Feather, a Japanese company, is one of the most well-known and highly regarded companies in the wet shaving industry. They are probably best known for their premium, ultra-sharp double edge razor blade, which they have been making for over 8 decades, but they do also make a few safety razors.
Feather doesn’t have an extensive line of safety razors like a lot of the other big safety razor companies. In fact, Feather only has 2 models: the Feather “Popular” and the Feather AS-D2. The AS-D2 is one of the most expensive and premium safety razors on the market. It’s made entirely from stainless steel and is one of the most impressive (and expensive) safety razors you can find. The “Popular”, on the other hand, is an incredibly affordable entry-level safety razor.
The Feather “Popular” is made from a combination of plastic, stainless steel and chrome-plated brass. The benefit of this it helps keeps costs down and allows Feather to sell it at such a cheap price. But the drawbacks are that it makes it much lighter and less durable.
And just because it’s “cheap” in price doesn’t mean it’s not a good safety razor. It is surprisingly a really good safety razor and delivers a better shave than a lot of razors that are more expensive. Just remember -- price doesn’t determine quality. So if you have a limited budget, this is one of the best bang for your buck safety razors.
But is it the best safety razor for you? Let’s find out.
Pros
- Light but still has a good balance point
- Excellent shave quality
- Easy to grip with horizontal grooves on the handle
- Quick and easy blade replacement
- Cheap in price, not in quality
Cons
- Noticeably lighter than other safety razors
- Butterfly design is more susceptible to breaking
Product Overview & Specs
- Weighs 1.2 ounces
- 4.5 inches long
- Twist-to-open (TTO)/Butterfly opening
- Made from combination of plastic, stainless steel and chrome-plated brass
Key Features
Long and Light With A Good Balance Point
The Feather “Popular” butterfly safety razor is both long and very light. It is 4.5 inches long but at only 1.2 ounces, it is one of the lightest safety razors on the market. Why is such a long safety razor so light? Because there is very little weight in the handle. The razorhead is metal so it has some good weight to it, but the plastic handle adds very little weight.
I typically prefer a heavier razor, but I actually still like the “Popular” twist to open because it has a good balance point. The metal knob at the top is pretty much the balance point and this makes it easy to let the razorhead do the work for you.
I would definitely prefer if the “Popular” had a little more weight and although the light handle might feel “cheap”, but overall it works really well.
Moderate Aggressiveness
Most budget safety razors offer a very mild shave. But the Feather “Popular” offers a nice moderately aggressive shave. I’d say it’s probably a 4 or 5 out of 10.
What makes it slightly more aggressive? The biggest thing is that it has medium blade exposure. All of the other design features of the “Popular” are pretty mild (straight bar, closed comb and not adjustable), so it’s really just the blade exposure that helps make it a little more aggressive.
So if you’re looking for a very mild entry-level razor, this probably isn’t the razor for you. But if you need something a little more aggressive because you have thick, coarse hair or maybe you just prefer a more aggressive shave, then this is a great option.
And don’t forget, you can make the razor more aggressive with a sharp blade like a Feather. Or you can dial it back a little and use a very mild shave like a Shark or Merkur.
Horizontal Grooves On Handle Provide Good Grip
Despite being made from plastic, the grip on the handle is actually pretty good. There are horizontal grooves along the entire handle so no matter how you hold the razor, you should be able to get a good grip. The grip is not quite as good as something like the Merkur 23c, but you shouldn’t have any issues handling it.
Long Handle
If you’re looking for a safety razor with a long handle, then you will like the Feather “Popular”. The razor is 4.5 inches long from end to end, which is well above average length.
Personally I like longer handles, but I also have pretty large hands. If you have small hands or just find safety razors with a shorter handle easier to use, this probably isn’t the right safety razor for you.
Butterfly Open Makes Replacing Blades Quick and Easy
The butterfly design makes it really easy to replace blades in the “Popular” safety razor. All you have to do is twist the knob right below the razorhead and the top will open. Then you can carefully take the old blade out and replace it with a fresh de blade. Then twist the knob the other way to close the razorhead and then it is ready for use.
Personally, I’m not a huge fan of butterfly open safety razors. Yes, they make it really easy to replace blades, but in my opinion they are not as durable over the long run. The hinges on a butterfly razor are commonly the first part to break and you don’t have to worry about that problem with a 2-piece or 3-piece safety razor.
Overall though, the “Popular” is still pretty durable. Just be careful not to overtighten the razorhead and wear the hinges out.
Who Do We Recommend The Feather "Popular" For?
The Feather “Popular” double-edge safety razor is an excellent option for any wet shaver that has a very limited budget. You are not going to find a better safety razor in the entry-level price range. This is also a great safety razor to test drive if you’re still a little on the fence about switching to wet shaving. The “Popular” allows you to test drive a really high quality safety razor for not much money.
The “Popular” is also a great safety razor for beginner wet shavers. It’s a little more aggressive than most “beginner” safety razors, but you can make it more mild by using a very smooth blade like a Shark.
What Are Some Other Safety Razors To Consider?
WEISHI Long Handle Butterfly Open Safety Razor
The WEISHI long handle butterfly open safety razor is very similar to the Feather “Popular” in a lot of ways. It’s a butterfly open, budget safety razor that is very popular with beginner wet shavers. I think there are 2 main differences though.
First, at 2.5 ounces the WEISHI weighs over twice as much as the “Popular”. Secondly, the WEISHI provides a much more mild shave. So if you’re looking for something a little more mild than the “Popular”, the WEISHI is an great alternative.
Merkur 23c Long Handle
The Merkur 23c long handle is one of the most popular safety razors on the market. Why? Because it is one of the best designed and well-made safety razors on the market.
The Merkur 23c is a little shorter than the Feather “Popular” at 4.2 inches but it weighs almost twice as much at 2.2 ounces. It has excellent weight distribution and the balance point makes it very easy to use good wet shaving form. The Merkur 23c is slightly more aggressive at 5/10.
Overall the Merkur 23c is just an excellent safety razor and one of my favorites. Yes it is going to cost a little more, but it’s still very affordable. Plus, it’s going to be much more durable and last you many years if you take care of it.
Parker 99R
Do you need something more aggressive? Then I recommend taking a look at the Parker 99R. The 99R is around 4.25 inches long and weighs 3.4 ounces, but it is definitely handle heavy. It has a nice chrome finish and is a butterfly open just like the “Popular”.
I only recommend the Parker 99R to men that really know how to use a safety razor. It’s just so aggressive (8/10) that it’s not very forgiving. But if you need a more aggressive razor and know how to use it, the Parker 99R is one of the best.
Still not sure which safety razor you want to invest in? Then I recommend reading my comprehensive guide on the best safety razors. It has all the information you need to find the perfect safety razor in your budget.
