WILKINSON SWORD CLASSIC DOUBLE EDGED RAZOR BLADE REVIEW

WILKINSON SWORD BLADE REVIEW: AIMING TO HELP ANSWER THE SIMPLE QUESTION OF WHAT IS THE BEST RAZOR BLADE FOR MY DE RAZOR?

What to choose… what to choose? Stood in the shopping aisle, or more likely clicking through countless marketplaces with razor blades for sale, you can be forgiven for not knowing which are the best razorblades? Well with this blade review series, we’re are reviewing plastic-free razor blades to give you a simple guide about what is best for you.

This is a review of the Wilkinson Sword classic double-edged razor blade, made in Germany. Each time we will compare against the Astra blade, our preference and included for free with the Kairn pencil razor.

FIRST GLANCE: THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE BLADE

Bland. If we are being totally honest. And it’s rather a strange adjective when it is a razor blade that, frankly, doesn’t give much room for individuality. But there is something mediocre about the look of these blades. Perhaps it is our unconscious framing bias of the grey outer packaging that is more fitting for the dusty barbershops of old town, rather than the vibrant contemporary bathrooms our Kairn customers know and love.  The wraps come off easily, and the blades feel suitably solid for what we need them for. Ah! Now it makes sense… it ‘s the single-use plastic packaging that contains a plastic carry-case that too is single-use… that’s what is putting us off.   

FIRST USE

The blade gets off to a good start. Wilkinson Sword has been around for ages and that is much more to do with function than form. The sexier Corvette (Gilette) versus the more robust Volkswagen (Wilkinson) is a good proxy for the relative reliance and durability of these competing products. And so as does the VWs re-sell price, so too does the durability of the Wilkinson Sword razor hold up under (light) pressure.  

When combined with the Blaidmat – the Kairn leather strop which can double the lifespan of a razor blade – the Wilkinson Sword blade begins a competition with the Duracell bunny and comes out on top. It does last a long time, staying clean and sharp. Perhaps we were a little too hasty with the carry-case jibe… it might linger in the bathroom longer than initially thought.

THE TORTOISE OF RAZOR BLADES.

As Aesop taught us himself, slow and steady can win the race. And that is our view on the Wilkinson Sword razor blades. They are on the cheaper end of the spectrum, might make you feel like your old man when they arrive, but the blades themselves do a solid job. As they aren’t over-sharp, they are also good as a general all-round razor blade for legs, ankles, arms and intimate areas.

We give these blades 4 stars, alongside the Astra’s 4 stars.