Astra SP Razor Blades: India vs. Russia - The Sharpest Showdown!

[@NickzAndMikz]

It’s interesting that geofatboy noted no significant difference, however he has skin in the game as a reseller.

[@NickzAndMikz]

Also agreed about using the Henson for blade tests. Their precision/consistency really makes sure you’re evaluating the blade vs the razor and blade

[@OhioShaves]

I just call it like I see it. 👍

[@OhioShaves]

Glad you think so too

[@TheSilverFX]

I thought the same about Geofatboy. I felt a difference just by audio difference on his video. As for OhioShaves, I felt he was fighting his hairs with the blue Henson while he was gliding over them with the other. The neck pass (2nd pass), the blue one made me afraid he would cut himself up.

[@OhioShaves]

It’s was easy to feel the difference. The India blade is sharper and it shows in the video. The close up shots I get don’t lie. Thanks for sharing my friend.

[@stefanpuffer]

I just bought a Henson and got the free pack of blades using your code. Can't wait to try it.

[@OhioShaves]

Nice keep us up-to-date and thanks for your support

[@RSturtleness]

Great video. Loved the comparison of the Hensons and blades. Don’t know if it was mic placement, but I could hear a difference between the 2. Hope you and your family have a swell holiday and as always, keep em coming!! BTW- Browns looked awesome yesterday!!!

[@OhioShaves]

Thank you much. Happy holidays to you and your family as well. The Browns what a great game for Christmas Eve.

[@NickzAndMikz]

India has a higher pitch, Russia lower, but I can hear more of the aluminum in the Russian

[@OhioShaves]

@@NickzAndMikz Glad you noticed. Thanks for sharing

[@TheDokoBG]

I just ordered a box of 100x ASP a couple weeks ago, and i got lucky with the Russian Astras and they are very nice.

[@OhioShaves]

Nice. Where did you order them from?

[@TheDokoBG]

Amazon. There are like 2-3 listings. I ordered the one that does not say country of origin and was like a buck more than the others@@OhioShaves

[@antona.4572]

Yes, you are lucky to still get Russian-made Astras, as they have now moved the production to India, and will probably be using a different steel in manufacturing process there.

[@TheWilkReport]

I've had the chance now to use the Indian-made Astra SP blades. The first out of the first tuck might have been a dud, but the second went seven shaves easily with little to no irritation afterward and that was even skipping days between shaves. I started a new blade from the Indian tuck yesterday, and so far so good. I've noticed that the Indian-made Astras aren't quite as smooth as the Russian-made ones, but the difference is small enough that I don't think it really matters in the long run.

[@OhioShaves]

Thanks for sharing

[@stephenrees1110]

I have both russian and Indian Astra blades and I do think the Indian blades are sharper,which I noticed straight away,but found them to be just as smooth.

[@OhioShaves]

Thanks for sharing

[@10floz30minutes]

Also notice David stated a comparison to Gillette Silver Blue, which is SHARP, and to some people (maybe not everyone) also smooth.

[@I_Might_B_Wrong]

Silver Blues and Voskhods are some of my favorite blades. Just got some of the Indian Astras in, and am now looking forward to trying them given you comparing them to those two in category. I'd say my favorite brands are Gillette SB, Gillette Platinum "Swedes", Voskhods, and Personna Lab Blues. Astras were also a favorite, so hopefully the new ones hold up with my other favorites since I've got 100 of them lol

[@OhioShaves]

💈👍

[@I_Might_B_Wrong]

@@OhioShaves You were definitely right about the Astras being different. I can't call the new ones from India a beginner friendly blade like the Russian Astras. I think Gillette Silver Blue is a good comparison to the new Indian Astras. They're good blades, but not the same ones.

[@OhioShaves]

Thanks brother, they are totally different, but still good and its own right

[@sellitman]

Merry Christmas David. Liked your video. I bought 100 double edged and 100 single edged Perma-sharps last month. They are my go to blade and who knows what they will be when they become made in another country. I also joined as a member. Not the highest level but what I can afford now being retired. Thank you for all the help you bestow on your channel. You've helped me greatly these past few years. A happy and healthy new years. - Kevin

[@OhioShaves]

Merry Christmas as well my friend. Your support for the channel is greatly appreciated. Great Blades

[@xaviseti2579]

I just started to shave with safety razor i started using gilete king c and my first shave was great thanks to your help. Just 2 questions How often do you clean your razor? How can i save my used blade ? Thanks😊

[@OhioShaves]

Great to hear! You're going to get 2 to 30 shaves out of a D razor blade. Me personally I use a new blade every time but in the comments below responding to your question, you're gonna see a huge difference and how many shave someone gets from a sharper blade than the Astra. If you're not a beginner, I would recommend going with something a little more sharper

[@antona.4572]

You don't have to disassemble your razor for cleaning after every use, just wash it thoroughly with hot water and leave it at a bath counter to dry before storing it.

[@williammurphy1756]

Love the comparison shave. Have a great holiday. 👍

[@OhioShaves]

Thanks. Happy holidays🎄🎁

[@BingBlangBlaow]

The India Astras reminded me more along the lines of Shark blades. Didn’t feel as mild, and had more drag and pull for me. It’s not a bad blade, definitely different, but just didn’t work for me. Luckily I still have 500 Russian blades and a few Gillette Platinums. I will revisit the India blades again in the future just to be sure.

[@OhioShaves]

Thanks for sharing

[@bobmaikowski7332]

I found the Astra SP's from India to be more aggressive than the Russian-made, which were smoother. I would further say that the Astras from India were about as aggressive as the Gillette Wilkinson Sword blades made in India, which would make sense, seeing how they are probably made in the same plant. One welcome difference between the Astras made in India vs Russia is that the Astras from India do not have the massive amount of glue wads used in the blade-wrapping process that the Russian-made Astras have!

[@OhioShaves]

Great observation

[@Carzone2021]

I don't agree I have 100 pack of both India made astra n Wilkinson.. I find Wilkinson milder to astra ..coz I have coarse beard n find Wilkinson doesn't clean my chin area that well like astra n astra is no tugging when compared to Wilkinson for me due to coarse nature of my beard ..but having said that both r extremely popular,cheap n effective blades ..n I like them both

[@mcflotty]

Just out of curiosity, do you like the Henson blades at all?

[@OhioShaves]

I think they're great when you're learning or everyday shaving

[@Matt-ck6xx]

After using alum block and Thayer’s witch hazel facial toner in my post shave routine I no longer get razor burn. (Semi sensitive skin with course hair). Great channel.

[@OhioShaves]

Great news. Thanks for your support

[@truthofthematter2892]

I just shaved today with the new Astra blades, and I felt a bit of irritation. I could hear the difference in the two blades in your test. What blades do you recommend for a Mühle r89, if you want sharp, yet smooth feeling?

[@OhioShaves]

🇺🇸Personna USA: amzn.to/3HrIAId

[@AlitaAvenger]

Thanks for the video and Merry Christmas 🎄 I have also tried them both and in my experience the new Indian blades are slightly sharper, the Russian blades smoother. I like them both actually!

[@OhioShaves]

Merry Christmas 🎄. Me too

[@Sharpe-Shaver76]

Nice blade battle David. Going to grab a couple of Russian Astra blades from Amazon. I per our conversation today I ordered my Yates today.

[@OhioShaves]

Awesome. Which plate did you go with?

[@Sharpe-Shaver76]

H scalloped. Don't think I'm skilled enough to do the EH yet. When I get it in I will send a photo and I used your code.@@OhioShaves

[@kj_32]

I ordered a pack of Astras clearly labeled and marketed as 'made in Russia' and they sent me made in India. When I asked what the deal was they replied with this: The factory in Russia has been closed for over two years, Amazon has not corrected the listing. However, the blades from India are superb. I am sure if you try them, you will find them exactly like the ones from Russia were.

[@OhioShaves]

I would return them. I can say that the new SP blades are still a fantastic blade. They are just not the same. I've shit with both of them multiple times side-by-side and I can tell a big difference. The Astra is closer to a Gillette NACET OR Silver blue now.

[@kj_32]

@@OhioShaves I never had the opportunity to try the Russian version, so perhaps I'll still give the India ones a try on my next shave. A case of not knowing what I am missing kind of thing. 😄 Side note, I got my first Alum block, but found it irritating the first time I used it. Any suggestions? Thinking right now I will reserve it more for nicks rather than a regular use thing.

[@OhioShaves]

@@kj_32 if it's stings, that's actually a good sign because it's closing the pores on your face and helping to repair your skin. When it just tingles you, you know you got a pretty good shave. When you feel nothing taking the alum block across your face, you just acquired a perfect shave.

[@masonh2260]

I have used the feather black label blades for a while now but two shaves is the max and they are stupid expensive. I am looking at different blades for a more affordable price. Astra I'm skeptical now maybe I buy some rk blades and give them a go. Great video have a happy holiday and a good new year.

[@OhioShaves]

Thanks. Happy holidays and a fantastic new year to you as well. Check these out they my go to blades: 🇺🇸Personna USA: amzn.to/3HrIAId

[@NLeon-h1m]

Personnas as he mentioned are great. The rk blades Henson sells are awesome. Just so you know feathers are what I would call a "premium DE blade", hence the high price compared to other brands. Because of that they are extremely sharp, known by many to be the sharpest brand out there, which is very possible. So going from feather to another brand might be a big downgrade unless you find a good brand. If you find a cheap/bad brand they are going to feel like hell compared to the feathers. I one time used green Derby's, I sware it felt like the paper they came in was thicker than the blade, they were so bad, never again will I get derby blades because of that.

[@10floz30minutes]

Only way to know is to try them! What will be important is how they are for *you* .

[@bren.r]

The feather blade Amazon link in the description isn’t working. All others worked though.

[@OhioShaves]

Thanks for letting me know. I just fixed it. amzn.to/3NIkPP7

[@johnnicpon5783]

Have you used the Henson aggressive? I have a Henson AL-13 Medium aggression that I really like. But I find that I appreciate a more aggressive shave (I like the blade feel). I am considering the Henson Ti22 aggressive. Any thoughts? Also, have you used the Art of Shaving pre shave oil? I am really enjoying it, especially the bourbon scent.

[@OhioShaves]

It’s not that good of a razor. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Get a totally different razor if you want more blade field.

[@hubbahdabut]

I'm glad i found a supply of 500 of the russian style when your last video dropped (amazon canada) i'm probably set for a decade or so. however now i'm wondering if i want to try a henson medium or not... love my henson mild.

[@OhioShaves]

Great decision buying those blades. I prefer the mild over the medium personally. Some people believe they need a medium, aggressive razor and that's just not the case. A sharper blade makes a totally different razor blade combination for me.

[@technojet607]

Добавлю немного своего опыта, я купил себе второй станок Хэнсон второй ступени агрессивности, там в комплекте были лезвия РК( якобы специально разработаны для Хэнсона), так они оказались полной шляпой (по моему мнению). У меня осталось три лезвия русской астры, я поставил ее после РК, так это небо и земля. Астру оставил, РК не буду пользоваться. Пока бреюсь Фрейзер, т.к. нет русской астры... За обзор вам большое спасибо.

[@OhioShaves]

Добро пожаловать

[@darrylfoley9427]

this explains a lot ,i got my first safety razor in the fall of 2023 "Henson AL 13" and had heard the astra were a milder blade but just checked the blades and they are the India versions so i just ordered a sample pack and a few 5 packs of other brands today TITAN,, VOSKHOD, SHARK, DERBY, GILLETTE NACET, FEATHER,PERSONNA PLATINUM been working on a lighter touch as i have lopped the tops off a few moles lol. i was a straight razor shaver for a few years till a best man wedding earlobe incident on a hungover morning with a cat weaving through legs wanting to be fed then a sound like ripping a dry popcorn apart then a warm feeling running down my neck, sliced earlobe clean in half and did not even feel it, pinched shut and held while showered and cooked chili for wedding , dressed dabbed dried blood off and off to best man duties and that was the last day with straight razor.

[@OhioShaves]

Wow. That’s a hell of a story.

[@peterroberts1540]

I love the Astra and just got 300 Russian blades off Amazon. I also recently tried the Nacet in my new Rockwell t2 stainless steel and they appear to be just as good.

[@OhioShaves]

Great find

[@peterroberts1540]

Thanks to your discount I got the Rockwell for over 50% off.

[@TheSilverFX]

I'm glad the Indian blade is more aggressive since they discontinued the Russian ones (closing the factory). I might FINALLY get my hands on them; I was refusing to buy Russian blades because of the recent Russo-Ukrainian conflict (just a matter of personal principles).

[@OhioShaves]

I can understand that. I bought 100 pack two years ago.

[@TheSilverFX]

@@OhioShaves so far I have tried a few blades: KC Gillette (the ones available at Walmart), Wilkinson Sword, Derby Premium and Shark I went through the Derby 100 pack within a year I think (shaving 3 times a week, 1 blade per shave (always throwing them away). I bought the Shark recently but I noticed I got the wrong variation; the one I have doesn't offer the same shaving quality as those I received free with a razor) KCG and WS are good backups, but doesn't give me the shave I'm looking for. I'm still experimenting since I only started wet shaving a year and a half ago and I'm still trying to find my favorite razor as well as blades. Atm I really like the Viking Chieftain Odin because I don't get any cuts (unlike my Parker 97R) but I'm still convinced I could find a better one. For the blades, Indian Astra are probably my next try

[@10floz30minutes]

I do some shaving tasks in a different sequence. I load the blade into a razor before I begin applying the soap onto my face; and then build the lather on my face; then I check the tightness of the razor just before starting the shaving strokes.

[@OhioShaves]

what’s the advantage?

[@10floz30minutes]

@@OhioShaves Helps to avoid wet or soapy fingers before handling the blade; more of a conceived advantage than a real one, since my fingers are usually dry after the lather on the face is ready.

[@ykm257]

I think we were all curious to know the difference so thanks for this. Now I'm glad that I recently bought enough Russian blades to last me a decade😄. And Merry Christmas to you too.

[@OhioShaves]

Merry Christmas 🎄 😁.

[@RonnieYates]

Good review. I need to try the India version as Russia was too mild and tuggy

[@OhioShaves]

It can be in a mild razor. If you like Gillette, silver blues, then you're gonna love the new Astro blades from India. Thanks for your support in 2023. Have a happy new year.

[@Carzone2021]

@@OhioShaves correct I love new astra blades from India..they clear my chin area faster than they previous astra from Russia n no tugging at all ..plus they r selling cheaper than Russia blades so it's better deal 4 me

[@WallyPankowski-wd8gb]

David merry Christmas. What did you mean by join as a member for the Henson giveaway?

[@OhioShaves]

I offer memberships for a small fee to channel now: Membership to Channel: kzbin.info/door/QDMy9uNKFYP7Ls60Hhh6kwjoin

[@iansturnbull]

I have a Henson mild and the Russian Astra does not work for me. But also I found the RK did not work for me either. So now use Feather.

[@OhioShaves]

It's not my number one pic either in this razor. Have you seen the cost of feather blades? They have doubled in the past year. Crazy.

[@NLeon-h1m]

When are you dojng the giveaway for the razor? And what are the requirements to enter? Just enter your group?

[@OhioShaves]

All members are automatically entered: Membership to Channel: kzbin.info/door/QDMy9uNKFYP7Ls60Hhh6kwjoin

[@OhioShaves]

I have monthly giveaways for members

[@ivanfrangugic8355]

does it feell like gilette platium?

[@OhioShaves]

More like a silver blue

[@kirkbac]

Great video🎉

[@OhioShaves]

Thanks brother

[@Neil-from-Oz]

Fortunately I have 400 Russian Astra Blades and at my age they will out-last me. Thanks for the comparison.

[@OhioShaves]

That’s very fortunate. Might be able to sell those on eBay make a ton of money.😁

[@EricAdamsonMI]

Thanks for the info! My only suggestion would be to not track which blade was installed into which handle, and to identify them after completing the test.

[@OhioShaves]

It wouldn't make a difference. I have shaved with the india blades again and I must say I really enjoyed the shave but it is sharper than the russia

[@Doctorwhotrucking77]

okay good to know as I got a sample pack of blades a few days ago and must have had a ton of Russia astras left for the sample pack I got

[@OhioShaves]

Both are very good blades

[@MeteCanKarahasan]

Gillette Silver Blue example really chimed in with me. It was the easiest beard piercing razor I have experienced.

[@OhioShaves]

Great blade

[@antona.4572]

I've been shaving with the same Russian-made Astra blade for 15th time already, and it still shaves like new. I'm already curious, how many more shaves will it last before it finally gets blunt.

[@OhioShaves]

Very nice👍

[@antona.4572]

@@OhioShaves any feedback about a durability of Indian-made green Astra blades so far? How many shaves can they typically last, before getting blunt and starting tagging on the hair?

[@OhioShaves]

@@antona.4572 that's a very subjective question. It's going to vary from person to person.

[@antona.4572]

@@OhioShaves true, as it depends on such factors as a thickness and hardness of person's stubble, type of razor the blade is being used with, type and quality of shaving cream, etc. However, the quality of razor's steel is an important factor, so there should be such thing as an average number of shaves a blade can last.

[@antona.4572]

@@OhioShaves ok, let me rephrase the question: how many shaves approximately were you able to get out of Indian-made Astra blade versus Russian one, before it started getting dull and tugging on your hair?

[@Odinarcade00]

That’s the same “tan” Henson I ended up getting. More like bronze to me. I got the mild one. Works well for my light beard

[@OhioShaves]

Great Razor

[@Odinarcade00]

@@OhioShaves well I only shaved once so far with the rk blades it came with and I got the best shave of my life! So much better than cartridges. I’ve been missing out! Gonna try a Gillette silver blue tomorrow and a 7 o’clock yellow after that! Really excited!

[@ivermec-tin666]

Thank you for the brilliant comparison. The alum block does not lie. The Russian made Astra SP was the first DE blade that I bought in bulk as a new wet shaver. They are very nice blades; budget priced, very smooth, not quite as sharp as I have come to prefer, and unfortunately short lived. I don't get more than three shaves out of these blades. I am particularly interested in how the Russian vs Indian Nacet DE blades compare, as the Russian Nacets are in my top two list of DE blades. Excellent points about the value of a smooth mid agression blade for the newby. I tried a Gillette Silver Blue as a neophyse and it just tore me up. I clearly didn't have the technique or beard mapping down to use a blade that efficient. Someday, I will revisit the Gillette Silver Blue. Which RK blade in particular are you referencing in this video? RK makes at least two variants of their DE blade. And, of course, I wonder what your opinion of the Czech blades branded as Tiger or Tatra Platinum blades is. The stated intention of Tiger/Tatra was to recreate the Astra SP blade that they used to manufacture before P&G moved their manufacture to St. Petersburg a couple of decades ago, but to make is slightly sharper while being just as smooth. IMO, it is practically impossible for the manufacture of a low cost commodity, like a DE blade, to be transplanted to a different facility without the characteristics of that product changing. It has happened with Astra SP's twice now (Czechoslovakia to Russia to India). It happened with Wizamets (Poland to Russia). I assume that it happened with Personna Reds (Israel to Germany). This kind of detailed subjective review by an end user with transparent and clearly communicated preferences is of tremendous benefit to the wet shaving community. Thank you!

[@OhioShaves]

Astra SP are a lot of people’s favorite. Great blades. It will be interesting review with the Nacets

[@dubsy4835]

I have been wet shaving for over a year now and think I have tried every blade there is..( several mixed packs)... I also find Tiger blades very good and are my go to blades now.. I had a very bad experience with 3 packs of Astras, which ripped my face to bits..! was a great review tho. Thanks 😂👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@ivermec-tin666]

@@dubsy4835 Were those the Astra SP blades in the green tuck, or the SS blades in the blue tuck? How many shaves do you get out of the Tiger platinum blades? The firm that manufactures Tiger Blades in the Czech Republic is the original manufacturer of Astra blades from before P&G acquired that business line and shipped the manufacturing equipment to St. Petersburg. The stated goal of the new Tiger blades was to create a blade very much like the Russian Astra SP's but slightly sharper. They are made on new and modern equipment. This was a giant step for Tiger to take, as their carbon steel blades are made on old equipemnt, and are not intended for wet shaving, but for use by tailors. Tatra and Tiger DE platinum coated razor blades are made in the same factory, and are supposedly identical.

[@dubsy4835]

Thank you for that Ivermec... very informative. My Astras were the green packaged ones. I have read several reports since they left Russia of inconsistencies in manufacture. Whilst they are indeed a very good blade, and if you happen on a good batch, you will love them, but there are, apparently, bad batches out there. Perhaps I was lucky as I was using them constantly until the 'mishap' I still have quite a few and will continue with them every now and again, but I do find Tiger better. Thanks again for your very informative reply.

[@ivermec-tin666]

@@dubsy4835 I was not aware of this QC problem with the new Astra's made in India. Mine were made in Russia. I have never experienced a QC issue with a blade from Russia. Frankly, I would not buy any of these Indian made Astra's if they have this issue. I certainly hope that the newly sourced Nacet's don't have the same quality control problem.

[@tomlyons7066]

Happy Holidays David! Great comparison, love the blade head to head reviews. Still waiting for your test of one of Gillettes finest Russian blades - WIZAMET. Try it in the Henson vs your current favorite Russian Gillette or your #1 pick the Personna.

[@OhioShaves]

I will. Have a lot of new razors to do review’s on

[@OhioShaves]

Happy Holidays 🎄👍

[@blacksterangel]

Interesting. I'm new to wet shaving with safety razor so I didn't know that blade could make such a big difference. This might be a silly question but blade longevity aside, if you're using an adjustable razor, can't you just set the razor to a milder setting with sharper blade to get similar result as "normal" setting with milder blade?

[@OhioShaves]

To a certain extent you can. Trying to find the right razor and blade combination is key to Perfect Shaves. Astra SP's are loved by many

[@somethingwitty3647]

What would you recommend as a mild (or most mild) blade? I just switched back to wet shaving after about 20 years of electric shaving. I've got a Henson mild, been going with poraso white soap (and now their pre shave before that) or the Gillette fusion gel (lathered by brush in a bowl), and using an alum block followed by Nivea aftershave balm. I've been going through a sample variety pack of blades, but i think i need to give the earlier attempts a second chance because I wasn't in a routine yet and wasn't using the Henson right (in my opinion). So far I've found BIC platinum chrome, and personna platinum chrome have been great. Astra platinum and Gillette platinum were both okay. Gillette King was alright. RK wasn't great, but it was also the first one I tried since it can't with the Henson, so i want to give it another go. Wilkinson sword was not good for me. Feather was nice, other than the lack of forgiveness... Ouch. I generally have sensitive skin and am trying to figure out what would be the mildest. FYI, your videos have basically been my education and reintroduction into wet shaving, so thank you for doing them!

[@OhioShaves]

Thanks for all your support. Means the world to me. The RK. Blades that came with your Henson are the most mild blades I have ever tried.

[@rodsterpiper1412]

I have 300 plus Astra /Russian blades I bought when I started wet shaving. If I cld I wld swap them for Derby Extra. They are smoother but hey I got trade items for the apocalypse.

[@OhioShaves]

💈👍

[@Wicked-Whiskers]

Interesting comparison. Haven't tried Indian blades but must say I fell in love with Treets (from Pakistan) so I guess there is a reasoning in sourced steel just from geographic pov. Higher carbon content would make blade sharper and higher in pitch when shaving, also the sharpening angles in factory due to machines and grinding stones could play the difference as well. So, for SW Asian blades they have my green light 😊

[@OhioShaves]

💈👍

[@cubdukat]

I have yet to try the Indian Astras, but Astra in general is my go-to blade if I don't feel like using the yellow Feather blades or the Gillette 7 O'Clocks.

[@OhioShaves]

Great blades my friend. What razor do you use most?

[@sernani99]

I use a Merkur double-edged and I use Astra blades but I didn't know there was India and Russia blades my have the numbers 1 2 3 and 4 on each corner of the blade.

[@OhioShaves]

You have the old blades. The work great

[@genxl86]

Stocked up a box of 100 astra (rus) right after this video

[@OhioShaves]

That’s good news. Glad you did

[@dragosfrangu]

Now that you mentioned it, yes, it seems that the indian Astra is a little sharper and less smoother than the russian variant. IMHO the indian Astra is still a good choice, but should be under another brand. In the end, if you change the product, you should change also the brand - can't call it the same!

[@OhioShaves]

I'm with you there, my friend

[@danielalcantar8047]

Can you try the feather blades in a Henson

[@OhioShaves]

Done. Watch my Henson

[@danielalcantar8047]

@@OhioShaves any chance you can link me? I figure you have a lot of Henson videos.

[@OhioShaves]

I probably have 40 videos in my homepage listed under Henson shaving@@danielalcantar8047

[@descriptiondescriptiondescript]

I am not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing... I might have to give the Indian one a try. Thank you for comparing these two.

[@OhioShaves]

Sure thing 🎄👍

[@tikrais]

Tatra and Tiger blades are made in Czechia, maybe in the same factory as original Astras. What do you think about reviewing them as a replacement for russian Astras if Indian Astras are so different?

[@OhioShaves]

I think the India blades are great. They're just more aggressive. More like a Gillette silver. Which is a great blade in itself.

[@antona.4572]

​@OhioShaves ​​just an update on the durability testing: I was able to get a total of 34 (thirty four) descent-quality shaves out of my single Russian-made green Astra blade before it finally started to dull down and tugging on my hair instead of cutting them. Thirty four times is how long the blade lasted - not bad, considering I have a thick and coarse stubble, don't you agree? I challenge you to put your Indian-made version of that blade to the same durability test, and let me know how many shaves you can get out of it, in order to complete the experiment?

[@OhioShaves]

That's fantastic. I shave once or twice with a razor blade and then throw it away.

[@antona.4572]

@@OhioShaves IMHO, that's a waste of a good blade, but I guess that's your call. But in that case, your testing was kind of incomplete, IMHO, as any descent quality blade can shave well for the first couple of shaves, so this doesn't tell us much.

[@dragosfrangu]

I recommend to test also the russian Gillette Platinum vs chinese Gillette Platinum. For me at least, the only difference I see is in the longevity of the blade. Chinese ones seem to dull quicker.

[@OhioShaves]

Good to know. The Chinese got the Gillette platinum.

[@Junior_Meat]

Got a Henson Al13 + and a Rockwell 6c today for Xmas. Was planning on doing a comparison using a personna blade, but now I'm second guessing it and considering a silver blue. I've only been DE shaving for a few months and the last month has been with a Leaf Twig. I suspect the Leaf may have screwed with my technique a bit so I'm thinking I might nic myself with the Rockwell. I'm assuming the Henson will be fine since it's mild and will only cut when at the correct angle, but that Rockwell though...

[@OhioShaves]

You'll be OK. I'm curious to see which out of the three stands out the most for you

[@Junior_Meat]

@@OhioShaves The Henson gave an incredibly smooth shave with the Personna blade. Far better than the Twig using the same blade. Will try the Rockwell in the coming days, but I can't imagine it being better than the Henson. Really impressed!

[@Junior_Meat]

@@OhioShaves The Rockwell with a 3 plate gave a slightly smoother shave than the Henson, but it took more time and care to get there. Both with the Personna blade. I would call it a tie and base the decision upon the amount of time that I have to shave. The Twig is in a distant third. Still a great razor though.

[@Kh2456]

@@Junior_Meat Rockwell 6S with a 3-plate seemed like double the efficiency compared to the Henson mild. The Henson mild won't even cut my chin/mustache hairs unless I have a brand new Nacet and buff like crazy.

[@Junior_Meat]

@@Kh2456 Yes, I have to buff quite a bit with the Henson to get the chin smooth. Much less so with the Rockwell, but it still happens. My chin is my most difficult spot. Haven't yet worked out a good technique to smoothly shave it without buffing a bit. Always feel like I'm going to cut the skin. The Leaf Twig is the exception. Least amount of buffing. But the trade off is that it doesn't give me a clean shave. It leaves behind a small amount of stubble no matter how many passes I make. I exchanged it for a Thorn which is on the way. Will see how it performs compared to the Twig.

[@10floz30minutes]

One day in next few weeks, must try another one or two Astra Green. Only way to know for myself is try. I have no idea which one(ones) would receive. At least I could check the package and look at the details on the blades to identify which I would have.

[@OhioShaves]

Good luck

[@BartBuzz]

Another case of YMMV. Geofatboy compared them and found no difference. He also did a blind test and didn't know which blade he was using. Fortunately, I have other favorites and don't need to rely on Astra SPs.

[@OhioShaves]

🎄😁

[@CarolinaCheif]

Which blades are next

[@OhioShaves]

Which one would you like to see next?

[@CarolinaCheif]

Maybe Wizamet. Which is the “new Polsilver”, Wizamet or Permasharp?

[@ryanhoeven7826]

What soap is that?

[@OhioShaves]

Not sure old video

[@kyleashimself]

I was wondering why the astra blades seemed different now. I had left them for personnas for a bit. Luckily the ones my wife got me for Christmas are the Russian ones.

[@OhioShaves]

Nice

[@Lord_Pender]

I’m gonna a buy up as many Russian blades as I can now and stockpile…I was wondering about this after you mentioned the India move…

[@OhioShaves]

Smart

[@Stubblemeetssteel]

I didn’t know there was 2 flavors on these Astra green. I’m going to check to see what I have as I don’t care for them.

[@OhioShaves]

Hopefully the old ones

[@scimitar8000]

What would you recommend for a good mild blade. The rk blades that came with my Henson were really bad for me.

[@OhioShaves]

Derby blades. I would get a variety pack from Amazon so you can try different blades

[@scimitar8000]

@@OhioShaves what Derby blade would you recommend for sensitive skin?

[@OhioShaves]

@@scimitar8000 amzn.to/3Ho5DUK

[@I_Might_B_Wrong]

@@OhioShaves Derby? I'm surprised. Derby is the worst blade I've ever used. Only blade I consider unusable on my skin. Tons of dragging that led to irritation. Blade choice really is an individual thing.

[@OhioShaves]

Are you referring to the platinum. I just gave 100 blades away to a friend of mine and a leaf razor. I didn’t screw that all up. I got a lot of free blades and I didn’t want her to have to worry about snapping blades. And I’ve never even shipped that blade, I just wanted to give away some free stuff to a friend of mine

[@tikkaman6555]

Thanks for your review! Very different for sure... However expected, it is so interesting just how different the reviews on the differences are. Everywhere. Completely opposite impressions and conclusions. I guess only time will tell. That being said, I just happen to perform an unexpected and unscientific test myself. I was out of Astras and decided to replenish before Russian stock runs out. Granted, I have not used Astras lately. Got a 100 (delivered from Sweden apparently - took forever). Started shaving. With a somewhat aggressive slant (Astra to tame it a bit). And immediately felt it was not smooth at all as I remember it. But my conclusion in the moment was that it was duller due to tugging a bit too much... Did get a dud? Checked the package, and a seller on Amazon listed Russian but delivered Indian. So yeah... Tried 1 blade so far - time will tell. Not a bad blade at all, just not smooth. At least in my recollection. In a Rockwell w. R3 plate, it was better but still not smooth. Irritation ensued on both. Still a good blade - just completely different from my recollection.

[@OhioShaves]

Thanks for sharing

[@jonaspete]

Im devastated with RK Henson blade .

[@OhioShaves]

Razor blade combination is key

[@RonVichar]

Havent seen you shave for a while with a different blade than personna 😅 ill need to stock up on my fave russian blades before its too late.

[@OhioShaves]

It's a great blade for me

[@Pazzaideakerala]

Merry Christmas to everyone

[@OhioShaves]

Merry Christmas 🎅🎄

[@JasonScottCarter]

The RK blades that come with the Henson are not for me. Would be interested in trying these blades in mine

[@OhioShaves]

They are too gentle for me as well

[@Kenoji8]

I figured there would be some type of difference between the blades. Also, I don't know if you've ever tried Ariana & Evans soaps before, but they are some of the best soaps that I've used in terms of scents, performance, and overall comfortability. I own about four of them and have tried about maybe eight, lololololol. All so amazing, I swear.

[@OhioShaves]

Great soaps and aftershaves. I just started using them and I am really happy I did. Highly recommend them as well

[@Kenoji8]

@@OhioShaves -- Cuban Highball (Mojito Scent), Kaizen, and Vida After Dark are some of my favorites from the house, so far. Excellent scents, excellent performance.

[@OhioShaves]

Thank you much

[@10floz30minutes]

Thanks for saying this. Ariana & Evans is soap I planned on but not yet bought. I have wondered how they are for shaves but I go through my soaps so so slowly.

[@Kenoji8]

@@10floz30minutes -- I have tried a few soap brands: Catie's Bubbles, Master Soap Creations, Gentleman's Nod, Seaforth! by Spearhead Shaving Company, Razor Emporium, West Coast Shaving, Stirling Soaps, Zingari Man, and artisan soaps from Van Yulay. Among ALL of those (and possibly others through sampling), I basically have put Ariana & Evans either close to #1 or AT LEAST in my "Top 5" brands for shave soaps...but this is personal preference. But it is based on the soap. I recommend going to places like Maggard Razors or The Razor Company and try soap samples first (if they are available) just to see if you'll like the soaps first. Like with any soap or fragrance, "Your Mileage May Vary."

[@moka8697]

Hatte bisher Personna und die 7oclock Green als Favoriten, seit 3 Tagen eine indische Astra drin und die ist tatsächlich auch schärfer als die 7oclock. Könnte meine Lieblingsklingen werden, die russischen sind nicht mehr zu bekommen, schade. Schöner Vergleich, die Differenz war sogar hörbar.

[@OhioShaves]

Danke für das Teilen. Auch der neue Astra SP gefällt mir mittlerweile besser.

[@Pazzaideakerala]

Btw indian we use sharp blades cauz we don't go against the grain only 2 pass with the grain so naturally we need a sharp blade

[@OhioShaves]

👍

[@samdeur]

I kind of like the Indiana and I also like the silver blues

[@OhioShaves]

Both are great

[@dan_mer]

Good I still have around 170 Russian blades from 2018-2019.

[@OhioShaves]

👍

[@thisisreallife9026]

Dude, what is the camera you are using? The autofocus is so good and fast!

[@OhioShaves]

Sony ZV-e1

[@bogdanadzic9305]

Astra always nicks me lil bit with r41 gillete paltinum nacet gsb and permasharp could never

[@OhioShaves]

You may like the new ones then. All the blades you like are my favorites as well

[@alltherpm]

Just buy sharp brand and just enjoy the shave with no worries, love swedish steel

[@OhioShaves]

Nice. What razor do you mostly use?

[@sheldonlegend]

My face hated the Russian astras. Not sharp enough and left my face so red. I gave away my astras. Curious about the India, maybe a sample pack will come out on Amazon.

[@OhioShaves]

💈👍

[@bogdanadzic9305]

Astra blades are mid try ss astra

[@randallpennington5976]

I just got a box of Russian blades for around $9 on Amazon!

[@OhioShaves]

Nice

[@Vinline1995]

I'm probably going to hoard some Nacets after hearing this. They are already out of stock on some places

[@OhioShaves]

Good to know. Thanks for sharing that.

[@razormichl2004]

top video👍

[@OhioShaves]

Thanks ✌

[@carfusz]

I'm American I like to buy American but Russia has some of the best blades out there

[@OhioShaves]

💯. They did have some of the best blades out there.

[@jonaspete]

I'm the America.

[@10floz30minutes]

You *can* find alternatives which are just as good.

[@carfusz]

@@10floz30minutes I'm interested in your recommendations

[@ivermec-tin666]

I am of the impression that the manufacture of DE razor blades in St. Petersburg is winding down. That industry could not function through the economic embargoe of Russia due to the proxy way in Ukraine.

[@Phil-S8]

I'll watch to support the channel, but the Japanese make the best blades period. Feathers and KAI for the win

[@OhioShaves]

Thanks for your support. I like both of these blades. I like the Kai blades a little better than the feathers. I really like Personna blades. My go to blades for awhile now

[@ronaldimarai818]

Rapira platinum lux are sharper!

[@GreenthumbsGarden]

What the hell is that goo all about man, I noticed this too. I bought a pack of Asta and I popped my first one open the other day and it had a blob on it 😑 tried to wipe it off best I could, but yeah, not a fan of that myself.

[@OhioShaves]

Some say it's for packaging so it doesn't thaw the blade. But there are manufacturers out there that don't use the glue. I've talked to a few engineers, and they agree that the glue can misalign razors, and create a different angle of attack for cutting the hair on your face.

[@curmudgeonextraordinaire1884]

I can’t use the Russian Astras, cut the hell out of my face. Tried them on several occasions.

[@OhioShaves]

Me too using a mild razor with more that 3 days of growth

[@talega1]

Interesting result......now brake them and use a Thorn...... Thing is: Henson is not good for your length of stubble.....it chokes....on the first pass in the rusky side you did 5 passes on the same spots to get the "1st" pass......... You can try a Fatip OC, Muhle R41 and really do one pass and most is gone......and then a one pass second and be done. I have the Henson +++ and it's only good for 1-2day growth..... Happy Kwanzaa

[@OhioShaves]

I don’t shave that way. With sensitive skin I can’t go to aggressive without getting razor burn

[@talega1]

I am the other way, just a sharp blade in an efficient razor and one pass with and one against..... multiple short strokes will set me on fire..... Cheers@@OhioShaves

[@samhillanbrand6291]

I bought enough Russian blades from various makers from Razor Emporium and Shave Nation in November to last me for years. I didn't want any regrets and always have the fear I am missing out. Not this time😂

[@OhioShaves]

Great choice. Thanks for becoming a member. Greatly appreciated my friend.

[@samhillanbrand6291]

I love the comparison. You should do one of these each time you can get a hold of Indian versions of the old Russian ones. You probably have already thought of that😊

[@aksagr5855]

Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

[@OhioShaves]

Same to you! My friend. Tomorrow's gonna be a great night

[@beyondthe90]

Maybe it's just me, but to me as long as the blade performs, even if feels aggressive I'm fine with it. From the look of the shave I think I'd be perfectly okay with either the Russian or Indian Astra. Granted I'm the one who uses Shark, Lord and Derby Platinum's, Dorco Prime's and ST301s primarily because I know I can get them at an affordable price and get 3 shaves out of them. At an average cost of 2 cents a shave per blade that is just fine for me. The RK blades to me are pure trash. I can't get through 1 shave on my every other day shave without my skin wanting to sue for non support. I've used 5 blade from different tucks to make sure it wasn't just a bad pack and never found a good one. After the 5th random blade in the box I tossed the rest. Then again as I now say, a razor and or blade for thee may not be for me. Merry Christmas to you. Again, thanks for the new company I've added to my wet shaving bookmarks.

[@OhioShaves]

Thanks for sharing and your support

[@moonashraf9769]

Bravo

[@OhioShaves]

💈👍

[@plummulp4076]

Kupio sam 100 ostrica Astra iz Rusije, nedavno. Indijske jos nisam probao. Sa ruskim ostricama nije bilo greske na mom Merkur 34c i Rockwell 6c. Pozdrav iz Srbije.

[@OhioShaves]

Oštrice ruske proizvodnje su one u koje sam se zaljubio kad sam se prvi put počeo brijati sigurnosnom britvicom. One indijske proizvodnje nisu loše. Samo su puno oštrije od originalnih oštrica. Hvala na dijeljenju.

[@MarkoVuckovic32]

Odlično što sam naišao i na srpski komentar. Planiram da probam brijanje na ovaj način međutim čini mi se da je izbor brijača i žileta kod nas poprilično ograničen pa me zanima gde ti kupuješ. Na primer ova dva brijača koja si naveo nisam nigde pronašao do sada dok sam Astra žilete video na Kupujem Prodajem.

[@clemmc37]

I've never understood the popularity of the Astra SP blades, I'd take a Personna blade any day over the Astra's. Far more superior blade in my opinion. Maybe that's just on my skin since we all have different skin. Great video and review as always.

[@OhioShaves]

Me too

[@NLeon-h1m]

I'm with you on this one. I have always used dorco prime platinums but I recently decided to see what the big deal was with feathers and other "premium DE" brands and also astras, and Gillette 7 o clock yellow & green boxes. Overall I think it was about 8 different types of blades I bought to try, while I don't even think I've gotten through all of them cause I want to try them thoroughly on both my safety razor and straight edge, I did try the astras and all the premium brands at least once. And from that I can say the astras absolutely sucked compared to all 3 premium brands I purchased, by far the worst blade I've tried recently. The premium blades are all double to triple the price of all the other brands but honestly from the few that I've used the extra money spent is well worth it in my opinion. I'm loving feathers, Bolzanos, and the wizamet super iridiums. All 3 are great quality blades super sharp. For non premium blades, the rk blades that Henson sells are phenomenal from what I've tried so far, far better than Astra.

[@clemmc37]

@@NLeon-h1m Try some Personna Reds, platinums, and med prep blades. You’ll be glad you did.

[@Do_not_assume]

isn't sharper the better?

[@OhioShaves]

you still need a smooth shaving blade

[@moonashraf9769]

All the blades that are made from India (RK, GW Sword Saloon, etc.) are significantly less sharper and lasting than Russian ones (Gillette, Astra, etc.). I think they should have shifted the factory back to the Czech Republic for better quality.

[@OhioShaves]

💈👍

[@SEWFARDOWNUNDER]

You can see the difference in hair length left to right side. hasnt provided as much of a closer shave. this is something i have also observed in the two products . im lucky i have 5 boxes of ruskie in my cabinet . Yea buddy!

[@OhioShaves]

Thank you much

[@Scotty_in_Ohio]

Now I'm going to have to hoard / save my Russian Astras....

[@OhioShaves]

I would if they are your favorite

[@10floz30minutes]

You do not need to feel that way. You can find alternative blades.

[@robertross8565]

The only way to do a fair comparison is to do it blind. You should not know in advance of shaving which blade is which. Geofatboy did a blind comparison and found no difference. I’ll go with Geofatboy results.

[@OhioShaves]

A blind test would not matter. The blades are totally different. One is sharper than the other. He has skin in the game and I do not

[@robertross8565]

@@OhioShavesGood point. Do it again blind to see if you get the same results. Use a new blade in both razors. If you still get the same result then I’ll buy into your conclusion that the Russian blade is sharper than the Indian blade.

[@robertross8565]

We all have subconscious biases. A blind test will help to eliminate that.

[@robertross8565]

In the end, it is nice to know. I gave away all my Russian made Astra blades. I now prefer Gillette Platinum.

[@OhioShaves]

One is sharper than the other

[@burhanbudak6041]

I don't get it, why can't Gillette move the production of the country of origin. Astra is Czechia, PermaSharp is Turkey, Gillette Platinum is France

[@OhioShaves]

Great point

[@dsandoval9396]

Uf you could maybe should've had someone else load the blade so you were doing a completely blind (non bias) shave. I'm not saying you _did_ have bias, but maybe you could've. We sometimes don't see it ourselves, I think a completely blind shave would've _absolutely_ zeroed out any bias.

[@OhioShaves]

You still get a great shave with the blades made from India.

[@CraigRasmussen1]

Out of the 5 blades that I use….Feather…Wizamet…Nacet….Astra SP…and Voskhod….4 of them come from Russia. This is from a country where their submarines keep sinking…their missiles can’t get out of their kennels….their planes have a tendency to fall out of the air….and their tanks are trash. And yet….those Russians can make the shit out of razor blades. P&G must have one hell of a quality control team in those factories.

[@OhioShaves]

💈👍