Have I tried enough

So, been doing this traditional wet shaving thing for just over 6 years.  Started with boars due to cost vs badger. Used them until the plissoft style brushes came out. Dropped the boars and became a Synthetic man. When the tuxedo knots came out got some of Maggards black and white knots and have tried the APShaveCo cashmere as well. Was plenty satisfied but as you know the grass is always greener so trying a badger brush I suppose was inevitable. 

I started to write a short story on the badger brushes I have since tried and the order etc. and decided that was unnecessary. Here’s what I have:

Stirling Finest 24mm bulb (1st one believe purchased in 2/17)
Stirling Finest 24mm fan (seems closer to a flat top to me)
WCS 26mm Silvertip
WCS 24mm Silvertip 
Maggards 2 band 28mm
Elite Razor 24mm Manchurian Fan (seems like a hybrid) (last purchase believe fall 2018)
Elite Razor 26mm Manchurian Fan (seems like a hybrid) (last purchase believe fall 2018)

Based on what I have tried I feel I am a Synthetic brush man and while I don’t mind the badger brushes I have I don’t love them. 

I have no problem being a Synthetic Brush Guy and like boar and badger understand they all have their positives and negatives. 

So here’s the question. Have I tried enough badger knots and of a high enough quality to determine that badger is not for me or would some higher priced badger knot change my mind?  (I realize the cost spent above could have bought a couple higher priced brushes but that’s the game we play)

Thank you and look forward to your responses. 

Being a UofM alum, your situation is hopeless and thus recommend you quit now surrendering to synthetic brushes like the peasant you are....

Haha, actually, have a very good friend that has tried a bunch of the most regarded and expensive badger brushes on the market, preferring boar and especially synthetic. Brushes are like women: people can't control what they prefer and nothing wrong with that. Being honest about one's preferences is liberating. Go forth and enjoy.

Looks to me you have tried enough badger hair to forgo moving forward in that direction. Are there better knots than you've tried? I'd say yes, but the better knots still behave like badger thus it is a more "badger-y" experience, not a totally different game changing experience (unless you already enjoy badger). Glad you found your jam good buddy.

Just to provide a counterpoint, you need to try more badger.  I'm a badger first, boar second (close) and synthetic distant fourth person and one thing I'll say is that there are all kinds of badgers, stiff and coarse, soft and floppy and everything in between and price doesn't always dictate whether you like it or not (knot).

I use a made by Thater Fendrihan brand badger which is pretty soft and floppy to lather B&M soaps and many GDs as well, I have a Rooney and a Shavemac that are both super stiff and coarse that lather Mystic Water soap really well.  I have a few 2 band Thaters that I like and I've found that I prefer the smaller knots to the jumbos which is good because they're cheaper.  That said, I do like the Semogue boars.  Well broken in they lather like mad and are nice and soft if adequately soaked prior to lathering.

https://www.fendrihan.ca/collections/bad...dle-size-4

I have about 20 badger brushes and it seems that the hair in each one is different. Some I really like and others I don’t reach for as often. There are so many variables with badger brushes such as density, loft, hair thickness/fineness, gel tips, scrubby tips, two band, three band silver tip, etc.

A well broken in boar is nice but for me the synthetics just don’t provide enough variety. I would recommend you try as many different badgers as you can and then settle on keeping a few favorites.

DanLaw  Classic Post  got a kick out of it.   I must admit I am not a U of M alum.  I grew up in Iowa and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa.

Saw them when I was little lad on TV around 1981 and the Winged Helmet and Bo Schembechler won me over.  Kind of a rough start as the Iowa Hawkeyes went to the Rose Bowl in 1982.

Taking the below statement from a another Michigan fan here in Iowa who covers the Big 10.

I'm an Iowan by birth. A Michigan fan by the grace of Bo.

Thanks Lipripper660  I face lather 99% of the time and really do like the lather ease/consistency I get with Synthetics. Even though I have 5+ years of soap I still like their efficiency with soap usage as well.

DanLaw  Classic Post  got a kick out of it.   I must admit I am not a U of M alum.  I grew up in Iowa and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa.

Saw them when I was little lad on TV around 1981 and the Winged Helmet and Bo Schembechler won me over.  Kind of a rough start as the Iowa Hawkeyes went to the Rose Bowl in 1982.

Taking the below statement from a another Michigan fan here in Iowa who covers the Big 10.

I'm an Iowan by birth. A Michigan fan by the grace of Bo.

As a Washington and Pac-12 fan, I'm confused by this. Don James was king in that era. My brother lives in Iowa City, though, and I always enjoy driving on Hayden Fry (sp?) Blvd in Coralville...

I know others say the badgers you have listed are quality Wolverine, but there are far and few other makers knots that I like. Romera Manchurian, and Maseto 3-band 30MM 3-band silvertips (the 30mm 2-band Finest can work too). The Masetos in that size were standard density. I have an extra dense 3-band 30mm knot that is wonderful. Oh there was one other maker too but I can't recall the maker and grade.

Is there anything specific you are looking for in a badger brush? You mentioned you used boars before. What were some of the boars you used, and what did you like/dislike about them. The same goes for synthetic and the badgers you've tried. What did you like/dislike about those? That should help narrow down some refined choices. Ultimately, you really don't need to try anything, but if you can try it, and are wanting to, it can be a lot of fun. If I stayed with my EJ Best Badger Brush when I first started I would have not been happy at all. I'm definitely badger first, boar and horse second, with synthetics bringing up the rear. Even with synthetics not being my preferred route, I still have a good number just because of curiosity and that shave brushes is my eternal AD.

Yes you have. The only rock left unturned I can see may be an Elite Manchurian bulb to compare specifically to one of the fans you have.  A very fine choice in knot BTW.  Other than that probably time to move on.