Astra Platinum Double Edge Safety Razor Blades,100 Blades (20 x 5)

Love these blades. They are not the sharpest blade, but they are sharper than average AND they keep a better than average edge, so you get lots of good shaves out of each blade. They are also very well priced. This makes them a great value blade. I've been wet shaving with safety razors for 50 years. They work great in every razor I've tried them in. Highly recommended.

Astra Superior Platinum is a formerly Czech brand now manufactured in St. Petersburg Russia by Gillette-owned Petersburg Products International. (Edit: They're now manufactured in India, but worry not because I can tell you the new blades shave every bit as good as the old ones.) It's one of those blades you wouldn't give a second look due to more popular and/or "respected" brands such as Feather or Personna, but the fact of the matter is this is one of the absolute best values to be had in wet shaving at around a dime per blade. I ordered my 100 count box from Super Safety Razors and am pleased to say they're the genuine article as well as newer manufacture. Each blade is secured to its single wax paper envelope with two centrally placed wax dots that aren't nearly as sloppy as what you'd commonly see on a Gillette Silver Blue. Each retail carton contains 20 tucks of 5 blades each, with a perforated slot near the bottom which can be torn out if so desired for easier dispensing.Just to give you some context, I have the dreaded combination of a very coarse beard with sensitive skin, so multiple passes are risking a lot of irritation and ingrown hairs. I first used these in a Merkur 34C and found them to be less tuggy with a more consistent sharpness than GSBs, but they unfortunately did not make the HD a more efficient shaver for me. I've since switched to a Parker 87R with a bit more blade exposure, and that, I feel, is what brought out the best qualities of these blades. I can consistently achieve two pass DFS's (or Damn Fine Shaves) with the Astra SP and the Parker with virtually no irritation whatsoever. They slice through my heavy/coarse beard with ease and plenty of audible feedback, and I can get about three, maybe four shaves from them before I feel like they're not cutting as well as they did when new. Of course, YMMV based on your facial hair type and shaving techniques. I highly, highly recommend pairing them with a razor that has more blade exposure to get the most out of them, however. (Edit, 4/25/18: Many shaves later, I'm still swearing by these blades. Remember when I said they have a consistent sharpness? That's what keeps me coming back to Astra SP. I LIKE that these blades start out at a decent sharpness which SLOWLY and predictably changes over time without requiring you to modify your technique. No break-in period like GSB or Pol Silver, just smooth, consistent shave after shave without any surprises, and you'll know when it's time to replace the blade long before it feels like a dull steak knife; alum blocks never lie.)The only caution I have to offer is that while these blades seem to be the perfect trifecta of sharpness, longevity, and smoothness, that smoothness can and will lull you into a false sense of security if you're not careful, as I learned much to my dismay. I rushed through one of my shaves one day and got rewarded for my impatience with some painful nicks and weepers that made me yelp loudly. Make no mistake: These blades are wickedly sharp, and it's not unheard of for them to be referred to as a poor man's Feather on various shaving forums.At the risk of sounding like a fanboy, I pretty much consider these my grail blade. They work exceptionally well for me and give me comfortable, consistent and EFFICIENT shaves with minimal irritation in my Parker TTO. My advice to you would be to get a smaller pack of these to try out, see if they work well for you, and then spring for the 100 count pack. You won't save as much in the short term, but if they end up not being what you expected, you won't have a bunch of razor blades to give away or throw out. Then again, I'll happily accept any unwanted blades still sealed in their original cartons/tucks and dispose of them for you free of charge. Just pay shipping and handling! :P

I am new to DE shaving. I've spent the past few years through college just using my beard trimmer to get the 5 o clock shadow look because I got ingrown hairs and razor burn no matter what.I had tried $200 electric braun razors, top of the line 5 blade razors, specialty shaving creams and gels, and sensitive skin razors. No matter what avenue I took, I would end up with extremely sensitive skin due to razor burn on my neck, and ingrown hairs all over my face.I had contemplated switching to DE for years, but was hesitant due to the "learning curve." However, I have to say this is by far the best investment I've ever made. I have only cute myself once, and that was due to a sampler pack of blades I initially purchased.I gave about 20 blades a shot, and the Astra platinum blades were the best for my face. Feathers were undoubtedly the sharpest of the pack, but too sharp for my skin (hence how I got my first and only DE cut). After sampling so many blades, I knew this was the blade for me. 1 blades lasts a good 3 shaves, more if you have softer whiskers, but since they're so cheap, I switch mine out every 2 shaves just to get the best quality shave I can get.I bought a VDH handle from target for $18, and a highly rated shave soap (prorasaro?), a badger brush, and haven't looked back since. In just two weeks of shaving consistently every other day with these blades, my face and neck have completely cleared up. My girlfriend noticed and asked what I was doing differently and said my face has never been so smooth.I usually do a triple pass shave every other day, lathering up in between each pass.I know, without a doubt this is the blade for me, but I would still suggest trying a sample pack first. At any rate, even though my trimmer was definitely the cheapest shaving route, I could never label that as a shave. I can now enjoy have a smooth, blemish-free face all the time, and enjoy the shaving experience every time. It's actually something I look forward to every night. I shave at night, after showering, usually around 10-11pm. My face doesn't start feeling like sandpaper until about 3-4pm the next day, and doesn't start looking unkempt until the second day - this coming from a guy who has had a full goatee since 7th grade and a full beard since 9th grade. The shave is incredibly close, without causing irritation. All of these positive reviews aren't just blowing smoke. These blades are the real deal.My only quibble is that I wish each 5ct box came with a blade dispenser like some other brands do. But I just toss them in a small cardboard box until they're ready to go out.