My Experience Testing Supply Premium Razors: Are They Worth It?
As someone who has tried just about every men‘s razor and shave product on shelves over the past decade, friends are always asking what gear I currently use in my rotation. For the past 3 months, my daily driver has been the Supply Single Edge razor. This refreshingly crafted single blade has me questioning if I‘ll ever go back to multi-blade cartridges again.
Why I Was Seeking a High-End Razor Upgrade
I first stumbled upon Supply while researching the resurgence of the single blade shaving trend. I had grown increasingly frustrated with irritation and ingrown hairs from my pivoting 5-blade ProGlide. No matter what blades or creams I paired it with, the basic tugging and nicking persisted.
My curiosity was piqued after reading about Supply‘s focus on old-world craftsmanship and durable materials. As someone who loves boutique goods designed to stand the test lifetime use, I had to give their flagship razor a try.
The 3 key factors I prioritize most when testing razors are:
- Build Quality & Materials
- Weight Balance & Ergonomics
- Shave Closeness & Skin Comfort
While upfront cost does matter, I‘ve been burned before by cheaper razors that fell apart or rusted after a few months. With proper care I expect premium tools to last many years.
On paper, Supply met all my criteria. It was time to move from research to hands-on testing.
My First Impressions Unboxing the Supply Single Edge
I chose the shiny chrome Mirror Polish edition with a black canvas case. As soon as I slid open the telescoping box I could tell this was several classes above my typical shave gear packaging.
My first thought was "Wow – this feels like unboxing a luxury Swiss watch!"
The missile-shaped metal handle had noticeable heft while maintaining perfect balance. The chrome finish looked impeccably applied, reflecting light evenly across the entire surface.
Inspecting the three blade angle adjustment settings, each clicked crisply yet still felt buttery smooth when sliding. This level of tolerancing blew away any past razors where the parts rattled loosely.
The Supply folks apparently lavish just as much attention towards accessory materials too. From the custom formed blade packs to the leather hanging strap, exceptional craftwork shined through. I was already warming up to Supply just inspecting everything!
Learning the Single Blade Technique
Of course unboxing was just the first step – now it came time to actually test shaving with this single blade.
I won‘t sugarcoat that the first week proved fairly miserable as I adjusted from my typical habit of pressing razors aggressively into my skin. I suffered through 3 rough shaves leaving my face a cut up, irritated mess.
But I stuck with it and focused on re-training my muscle memory.
My single blade technique checklist:
- Soften whiskers for 2+ minutes with hot splash water
- Hydrate skin thoroughly with glycerin preshave
- Load brush with cream and build lather on face over 30 seconds
- Limit handle contact to the weight of razor alone
- Shave in 3 passes – first with grain, across, against
- Rinse blade under faucet nearly every stroke
- Apply alum block then cold splash water to close pores
I‘m happy to report that by the 10 day mark, everything magically clicked with muscle memory kicking in.
Now I achieve deliciously smooth results virtually irritation free. I estimate shave time runs only about 2 minutes longer than my fastest cartridge sessions – a worthwhile trade-off!
My Shave Duration Breakdown:
| Step | Cartridge Time | Single Blade Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Shave Prep | 1:30 min | 1:30 min |
| Building Lather | 0:45 sec | 1:30 min |
| First WTG Pass | 1:00 min | 1:30 min |
| Second XTG Pass | 0:45 sec | 1:30 min |
| Splash & Post-Shave | 0:45 sec | 0:45 sec |
| Total Time | 4:45 min | 7:45 min |
The single blade does demand more discipline, focus, and patience versus quickly swiping a pivoting razor. But once mastered, I‘m blown away by how close yet comfortable shaves feel compared to past cartridges.
Supply vs. the Competitors
How exactly does Supply stack up against other popular razor brands targeting the high-end segment? I compared across three factors – cost, shave closeness, and product ecosystem.
| Razor | Cost | Closeness | Ecosystem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supply | $$-$$$ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Bevel | $$$ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Leaf | $$ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Rockwell | $$-$$$ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
Supply comes out very strong on both closeness and cost factors. Their starter kits could use a few more shaving accessory pieces.
Bevel delivers a full ecosystem for guys prone to bumps, but comes at a premium cost.
Leaf interests me from a materials science angle, but hasn‘t perfected the core shaving performance yet.
While Rockwell offers unmatched customization and blades, the shave feel doesn‘t quite achieve Supply‘s buttery glide.
My Final Verdict After months of Testing
I‘ll wrap up this Supply shave review by answering the core question I set out to test – are these premium razors actually worth the investment?
My unequivocal answer after months of use is a resounding yes!
The staggering build quality, brilliant design, and masterful shaving performance leave me wondering why I stuck with sub-par razors all these years.
Of course such stellar craftsmanship commands premium pricing. But rest assured Supply shave will still feel like a value purchase 10 years from now when the gear remains in flawless working order.
Will Supply convert every die-hard cartridge fan? Perhaps not – the single blade technique proves more exacting and time consuming. Yet for the shaving purists seeking the ultimate precision instrument, Supply razors deliver handily.
I gladly award Supply my highest recommendation. This USA-made razor has secured permanent residence as my daily driver and restored the joy to my morning routine. Give the Supply shave a trial run yourself – I doubt you‘ll be disappointed!
