How much gear is your “ideal”?

I believe it is safe to say most of us have experienced at least one acquisition disorder (AD) since starting the wet-shaving journey. And those AD’s likely have resulted in an over-crowded bath room or closet or both! After taking a visual inventory of the shave den this past weekend, I realized my AD’s have resulted in a lot of gear that will see little use in the future (I really need to start selling stuff). But it also made me wonder, if I could start over, knowing what I know now about technique, scent preferences, soap base preference, etc, etc, etc….what number gear would be in my ideal shave den?

Brushes: Seven brushes would be ideal, one for each day of the week. I would likely have four synthetics, two badgers, and a boar.

Razors: This one is tough because of the variety within DE, SE, slants, and SR. But I think ten would be a good number. Most of them would be DE and, based on usage over the past couple years, most would be modern SS razors. My one absolute must-have razor would be my Rockwell 6S with the Rex Ambassador and Blackbird coming in right behind the 6S

Soaps: Personally, I would think about 40 soaps would be good. That number should allow for sufficient variety in terms of artisan/brand and scent while working easily into a rotation.

Obviously, there is no right or wrong answer to the question, I just thought it would be interesting to read what others consider “acceptable” numbers.

Currently my ideal would be quite a bit less than what I already have on hand. Here's what I'd keep from what I currently own....

Razors (these three):
Wolfman WR2 w/WRH2 handle - the very best razor I've found
Timeless .68 SB with UFO Colibri handle - This is outstanding and the most comfortable razor I've ever shaved with.
King Cobra AC blade razor - For when I want a quicker shave. My favorite AC blade setup.

Brushes (again three): Declaration Grooming makes the very best brushes I've ever experienced. I could go with just the two 400's but I like having the 26mm B5 knot as well.
Declaration Grooming B2 in Rubberset 400 handle
Declaration Grooming B4 in Rubberset 400 handle
Declaration Grooming B5 in Mozingo handle

Preshave (just one):
Grooming Dept - outstanding stuff. When I use a preshave this is it. I won't bother with any others.

Soaps (about 40 in total from these makers):
Grooming Dept - The very best soaps ever made.
Tallow & Steel - Right up there for me, outstanding
Lisa's Natural Herbal Creations (Premium version) - another really great upper tier 1 soap that's relatively undiscovered.
Martin De Candre - Not in my tier 1 but I've gotta have this one, at least for travel, as it effortlessly lathers with even the very worst water.

After Shave (it's nice to have all of the matching ones but I could easily get by with these three):
L'Occitane Cade After Shave balm - outstanding stuff. Thinking about using this one daily year round.
Grooming Dept Post Shave Serum - a bit oily but outstanding for my skin.
Neutrogena Post Shave Lotion - Nice consistency and I love that it has a sun block in it.

Blades:
Feather DE blades - The very best de blades.
Feather Artist Club blades - outstanding AC blades.

Left out would be some really, really nice gear including several razors from Wolfman (including a BBS-1), a couple Paradigm razors, a couple Charcoal Goods razors, plenty of ATT stuff, and the list goes on. Some really excellent high end brushes, lots of other soaps, plenty of Wolfman and UFO handles. Plenty of straight razors including several really nice Japanese ones, a couple strops, Way too many aftershaves and much, much more. I'm fortunate to have what I do but I certainly don't need to have all of it.

ideal: 3 razors, 7 soaps/creams, 7 brushes.

Edit: 2/19

Razors: Gilette tech, ATT H1, GC OC lvl 3
Soaps: SV Dolomati, Body Shop Maca root cream, Bulgari Man in Black soap, AoS peppermint cream, ToBS sandalwood cream, Razorock Tuscan Oud, WSP tobacco.

Brushes: Stirling 26 mm Finest, Stirling Kong synthetic, Paladin WCXL, Omega 10083, Romera 28 mm chubby, Rooney Victorian 1 SB, Declaration 26 mm.

I could use the above for the rest of my life without any problems(although, my wife has informed me that if I buy any more then the rest of my life will not indicate a time long enough to use all of those brushes and creams once).

I have something like 30 razors which have taken me about 3 to 4 years to accumulate. I also have 16 brushes and almost 50 different scents of soaps and creams. I have duplicates of some of them but I don't count them like that. I too was looking at the insanity that had taken over the top of our guest bedroom dresser and realized that the task of picking out the gear for each shave was becoming overwhelming. So, I took out 10 of my most used razors, put them in two of the three stands I have and put the rest away in a bin along with the other razor stand. I immediately felt a bit of relief. I then looked at my brushes and put away 7 that I don't use much leaving me with 9, 3 each of badger, boar and synth. The issue I found there though was there were a couple I missed so I took out 3 more for a total of 12, 4 of each type. That has worked for me the past couple months. I feel much better with less to choose from for each shave. I didn't put away any software though. But I am working through some samples. I decided I would only buy a tub of something if it absolutely knocks my socks off. So my "Adirondack" or "Mountain" scents that I thought would be so amazing didn't really do it for me. I have found that I tend towards Barbershop scents in soaps and creams. So, my wish list right now is to pick up a tub of West Coast Shaving Gatsby which I tried in a sample and absolutely loved and Moon Soaps Old School which someone gave a real good review of one of their other soaps. I'm willing to take a chance on the scent because it is heavy on vanilla which is also heavily present in my current favorite, Stirling Barbershop. So, I'm where I want to be now.

It's called 'Paradox of Choice'. Human nature. Pile on the goodies, it feels good to try new things. Burn out on it, eventually whittle it down to what makes sense.

If I were starting all over again, this is how I'd build my den from products that are, with one exception, easily available:

Razors (2)

• Rockwell 6S Adjustable Stainless Steel
  
• Edwin Jagger DE89
  

Blades (2)

• Feather New Hi-Stainless
  
• Gilette Silver Blue
  

Brushes (2)

• Semogue Excelsior 610 boar
  
• Fine Angel Hair synthetic
  

Lather Bowl (1)

• Yanagi Sori Stainless Bowl 13cm
  

Soaps (25)
Of the 200 soaps I've tried, here are 25 I'd buy again.

• Brown Windsor (Mystic Water) cinnamon, caraway, cardamom, clove
  
• Beaudelaire (Barrister & Mann) anise fougère
  
• Cade (L'Occitane) sandalwood, soft cade
  
• Cheshire (Barrister & Mann) bergamot, sage
  
• Dark Limes (Meißner Tremonia) dried lime peels, dried herbs
  
• Felce Aromatico (Saponificio Varesino) light green fougère
  
• French Vetiver (Cyril Salter) burnt roots, rust, coffee grounds, ashes, coal stoves, boiled spinach, dirt, grass clippings
  
• Hungarian Lavender (Mike's Natural Soaps) benchmark lavender
  
• Incienso (Eufros)a smoldering thurible [not currently available]
  
• Le Grand Chypre (Barrister & Mann) lime juice, Mitsouko
  
• Marrakesh (Mystic Water) Hendrix at Essaouira
  
• Morocco (Tallow+Steel) cade, juniper, ash, ash, ash
  
• Mysore Sandalwood (Nanny's Silly Soap) bonafide Indian sandalwood
  
• Puro Fresco (Cold River Soap Works) joy in the morning
  
• Rosa Bourbon Tallow (Eufros) divine rose
  
• Seville (Barrister & Mann) benchmark barbershop
  
• Slåtterøy (Fitjar Islands) bay rum without the bay or the rum
  
• Spitfire (Phoenix & Beau) leather gardening gloves
  
• Stella Alpina (Saponificio Varesino) eucalyptus, balsam
  
• Strong 'n Scottish (Meißner Tremonia) whisky, peat ash
  
• Thé Noir et Vanille (Noble Otter) jasmine tea, a whiff of vanilla
  
• Traditionnel (Le Père Lucien) garden herbs
  
• Tundra Artica (Saponificio Varesino) polite rose oud
  
• Vetiver & Oakmoss (Mystic Water) wet forest floor
  
• Vetiver (Mike's Natural Soap) benchmark vetiver
  

Balms & Moisturizers (4)

• Colonia Mediterranea (Cold River Soap Works) Acqua di Parma on the cheap
  
• Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50 (Neutrogena) never know when you'll end up on the beach
  
• Moroccan Neroli Post-Shave Lotion (Aesop) not cheap, but excellent
  
• Lavender Witch Hazel (Thayer's) loads of aloe vera help with razor burn
  

Luckily i haven't been to harash on my wallet lately. I'm comfortable with just 3 razors and 3 brushes. Soaps, i like to keep around 12 that way i get to use each at least twice a month, sometimes more.

Cologne and aftershaves are what i like to splurge on because they're the only part of the shave that follow you the rest of the day. So yeah, about 2 dozen or more of those

If I were starting all over again, this is how I'd build my den from products that are, with one exception, easily available:

Razors (2)

• Rockwell 6S Adjustable Stainless Steel
  
• Edwin Jagger DE89
  

Blades (2)

• Feather New Hi-Stainless
  
• Gilette Silver Blue
  

Brushes (2)

• Semogue Excelsior 610 boar
  
• Fine Angel Hair synthetic
  

Lather Bowl (1)

• Yanagi Sori Stainless Bowl 13cm
  

Soaps (25)
Of the 200 soaps I've tried, here are 25 I'd buy again.

• Brown Windsor (Mystic Water) cinnamon, caraway, cardamom, clove
  
• Beaudelaire (Barrister & Mann) anise fougère
  
• Cade (L'Occitane) sandalwood, soft cade
  
• Cheshire (Barrister & Mann) bergamot, sage
  
• Dark Limes (Meißner Tremonia) dried lime peels, dried herbs
  
• Felce Aromatico (Saponificio Varesino) light green fougère
  
• French Vetiver (Cyril Salter) burnt roots, rust, coffee grounds, ashes, coal stoves, boiled spinach, dirt, grass clippings
  
• Hungarian Lavender (Mike's Natural Soaps) benchmark lavender
  
• Incienso (Eufros)a smoldering thurible [not currently available]
  
• Le Grand Chypre (Barrister & Mann) lime juice, Mitsouko
  
• Marrakesh (Mystic Water) Hendrix at Essaouira
  
• Morocco (Tallow+Steel) cade, juniper, ash, ash, ash
  
• Mysore Sandalwood (Nanny's Silly Soap) bonafide Indian sandalwood
  
• Puro Fresco (Cold River Soap Works) joy in the morning
  
• Rosa Bourbon Tallow (Eufros) divine rose
  
• Seville (Barrister & Mann) benchmark barbershop
  
• Slåtterøy (Fitjar Islands) bay rum without the bay or the rum
  
• Spitfire (Phoenix & Beau) leather gardening gloves
  
• Stella Alpina (Saponificio Varesino) eucalyptus, balsam
  
• Strong 'n Scottish (Meißner Tremonia) whisky, peat ash
  
• Thé Noir et Vanille (Noble Otter) jasmine tea, a whiff of vanilla
  
• Traditionnel (Le Père Lucien) garden herbs
  
• Tundra Artica (Saponificio Varesino) polite rose oud
  
• Vetiver & Oakmoss (Mystic Water) wet forest floor
  
• Vetiver (Mike's Natural Soap) benchmark vetiver
  

Balms & Moisturizers (4)

• Colonia Mediterranea (Cold River Soap Works) Acqua di Parma on the cheap
  
• Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50 (Neutrogena) never know when you'll end up on the beach
  
• Moroccan Neroli Post-Shave Lotion (Aesop) not cheap, but excellent
  
• Lavender Witch Hazel (Thayer's) loads of aloe vera help with razor burn
  

I'm curious what razors you use? I'd assume those two listed... Any others regularly?

Also, where on the adjustable scale of the Rockwell would you put the DE89... What plate is it most like?

Thanks.

This thread makes me realize I need to KonMari my den...

Interesting thread!

Razors: I've been selling of some of my top-end razors to get a small, but good, rotation. My four "main" razors is Blackbird and REX Ambassador (DE) and Blackland Vector and Paradigm Ti SE (SE). Then I have a R41 and a iKon Tech for when I want to use an aggressive razor and a few others that I don't use much.

Brushes: I'm a "badger guy", so three is an absolut minimum to let them fully dry (I shave every day), but I really like brushes so a good rotation for me is maybe 10-12 (good) 2-band badgers.
In the rotation right now is
- 2 Simpsons Chubby 2 Manchurian
- 3 Paladins
- 2 Shavemac
- 1 M&F
- 1 Declaration Grooming (b6)
- 2 Maseto
Then I have a few brushes that I never use plus one synthetic for travelling.

Soaps is tough. I have tried hundreds of different soaps and I love to try new brands or formulations. With a gun to my head I could limit myselt to maybe 6-8 different brands. And I sell a lot of soaps to keep my inventory managable.