Astra Superior Platinum Double Edge Razor Blades - 30 Ct

Sharp, cut as indicated. I've been using them for a few years, and they're ok for the money. A good value.

I had already tried sharper blades such as Personna and Feather, but wound up with irritation despite the close shave. I had also tried duller blades such as Dorco and Derby, which didn't give me irritation but also required me to take multiple passes to cut through my coarse hair.I needed something in the middle and decided to give these blades a shot. I gotta say, they are my new favorites. They're very sharp, only requiring one pass with and one pass against the grain to get everything, and despite their sharpness they're so smooth that it seriously doesn't feel like I shaved at all. I highly recommend them for anyone with coarse hair and sensitive skin.The only negative I can think of is that I only get two shaves (sometimes only one if I wait more than two days between shaves) out of one side before I need to flip sides (thankfully the sides are numbered 1 2 and 3 4 to make this easier), totaling only three to four shaves a blade, but considering how cheap they are and the quality of the blades I really can't complain.As always, however, your mileage may vary depending on your skin and hair type, so be sure to buy a sample pack of different types of blades before choosing one that's​ right for you.

I found these Astra blades to be all that they were reviewed to be, sharp enough to provide a fine shave with my vintage Gillette Super Speed razor without being too aggressive. I made two passes only using a good Williams Mug Soap for lather (which also worked very well), and got a terrific shave. Several shaves later I tried the Wilkinson Sword DE blades and found them quite a bit more aggressive, so I returned to the Astras Platinum blades with better results - for me. The combinations are endless as are the way different faces respond to these combinations, so YMMV more here than you may think. Best advice is to proceed slowly, start finding out what works, and don't be in too big a hurry to change variables without a good reason. After all, the desired result is a good smooooth shave, so once you get to that it's time to stop experimenting - at least for me, I have found my winning combination, and the Astra blades are it. About the only ding that I could suggest is that there is wax or glue on the flat surface of the blades to hold the waxed paper cover in place (just wiped off), and there is no blade safe like Personna gives but these are quibbles. Try the Astras and see what you think.

Clean shave and startlingly sharp. Slices through skin like jelly so be careful. Snaps in half easy if you aren’t careful attaching it.

Great blades. Consistent sharpness.I still prefer Feathers, but only by a bit. The Astras are extremely forgiving. I use a 60's Gillette Fat Boy. A fresh Feather usually results in a bit of blood regardless of settings (I tend to use a single blade for 2-3 weeks occasionally shaving my head). The Astra blades allow for much more pressure whilst not drawing blood or cutting as closely - For those just getting into safety razors, especially with a low end setup. These would do better. (I started with an assortment pack of blades and a $12 3-piece razor... I still occasionally use it when my hair is longer. The critical part is making sure the blade is 100% aligned. On my Gillette I just drop in the blade and go.)For comparison - I've got coarse hair and used to press down fairly hard on a 4-5 blade Gillette Mach something razor whilst ripping it back and forth over my head. Usually saw a grimace on the face of anyone that walked by.Overall - Great starter blades that cut smoothly while not digging in. Consistent enough to learn safety razors while being good enough to keep using.

Advertised as “Imported from Russia”, but boxes say made in India. All the boxes were smashed flat, blades seem to be okay, but boxes are destroyed.

It's hard to imagine how razor blades could work or feel very different from each other, but after spending several months comparing Astra blades to the very highly rated Feather blades, I've come to the conclusion that I really prefer the Astras.The Feathers are, as advertised, extremely sharp. Perhaps too sharp. Though I'm at this point an experienced DS shaver, I live in fear of nicking myself with these blades. They require a very light "feather" touch and a careful stroke. Furthermore, the quality of the shave noticeably diminishes after 3 or 4 uses.The Astra blades, on the other hand, have a gliding quality that inspires confidence. I find I shave faster and with more pressure when using the Astras. I can also get 6 or 7 shaves out of a single blade without any significant drop-off in quality. Plus, they're cheaper and somewhat easier to get out of their paper wrappings than the Feathers.Note, the cardboard boxes that mine came were pretty banged up, unlike the slick plastic boxes that the Feathers came in. But I'm not shaving with the boxes so I don't care.