Simpson Shaving Brush - Classic Best Badger Shaving Brush (CL1B)

This met my expectations perfectly! I wanted something between the Chubby and my travel Case. The Chubby is actually a little bit too big and a huge soap hog. The Chubby is fine when I want to do five passes (LOL!), but this Classic can easily do your three passes. Also has enough backbone to either do a bowl or a face lather. The size is perfect and I can lather up very quickly. (Someone mentioned they wished it was bigger, maybe they were referring to the loft?) However, I found this to lather my face as fast as my Chubby. Also, I must gravitate toward more backbone than loft, found this brush firmly soft and allowed me to feel like it was lifting my stubble. The reason I was looking for a different brush is my Chubby is shedding a lot more. This brush did shed 5 to 8 hairs in the beginning and several during my first shave, I think that is normal, but the knot felt much firmer, so I’m a assuming it’s going to shed less. Prior to this brush I tried the Commodore and was not happy at all, way too floppy and bowl lather was poor. IMHO, this brush is worth the extra money. Used a Rex Ambassador, Sterling soap, with a Personna blade. Hope this helps folks!

I bought this as my first Simpson brush, fully expecting to love it and follow with other Simpson’s because of the reputation that precedes them. After using this every other day for two months I am seriously disappointed, and doubt I will try Simpson again. When I first got the brush two months ago I was impressed with the quality and density of Badger bristles. The knot on little brush is densely packed giving it a substantially stiff spine that holds a lot of water. The brush is also very compact, more so than I would prefer. In my experience the dense, stiff knot makes this brush better suited for use with building lather from shaving soap than from my preference which is cream (TOBS). What I found very disappointing is the brush’s shedding of bristles. While every new brush sheds a few bristles the first two or three shaves, this Simpson brush continues to shed 10+ bristles every shave after ~30 shaves. They end up in the lather in the bowl and on my face. It’s quite a mess. I’ve never experienced anything like this from any other badger brush, and I have used many well established brands. It has only seen warm water, never hot, and after thorough rinsing hangs bristle down between shaves (every other day). I am left to conclude that Simpson’s quality assurance failed, and I got a lemon. Given the many other options available for high quality badger shaving brushes I don’t plan on spending more money to test my suspicion. Caveat emptor.

Unlike mass produced shaving brushes Simpson is in a class by itself. The class of handmade, high quality, and made on the Isle of Man, in England. Since 1919, the Simpson has been the pinnacle of shaving brushes. When another company makes a shaving brush, it is the Simpson they are trying to replicate.The CL1 is a short but robust brush of the finest Simpson quality. Loaded with Best Badger hair, the CL 1 is a bit stiff. The stiffness is not in any way a stumbling block, or is it a nuisance. The stiffness is only slight and gives a most fantastic feel. The CL1 is a pleasure to hold and feels like a well made tool in the hand. Lathers up nicely and doesn’t get drippy. This is a product from a time gone by. A time that has gone by and taken with it so many great quality made items. Simpson has stood the test of time.

This brush has the perfect feel. I love the size and shape of the handle and the knot does an excellent job of lathering. It holds plenty of lather even though it isn't large. Easily enough lather for 3 pass shave.Very soft bristles and just the perfect shape knot - somewhere between a bulb and a fan shape.The problem is the shedding. It sheds 5-10 hairs every single shave and has continued to shed. I contacted Simpson about it multiple times but they were not helpful at all.I've been told it would settle down and stop shedding eventually so I didn't return it - lesson learned.I've now had the brush over a year and I continue to use it daily - and I continue to have to pick the hairs out of the soap and off my face with every shave. Even after all that shedding, there still seems to be plenty of hair left in the knot and it still lathers wonderfully.I have other nice badger brushes (not Simpson) and none of them shed like this. If I could get a brush that lathers and feels as nice as this one - without the shedding - I would be thrilled. But I'm not willing to risk buying another Simpson branded brush after this experience.

A Christmas gift for my husband who loves it.BEST price or this CLASSIC high quality brush.Both my grandfather, and father used Simpson's brushes and IMHO the 'Chubby Badger Silvertip' CL1B is one of the best of the best shaving brushes.Silvertip badger brushes last forever, don't waste your money on anything else.My husband had never used a shaving brush, now he's mentioned many times how soft it is, and how he gets a better shave.