It seems like so much focus in the wet shaving community when it comes to blades is placed on finding a sharp blade. But guess what? Not every wet shaver needs a sharp blade like a Feather or Astra Superior Platinum.
Some guys just want a nice smooth, mild and irritation-free shave from their safety razor. And that’s why we are going to take a look at the Derby Extra razor blades today.
Over the years, Derby Extra razor blades have become synonymous with the adjective smooth. They are known for providing a smooth, mild and irritation-free.
These definitely aren't for men that need an aggressive blade (i.e. thick beard or coarse hair), but if you have minimal beard and/or fine facial hair, these just might be a great option.
So let’s dive in and take an in-depth look at one our favorite premium, smooth double edge blades on the market.
Pros
- Great for wet shavers with light/fine facial hair that don’t need an aggressive blade
- Good option for wet shavers that are looking for a smooth shave that don’t need a sharp razor
- Excellent quality control - you know what to expect with each blade
Cons
- Can tug at hair if it’s not sharp/aggressive enough for your facial hair/beard
Product Overview
Derby Extra double edge razor blades are a standard size double edge razor blade that is manufactured in Turkey. I’m not familiar with any other brands of blades that are made in Turkey come to mind but I may be forgetting some. Don’t let international blades scare you off — there are some great blades made all over the world including Israel, Egypt, Russia, Japan and of course the USA.
Derby Extra’s are sold in a variety of quantities. You’re not limited to buying just a pack of 100. I’ve seen them sold online in packs of 5, 15, 20, 30, 50, 100 and 200.
Regardless of what quantity you buy though, Derby Extra’s are are packaged in groups of 5. There’s not much else to really note about the packaging. There are 5 blades in a small white plastic container/dispenser and each blade is individually wrapped in paper for safety. So if you order a pack of 100, you will get 20 white plastic container dispensers inside with 5 blades in each dispenser.
Marketing materials for Derby Extra’s say their blades are “manufactured from stainless razor blade steel strip from Sweden hardened and ground by utilizing most advanced equipment”. Additionally, the edges of Derby blades are deposited with chromium ceramic, tungsten and platinum by advanced spluttering equipment which they claim strengthens the edges and extends the life of the blade. Lastly, the blades are coated with a polymer to protect the blade and give it a smooth finish.
Anybody know what any of that means? Yeah, me neither because I don’t have a PhD in materials engineering. I think the important takeaway from Derby marketing materials though is that they are subjected to high standards of quality control to ensure their blades don’t have imperfections. This is really important when it comes to finding good de blades.
Key Features & Characteristics
Not a “Middle of the Road” Blade — Prioritizes Smoothness over Sharpness
Derby Extra blades are some of the smoothest and mildest double edge razor blades on the market. So just because they are at the other end of the sharpness spectrum from a Feather, does that mean they are a bad blade?
Of course not. Not every wet shaver wants or needs an ultra-sharp Feather or Astra.
But you do need to be aware that these are not very sharp. Just be aware of what you’re buying.
Would you expect a pickup truck to be able to drive as fast and handle as well as a Corvette? So don’t expect smoothe blades that are not nearly as sharp as a lot of others to perform the same.
These definitely are not bad blades. They are really good de razor blades that have great quality control. They just happen to prioritize smoothness over sharpness. They definitely are not the right blades for a lot of men, but they are the perfect blades for some men.
Great Option for Anyone Looking for a Mild Blade
The Derby Extra razor blades are a great option for any wet shaver that is looking for a very mild blade. These deliver one of the smoothest, mildest shaves out there when it comes to safety razors.
So what shavers would benefit from using a mild blade? Any man that has a below average thickness beard and their hair texture is fine. If you have a thick beard or your hair follicles are thick and coarse, this might not be the blade for you.
I also wouldn’t recommend this blade for men that only shave once or twice a week. If you have at least a few days of growth when you shave, these blades might have trouble cutting through the thicker beard with longer hairs.
I also probably would not recommend this blade to beginner’s unless they have a really light beard or fine hair. Why? Because it is so smooth, I think a lot of beginners overcompensate when using a really mild blade and instead of letting the razor do the work, they apply pressure. In my opinion, beginners actually benefit from using a middle of the road sharp blade.
Of course, all of this will vary on your particular factors though. As they say, YMMV. But overall, I would recommend this blade for any man that has a light beard with fine hair.
Great Consistency
Derby blades deliver great consistency. It’s very rare to get a Derby blade that delivers different performance in regards to either sharpness and smoothness from the last one.
A lot of wet shavers overlook how important consistency is from blade to blade. Most of the talk when it comes to double edge blades is always about sharpness. And getting a blade with the right amount of sharpness is important, but how good is a blade if you can’t count on each blade delivering the same results each time?
Derby Extra’s are great for everyday shavers that shave before work because each day you should know exactly what you’re going to get. The last thing you want to worry about before going to work is having to treat a cut because you got a blade that didn't perform like you were expecting.
Derby’s hit a home run when it comes to quality control and consistency.
Durability Varies For Users but Most Derby Users Change the Blade More Frequently than the Average Blade
Durability when it comes to razor blades can vary big time from person to person based on a lot of factors (hair density, hair coarseness, shave frequency) but I think the general “theme” with Derby Extra’s is that they have to be changed a little more frequently than the average blade. What’s average?
In my experience, most blades last between 4-6 shaves. With the Derby’s though, I needed to change them out after only about 2 or 3 shaves. This isn’t unexpected because my beard is medium thickness and hair is slightly coarse.
However, talking with other wet shavers, it sounds like 3-4 shaves is the sweet spot with the blades. Which still isn’t that bad though. Think about it. Say you order a pack of 100 and get an average of 3.5 shaves/blade. That means you could shave everyday and the 1 pack of 100 would last the entire year.
I don’t think the durability of the blades should be a big concern, but just be aware that you might need to change them a little more frequently than some other blades.
What Are Some Other Options to Consider?
Shark Super Chrome
The Shark Super Chrome blades are another great option for any wet shaver that needs a mild blade. These are very similar to the Derby Extra blades. They offer a mild and incredibly smooth and comfortable shave.
Gillette Silver Blue
If you need to step up the sharpness a little though, the Gillette Silver Blue blades will do the job. These are quite a bit sharper than a Derby, but they are also quite a bit more smooth than most other blades that are this sharp. These are very high quality, dependable blades that work great for a lot of wet shavers.
Personna Lab Blue
The Personna Lab Blue razor blades are also going to be a step up from Derby’s in regard to sharpness, but they are also an incredibly smooth blade. These blades are great for men that need a sharp(er) blade that is also forgiving. In my opinion, this is one of the best blades for beginner wet shavers to use to learn proper safety razor technique.
Still a little unsure of what double-edge razor blades to buy? Then go read my guide on what I think are the 10 best safety razor blades on the market today. It has all the information you need to find the perfect blade for your needs.
