Premium Razors vs the rest

I just got a large shave gear order this past week. It had been about 8 months since I ordered anything because frankly, I needed to finish some stuff not only to make room in the den, but I simply also had too much stuff. In my orders, from two vendors, was at ATT Atlas Kronos with an H2 head. It's a fabulous razor and shaves well and after the dust has settled and I have had a week to digest, I'm having buyers remorse. It simply for me, doesn't shave any better than a plethora of my other razors. At the end of the shave whether using it or my 24.00 Maggard Mr5 with a Va3 head, I end up with a bbs shave either way. You could insert just about every razor I own in place of the Maggard offering and in the end, I end up at the same place a great shave. I had a few friends over this weekend who aren't wet shavers. While having some libations we ended up in the den and for giggles, I asked them to guess which of my 13 razors was most expensive. None of them chose the above the tie offering. Most thought the rose gold r41 was "most expensive". My point is that apparently look and feel don't appear to justify the 200.00 price tag for my ATT razor either, at least to the lay person. Ultimately I think this razor will be the last I purchase. I'll likely trade razors in the future but adding more at this point seems futile when the shave results for me regardless of the hardware I choose in the morning all provide the same shave result. 13 is more than enough and it would appear there is no holy grail out there when it comes to hardware, at least for me. I've been chasing it too long

I have similar concerns about very expensive gear. I traded for my Merkur Futur because I couldn't bring myself to spend $60 on an experiment (I know I could have just sold it, but trading made the choice much easier.) The only razor I currently have that I bought is my New LC, and that was $13 in an antique shop. I had a Maggard Mr10 that I gave to my brother - it is a great razor. I considered the Va3, but hesitated even though it is inexpensive, because I get such great shaves from my Futur that I rarely use anything else anymore.

I agree that everyone has their grail, and the fever for the chase eventually subsides. I think the Futur killed my RAD, as the ATT has yours.

Most people who get into a hobby begin searching for a Holy Grail by spending more money. Later they find out that there is no Holy Grail that money can buy, we have probably all been there at some point. In shaving the Holy Grail is your technique. Just like another hobby of mine that involves cutting, hand tool wood working, I spent hundreds of dollars on new artisan made tools made from fancy steel alloys just to find out that I could get the same performance from a $40 century old tool bought on e-bay that I had learned to tune-up myself. The high dollar stuff was fabulously made and required no tuning, but a the end of the day it did not guarantee a beautiful piece of furniture. That came when I worked on my skills. Safety razors are just cutting instruments, but their cutting blade comes from a different manufacturer so their high quality machining can only accomplish so much. This limits the quality you can perceive to blade alignment, quality of materials used, as well as a high level of machining. I love my ATT S1 not because it gives a superior shave to any other razor (as you have pointed out, it does not), but because I love owning a piece of art made by an artisan who pours everything he has into making a quality product. If that doesn't do it for you then there is no point to owning one.

My favorite razor, regardless of price is a Tech.

I have about 6 of them and they set me back a whopping $60-75 total. I'm not tempted by too many razors and none over the $100 mark.

They are built like tanks no waiting lists, no drama, work flawless for me and I enjoy the being Vintage.

Without rotating and seeking out new products daily, my shaves have been the best they have ever been. If something comes along that catches my eye, and it will, I have no probably picking it up. About the only razors I look forward to coming out at the RR ones as I can actually afford them and they have worked for me in the past.

In the end for me, it's just shaving.

All evidence has been buried. All tapes have been erased.

I just got a large shave gear order this past week.  It had been about 8 months since I ordered anything because frankly, I needed to finish some stuff not only to make room in the den, but I simply also had too much stuff.  In my orders, from two vendors, was at ATT Atlas Kronos with an H2 head.  It's a fabulous razor and shaves well and after the dust has settled and I have had a week to digest, I'm having buyers remorse.  It simply for me, doesn't shave any better than a plethora of my other razors.  At the end of the shave whether using it or my 24.00 Maggard Mr5 with a Va3 head, I end up with a bbs shave either way.  You could insert just about every razor I own in place of the Maggard offering and in the end, I end up at the same place a great shave.  I had a few friends over this weekend who aren't wet shavers.  While having some libations we ended up in the den and for giggles, I asked them to guess which of my 13 razors was most expensive.  None of them chose the above the tie offering.  Most thought the rose gold r41 was "most expensive".  My point is that apparently look and feel don't appear to justify the 200.00 price tag for my ATT razor either, at least to the lay person.  Ultimately I think this razor will be the last I purchase.  I'll likely trade razors in the future but adding more at this point seems futile when the shave results for me regardless of the hardware I choose in the morning all provide the same shave result.  13 is more than enough and it would appear there is no holy grail out there when it comes to hardware, at least for me.  I've been chasing it too long

Almost the same situation for soaps.

Almost the same situation for soaps.

...or brushes...

...or aftershaves/colognes...

For me the ATT H2 was worth it. I get my most consistent shaves from it. Also, if I don't shave for a few days, it mows right through the whiskers unlike any other razor I have.

Obviously razor design does matter, as different razors offer different levels of aggression, blade rigidity, handling, comfort, efficiency, etc. I've been taken by this horrible, nefarious, wonderful wet shaving thing for a bit more than a year now, and yes, I'm a bit embarrassed by the number of (mostly DE) razors I've already grabbed and tried. Do I now want all of them? No. Has it helped me appreciate what I like in a razor, and which are best for me? Absolutely. Turns out my favorite DE razors are my replated NEW SC and my open-comb Wolfman. I suspect the Wolfman is inspired by the classic NEW design (similar head geometry), but a killer feature in the Wolfman for me is how well it clamps down on the blade, giving it excellent rigidity and stability. I get that from the torque that a slant puts on a blade, but slants have thicker heads which I dislike. In any case, turns out one of my two best DEs is a premium, modern, stainless steel razor. I don't think it's the best because it's premium, necessarily, but it turns out to have the best design for me.

Maybe more to your point, though, if I never knew about the Wolfman, I would be doing just fine with a NEW SC, which can still be found for very reasonable prices.

As others have said, there's also just the pleasure of owning and collecting high-precision instruments of careful, artisan design. That's orthogonal to getting a good shave, of course. Personally, I'm most interested in how modern designs innovate in large or small ways for a decidedly better shave.

You guys are all correct! Correct because this, like all interests, activities or hobbies, comes down to (yep, here it comes again) YMMV!

Back in the 60s and 70s I was highly involved in the sport of trapshooting. After earning my spurs and perfecting my technique, I settled into shooting pretty much the same scores every week. Typically, was breaking 96 to 99 targets out of 100 with the occasional 100 straight thrown into the mix. I was pleased, but I was only an 'also ran' amongst the big guns. They would shoot 100 straight more often than not.

So what did I do? I went and bought a midas grade Browning O/U (over and under barrel configuation). Understand, I had been shooting a Grade 1 Browning O/U, but the lure of the much more expensive Midas grade was overpowering. I was sure that it would boost my scores a little and get me closer to the big guns. Didn't happen. The gun was marvelous, with its gold inlays, hand checkered stock which was beautiful French walnut. Lovely hand engraved patterns in the blued metal of the receiver completed the masterpiece, but alas, it shot the same as the Grade 1! I felt great walking to the line with it, but my performance was the same.  Lesson learned (you would think), but no, this is a different interest and I'm still buying razors! Why? Because I'm going to get better!

If saving money and getting the best possible shaves were only what this was about, everyone here would only be shaving with straight razors.

For me, I like the closeness of a straight, but the convenience of cartridge. I like equipment that will give me the least irritation, the least chance of cutting or nicking myself, something effortless and smooth... Something so safe that a child could use, yet is so close, that it feels like I just got out of a chair of a master barber... Yet, is also quick, that will do a perfect job if I'm running late for work...

I'm sorry, but not a lot of razors have those characteristics, and the only razor I know that comes close to all of those is the OneBlade. It's expensive, but it's the only razor I need. (And its materials, 316L stainless steel, and warranty, will ensure it will outlive me, or even my future grandchildren, better than any cheaper antique razor.) And needing only this one, expensive razor will actually save me much more money than those who have collections of cheaper razors. Buy the best right away, and no need to suffer or go broke with the RAD affliction.

Some other guys will tell you they get this combination of quality, quickness, convenience, safety, and closeness with a Wolfman, or Mongoose. YMMV, but most guys will tell you that they get the best of all these things, and quality, with these newer, more expensive razors. And that this quality really does come with innovation and technology. (Cause without it, we'd all still be shaving with self sharpened flint rocks.)

Sometimes you really do get what you pay for...