Most Used Gear for 2021

Going through my spreadsheet this morning and confirmed a dreaded thought I've had for most of the year...I'm not shaving often enough!  There were 56 "no shave" days which is 14 more than last year.  To put it in perspective, I had 15 or less "no shave" days in 2017 and 2018.  The number increased to 29 in 2019.  Need to buckle down in 2022 and get that "no shave" number to less than 30!

As for the days when I did shave, here's a breakdown of the most used gear:

Aftershave Brand:  Chatillon Lux

Aftershave Scent:  Fine's Lavender Pour Homme

Aftershave balm:  Mammoth Embrace

Brush:  Wildwest Brushworks with 26mm Bullseye knot

Razor:  The Rockwell 6S - it accounted for 40% my shaves.  The 2020 Diamondback came in 2nd with 21% of the shaves.  The Diamondback had been a "meh" razor for me until I popped in an Astra blade.  That combo vaulted the razor into my #2 spot.  Overall, there were 6 razors which were used more than 10 times.  It may be time to dump the other 15 razors which were used anywhere from 1 to 7 times over the year.

Soap Brand:  Shannon's Soap - a good portion of this soaps use was due to a strong effort to finish a few soaps, including 2 Shannon's Soaps.  The most used that was not "forced" was Eufros.

Soap Scent:  Darkfall - again, this was one of the "gotta finish it" soaps.  The most used soap that wasn't "forced" was Laugar's Rimfrost

Discovery of the Year:  European soaps.  Specifically Laugar, Eufros, Saponificio Varesino & Martin de Candre.  Surprisingly, three of those four soaps are non-tallow and I have found a very deep appreciation for each of them

So what was some of your most used gear for 2021?  And any shaving-related goals for 2022?

I don't keep an accurate tally so this is memory-based (a dangerous thing, I know)

Razor:  Without a doubt, Game Changer .84.  It always yields a satisfying shave.  I gave up a Weber PH because the GC suited me better.

Blades:  I've got a stash that I cycle through.  Platinums and GSB are often used.

Soaps:  Definitely a Duke's mixture.  I've a couple dozen that I rotate through.  I've been trying to stick with one until its gone, but there are frequent wanderings.

Brush:  My cabinet has 11 brushes (actually 12 counting a shelf queen) that satisfy me.  I generally stick to a rotation there.

Goals for 2022?  Yeah, slow down on the soap buying.  I'm going to try to continue a "two out - one in" pattern.  LOL

I don't keep an accurate tally so this is memory-based (a dangerous thing, I know)

Razor:  Without a doubt, Game Changer .84.  It always yields a satisfying shave.  I gave up a Weber PH because the GC suited me better.

Blades:  I've got a stash that I cycle through.  Platinums and GSB are often used.

Soaps:  Definitely a Duke's mixture.  I've a couple dozen that I rotate through.  I've been trying to stick with one until its gone, but there are frequent wanderings.

Brush:  My cabinet has 11 brushes (actually 12 counting a shelf queen) that satisfy me.  I generally stick to a rotation there.

Goals for 2022?  Yeah, slow down on the soap buying.  I'm going to try to continue a "two out - one in" pattern.  LOL

I would like to get to this point with not only brushes but razors as well.  Put a "0" after your 12 and maybe one day the soaps can get down to that number

It's always nice to see you open up these year-end threads, HoosierShave!

Here's my report:

Soaps 

I used 157 different soaps and creams in 2021. On average, I lathered each twice, but eleven soaps really made me happy, and I used them at least six times. Looks like I'm a fan of bay rum and fougère: 

1. Mike's Bay Rum (14)
   
2. Martin de Candre Original (12)
   
3. Phoenix & Beau Spitfire (10)
   
4. Barrister & Mann Barrister’s Reserve Fern (9)
   
5. Barrister & Mann Bay Rum (7)
   
6. Wholly Kaw La Fougère Parfaite (7)
   
7. Asylum Royal Fougère (6)
   
8. Barrister & Mann Barrister’s Reserve Cool (6)
   
9. Barrister & Mann Leviathan (6)
   
10. Martin de Candre Fougère (6)
    
11. Meißner Tremonia Gentle Menthol Cream (6)
    

Razors

I used 30 different razors in 2021. I splurged on a couple dozen cheap antique razors, mostly Gillette Techs and Gems, but my favorites remained two newer razors:

1. Henson AL13 Medium (60)
   
2. Feather AS-D2 (52)
   

Blades

I used 12 different brands of blades in 2021. The Astra SP was the most flexible, working well in a wide variety of razors.

1. Astra SP (194)
   
2. Feather (70)
   

Brushes

I used 8 different brushes in 2021, but it's clear that I'm in love with Phoenix Shaving's Peregrino.

1. Phoenix Shaving Peregrino (256)
   
2. Phoenix Shaving Solar Flare (48) 
   

Great post/thread :

Razor: ATT M1, close second Karve B
Brush: Simpson T3, Paladin chiefs var. 28mm
Blade: Astra SP
Soap: I Coloniali Mango, Barrister&Mann
AFS: 4711

Look forward to using more creams this year.

2021 Discovery [2]:
1. a new appreciation of Astra blades
2. Omnibus base - my new number one

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Big year of trying new things, mostly vintage single edge razors. And making my own brushes with the purchasing of many handles and knots. But I enjoyed it and it added another dimension to the hobby.

Most used razor: Blackland Vector, almost 60 shaves. This is ironic, as I don't have the razor anymore. It wasn't comfortable for me, but I tried! And it helped propel me to discover other single edge razors and the formats of those razors (ie, AC style blades, GEM blades, and injectors).
Second was the Yates 921. Third, if I combine the various versions, are GEM razors and injectors. Many shaves with those, but no one razor made it more than 20 shaves. 

Brushes: all over the board, not worth tallying.
Soaps: the same, pretty fairly split as I have a somewhat rigid rotation schedule

Blades: Proline P-30s, sChick injector blades, and Personna Platinum Chromes

Here is to another year of great shaves! And to sharing the experience with good company here on DFS!

[quote pid="434497" dateline="1640987998"]
Blades

I used 12 different brands of blades in 2021. The Astra SP was the most flexible, working well in a wide variety of razors.

1. Astra SP (194)
   
2. Feather (70)
   

[/quote]

The SP really are great blades.  I had dismissed them a few years ago and gave away most of my stockpile as freebies when I would sell something.  Then I decided to pop one into the Diamondback and the "smoothness universe" opened up for me

BTW, AlanH81 turned me onto the Tatra Platinum blades this past year and they work really well in the 6S along with several other razors.  I'd be glad to send you a tuck if you're interested

Razor: ATT M1, close second Karve B

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

The M1 is one I "need" to try.  Is it as smooth as a Timeless 0.68?

Big year of trying new things, mostly vintage single edge razors. And making my own brushes with the purchasing of many handles and knots. But I enjoyed it and it added another dimension to the hobby.

The SE RAD hit me a few years ago.  I've sold off most of them but still use the GEM MMOC and Clogpruf from time to time.  According to my spreadsheet, it was only a couple times though in 2021.  Maybe when September rolls around, I'll try to get a few more SEptember shaves in

[quote pid="434497" dateline="1640987998"]
Blades

I used 12 different brands of blades in 2021. The Astra SP was the most flexible, working well in a wide variety of razors.

1. Astra SP (194)
   
2. Feather (70)
   

The SP really are great blades.  I had dismissed them a few years ago and gave away most of my stockpile as freebies when I would sell something.  Then I decided to pop one into the Diamondback and the "smoothness universe" opened up for me

BTW, AlanH81 turned me onto the Tatra Platinum blades this past year and they work really well in the 6S along with several other razors.  I'd be glad to send you a tuck if you're interested
[/quote]

Thanks very much I really appreciate it a lot it’s my Favorite DE Blade in any razors I used very smooth and forgiving no irritation at all..

Alan H