10 Astra Double-Edge Safety Razor Blades
[ASTR-10]

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by JJ
04/21/2013

After trying the most popular brands including Feather, I'd have to say that these are the best hands down. Although they do not cut as close as Feather they are extremely smooth. Besides, just how close do you need to be? No burning or scratching.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vince Di Carlo
01/10/2013

These blades work for me. Not as sharp compared to a feather but so far these result in the least razor burn afterwards. Highly recommend for people with a beard like mine, thick and tough enough to wreck an edge after 3 shaves.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Louis-Charles Girouard
11/20/2012

They are the best on the market for the price. Very smooth shave. A little less sharp compare to feather but still a very good job. 5 star because of the price.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Burgundy Bear
09/16/2012

Theory: manufacturers designed their blades to cut native beards. I inherited my Grandfather's hair, and he was Polish. I prefer these Slavic blades, while the Derby blades from England hardly slice through my stubble at all.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark Carey
10/04/2011

An excellent shave, very sharp. I get about 4 shaves to a blade but I have a pretty coarse stubble. Definitely would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
06/21/2011

My personal favourite and go to blade in any razor I've tried them in. Sharp, lasts many shaves, and one of the few blades I would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by B.McInnis
05/08/2011

Writing this just moments after shaving. Got these blades with the "Born to shave" set. Very pleased. Very forgiving as a new wet shaver. Only nicked myself once, but that was due to not paying attention. I will be looking at trying other blades but this one seems like it's a keeper. I have sensitive skin, and like the other fellas mentioned- don't go over the same spot too many times, and you will be fine. Just make sure you have a nice rich lather.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(0 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

Displaying 1 to 7 (of 31 reviews)

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by Sam Sharpe
01/08/2011

Astras provide my with some of the smoothest shaves I have ever had with any of my DE razors. Whether in a mild Weishi, vintage Slim, or Merkur 38C, I get a near BBS every time with a 3-pass (WTG, XTG, ATG) shave. These are my preferred blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
12/09/2010

This is my go to blade so far. I'm working my way through a sampler pack, but go back to these often as my preferred blade. Didn't enjoy Feather all that much, especially for the extra price compared to Astra. Just not too fond of the globs of wax they use to keep the wrapping paper on. I notice they tend to stick to everything else too, and find I'm cleaning the blade often. I will get 6 decent shaves out of a blade - but I keep a beard and am only shaving my neck, cheeks, and mustache.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
10/07/2010

I have been using Astra blades for over a year now and I find them to be sharp and long-lasting. However, their move to packaging the blades in cardboard boxes (and thin cardboard at that) instead of a plastic container has me concerned and disappointed. While I laud any move away from plastic, I feel that razor blade packaging is an exception. I find that storing used blades in a cardboard container instead of a plastic one does increase the risk of a cut. I conducted my own shaving trial of Astra blades against Precision (which are in plastic containers of 10, with a dispenser) and I concluded that Precision blades were equal to, if not better than, Astras. Also, at Fendrihan, Precision blades are cheaper than Astra by a dollar (by $6 if bought by the ton). I shall switch to Precision blades for my next purchase.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sam
09/20/2010

My issue with these blades is lack of consistency. A good one in my Merkur HD Slant will give 3-4 smooth, close shaves. A bad one causes serious bloodshed and leaves me cursing St. Petersburg and everything that comes from there. And you can't tell a good blade from a bad one until it's too late.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by JK
07/04/2010

Sharp, but very "unforgiving" blades. Each package should come with a styptic pencil. I much prefer the Precision blades at this price point.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Stuart Wood
05/31/2010

Not a fan of the Astra blades. Good for one shave then they will rip your face apart.

Rating: [2 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Tyler P.
05/10/2010

These smooth and last a little longer than Derby blades but tend to be a tiny bit more prone to nicks/bumps. They feel great to use and generally make for a great shave. They're great to have around and very inexpensive, especially in the 100 pack. Merkur cost way too much more. Feather are sharp but very tricky and not generally useful for a daily shaving routine.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

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by Jared
05/10/2010

I had the same experience Cesium did. I wasn't even sure I was shaving until I noticed hair vanishing from my face. Definitely not as sharp as Feathers, but oddly eneough, I've gotten a closer shave with these. I've found my new go-to blade for sure.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sacha
04/16/2010

I'm a recent convert to wet shaving. I've tried Merkurs, Feathers, Derbys and these Astra Platinums in my Merkur 1904. The Astras have, to me, the best compromise of closeness and forgiveness of the bunch. These will be my "go to" blade from here on, alternating perhaps with Feathers for weekend shaves when I have a bit more time.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Pierre Blais
02/23/2010

I tried the others in the sampler package, and I find these to be the best. I get about 6 shaves out of one blade. 3 per side. No nicks or cuts, and with the proraso pre and post prep, no irritation whatsoever. I use these in my Gillette fatboy. They're great

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
02/21/2010

Astra is my regular blade. I prefer them to Derby, Lord, Dorco, and even Feather. While not as sharp as Feather, Astra is more forgiving. It is a good quality blade which provides a consistently close shave at half the price of a Feather. One Astra blade will last me 3 or 4 days. The price is right and, better yet, buying a pack of 100 reduces the price even more!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark W
02/11/2010

These blades are thinner then some of the other blades I have used in the past, but they seem to work fairly well within my Gillette Superspeed regardless. These are by no means long lasting blades, as I tend to replace them after two or three shaves, however the quality of the shave thus far has been excellent. Not nearly as sharp as Feather, but much more forgiving of a blade.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Edward
01/22/2010

These blades are inexpensive and of poor quality. A friend of mine who is also into double edge razors often jokes that you measure an Astra not on the number of shaves you can get out of it but the number of passes. So, if you don't mind using three blades per shave, they are fine, otherwise, I would pass.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by PR
01/12/2010

This is a second pack of Astra blades that I bought from Fendrihan (just before they sold out). The only note I wanted to add is that the new packaging is different from what I ordered before. It used to have a nice plastic box for 5 blades with the old blade dispenser built-in. The latest blades came in a carton boxes (5 blades per box).. too bad. Still a best blade I have used so far.....

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 15 to 21 (of 31 reviews)

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by Rob
11/30/2009

Not bad, but not my favourite. Decent shave but I prefer Derby and Precision. The Astras left a bit of a rust stain on my Merkur 33C Classic razor.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
10/26/2009

Of all the blades in the sample kit, the Astra blades are by far my favourite, for all of the reasons stated in the other reviews. A great choice and a great, smooth shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Michael Prince
10/05/2009

A very good quality blade!!! I have tried many double edge blades and this brand is one of my top choices! The blade is sharp and smooth. I can probably get 3-4 good shaves from Astra and my beard is coarse. One good thing about this blade unlike a Feather, is it is good and smooth from go. I do like Feather brand, however, my Merkur Slant and my face do not get along so well. The Feather is just too darn harsh on first shave or so. I am same problem with a Derby blade in the slant as well. I love this blade so much, I just purchased 200 of them to compliment my 150 or so Crystal brand, another good blade in my opinion.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Philippe Galarneau
09/14/2009

Very smooth blades, quite sharp. I managed to get 3 good shaves out of them, the fourth not as good. No razor burn however.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by BH
07/19/2009

just bought 2 packs. I am new to wet shaving... would never go back. These blades are so smooth and sharp that it glides over my face. I get about 4 good shaves from 1 blade. I notices that the blade is numbered... 1 and 2 on one side and 3 and 4 on the other. Does this mean that I can turn the blade over and re-use ? Thanks

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Phil T
07/15/2009

Hi All, I just started shaving with a DE Razor again, after first taking the plunge about 15 years ago. I bought 2 packs of Astras and 2 packs of Derby. The Derby are a sharp, and somewhat unforgiving blade. The Astra's , by comparison, seem smoother but still give me a great shave - without a lot of nicks, scratches, dents....etc. If you have a coarse beard and sensitive skin - these may do the trick for you. I am extremely pleased with these blades, and will be re-purchasing more.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Cesium
06/12/2009

My first shave with an astra blade confused me quite a bit. It felt like I had actually forgotten to put a blade in my HD. Almost no feedback whatsoever. Obviously these blades are much sharper than those I was used to. A very smooth and sharp blade, which seem to hold their edge quite well.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

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by PR
06/01/2009

I agree with both reviewers, these blades are amazingly sharp. I think my search is over :)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alexander J
02/09/2009

I purchased these blades awhile ago. I found that these blades were pretty decent. I did manage to get 4 decent shaves out of one blade. I did attempt a 5th shave, but did get some noticeable tugging. That was my clue to switch in a fresh blade. The packaging was pretty good, but there was some machine oil smell on the blades more noticeable than on others. It was nothing which could not be tolerated. All in all I do recommend these blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Earl Dunbar
12/17/2008

I bought a sampler pack here. The Astra Superiors have turned out to be the most versatile blade. By that I mean that they have performed well in all my razors: Merkur 38C, Schick Krona, 1940s Gillette SuperSpeed and Feather Portable. The Feather New Hi Stainless blades are a tad sharper, but not by a lot. While the Feathers are amazing in the 38C, the Astras seem to be a bit smoother, but especially in the razors other than the 38C. If these were the only blades available, I could happily live with them. There are still other blades to try, but anyone purchasing these shouldn't be disappointed.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 29 to 31 (of 31 reviews)

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by JJ
04/21/2013

After trying the most popular brands including Feather, I'd have to say that these are the best hands down. Although they do not cut as close as Feather they are extremely smooth. Besides, just how close do you need to be? No burning or scratching.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vince Di Carlo
01/10/2013

These blades work for me. Not as sharp compared to a feather but so far these result in the least razor burn afterwards. Highly recommend for people with a beard like mine, thick and tough enough to wreck an edge after 3 shaves.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Louis-Charles Girouard
11/20/2012

They are the best on the market for the price. Very smooth shave. A little less sharp compare to feather but still a very good job. 5 star because of the price.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Burgundy Bear
09/16/2012

Theory: manufacturers designed their blades to cut native beards. I inherited my Grandfather's hair, and he was Polish. I prefer these Slavic blades, while the Derby blades from England hardly slice through my stubble at all.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark Carey
10/04/2011

An excellent shave, very sharp. I get about 4 shaves to a blade but I have a pretty coarse stubble. Definitely would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
06/21/2011

My personal favourite and go to blade in any razor I've tried them in. Sharp, lasts many shaves, and one of the few blades I would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by B.McInnis
05/08/2011

Writing this just moments after shaving. Got these blades with the "Born to shave" set. Very pleased. Very forgiving as a new wet shaver. Only nicked myself once, but that was due to not paying attention. I will be looking at trying other blades but this one seems like it's a keeper. I have sensitive skin, and like the other fellas mentioned- don't go over the same spot too many times, and you will be fine. Just make sure you have a nice rich lather.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(0 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by Sam Sharpe
01/08/2011

Astras provide my with some of the smoothest shaves I have ever had with any of my DE razors. Whether in a mild Weishi, vintage Slim, or Merkur 38C, I get a near BBS every time with a 3-pass (WTG, XTG, ATG) shave. These are my preferred blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
12/09/2010

This is my go to blade so far. I'm working my way through a sampler pack, but go back to these often as my preferred blade. Didn't enjoy Feather all that much, especially for the extra price compared to Astra. Just not too fond of the globs of wax they use to keep the wrapping paper on. I notice they tend to stick to everything else too, and find I'm cleaning the blade often. I will get 6 decent shaves out of a blade - but I keep a beard and am only shaving my neck, cheeks, and mustache.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
10/07/2010

I have been using Astra blades for over a year now and I find them to be sharp and long-lasting. However, their move to packaging the blades in cardboard boxes (and thin cardboard at that) instead of a plastic container has me concerned and disappointed. While I laud any move away from plastic, I feel that razor blade packaging is an exception. I find that storing used blades in a cardboard container instead of a plastic one does increase the risk of a cut. I conducted my own shaving trial of Astra blades against Precision (which are in plastic containers of 10, with a dispenser) and I concluded that Precision blades were equal to, if not better than, Astras. Also, at Fendrihan, Precision blades are cheaper than Astra by a dollar (by $6 if bought by the ton). I shall switch to Precision blades for my next purchase.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sam
09/20/2010

My issue with these blades is lack of consistency. A good one in my Merkur HD Slant will give 3-4 smooth, close shaves. A bad one causes serious bloodshed and leaves me cursing St. Petersburg and everything that comes from there. And you can't tell a good blade from a bad one until it's too late.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by JK
07/04/2010

Sharp, but very "unforgiving" blades. Each package should come with a styptic pencil. I much prefer the Precision blades at this price point.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Stuart Wood
05/31/2010

Not a fan of the Astra blades. Good for one shave then they will rip your face apart.

Rating: [2 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Tyler P.
05/10/2010

These smooth and last a little longer than Derby blades but tend to be a tiny bit more prone to nicks/bumps. They feel great to use and generally make for a great shave. They're great to have around and very inexpensive, especially in the 100 pack. Merkur cost way too much more. Feather are sharp but very tricky and not generally useful for a daily shaving routine.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Jared
05/10/2010

I had the same experience Cesium did. I wasn't even sure I was shaving until I noticed hair vanishing from my face. Definitely not as sharp as Feathers, but oddly eneough, I've gotten a closer shave with these. I've found my new go-to blade for sure.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sacha
04/16/2010

I'm a recent convert to wet shaving. I've tried Merkurs, Feathers, Derbys and these Astra Platinums in my Merkur 1904. The Astras have, to me, the best compromise of closeness and forgiveness of the bunch. These will be my "go to" blade from here on, alternating perhaps with Feathers for weekend shaves when I have a bit more time.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Pierre Blais
02/23/2010

I tried the others in the sampler package, and I find these to be the best. I get about 6 shaves out of one blade. 3 per side. No nicks or cuts, and with the proraso pre and post prep, no irritation whatsoever. I use these in my Gillette fatboy. They're great

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
02/21/2010

Astra is my regular blade. I prefer them to Derby, Lord, Dorco, and even Feather. While not as sharp as Feather, Astra is more forgiving. It is a good quality blade which provides a consistently close shave at half the price of a Feather. One Astra blade will last me 3 or 4 days. The price is right and, better yet, buying a pack of 100 reduces the price even more!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark W
02/11/2010

These blades are thinner then some of the other blades I have used in the past, but they seem to work fairly well within my Gillette Superspeed regardless. These are by no means long lasting blades, as I tend to replace them after two or three shaves, however the quality of the shave thus far has been excellent. Not nearly as sharp as Feather, but much more forgiving of a blade.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Edward
01/22/2010

These blades are inexpensive and of poor quality. A friend of mine who is also into double edge razors often jokes that you measure an Astra not on the number of shaves you can get out of it but the number of passes. So, if you don't mind using three blades per shave, they are fine, otherwise, I would pass.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by PR
01/12/2010

This is a second pack of Astra blades that I bought from Fendrihan (just before they sold out). The only note I wanted to add is that the new packaging is different from what I ordered before. It used to have a nice plastic box for 5 blades with the old blade dispenser built-in. The latest blades came in a carton boxes (5 blades per box).. too bad. Still a best blade I have used so far.....

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
11/30/2009

Not bad, but not my favourite. Decent shave but I prefer Derby and Precision. The Astras left a bit of a rust stain on my Merkur 33C Classic razor.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
10/26/2009

Of all the blades in the sample kit, the Astra blades are by far my favourite, for all of the reasons stated in the other reviews. A great choice and a great, smooth shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Michael Prince
10/05/2009

A very good quality blade!!! I have tried many double edge blades and this brand is one of my top choices! The blade is sharp and smooth. I can probably get 3-4 good shaves from Astra and my beard is coarse. One good thing about this blade unlike a Feather, is it is good and smooth from go. I do like Feather brand, however, my Merkur Slant and my face do not get along so well. The Feather is just too darn harsh on first shave or so. I am same problem with a Derby blade in the slant as well. I love this blade so much, I just purchased 200 of them to compliment my 150 or so Crystal brand, another good blade in my opinion.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Philippe Galarneau
09/14/2009

Very smooth blades, quite sharp. I managed to get 3 good shaves out of them, the fourth not as good. No razor burn however.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by BH
07/19/2009

just bought 2 packs. I am new to wet shaving... would never go back. These blades are so smooth and sharp that it glides over my face. I get about 4 good shaves from 1 blade. I notices that the blade is numbered... 1 and 2 on one side and 3 and 4 on the other. Does this mean that I can turn the blade over and re-use ? Thanks

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Phil T
07/15/2009

Hi All, I just started shaving with a DE Razor again, after first taking the plunge about 15 years ago. I bought 2 packs of Astras and 2 packs of Derby. The Derby are a sharp, and somewhat unforgiving blade. The Astra's , by comparison, seem smoother but still give me a great shave - without a lot of nicks, scratches, dents....etc. If you have a coarse beard and sensitive skin - these may do the trick for you. I am extremely pleased with these blades, and will be re-purchasing more.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Cesium
06/12/2009

My first shave with an astra blade confused me quite a bit. It felt like I had actually forgotten to put a blade in my HD. Almost no feedback whatsoever. Obviously these blades are much sharper than those I was used to. A very smooth and sharp blade, which seem to hold their edge quite well.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by PR
06/01/2009

I agree with both reviewers, these blades are amazingly sharp. I think my search is over :)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alexander J
02/09/2009

I purchased these blades awhile ago. I found that these blades were pretty decent. I did manage to get 4 decent shaves out of one blade. I did attempt a 5th shave, but did get some noticeable tugging. That was my clue to switch in a fresh blade. The packaging was pretty good, but there was some machine oil smell on the blades more noticeable than on others. It was nothing which could not be tolerated. All in all I do recommend these blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Earl Dunbar
12/17/2008

I bought a sampler pack here. The Astra Superiors have turned out to be the most versatile blade. By that I mean that they have performed well in all my razors: Merkur 38C, Schick Krona, 1940s Gillette SuperSpeed and Feather Portable. The Feather New Hi Stainless blades are a tad sharper, but not by a lot. While the Feathers are amazing in the 38C, the Astras seem to be a bit smoother, but especially in the razors other than the 38C. If these were the only blades available, I could happily live with them. There are still other blades to try, but anyone purchasing these shouldn't be disappointed.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 1 to 31 (of 31 reviews)

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by Sam
09/20/2010

My issue with these blades is lack of consistency. A good one in my Merkur HD Slant will give 3-4 smooth, close shaves. A bad one causes serious bloodshed and leaves me cursing St. Petersburg and everything that comes from there. And you can't tell a good blade from a bad one until it's too late.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by JK
07/04/2010

Sharp, but very "unforgiving" blades. Each package should come with a styptic pencil. I much prefer the Precision blades at this price point.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Edward
01/22/2010

These blades are inexpensive and of poor quality. A friend of mine who is also into double edge razors often jokes that you measure an Astra not on the number of shaves you can get out of it but the number of passes. So, if you don't mind using three blades per shave, they are fine, otherwise, I would pass.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Stuart Wood
05/31/2010

Not a fan of the Astra blades. Good for one shave then they will rip your face apart.

Rating: [2 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
10/07/2010

I have been using Astra blades for over a year now and I find them to be sharp and long-lasting. However, their move to packaging the blades in cardboard boxes (and thin cardboard at that) instead of a plastic container has me concerned and disappointed. While I laud any move away from plastic, I feel that razor blade packaging is an exception. I find that storing used blades in a cardboard container instead of a plastic one does increase the risk of a cut. I conducted my own shaving trial of Astra blades against Precision (which are in plastic containers of 10, with a dispenser) and I concluded that Precision blades were equal to, if not better than, Astras. Also, at Fendrihan, Precision blades are cheaper than Astra by a dollar (by $6 if bought by the ton). I shall switch to Precision blades for my next purchase.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
11/30/2009

Not bad, but not my favourite. Decent shave but I prefer Derby and Precision. The Astras left a bit of a rust stain on my Merkur 33C Classic razor.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Cesium
06/12/2009

My first shave with an astra blade confused me quite a bit. It felt like I had actually forgotten to put a blade in my HD. Almost no feedback whatsoever. Obviously these blades are much sharper than those I was used to. A very smooth and sharp blade, which seem to hold their edge quite well.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 1 to 7 (of 31 reviews)

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by Earl Dunbar
12/17/2008

I bought a sampler pack here. The Astra Superiors have turned out to be the most versatile blade. By that I mean that they have performed well in all my razors: Merkur 38C, Schick Krona, 1940s Gillette SuperSpeed and Feather Portable. The Feather New Hi Stainless blades are a tad sharper, but not by a lot. While the Feathers are amazing in the 38C, the Astras seem to be a bit smoother, but especially in the razors other than the 38C. If these were the only blades available, I could happily live with them. There are still other blades to try, but anyone purchasing these shouldn't be disappointed.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by JJ
04/21/2013

After trying the most popular brands including Feather, I'd have to say that these are the best hands down. Although they do not cut as close as Feather they are extremely smooth. Besides, just how close do you need to be? No burning or scratching.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vince Di Carlo
01/10/2013

These blades work for me. Not as sharp compared to a feather but so far these result in the least razor burn afterwards. Highly recommend for people with a beard like mine, thick and tough enough to wreck an edge after 3 shaves.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Louis-Charles Girouard
11/20/2012

They are the best on the market for the price. Very smooth shave. A little less sharp compare to feather but still a very good job. 5 star because of the price.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Burgundy Bear
09/16/2012

Theory: manufacturers designed their blades to cut native beards. I inherited my Grandfather's hair, and he was Polish. I prefer these Slavic blades, while the Derby blades from England hardly slice through my stubble at all.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark Carey
10/04/2011

An excellent shave, very sharp. I get about 4 shaves to a blade but I have a pretty coarse stubble. Definitely would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
06/21/2011

My personal favourite and go to blade in any razor I've tried them in. Sharp, lasts many shaves, and one of the few blades I would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 8 to 14 (of 31 reviews)

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by B.McInnis
05/08/2011

Writing this just moments after shaving. Got these blades with the "Born to shave" set. Very pleased. Very forgiving as a new wet shaver. Only nicked myself once, but that was due to not paying attention. I will be looking at trying other blades but this one seems like it's a keeper. I have sensitive skin, and like the other fellas mentioned- don't go over the same spot too many times, and you will be fine. Just make sure you have a nice rich lather.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(0 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by Sam Sharpe
01/08/2011

Astras provide my with some of the smoothest shaves I have ever had with any of my DE razors. Whether in a mild Weishi, vintage Slim, or Merkur 38C, I get a near BBS every time with a 3-pass (WTG, XTG, ATG) shave. These are my preferred blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
12/09/2010

This is my go to blade so far. I'm working my way through a sampler pack, but go back to these often as my preferred blade. Didn't enjoy Feather all that much, especially for the extra price compared to Astra. Just not too fond of the globs of wax they use to keep the wrapping paper on. I notice they tend to stick to everything else too, and find I'm cleaning the blade often. I will get 6 decent shaves out of a blade - but I keep a beard and am only shaving my neck, cheeks, and mustache.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Tyler P.
05/10/2010

These smooth and last a little longer than Derby blades but tend to be a tiny bit more prone to nicks/bumps. They feel great to use and generally make for a great shave. They're great to have around and very inexpensive, especially in the 100 pack. Merkur cost way too much more. Feather are sharp but very tricky and not generally useful for a daily shaving routine.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Jared
05/10/2010

I had the same experience Cesium did. I wasn't even sure I was shaving until I noticed hair vanishing from my face. Definitely not as sharp as Feathers, but oddly eneough, I've gotten a closer shave with these. I've found my new go-to blade for sure.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sacha
04/16/2010

I'm a recent convert to wet shaving. I've tried Merkurs, Feathers, Derbys and these Astra Platinums in my Merkur 1904. The Astras have, to me, the best compromise of closeness and forgiveness of the bunch. These will be my "go to" blade from here on, alternating perhaps with Feathers for weekend shaves when I have a bit more time.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Pierre Blais
02/23/2010

I tried the others in the sampler package, and I find these to be the best. I get about 6 shaves out of one blade. 3 per side. No nicks or cuts, and with the proraso pre and post prep, no irritation whatsoever. I use these in my Gillette fatboy. They're great

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 15 to 21 (of 31 reviews)

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by IvorL
02/21/2010

Astra is my regular blade. I prefer them to Derby, Lord, Dorco, and even Feather. While not as sharp as Feather, Astra is more forgiving. It is a good quality blade which provides a consistently close shave at half the price of a Feather. One Astra blade will last me 3 or 4 days. The price is right and, better yet, buying a pack of 100 reduces the price even more!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark W
02/11/2010

These blades are thinner then some of the other blades I have used in the past, but they seem to work fairly well within my Gillette Superspeed regardless. These are by no means long lasting blades, as I tend to replace them after two or three shaves, however the quality of the shave thus far has been excellent. Not nearly as sharp as Feather, but much more forgiving of a blade.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by PR
01/12/2010

This is a second pack of Astra blades that I bought from Fendrihan (just before they sold out). The only note I wanted to add is that the new packaging is different from what I ordered before. It used to have a nice plastic box for 5 blades with the old blade dispenser built-in. The latest blades came in a carton boxes (5 blades per box).. too bad. Still a best blade I have used so far.....

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
10/26/2009

Of all the blades in the sample kit, the Astra blades are by far my favourite, for all of the reasons stated in the other reviews. A great choice and a great, smooth shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Michael Prince
10/05/2009

A very good quality blade!!! I have tried many double edge blades and this brand is one of my top choices! The blade is sharp and smooth. I can probably get 3-4 good shaves from Astra and my beard is coarse. One good thing about this blade unlike a Feather, is it is good and smooth from go. I do like Feather brand, however, my Merkur Slant and my face do not get along so well. The Feather is just too darn harsh on first shave or so. I am same problem with a Derby blade in the slant as well. I love this blade so much, I just purchased 200 of them to compliment my 150 or so Crystal brand, another good blade in my opinion.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Philippe Galarneau
09/14/2009

Very smooth blades, quite sharp. I managed to get 3 good shaves out of them, the fourth not as good. No razor burn however.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by BH
07/19/2009

just bought 2 packs. I am new to wet shaving... would never go back. These blades are so smooth and sharp that it glides over my face. I get about 4 good shaves from 1 blade. I notices that the blade is numbered... 1 and 2 on one side and 3 and 4 on the other. Does this mean that I can turn the blade over and re-use ? Thanks

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 22 to 28 (of 31 reviews)

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by Phil T
07/15/2009

Hi All, I just started shaving with a DE Razor again, after first taking the plunge about 15 years ago. I bought 2 packs of Astras and 2 packs of Derby. The Derby are a sharp, and somewhat unforgiving blade. The Astra's , by comparison, seem smoother but still give me a great shave - without a lot of nicks, scratches, dents....etc. If you have a coarse beard and sensitive skin - these may do the trick for you. I am extremely pleased with these blades, and will be re-purchasing more.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by PR
06/01/2009

I agree with both reviewers, these blades are amazingly sharp. I think my search is over :)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alexander J
02/09/2009

I purchased these blades awhile ago. I found that these blades were pretty decent. I did manage to get 4 decent shaves out of one blade. I did attempt a 5th shave, but did get some noticeable tugging. That was my clue to switch in a fresh blade. The packaging was pretty good, but there was some machine oil smell on the blades more noticeable than on others. It was nothing which could not be tolerated. All in all I do recommend these blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 29 to 31 (of 31 reviews)

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by Sam
09/20/2010

My issue with these blades is lack of consistency. A good one in my Merkur HD Slant will give 3-4 smooth, close shaves. A bad one causes serious bloodshed and leaves me cursing St. Petersburg and everything that comes from there. And you can't tell a good blade from a bad one until it's too late.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by JK
07/04/2010

Sharp, but very "unforgiving" blades. Each package should come with a styptic pencil. I much prefer the Precision blades at this price point.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Edward
01/22/2010

These blades are inexpensive and of poor quality. A friend of mine who is also into double edge razors often jokes that you measure an Astra not on the number of shaves you can get out of it but the number of passes. So, if you don't mind using three blades per shave, they are fine, otherwise, I would pass.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Stuart Wood
05/31/2010

Not a fan of the Astra blades. Good for one shave then they will rip your face apart.

Rating: [2 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
10/07/2010

I have been using Astra blades for over a year now and I find them to be sharp and long-lasting. However, their move to packaging the blades in cardboard boxes (and thin cardboard at that) instead of a plastic container has me concerned and disappointed. While I laud any move away from plastic, I feel that razor blade packaging is an exception. I find that storing used blades in a cardboard container instead of a plastic one does increase the risk of a cut. I conducted my own shaving trial of Astra blades against Precision (which are in plastic containers of 10, with a dispenser) and I concluded that Precision blades were equal to, if not better than, Astras. Also, at Fendrihan, Precision blades are cheaper than Astra by a dollar (by $6 if bought by the ton). I shall switch to Precision blades for my next purchase.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
11/30/2009

Not bad, but not my favourite. Decent shave but I prefer Derby and Precision. The Astras left a bit of a rust stain on my Merkur 33C Classic razor.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Cesium
06/12/2009

My first shave with an astra blade confused me quite a bit. It felt like I had actually forgotten to put a blade in my HD. Almost no feedback whatsoever. Obviously these blades are much sharper than those I was used to. A very smooth and sharp blade, which seem to hold their edge quite well.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Earl Dunbar
12/17/2008

I bought a sampler pack here. The Astra Superiors have turned out to be the most versatile blade. By that I mean that they have performed well in all my razors: Merkur 38C, Schick Krona, 1940s Gillette SuperSpeed and Feather Portable. The Feather New Hi Stainless blades are a tad sharper, but not by a lot. While the Feathers are amazing in the 38C, the Astras seem to be a bit smoother, but especially in the razors other than the 38C. If these were the only blades available, I could happily live with them. There are still other blades to try, but anyone purchasing these shouldn't be disappointed.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by JJ
04/21/2013

After trying the most popular brands including Feather, I'd have to say that these are the best hands down. Although they do not cut as close as Feather they are extremely smooth. Besides, just how close do you need to be? No burning or scratching.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vince Di Carlo
01/10/2013

These blades work for me. Not as sharp compared to a feather but so far these result in the least razor burn afterwards. Highly recommend for people with a beard like mine, thick and tough enough to wreck an edge after 3 shaves.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Louis-Charles Girouard
11/20/2012

They are the best on the market for the price. Very smooth shave. A little less sharp compare to feather but still a very good job. 5 star because of the price.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Burgundy Bear
09/16/2012

Theory: manufacturers designed their blades to cut native beards. I inherited my Grandfather's hair, and he was Polish. I prefer these Slavic blades, while the Derby blades from England hardly slice through my stubble at all.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark Carey
10/04/2011

An excellent shave, very sharp. I get about 4 shaves to a blade but I have a pretty coarse stubble. Definitely would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
06/21/2011

My personal favourite and go to blade in any razor I've tried them in. Sharp, lasts many shaves, and one of the few blades I would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by B.McInnis
05/08/2011

Writing this just moments after shaving. Got these blades with the "Born to shave" set. Very pleased. Very forgiving as a new wet shaver. Only nicked myself once, but that was due to not paying attention. I will be looking at trying other blades but this one seems like it's a keeper. I have sensitive skin, and like the other fellas mentioned- don't go over the same spot too many times, and you will be fine. Just make sure you have a nice rich lather.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(0 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by Sam Sharpe
01/08/2011

Astras provide my with some of the smoothest shaves I have ever had with any of my DE razors. Whether in a mild Weishi, vintage Slim, or Merkur 38C, I get a near BBS every time with a 3-pass (WTG, XTG, ATG) shave. These are my preferred blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
12/09/2010

This is my go to blade so far. I'm working my way through a sampler pack, but go back to these often as my preferred blade. Didn't enjoy Feather all that much, especially for the extra price compared to Astra. Just not too fond of the globs of wax they use to keep the wrapping paper on. I notice they tend to stick to everything else too, and find I'm cleaning the blade often. I will get 6 decent shaves out of a blade - but I keep a beard and am only shaving my neck, cheeks, and mustache.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Tyler P.
05/10/2010

These smooth and last a little longer than Derby blades but tend to be a tiny bit more prone to nicks/bumps. They feel great to use and generally make for a great shave. They're great to have around and very inexpensive, especially in the 100 pack. Merkur cost way too much more. Feather are sharp but very tricky and not generally useful for a daily shaving routine.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Jared
05/10/2010

I had the same experience Cesium did. I wasn't even sure I was shaving until I noticed hair vanishing from my face. Definitely not as sharp as Feathers, but oddly eneough, I've gotten a closer shave with these. I've found my new go-to blade for sure.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sacha
04/16/2010

I'm a recent convert to wet shaving. I've tried Merkurs, Feathers, Derbys and these Astra Platinums in my Merkur 1904. The Astras have, to me, the best compromise of closeness and forgiveness of the bunch. These will be my "go to" blade from here on, alternating perhaps with Feathers for weekend shaves when I have a bit more time.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Pierre Blais
02/23/2010

I tried the others in the sampler package, and I find these to be the best. I get about 6 shaves out of one blade. 3 per side. No nicks or cuts, and with the proraso pre and post prep, no irritation whatsoever. I use these in my Gillette fatboy. They're great

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
02/21/2010

Astra is my regular blade. I prefer them to Derby, Lord, Dorco, and even Feather. While not as sharp as Feather, Astra is more forgiving. It is a good quality blade which provides a consistently close shave at half the price of a Feather. One Astra blade will last me 3 or 4 days. The price is right and, better yet, buying a pack of 100 reduces the price even more!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark W
02/11/2010

These blades are thinner then some of the other blades I have used in the past, but they seem to work fairly well within my Gillette Superspeed regardless. These are by no means long lasting blades, as I tend to replace them after two or three shaves, however the quality of the shave thus far has been excellent. Not nearly as sharp as Feather, but much more forgiving of a blade.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by PR
01/12/2010

This is a second pack of Astra blades that I bought from Fendrihan (just before they sold out). The only note I wanted to add is that the new packaging is different from what I ordered before. It used to have a nice plastic box for 5 blades with the old blade dispenser built-in. The latest blades came in a carton boxes (5 blades per box).. too bad. Still a best blade I have used so far.....

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
10/26/2009

Of all the blades in the sample kit, the Astra blades are by far my favourite, for all of the reasons stated in the other reviews. A great choice and a great, smooth shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Michael Prince
10/05/2009

A very good quality blade!!! I have tried many double edge blades and this brand is one of my top choices! The blade is sharp and smooth. I can probably get 3-4 good shaves from Astra and my beard is coarse. One good thing about this blade unlike a Feather, is it is good and smooth from go. I do like Feather brand, however, my Merkur Slant and my face do not get along so well. The Feather is just too darn harsh on first shave or so. I am same problem with a Derby blade in the slant as well. I love this blade so much, I just purchased 200 of them to compliment my 150 or so Crystal brand, another good blade in my opinion.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Philippe Galarneau
09/14/2009

Very smooth blades, quite sharp. I managed to get 3 good shaves out of them, the fourth not as good. No razor burn however.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by BH
07/19/2009

just bought 2 packs. I am new to wet shaving... would never go back. These blades are so smooth and sharp that it glides over my face. I get about 4 good shaves from 1 blade. I notices that the blade is numbered... 1 and 2 on one side and 3 and 4 on the other. Does this mean that I can turn the blade over and re-use ? Thanks

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Phil T
07/15/2009

Hi All, I just started shaving with a DE Razor again, after first taking the plunge about 15 years ago. I bought 2 packs of Astras and 2 packs of Derby. The Derby are a sharp, and somewhat unforgiving blade. The Astra's , by comparison, seem smoother but still give me a great shave - without a lot of nicks, scratches, dents....etc. If you have a coarse beard and sensitive skin - these may do the trick for you. I am extremely pleased with these blades, and will be re-purchasing more.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by PR
06/01/2009

I agree with both reviewers, these blades are amazingly sharp. I think my search is over :)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alexander J
02/09/2009

I purchased these blades awhile ago. I found that these blades were pretty decent. I did manage to get 4 decent shaves out of one blade. I did attempt a 5th shave, but did get some noticeable tugging. That was my clue to switch in a fresh blade. The packaging was pretty good, but there was some machine oil smell on the blades more noticeable than on others. It was nothing which could not be tolerated. All in all I do recommend these blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 1 to 31 (of 31 reviews)

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by JJ
04/21/2013

After trying the most popular brands including Feather, I'd have to say that these are the best hands down. Although they do not cut as close as Feather they are extremely smooth. Besides, just how close do you need to be? No burning or scratching.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vince Di Carlo
01/10/2013

These blades work for me. Not as sharp compared to a feather but so far these result in the least razor burn afterwards. Highly recommend for people with a beard like mine, thick and tough enough to wreck an edge after 3 shaves.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Louis-Charles Girouard
11/20/2012

They are the best on the market for the price. Very smooth shave. A little less sharp compare to feather but still a very good job. 5 star because of the price.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Burgundy Bear
09/16/2012

Theory: manufacturers designed their blades to cut native beards. I inherited my Grandfather's hair, and he was Polish. I prefer these Slavic blades, while the Derby blades from England hardly slice through my stubble at all.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark Carey
10/04/2011

An excellent shave, very sharp. I get about 4 shaves to a blade but I have a pretty coarse stubble. Definitely would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
06/21/2011

My personal favourite and go to blade in any razor I've tried them in. Sharp, lasts many shaves, and one of the few blades I would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by B.McInnis
05/08/2011

Writing this just moments after shaving. Got these blades with the "Born to shave" set. Very pleased. Very forgiving as a new wet shaver. Only nicked myself once, but that was due to not paying attention. I will be looking at trying other blades but this one seems like it's a keeper. I have sensitive skin, and like the other fellas mentioned- don't go over the same spot too many times, and you will be fine. Just make sure you have a nice rich lather.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(0 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

Displaying 1 to 7 (of 31 reviews)

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by Sam Sharpe
01/08/2011

Astras provide my with some of the smoothest shaves I have ever had with any of my DE razors. Whether in a mild Weishi, vintage Slim, or Merkur 38C, I get a near BBS every time with a 3-pass (WTG, XTG, ATG) shave. These are my preferred blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
12/09/2010

This is my go to blade so far. I'm working my way through a sampler pack, but go back to these often as my preferred blade. Didn't enjoy Feather all that much, especially for the extra price compared to Astra. Just not too fond of the globs of wax they use to keep the wrapping paper on. I notice they tend to stick to everything else too, and find I'm cleaning the blade often. I will get 6 decent shaves out of a blade - but I keep a beard and am only shaving my neck, cheeks, and mustache.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Tyler P.
05/10/2010

These smooth and last a little longer than Derby blades but tend to be a tiny bit more prone to nicks/bumps. They feel great to use and generally make for a great shave. They're great to have around and very inexpensive, especially in the 100 pack. Merkur cost way too much more. Feather are sharp but very tricky and not generally useful for a daily shaving routine.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Jared
05/10/2010

I had the same experience Cesium did. I wasn't even sure I was shaving until I noticed hair vanishing from my face. Definitely not as sharp as Feathers, but oddly eneough, I've gotten a closer shave with these. I've found my new go-to blade for sure.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sacha
04/16/2010

I'm a recent convert to wet shaving. I've tried Merkurs, Feathers, Derbys and these Astra Platinums in my Merkur 1904. The Astras have, to me, the best compromise of closeness and forgiveness of the bunch. These will be my "go to" blade from here on, alternating perhaps with Feathers for weekend shaves when I have a bit more time.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Pierre Blais
02/23/2010

I tried the others in the sampler package, and I find these to be the best. I get about 6 shaves out of one blade. 3 per side. No nicks or cuts, and with the proraso pre and post prep, no irritation whatsoever. I use these in my Gillette fatboy. They're great

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
02/21/2010

Astra is my regular blade. I prefer them to Derby, Lord, Dorco, and even Feather. While not as sharp as Feather, Astra is more forgiving. It is a good quality blade which provides a consistently close shave at half the price of a Feather. One Astra blade will last me 3 or 4 days. The price is right and, better yet, buying a pack of 100 reduces the price even more!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 8 to 14 (of 31 reviews)

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by Mark W
02/11/2010

These blades are thinner then some of the other blades I have used in the past, but they seem to work fairly well within my Gillette Superspeed regardless. These are by no means long lasting blades, as I tend to replace them after two or three shaves, however the quality of the shave thus far has been excellent. Not nearly as sharp as Feather, but much more forgiving of a blade.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by PR
01/12/2010

This is a second pack of Astra blades that I bought from Fendrihan (just before they sold out). The only note I wanted to add is that the new packaging is different from what I ordered before. It used to have a nice plastic box for 5 blades with the old blade dispenser built-in. The latest blades came in a carton boxes (5 blades per box).. too bad. Still a best blade I have used so far.....

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
10/26/2009

Of all the blades in the sample kit, the Astra blades are by far my favourite, for all of the reasons stated in the other reviews. A great choice and a great, smooth shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Michael Prince
10/05/2009

A very good quality blade!!! I have tried many double edge blades and this brand is one of my top choices! The blade is sharp and smooth. I can probably get 3-4 good shaves from Astra and my beard is coarse. One good thing about this blade unlike a Feather, is it is good and smooth from go. I do like Feather brand, however, my Merkur Slant and my face do not get along so well. The Feather is just too darn harsh on first shave or so. I am same problem with a Derby blade in the slant as well. I love this blade so much, I just purchased 200 of them to compliment my 150 or so Crystal brand, another good blade in my opinion.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Philippe Galarneau
09/14/2009

Very smooth blades, quite sharp. I managed to get 3 good shaves out of them, the fourth not as good. No razor burn however.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by BH
07/19/2009

just bought 2 packs. I am new to wet shaving... would never go back. These blades are so smooth and sharp that it glides over my face. I get about 4 good shaves from 1 blade. I notices that the blade is numbered... 1 and 2 on one side and 3 and 4 on the other. Does this mean that I can turn the blade over and re-use ? Thanks

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Phil T
07/15/2009

Hi All, I just started shaving with a DE Razor again, after first taking the plunge about 15 years ago. I bought 2 packs of Astras and 2 packs of Derby. The Derby are a sharp, and somewhat unforgiving blade. The Astra's , by comparison, seem smoother but still give me a great shave - without a lot of nicks, scratches, dents....etc. If you have a coarse beard and sensitive skin - these may do the trick for you. I am extremely pleased with these blades, and will be re-purchasing more.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 15 to 21 (of 31 reviews)

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by PR
06/01/2009

I agree with both reviewers, these blades are amazingly sharp. I think my search is over :)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alexander J
02/09/2009

I purchased these blades awhile ago. I found that these blades were pretty decent. I did manage to get 4 decent shaves out of one blade. I did attempt a 5th shave, but did get some noticeable tugging. That was my clue to switch in a fresh blade. The packaging was pretty good, but there was some machine oil smell on the blades more noticeable than on others. It was nothing which could not be tolerated. All in all I do recommend these blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Cesium
06/12/2009

My first shave with an astra blade confused me quite a bit. It felt like I had actually forgotten to put a blade in my HD. Almost no feedback whatsoever. Obviously these blades are much sharper than those I was used to. A very smooth and sharp blade, which seem to hold their edge quite well.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Earl Dunbar
12/17/2008

I bought a sampler pack here. The Astra Superiors have turned out to be the most versatile blade. By that I mean that they have performed well in all my razors: Merkur 38C, Schick Krona, 1940s Gillette SuperSpeed and Feather Portable. The Feather New Hi Stainless blades are a tad sharper, but not by a lot. While the Feathers are amazing in the 38C, the Astras seem to be a bit smoother, but especially in the razors other than the 38C. If these were the only blades available, I could happily live with them. There are still other blades to try, but anyone purchasing these shouldn't be disappointed.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
10/07/2010

I have been using Astra blades for over a year now and I find them to be sharp and long-lasting. However, their move to packaging the blades in cardboard boxes (and thin cardboard at that) instead of a plastic container has me concerned and disappointed. While I laud any move away from plastic, I feel that razor blade packaging is an exception. I find that storing used blades in a cardboard container instead of a plastic one does increase the risk of a cut. I conducted my own shaving trial of Astra blades against Precision (which are in plastic containers of 10, with a dispenser) and I concluded that Precision blades were equal to, if not better than, Astras. Also, at Fendrihan, Precision blades are cheaper than Astra by a dollar (by $6 if bought by the ton). I shall switch to Precision blades for my next purchase.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
11/30/2009

Not bad, but not my favourite. Decent shave but I prefer Derby and Precision. The Astras left a bit of a rust stain on my Merkur 33C Classic razor.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Stuart Wood
05/31/2010

Not a fan of the Astra blades. Good for one shave then they will rip your face apart.

Rating: [2 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 22 to 28 (of 31 reviews)

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by Sam
09/20/2010

My issue with these blades is lack of consistency. A good one in my Merkur HD Slant will give 3-4 smooth, close shaves. A bad one causes serious bloodshed and leaves me cursing St. Petersburg and everything that comes from there. And you can't tell a good blade from a bad one until it's too late.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by JK
07/04/2010

Sharp, but very "unforgiving" blades. Each package should come with a styptic pencil. I much prefer the Precision blades at this price point.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Edward
01/22/2010

These blades are inexpensive and of poor quality. A friend of mine who is also into double edge razors often jokes that you measure an Astra not on the number of shaves you can get out of it but the number of passes. So, if you don't mind using three blades per shave, they are fine, otherwise, I would pass.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

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by JJ
04/21/2013

After trying the most popular brands including Feather, I'd have to say that these are the best hands down. Although they do not cut as close as Feather they are extremely smooth. Besides, just how close do you need to be? No burning or scratching.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vince Di Carlo
01/10/2013

These blades work for me. Not as sharp compared to a feather but so far these result in the least razor burn afterwards. Highly recommend for people with a beard like mine, thick and tough enough to wreck an edge after 3 shaves.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Louis-Charles Girouard
11/20/2012

They are the best on the market for the price. Very smooth shave. A little less sharp compare to feather but still a very good job. 5 star because of the price.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Burgundy Bear
09/16/2012

Theory: manufacturers designed their blades to cut native beards. I inherited my Grandfather's hair, and he was Polish. I prefer these Slavic blades, while the Derby blades from England hardly slice through my stubble at all.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark Carey
10/04/2011

An excellent shave, very sharp. I get about 4 shaves to a blade but I have a pretty coarse stubble. Definitely would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
06/21/2011

My personal favourite and go to blade in any razor I've tried them in. Sharp, lasts many shaves, and one of the few blades I would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by B.McInnis
05/08/2011

Writing this just moments after shaving. Got these blades with the "Born to shave" set. Very pleased. Very forgiving as a new wet shaver. Only nicked myself once, but that was due to not paying attention. I will be looking at trying other blades but this one seems like it's a keeper. I have sensitive skin, and like the other fellas mentioned- don't go over the same spot too many times, and you will be fine. Just make sure you have a nice rich lather.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(0 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by Sam Sharpe
01/08/2011

Astras provide my with some of the smoothest shaves I have ever had with any of my DE razors. Whether in a mild Weishi, vintage Slim, or Merkur 38C, I get a near BBS every time with a 3-pass (WTG, XTG, ATG) shave. These are my preferred blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
12/09/2010

This is my go to blade so far. I'm working my way through a sampler pack, but go back to these often as my preferred blade. Didn't enjoy Feather all that much, especially for the extra price compared to Astra. Just not too fond of the globs of wax they use to keep the wrapping paper on. I notice they tend to stick to everything else too, and find I'm cleaning the blade often. I will get 6 decent shaves out of a blade - but I keep a beard and am only shaving my neck, cheeks, and mustache.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Tyler P.
05/10/2010

These smooth and last a little longer than Derby blades but tend to be a tiny bit more prone to nicks/bumps. They feel great to use and generally make for a great shave. They're great to have around and very inexpensive, especially in the 100 pack. Merkur cost way too much more. Feather are sharp but very tricky and not generally useful for a daily shaving routine.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Jared
05/10/2010

I had the same experience Cesium did. I wasn't even sure I was shaving until I noticed hair vanishing from my face. Definitely not as sharp as Feathers, but oddly eneough, I've gotten a closer shave with these. I've found my new go-to blade for sure.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sacha
04/16/2010

I'm a recent convert to wet shaving. I've tried Merkurs, Feathers, Derbys and these Astra Platinums in my Merkur 1904. The Astras have, to me, the best compromise of closeness and forgiveness of the bunch. These will be my "go to" blade from here on, alternating perhaps with Feathers for weekend shaves when I have a bit more time.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Pierre Blais
02/23/2010

I tried the others in the sampler package, and I find these to be the best. I get about 6 shaves out of one blade. 3 per side. No nicks or cuts, and with the proraso pre and post prep, no irritation whatsoever. I use these in my Gillette fatboy. They're great

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
02/21/2010

Astra is my regular blade. I prefer them to Derby, Lord, Dorco, and even Feather. While not as sharp as Feather, Astra is more forgiving. It is a good quality blade which provides a consistently close shave at half the price of a Feather. One Astra blade will last me 3 or 4 days. The price is right and, better yet, buying a pack of 100 reduces the price even more!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark W
02/11/2010

These blades are thinner then some of the other blades I have used in the past, but they seem to work fairly well within my Gillette Superspeed regardless. These are by no means long lasting blades, as I tend to replace them after two or three shaves, however the quality of the shave thus far has been excellent. Not nearly as sharp as Feather, but much more forgiving of a blade.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by PR
01/12/2010

This is a second pack of Astra blades that I bought from Fendrihan (just before they sold out). The only note I wanted to add is that the new packaging is different from what I ordered before. It used to have a nice plastic box for 5 blades with the old blade dispenser built-in. The latest blades came in a carton boxes (5 blades per box).. too bad. Still a best blade I have used so far.....

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
10/26/2009

Of all the blades in the sample kit, the Astra blades are by far my favourite, for all of the reasons stated in the other reviews. A great choice and a great, smooth shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Michael Prince
10/05/2009

A very good quality blade!!! I have tried many double edge blades and this brand is one of my top choices! The blade is sharp and smooth. I can probably get 3-4 good shaves from Astra and my beard is coarse. One good thing about this blade unlike a Feather, is it is good and smooth from go. I do like Feather brand, however, my Merkur Slant and my face do not get along so well. The Feather is just too darn harsh on first shave or so. I am same problem with a Derby blade in the slant as well. I love this blade so much, I just purchased 200 of them to compliment my 150 or so Crystal brand, another good blade in my opinion.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Philippe Galarneau
09/14/2009

Very smooth blades, quite sharp. I managed to get 3 good shaves out of them, the fourth not as good. No razor burn however.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by BH
07/19/2009

just bought 2 packs. I am new to wet shaving... would never go back. These blades are so smooth and sharp that it glides over my face. I get about 4 good shaves from 1 blade. I notices that the blade is numbered... 1 and 2 on one side and 3 and 4 on the other. Does this mean that I can turn the blade over and re-use ? Thanks

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Phil T
07/15/2009

Hi All, I just started shaving with a DE Razor again, after first taking the plunge about 15 years ago. I bought 2 packs of Astras and 2 packs of Derby. The Derby are a sharp, and somewhat unforgiving blade. The Astra's , by comparison, seem smoother but still give me a great shave - without a lot of nicks, scratches, dents....etc. If you have a coarse beard and sensitive skin - these may do the trick for you. I am extremely pleased with these blades, and will be re-purchasing more.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by PR
06/01/2009

I agree with both reviewers, these blades are amazingly sharp. I think my search is over :)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alexander J
02/09/2009

I purchased these blades awhile ago. I found that these blades were pretty decent. I did manage to get 4 decent shaves out of one blade. I did attempt a 5th shave, but did get some noticeable tugging. That was my clue to switch in a fresh blade. The packaging was pretty good, but there was some machine oil smell on the blades more noticeable than on others. It was nothing which could not be tolerated. All in all I do recommend these blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Cesium
06/12/2009

My first shave with an astra blade confused me quite a bit. It felt like I had actually forgotten to put a blade in my HD. Almost no feedback whatsoever. Obviously these blades are much sharper than those I was used to. A very smooth and sharp blade, which seem to hold their edge quite well.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Earl Dunbar
12/17/2008

I bought a sampler pack here. The Astra Superiors have turned out to be the most versatile blade. By that I mean that they have performed well in all my razors: Merkur 38C, Schick Krona, 1940s Gillette SuperSpeed and Feather Portable. The Feather New Hi Stainless blades are a tad sharper, but not by a lot. While the Feathers are amazing in the 38C, the Astras seem to be a bit smoother, but especially in the razors other than the 38C. If these were the only blades available, I could happily live with them. There are still other blades to try, but anyone purchasing these shouldn't be disappointed.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
10/07/2010

I have been using Astra blades for over a year now and I find them to be sharp and long-lasting. However, their move to packaging the blades in cardboard boxes (and thin cardboard at that) instead of a plastic container has me concerned and disappointed. While I laud any move away from plastic, I feel that razor blade packaging is an exception. I find that storing used blades in a cardboard container instead of a plastic one does increase the risk of a cut. I conducted my own shaving trial of Astra blades against Precision (which are in plastic containers of 10, with a dispenser) and I concluded that Precision blades were equal to, if not better than, Astras. Also, at Fendrihan, Precision blades are cheaper than Astra by a dollar (by $6 if bought by the ton). I shall switch to Precision blades for my next purchase.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
11/30/2009

Not bad, but not my favourite. Decent shave but I prefer Derby and Precision. The Astras left a bit of a rust stain on my Merkur 33C Classic razor.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Stuart Wood
05/31/2010

Not a fan of the Astra blades. Good for one shave then they will rip your face apart.

Rating: [2 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sam
09/20/2010

My issue with these blades is lack of consistency. A good one in my Merkur HD Slant will give 3-4 smooth, close shaves. A bad one causes serious bloodshed and leaves me cursing St. Petersburg and everything that comes from there. And you can't tell a good blade from a bad one until it's too late.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by JK
07/04/2010

Sharp, but very "unforgiving" blades. Each package should come with a styptic pencil. I much prefer the Precision blades at this price point.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Edward
01/22/2010

These blades are inexpensive and of poor quality. A friend of mine who is also into double edge razors often jokes that you measure an Astra not on the number of shaves you can get out of it but the number of passes. So, if you don't mind using three blades per shave, they are fine, otherwise, I would pass.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 1 to 31 (of 31 reviews)

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by B.McInnis
05/08/2011

Writing this just moments after shaving. Got these blades with the "Born to shave" set. Very pleased. Very forgiving as a new wet shaver. Only nicked myself once, but that was due to not paying attention. I will be looking at trying other blades but this one seems like it's a keeper. I have sensitive skin, and like the other fellas mentioned- don't go over the same spot too many times, and you will be fine. Just make sure you have a nice rich lather.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(0 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by JJ
04/21/2013

After trying the most popular brands including Feather, I'd have to say that these are the best hands down. Although they do not cut as close as Feather they are extremely smooth. Besides, just how close do you need to be? No burning or scratching.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vince Di Carlo
01/10/2013

These blades work for me. Not as sharp compared to a feather but so far these result in the least razor burn afterwards. Highly recommend for people with a beard like mine, thick and tough enough to wreck an edge after 3 shaves.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Louis-Charles Girouard
11/20/2012

They are the best on the market for the price. Very smooth shave. A little less sharp compare to feather but still a very good job. 5 star because of the price.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Burgundy Bear
09/16/2012

Theory: manufacturers designed their blades to cut native beards. I inherited my Grandfather's hair, and he was Polish. I prefer these Slavic blades, while the Derby blades from England hardly slice through my stubble at all.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark Carey
10/04/2011

An excellent shave, very sharp. I get about 4 shaves to a blade but I have a pretty coarse stubble. Definitely would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
06/21/2011

My personal favourite and go to blade in any razor I've tried them in. Sharp, lasts many shaves, and one of the few blades I would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

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by Sam Sharpe
01/08/2011

Astras provide my with some of the smoothest shaves I have ever had with any of my DE razors. Whether in a mild Weishi, vintage Slim, or Merkur 38C, I get a near BBS every time with a 3-pass (WTG, XTG, ATG) shave. These are my preferred blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
12/09/2010

This is my go to blade so far. I'm working my way through a sampler pack, but go back to these often as my preferred blade. Didn't enjoy Feather all that much, especially for the extra price compared to Astra. Just not too fond of the globs of wax they use to keep the wrapping paper on. I notice they tend to stick to everything else too, and find I'm cleaning the blade often. I will get 6 decent shaves out of a blade - but I keep a beard and am only shaving my neck, cheeks, and mustache.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
10/07/2010

I have been using Astra blades for over a year now and I find them to be sharp and long-lasting. However, their move to packaging the blades in cardboard boxes (and thin cardboard at that) instead of a plastic container has me concerned and disappointed. While I laud any move away from plastic, I feel that razor blade packaging is an exception. I find that storing used blades in a cardboard container instead of a plastic one does increase the risk of a cut. I conducted my own shaving trial of Astra blades against Precision (which are in plastic containers of 10, with a dispenser) and I concluded that Precision blades were equal to, if not better than, Astras. Also, at Fendrihan, Precision blades are cheaper than Astra by a dollar (by $6 if bought by the ton). I shall switch to Precision blades for my next purchase.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sam
09/20/2010

My issue with these blades is lack of consistency. A good one in my Merkur HD Slant will give 3-4 smooth, close shaves. A bad one causes serious bloodshed and leaves me cursing St. Petersburg and everything that comes from there. And you can't tell a good blade from a bad one until it's too late.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by JK
07/04/2010

Sharp, but very "unforgiving" blades. Each package should come with a styptic pencil. I much prefer the Precision blades at this price point.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Stuart Wood
05/31/2010

Not a fan of the Astra blades. Good for one shave then they will rip your face apart.

Rating: [2 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Tyler P.
05/10/2010

These smooth and last a little longer than Derby blades but tend to be a tiny bit more prone to nicks/bumps. They feel great to use and generally make for a great shave. They're great to have around and very inexpensive, especially in the 100 pack. Merkur cost way too much more. Feather are sharp but very tricky and not generally useful for a daily shaving routine.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

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by Jared
05/10/2010

I had the same experience Cesium did. I wasn't even sure I was shaving until I noticed hair vanishing from my face. Definitely not as sharp as Feathers, but oddly eneough, I've gotten a closer shave with these. I've found my new go-to blade for sure.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sacha
04/16/2010

I'm a recent convert to wet shaving. I've tried Merkurs, Feathers, Derbys and these Astra Platinums in my Merkur 1904. The Astras have, to me, the best compromise of closeness and forgiveness of the bunch. These will be my "go to" blade from here on, alternating perhaps with Feathers for weekend shaves when I have a bit more time.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Pierre Blais
02/23/2010

I tried the others in the sampler package, and I find these to be the best. I get about 6 shaves out of one blade. 3 per side. No nicks or cuts, and with the proraso pre and post prep, no irritation whatsoever. I use these in my Gillette fatboy. They're great

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
02/21/2010

Astra is my regular blade. I prefer them to Derby, Lord, Dorco, and even Feather. While not as sharp as Feather, Astra is more forgiving. It is a good quality blade which provides a consistently close shave at half the price of a Feather. One Astra blade will last me 3 or 4 days. The price is right and, better yet, buying a pack of 100 reduces the price even more!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark W
02/11/2010

These blades are thinner then some of the other blades I have used in the past, but they seem to work fairly well within my Gillette Superspeed regardless. These are by no means long lasting blades, as I tend to replace them after two or three shaves, however the quality of the shave thus far has been excellent. Not nearly as sharp as Feather, but much more forgiving of a blade.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Edward
01/22/2010

These blades are inexpensive and of poor quality. A friend of mine who is also into double edge razors often jokes that you measure an Astra not on the number of shaves you can get out of it but the number of passes. So, if you don't mind using three blades per shave, they are fine, otherwise, I would pass.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by PR
01/12/2010

This is a second pack of Astra blades that I bought from Fendrihan (just before they sold out). The only note I wanted to add is that the new packaging is different from what I ordered before. It used to have a nice plastic box for 5 blades with the old blade dispenser built-in. The latest blades came in a carton boxes (5 blades per box).. too bad. Still a best blade I have used so far.....

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 15 to 21 (of 31 reviews)

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by Rob
11/30/2009

Not bad, but not my favourite. Decent shave but I prefer Derby and Precision. The Astras left a bit of a rust stain on my Merkur 33C Classic razor.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
10/26/2009

Of all the blades in the sample kit, the Astra blades are by far my favourite, for all of the reasons stated in the other reviews. A great choice and a great, smooth shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Michael Prince
10/05/2009

A very good quality blade!!! I have tried many double edge blades and this brand is one of my top choices! The blade is sharp and smooth. I can probably get 3-4 good shaves from Astra and my beard is coarse. One good thing about this blade unlike a Feather, is it is good and smooth from go. I do like Feather brand, however, my Merkur Slant and my face do not get along so well. The Feather is just too darn harsh on first shave or so. I am same problem with a Derby blade in the slant as well. I love this blade so much, I just purchased 200 of them to compliment my 150 or so Crystal brand, another good blade in my opinion.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Philippe Galarneau
09/14/2009

Very smooth blades, quite sharp. I managed to get 3 good shaves out of them, the fourth not as good. No razor burn however.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by BH
07/19/2009

just bought 2 packs. I am new to wet shaving... would never go back. These blades are so smooth and sharp that it glides over my face. I get about 4 good shaves from 1 blade. I notices that the blade is numbered... 1 and 2 on one side and 3 and 4 on the other. Does this mean that I can turn the blade over and re-use ? Thanks

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Phil T
07/15/2009

Hi All, I just started shaving with a DE Razor again, after first taking the plunge about 15 years ago. I bought 2 packs of Astras and 2 packs of Derby. The Derby are a sharp, and somewhat unforgiving blade. The Astra's , by comparison, seem smoother but still give me a great shave - without a lot of nicks, scratches, dents....etc. If you have a coarse beard and sensitive skin - these may do the trick for you. I am extremely pleased with these blades, and will be re-purchasing more.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Cesium
06/12/2009

My first shave with an astra blade confused me quite a bit. It felt like I had actually forgotten to put a blade in my HD. Almost no feedback whatsoever. Obviously these blades are much sharper than those I was used to. A very smooth and sharp blade, which seem to hold their edge quite well.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 22 to 28 (of 31 reviews)

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by PR
06/01/2009

I agree with both reviewers, these blades are amazingly sharp. I think my search is over :)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alexander J
02/09/2009

I purchased these blades awhile ago. I found that these blades were pretty decent. I did manage to get 4 decent shaves out of one blade. I did attempt a 5th shave, but did get some noticeable tugging. That was my clue to switch in a fresh blade. The packaging was pretty good, but there was some machine oil smell on the blades more noticeable than on others. It was nothing which could not be tolerated. All in all I do recommend these blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Earl Dunbar
12/17/2008

I bought a sampler pack here. The Astra Superiors have turned out to be the most versatile blade. By that I mean that they have performed well in all my razors: Merkur 38C, Schick Krona, 1940s Gillette SuperSpeed and Feather Portable. The Feather New Hi Stainless blades are a tad sharper, but not by a lot. While the Feathers are amazing in the 38C, the Astras seem to be a bit smoother, but especially in the razors other than the 38C. If these were the only blades available, I could happily live with them. There are still other blades to try, but anyone purchasing these shouldn't be disappointed.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 29 to 31 (of 31 reviews)

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by B.McInnis
05/08/2011

Writing this just moments after shaving. Got these blades with the "Born to shave" set. Very pleased. Very forgiving as a new wet shaver. Only nicked myself once, but that was due to not paying attention. I will be looking at trying other blades but this one seems like it's a keeper. I have sensitive skin, and like the other fellas mentioned- don't go over the same spot too many times, and you will be fine. Just make sure you have a nice rich lather.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(0 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by JJ
04/21/2013

After trying the most popular brands including Feather, I'd have to say that these are the best hands down. Although they do not cut as close as Feather they are extremely smooth. Besides, just how close do you need to be? No burning or scratching.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vince Di Carlo
01/10/2013

These blades work for me. Not as sharp compared to a feather but so far these result in the least razor burn afterwards. Highly recommend for people with a beard like mine, thick and tough enough to wreck an edge after 3 shaves.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Louis-Charles Girouard
11/20/2012

They are the best on the market for the price. Very smooth shave. A little less sharp compare to feather but still a very good job. 5 star because of the price.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Burgundy Bear
09/16/2012

Theory: manufacturers designed their blades to cut native beards. I inherited my Grandfather's hair, and he was Polish. I prefer these Slavic blades, while the Derby blades from England hardly slice through my stubble at all.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark Carey
10/04/2011

An excellent shave, very sharp. I get about 4 shaves to a blade but I have a pretty coarse stubble. Definitely would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
06/21/2011

My personal favourite and go to blade in any razor I've tried them in. Sharp, lasts many shaves, and one of the few blades I would buy in bulk.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sam Sharpe
01/08/2011

Astras provide my with some of the smoothest shaves I have ever had with any of my DE razors. Whether in a mild Weishi, vintage Slim, or Merkur 38C, I get a near BBS every time with a 3-pass (WTG, XTG, ATG) shave. These are my preferred blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
12/09/2010

This is my go to blade so far. I'm working my way through a sampler pack, but go back to these often as my preferred blade. Didn't enjoy Feather all that much, especially for the extra price compared to Astra. Just not too fond of the globs of wax they use to keep the wrapping paper on. I notice they tend to stick to everything else too, and find I'm cleaning the blade often. I will get 6 decent shaves out of a blade - but I keep a beard and am only shaving my neck, cheeks, and mustache.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
10/07/2010

I have been using Astra blades for over a year now and I find them to be sharp and long-lasting. However, their move to packaging the blades in cardboard boxes (and thin cardboard at that) instead of a plastic container has me concerned and disappointed. While I laud any move away from plastic, I feel that razor blade packaging is an exception. I find that storing used blades in a cardboard container instead of a plastic one does increase the risk of a cut. I conducted my own shaving trial of Astra blades against Precision (which are in plastic containers of 10, with a dispenser) and I concluded that Precision blades were equal to, if not better than, Astras. Also, at Fendrihan, Precision blades are cheaper than Astra by a dollar (by $6 if bought by the ton). I shall switch to Precision blades for my next purchase.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sam
09/20/2010

My issue with these blades is lack of consistency. A good one in my Merkur HD Slant will give 3-4 smooth, close shaves. A bad one causes serious bloodshed and leaves me cursing St. Petersburg and everything that comes from there. And you can't tell a good blade from a bad one until it's too late.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by JK
07/04/2010

Sharp, but very "unforgiving" blades. Each package should come with a styptic pencil. I much prefer the Precision blades at this price point.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Stuart Wood
05/31/2010

Not a fan of the Astra blades. Good for one shave then they will rip your face apart.

Rating: [2 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Tyler P.
05/10/2010

These smooth and last a little longer than Derby blades but tend to be a tiny bit more prone to nicks/bumps. They feel great to use and generally make for a great shave. They're great to have around and very inexpensive, especially in the 100 pack. Merkur cost way too much more. Feather are sharp but very tricky and not generally useful for a daily shaving routine.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Jared
05/10/2010

I had the same experience Cesium did. I wasn't even sure I was shaving until I noticed hair vanishing from my face. Definitely not as sharp as Feathers, but oddly eneough, I've gotten a closer shave with these. I've found my new go-to blade for sure.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Sacha
04/16/2010

I'm a recent convert to wet shaving. I've tried Merkurs, Feathers, Derbys and these Astra Platinums in my Merkur 1904. The Astras have, to me, the best compromise of closeness and forgiveness of the bunch. These will be my "go to" blade from here on, alternating perhaps with Feathers for weekend shaves when I have a bit more time.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Pierre Blais
02/23/2010

I tried the others in the sampler package, and I find these to be the best. I get about 6 shaves out of one blade. 3 per side. No nicks or cuts, and with the proraso pre and post prep, no irritation whatsoever. I use these in my Gillette fatboy. They're great

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by IvorL
02/21/2010

Astra is my regular blade. I prefer them to Derby, Lord, Dorco, and even Feather. While not as sharp as Feather, Astra is more forgiving. It is a good quality blade which provides a consistently close shave at half the price of a Feather. One Astra blade will last me 3 or 4 days. The price is right and, better yet, buying a pack of 100 reduces the price even more!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Mark W
02/11/2010

These blades are thinner then some of the other blades I have used in the past, but they seem to work fairly well within my Gillette Superspeed regardless. These are by no means long lasting blades, as I tend to replace them after two or three shaves, however the quality of the shave thus far has been excellent. Not nearly as sharp as Feather, but much more forgiving of a blade.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Edward
01/22/2010

These blades are inexpensive and of poor quality. A friend of mine who is also into double edge razors often jokes that you measure an Astra not on the number of shaves you can get out of it but the number of passes. So, if you don't mind using three blades per shave, they are fine, otherwise, I would pass.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by PR
01/12/2010

This is a second pack of Astra blades that I bought from Fendrihan (just before they sold out). The only note I wanted to add is that the new packaging is different from what I ordered before. It used to have a nice plastic box for 5 blades with the old blade dispenser built-in. The latest blades came in a carton boxes (5 blades per box).. too bad. Still a best blade I have used so far.....

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Rob
11/30/2009

Not bad, but not my favourite. Decent shave but I prefer Derby and Precision. The Astras left a bit of a rust stain on my Merkur 33C Classic razor.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
10/26/2009

Of all the blades in the sample kit, the Astra blades are by far my favourite, for all of the reasons stated in the other reviews. A great choice and a great, smooth shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Michael Prince
10/05/2009

A very good quality blade!!! I have tried many double edge blades and this brand is one of my top choices! The blade is sharp and smooth. I can probably get 3-4 good shaves from Astra and my beard is coarse. One good thing about this blade unlike a Feather, is it is good and smooth from go. I do like Feather brand, however, my Merkur Slant and my face do not get along so well. The Feather is just too darn harsh on first shave or so. I am same problem with a Derby blade in the slant as well. I love this blade so much, I just purchased 200 of them to compliment my 150 or so Crystal brand, another good blade in my opinion.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Philippe Galarneau
09/14/2009

Very smooth blades, quite sharp. I managed to get 3 good shaves out of them, the fourth not as good. No razor burn however.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by BH
07/19/2009

just bought 2 packs. I am new to wet shaving... would never go back. These blades are so smooth and sharp that it glides over my face. I get about 4 good shaves from 1 blade. I notices that the blade is numbered... 1 and 2 on one side and 3 and 4 on the other. Does this mean that I can turn the blade over and re-use ? Thanks

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Phil T
07/15/2009

Hi All, I just started shaving with a DE Razor again, after first taking the plunge about 15 years ago. I bought 2 packs of Astras and 2 packs of Derby. The Derby are a sharp, and somewhat unforgiving blade. The Astra's , by comparison, seem smoother but still give me a great shave - without a lot of nicks, scratches, dents....etc. If you have a coarse beard and sensitive skin - these may do the trick for you. I am extremely pleased with these blades, and will be re-purchasing more.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Cesium
06/12/2009

My first shave with an astra blade confused me quite a bit. It felt like I had actually forgotten to put a blade in my HD. Almost no feedback whatsoever. Obviously these blades are much sharper than those I was used to. A very smooth and sharp blade, which seem to hold their edge quite well.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by PR
06/01/2009

I agree with both reviewers, these blades are amazingly sharp. I think my search is over :)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alexander J
02/09/2009

I purchased these blades awhile ago. I found that these blades were pretty decent. I did manage to get 4 decent shaves out of one blade. I did attempt a 5th shave, but did get some noticeable tugging. That was my clue to switch in a fresh blade. The packaging was pretty good, but there was some machine oil smell on the blades more noticeable than on others. It was nothing which could not be tolerated. All in all I do recommend these blades.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Earl Dunbar
12/17/2008

I bought a sampler pack here. The Astra Superiors have turned out to be the most versatile blade. By that I mean that they have performed well in all my razors: Merkur 38C, Schick Krona, 1940s Gillette SuperSpeed and Feather Portable. The Feather New Hi Stainless blades are a tad sharper, but not by a lot. While the Feathers are amazing in the 38C, the Astras seem to be a bit smoother, but especially in the razors other than the 38C. If these were the only blades available, I could happily live with them. There are still other blades to try, but anyone purchasing these shouldn't be disappointed.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 1 to 31 (of 31 reviews)

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