Feather Double Edge Razor Blades Review

Product Overview

Feather double-edge blades are manufactured in Japan and are made out of stainless steel but coated with a layer of platinum. A lot of other premium blade are made with a similar coating of platinum, teflon or iridium. The purpose of the coating is to help the blade glide across the shaving surface more smoothly and also to protect it from corrosion and other performance deterioration.

Feather blades are standard size double edge blades and should fit in any standard safety razor.

I’ve seen Feather’s sold in quantities of 10, 20, 30, 50, 100 and even 200. Regardless of what quantity you but though, they are packaged in plastic dispensers that hold 10 blades/dispenser though. So if you bought a package of 100 Feather blades, you would be getting 10 dispensers with 10 blades in each container.

The plastic dispensers are just a plain white container but have a yellow label on the top showing they are “Feather New Hi-Stainless” blades. Inside the plastic dispenser, the 10 blades are each individually wrapped in paper. The blade itself has the Feather logo on it at the top with the words “Hi-Stainless” and “Made in Japan” at the bottom.

One cool feature with the plastic dispenser it that it actually has a blade bank at the bottom. This way, you can use the dispenser to discard your used blade when your done with it instead of having to make or use a separate blade bank. Then, when you are done with all 10 blades, just toss the plastic dispenser in the trash.

Alright, let’s find out if these are the right blades for you.

Key Features & Characteristics

The Undisputed Sharpest Blades on the Market

There’s a lot of things that you can debate in the world of wet shaving and safety razors. Which safety razor is the most aggressive? What razor blades provide the smoothest shave? What shaving soap softens the beard the most? What shaving brush applies lather the best?

But one thing that really is not debated is what double edge blades are the sharpest. It’s pretty much a unanimous decision that Feather razor blades are the sharpest. They are a 10/10 on the sharpness scale. Feather sets the bar when it comes to sharpness.

In fact, there’s been so much talk about how sharp they are that I think it has actually scared off a lot of wet shavers from even trying them.

Are Feather blades sharp? Absolutely. Does that make them dangerous or unsafe to use? Not if you’re using good form and not being reckless while shaving.

Yes, you absolutely need to pay close attention to what you’re doing when using a Feather. You can’t just wake up and knock out a quick shave out with a Feather before running out the door to work like you probably can with a Derby Extra or Shark Super Chrome.

But as long as you are using good technique, shaving with the grain on the first pass and taking your time, these blades shouldn’t intimidate you.

Not Forgiving -- More Prone to Cause Nicks, Cuts and Razor Burn

All that said, you definitely are more likely to get a cut or razor irritation with a Feather when you make a mistake.

These blades aren’t un-smooth, in fact I would rate them as moderately smooth, they just aren’t forgiving when you make a mistake. You really need to have excellent form if you want to use one of these.

And that’s the double-edge sword to these blades. On one hand, they are awesome because they are so sharp that they cut through facial hair like a knife through hot butter. These are effortless at shaving even thick, coarse facial hair.

But on the other hand, they are so sharp that you can certainly pay for any mistake or slipup you make.

High Quality, Premium Blades

Feather blades are some of the highest quality, premium performance blades on the market. These things are incredibly well made and the quality control is second to none.

Feather blades might be too sharp for some, but it’s very rare to hear a complaint about quality control or an imperfection with the blade. I’m sure they do happen from time to time, but whenever I hear someone complain about a Feather, I tend to believe it’s because they didn’t understand the profile of what makes a Feather or they just didn’t understand how to shave with such a sharp blade.

When you buy a pack of Feather blades, you should know exactly what you’re getting: it’s going to be very sharp but it’s going to be made with the best quality control and finishing techniques out there.

Who Are Feather Blades Best For?

I recommend Feather razor blades for wet shavers that meet all 3 of the following criteria:

1. You’re a veteran wet shaver that has excellent form. If you’re new to safety razors and don’t have the technique down yet, don’t use this blade. You must have a light hand and let the razor do the work with a Feather blade. If not, you could end up with cuts and/or bad razor burn.
2. You need an aggressive blade because you have coarse facial hair or a thick beard. Men with a light beard and soft or fine hair can certainly use this blade, but I think it’s unnecessary because they can probably get a smooth shave with a much less aggressive blade.
3. You don’t have sensitive skin that’s prone to getting razor burn or other skin irritation. Feather blades are not a forgiving blade, so if you have sensitive skin I recommend finding a blade that won’t be so aggressive.

Not Recommended for Beginner Wet Shavers

I just covered this in the last section but it’s worth repeating -- I would never recommend Feather blades to a beginner safety razor user. It would be like trying to tame a wild mustang your first day working on a ranch. It’s just too much to handle.

But seriously, if you’re new to wet shaving, you need to practice your technique with a less aggressive and more forgiving blade. There are other great blades out there that are slightly less sharp and will allow you to learn how to use a safety razor and you will actually enjoy the process so your face doesn’t feel destroyed after every shave.

Great Durability

Feather blades are very durable. They are made in top-notch facilities and they use high quality materials. That said though, like with all other blades, the longevity and what you will actually sully get out of them is dependent on a multitude of factors and YMMV.

For example, I have a medium thick beard and my hair is semi-coarse. Feather blades are incredibly sharp and relatively smooth for the first 3 shaves but I notice a slight decrease in sharpness and smoothness on the 4th and 5th shave.

I don’t like to push it when it comes to blade longevity, so I always change my Feather out after the 5th shave. They still retain a lot of the sharpness at this point, but it’s not as smooth as I’d like by this point. I could probably stretch it into a few more good shaves, but why risk it when the cost/blade is so affordable?

I’ve talked with other wet shavers that have told me they can get as many as 9 or 10 shaves out of 1 Feather blade, which is really remarkable.

Razor blade longevity is highly subjective. But I think most wet shavers that have used a Feather blade would agree that they are above average when it comes to durability.

Maybe You Don’t Need the Sharpest Blade to Get a Close Shave

Look, I’m a huge fan of the Feather double edge razor blades. They are an incredibly sharp and overall just an excellent blade. And they are a great option -- for men that need a really aggressive shave.

However, I want to make sure you understand that there are plenty of other options that can also offer a really close shave. There are some really great options available that are slightly less sharp than Feather blades, but they offer the benefit of being much more forgiving.

It may take another pass with one of these slightly less sharp blades to get your face as smooth as it feels after just 1 or 2 passes with a Feather, but sometimes taking that extra time is worth it.

What Are Some Other Good
Safety Razor Blades to Consider?

Personna Lab Blue

Personna Lab Blue safety razor blades are some of the most popular de blades on the market for good reason. They are an incredibly smooth blade that is also well above average in sharpness. I rate these as an 8/10 on the sharpness scale. Overall, these made in the USA blades are sharp enough to handle even thick beards and coarse facial hair, but they are much more forgiving than a Feather.

Gillette Silver Blue

Gillette Silver Blue double-edge blades are another great option if you’re looking for a sharp blade. These are slightly less sharp than a Feather, but they are still more than capable of delivering a bbs shave. The benefit if going with a Silver Blue over a Feather is that they are slightly more forgiving. You won’t get punished for every slipup with the razor. Overall, these are an excellent option.