Feather not for me?

I'm still relatively new to this but have tried 10 or so blades with a variety I bought plus some from TAB. My beard is coarse, and my neck sensitive so I do three passes everywhere, WTG/XTG/XTG the other way. I've yet to get bbs, but depending on the blade and technique get some great shaves.

Due to my coarseness/thickness I was excited to try Feathers, the alleged sharpest most efficient blade out there. Well, I can't get a good shave with these things. Every shave is uncomfortable, yet they also aren't remotely close. Even after three passes I have lots of coarse stubble left. I have tried these in all 3 of my razors, multiple shaves so it isn't razor aggressiveness or angle.

Just wondering if anyone else has had the same experience, since I've typically seen them lauded for those with thick/coarse beards.

I'm still relatively new to this .

If you are new to this, 'nothing' is for/not for you yet. I have doing this for close to 3 years and I am beginning to find out that a lot of blades/razors etc. that I considered 'not for me' was actually 'not for my bad technique'.

If Feathers are giving you tough time, after a decent effort, move on but don't write them off. Revisit once you are more confident about your skill.


If relatively new means, more experienced than me, ignore my advice

I would echo what @"iamsms" said. Although several years into wet shaving, I still realize that my technique is now better than it was, say, a year ago. If a soap, razor or blade doesn’t work for you now, move on and come back to it in a while. Sometimes things change.

That being said, sometimes things just won’t click, even with a fair amount of time and tries. That’s why it’s good that there’s so much variety in this field.

Feathers are one of those blades that only seem to work in a few razors for me. I have a couple of blades that work well in all of my razors, but my Feathers only get used in my NEW Deluxe and my ATT H1.

I tried Feathers early on when my "technique wasn't as good" too and was not impressed. I tried them again recently (2 1/2 years later) and still don't like them. I can get a decent shave with them and they are sharp, but feel harsh. I'd much rather stick to the sharpness and smoothness of Astra SPs or Polsilvers. Not to mention getting more shaves out of each blade for a much lower price. YMMV...

Feathers were awful in my EJ DE-89 which was my starter razor but I've since found that the Feather has (for me) an affinity for the AS-D2 (duh), the ikon 102, (actually most ikons) and its sweet in the Rockwell 6s. I also prefer it in the Wolfman WR-1 and the ATT M2. The Feather seems to like aggressive razors for me, the ikon 102 being the exception.

So, as pointed out above, razor and blade combinations are important and it wouldn't hurt to try several different blades each time you get a new razor. You'll be surprised when razors or blades that you thought sucked, actually don't.

As others have said, if you are new to this, it is likely your technique, more than the blades. Yes, we all have preferences, and we all have a couple blades we love and a couple we dislike, but for the most part, with solid technique, most of us can use most blades without a lot of drama. It takes experience to get the most from your razor.

With that said, I, too, find Feather Hi Stainless DE blades to be a bit harsh. I can also only get 1 really comfortable shave from them. 2 if I am willing to suffer a bit with tugging. You can "soften" them by palm stropping, which I have noticed helps to smooth a wide variety of blades and make them less harsh on the skin, but every once in a while, we all run into a blade that simply doesn;t provide enough comfort and closeness for us. Different skin, hair, and follicle density all leads to differences in needs as far as the edge that we use to remove the hair. Thus the phrase, "Your mileage may vary".

Feathers are not for everyone. I prefer them in milder razors.

They're not my cup o tea either. You're not alone.

They are my favorite blade in most razors. Timeless, Wunderbar, New LC, etc.. I started with them and always liked them. Particularly in more aggressive razors. Polisilvers and Astras didn't work for me when I first started, but I think I may revisit them soon.