Which synthetic knot for 2-band badger lover

Gentlemen I am searching for a synthetic brush for my travel kit. Currently I use a 24mm WD synthetic. While it does the job, it doesn't bring the same joy to my shaves, my lovely badgers do.

The issues I have: it is to springy for my taste and it just feels soulless on the face. I like big (26mm+) and bold (2-band with a decent backbone) brushes. But I would also like to have something, that is easily replaceable and can withstand prolonged travels in hot and humid climates…

So it has to be a synthetic, but maybe there is something closer in feel to my badger brushes?

The only other synthetic brush I have tried, is the Stirling Kong. But it is too unfocused and splays too much for my taste.

I probably rule out the Simpson Chubby – because I really don't like Chubby style handles (they are too short for me) and together with the cost for a new handle and re-knot it would be a rather expensive exercise.

Ideally it should be in size and face-feel similar to a ~28mm 2-band badger with a hybrid knot – so I guess a 26mm synthetic knot?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Farzad, unfortunately, you won't find a synthetic brush that will mimic your 2-Band badger brushes.
The best synthetic that I have found is Simpsons Chubby 2 synthetic.
The Muhle/EJ XL 26mm ones are also quite nice, but they have too much 'spring' for me.
The ubiquitous Plisson synthetic is the least 'springy' one, so that might also be an option. However, for me, it didn't have enough backbone.
Good luck, my friend.

Tuxedo 30mm from AP Shave Co. on Etsy. Like celestino said, you probably aren't going to find a synthetic that feels like a badger, but to me, the Tuxedo is super soft with good backbone and doesn't feel too springy. This is just my opinion though. I have a 30mm knot that I haven't put into a handle yet and it is a monster! Can't wait to try it. In all honesty though, it might end up being too big. I think a 26 or 28mm would be ideal.

Next to no experience with badgers here, but the Mühle / Edwin Jagger Silvertip Fibre brush in XL (~25 mm) has more backbone and is more scrubby than the Whipped Dog synthetic 24 mm that I have. However, the loft is quite high especially in the Mühle version, so you can’t really load it up with water and then expect it to not release it all over the place if you bend the fibers too much.

Another synthetic that has quite a bit of backbone, but is also rather difficult splay, is the Stirling Soap Company synthetic 26 × 54 mm. Like most brushes, it works best when it is heavily loaded with soap.

I don't know if any current synthetics are able to match two band badger on every point yet.

I haven't tried but a few.

The black knot in the Razorock 400 surprised me. It's not a bad knot. I actually don't hate it. The entire brush is a great value. Handle is high quality. Has a nice shine. Not the color I would have chosen had I been given a choice. It's priced right.

This is coming from a guy who sold or threw out every other synthetic prior.

Many thanks for all your input gentlemen

I am aware, that a synthetic will not be like a badger

I actually just remembered, that I used to have an original Plisson as well - felt like a floppy mop

But surely there must be something around, that doesn't feel like a soulless ghost on your face, but also doesn't just flick the lather around the bathroom?

Are these new black fibre knots actually new fibres, or just old fibres painted black?

Does anybody have experience with Zenith and Omega S synthetics?

The RazoRock 400 has a large handle for a travel brush and is on the small side (knot) - but at that price point maybe worth the risk...I assume the knot is the same as to the so called "Game changer" knot?

Same goes for the Tuxedo - I guess Larry (from Whipped Dog) could set one and ship it out to me...

Does anybody have some experience with the Ubersoft knot from Nathan Clark?

Some time ago, I read in a few different places that the Whipped Dog synthetic knot was the same as an Übersoft I. That could have been someone’s personal opinion, though.

From what I know, both the current Whipped Dog synthetic knots and the Übersoft II have more backbone than their predecessors.

I'm thinking about getting some samples from yaqi in China of their tuxedo type synthetic mate (and Tony was going to grab some as well). I can keep you in the loop if you want to get another one from him mate.

Many thanks for all your input gentlemen  

I am aware, that a synthetic will not be like a badger  

I actually just remembered, that I used to have an original Plisson as well - felt like a floppy mop

But surely there must be something around, that doesn't feel like a soulless ghost on your face, but also doesn't just flick the lather around the bathroom?

Are these new black fibre knots actually new fibres, or just old fibres painted black?

Does anybody have experience with Zenith and Omega S synthetics?

The RazoRock 400 has a large handle for a travel brush and is on the small side (knot) - but at that price point maybe worth the risk...I assume the knot is the same as to the so called "Game changer" knot?

Same goes for the Tuxedo - I guess Larry (from Whipped Dog) could set one and ship it out to me...

Does anybody have some experience with the Ubersoft knot from Nathan Clark?

Just my experience.

There are 4 kinds of black fiber I know, the one from Satin Tip, Black Wolf Knot from Wolf Whiskers, the Black fiber from Muhle and the Maggards and I'm assuming the RR 400 is the same knot from the pictures. I only have the Black knot from Maggards.

The Satin tip is probably out, it really is soft but moppy. It's good, but set a bit high.

The Black Wolf I'm assuming is similar if not the same as the Tuxedo, if so, this must be the softest synthetic I have tried, no scrub at all, perfect for face lathering. My favorite.

The black knot from Maggards and RR (assuming) is definitely more backbone. Can't compare them to badgers but out of the black knots, these has the most backbone, yet still soft and still great for face lathering.

The black knot from Muhle looks gorgeous, it has this purplish tinge to it that makes it look high end, however they tend to set these too high, so it can be a bit moppy. It's not the same as the Satin tip, but it's the second moppiest that I can think of.

The Uberknot 2 from Nathan Clark is also excellent, soft (2nd to the the Black wolf) with nice backbone. Softer than Plisson types and this one won't splay as much as the others.

Out of the Plisson types from Maggards, Stirling and RR; the first 24mm from RR splays the least. The 24mm from Maggards gives the most splay, and my Kong from Stirling is in between the two.

Muhle silver tip fiber 2.0 is a bit better in terms of softness and looks compared to the plisson types, but for me, it isn't as good as the latest kind of synthetics like the Black Wolf, and I'm assuming the Tuxedo.

If you don't like springy, lather flinging synthetics, do NOT get the Omega S-Brush. It's soft when you use painting stokes, but if you splay it during face lathering, it feels rather "pokey". It's also the springiest synthetic I've used.