super worried about cutting yourself, because it's practically impossible. But even beginners might want to look elsewhere as these blades kind of ruin the "shaving experience". Don't be disappointed if you just bought this razor and have only tried these blades! Keep reading...I ordered a 100-pack of Astra SP Platinum (that's Astra Superior Premium Platinum, not the regular stainless) since it's under ten bucks at the time of this writing. These are great. Beginners, start here. They're sharp enough that you don't have to press the razor against your skin—which you shouldn't have to! You're supposed to let the weight of your razor do the work as you guide it along your face in short strokes. So naturally, these are sharper than Mach-3 blades, but if you do press a little, you probably won't nick yourself. I love these blades because for me, they're comfortable enough for everyday use and provide good, close shaves at a very inexpensive price. Easy on my neck with care. My go-to blade. Great for beginners and pros alike, and eligible for Subscribe & Save!Wilkinson Sword Classic seem to be great blades for people who have their technique down pretty well. Compared to Astra SP Platinum, they are sharper. They provided the best shave of the lot, but I did nick myself here and there on my neck and below my chin the first time around. Do not push these blades against your skin. It doesn't take much mastery to use these, and they're worth working up to. Downside: more than twice the price of Astra SP Platinum. I'll keep some of these around for days when I want the closest shave possible, or I just feel like something different. If you're new to traditional shaving or think Mach-3 blades are sharp, maybe don't start here, but definitely try them out.Feather "New Hi Stainless" Platinum Coated blades are exactly what the reviews say: sharp. My first shave I got a good amount of nicks, but my second I had almost none. I adapted well, and you have to; each brand is a little different and the best require good technique, but some are more forgiving than others. These are negligibly sharper than the Wilkinson Sword Classic but they aren't forgiving at all and I didn't achieve any better of a shave. They're incredibly sharp compared to a Mach-3 blade. At 2x the price of the aforementioned and more than 3x the price of Astra SP Platinum, I won't be keeping these on hand, but your mileage may vary. If you only want the sharpest blade around, this is it. Fun fact: these come ten to a pack instead of five.In conclusion, I'm sticking with Astra SP Platinum for regular use and Wilkinson Sword Classic when I'm up for something sharper. I shave every other day, and either is priced reasonably enough that if I want, I can use each side of a blade just once for a fresh edge every shave. That's about a 100-pack every year, so do the maths on price. Of course, both brands last much longer than this if you're looking for even better value.

5.0 out of 5 stars My go-to blade

R.M. · March 25, 2015

Provide a clean and comfortable shave. A little pricier than bargain blades but they shave WORLDS better than some of the cheaper brands like Personna. I can also compare them to Feather, which a lot of people rave about. Feather shave very smoothly and they are fine on my face, but they give me TERRIBLE razor burn on my neck. WS blades are the best of both worlds, extremely sharp and also extremely smooth and forgiving on the skin.They come in a plastic box which can safely hold your used blades. I've been very happy with them. You can get a 100 pack for less than $20 that will last you 1 - 2 years. Don't waste your time trying to pinch pennies on inferior blades, this is your face you're talking about!PROS:* Extremely sharp, but also smooth shaving* Coated with chromium, ceramic, and teflon. In my experience this does deliver a smooth shave* Comes with plastic boxes for blade disposal. Many cheaper brands do not.CONS:* On the pricier side. Still, you can buy 100 of these for less than 20 bucks...OVERALL:* My go-to blade. Great combination of sharpness and smoothness. For me, unbeatable.

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Dependable Stand-by" Single Blade that Saves you $$$$ over the Triple-Blade Brands

B.A.B. · June 15, 2015

The "tried-and-true" trusted brand of blades that my dad used to use, and which I started shaving with when I was younger.....Good standard quality and they fit most single-blade razor holders.And these single blades shave just as smoothly as the triples do: They hold their sharpness well after several shavings (My beard is more on the "rough scraggly side" so I have stiffer beard hairs and often wear-out the sharpness of the other triple blade razors after only 2 or 3 uses, but each of these Wilkinson's Blades stay sharp over 5 or 8 uses or more.)Very pleased with the price, which, after years of buying triple-blade razor and forking over large sums of cash for sets of only 5 or 8 blades, I was able to buy 30 blades at only a fraction of the cost of the triple blades....When I purchased these, it was $1.87 for a set of 5 blades (that's just 37 cents a blade; compare that to the exorbitant cost of a single triple-blade model in the store, which are around $2 or $3 EACH)Blades like these aren't often found in the stores these days, so I was happy to find these online and at such an affordable price....Definitely will repeat and buy more in the future.

5.0 out of 5 stars Old standard

A.A. · June 9, 2008

I used to shave with the Gillette twin blade razor. That is, until they came out with the triple blade 'system' - when I switched over to that. After a while they came out with the Quattro and I said, "What the heck, lets keep up with the times". Finally, when Gillette introduced the Schtick (or some such monstrosity) a bulb went on in my head. It seems to me that they want to innovate for the sake of innovation.That's when I decided to try out the old tried and tested solution and know what? I am never going back. It used to take me atleast 4-5 rinses every time I shave using a multiple blade 'system'. That's because the blades are so close together that hair gets trapped between the blades. They promise you a closer shave and all that, but I haven't seen any difference.My double edged razor - the same one that my dad and probably his dad used to shave with - gives me a very close shave and I only rinse once and even then I just hold it under water and all the hair is gone. With the Gillettes I used to have to rub it with my fingers to get all the hair off!Not the least is the feeling of manliness you get when you shave with a double edged razor. Yes, it's not a straight edge, but this is why I like it. It is innovation where they've made a good product (straight edge) better and safer!I use a Merkur Long Handled Safety Razor with these blades. Best decision I've made in a long time.