The Adjustable Open Comb Shootout

OC Shootout Logo

 

There have been three Open Comb releases in the last 8 months, plus the original Taiga released back in late 2019/early2020.

I need to say that this wasn't really a fair shootout in that soap choices make a big difference, but more of a fun thing. To be really fair one should use the same soap or at least soaps from the same soap-maker that have the same base.

 

18/02/2024 - Parker Variant Open Comb
I've find this a better shaver than their SB version.
I dialed it to 5 for the whole shave.
I ended up been pretty smooth after 3-Passes plus a few touch-ups however there was a fair bit of growth in the early evening. I did expect less.
It does its job without any fuss albeit the least effecient of the four. It's a boring shave in a very good way - You can throw the razor around your face without fear of cutting yourself up.

It believe that it would pair up very well with the SB version.

SOTD240218

19/02/2024 - Taiga Open Comb
This is the most refined and smoothest of the four razors and also seems to have the least blade feel while still delivering great results.
I started on 4 and kept it there for 2-Passes. I then did the touch-ups with the razor overclocked to 7 (so 1 full turn) and it cleaned up any stubble that was left behind. There is a bit of blade feel at this level.

It was a bit disadvantaged with the soap choice but performed well. It's also the razor that I know the best.

SOTD240219

20/02/2024 - Pearl Flexi Open Comb
The Flexi OC is capable of a 1-Pass BBS if I plan my shave properly, so this is where I aimed at. I opened it one full turn, however it didn't quite get there.
I had a thin line around my jawline and the area between my chin and lower lip that wasn't as smooth as the rest. All both needed was a small touch-up.

As with all 1-Pass shaves, I need to take my time however I had no weepers or rash afterwards.
On the low settings the Flexi OC is a medium aggression razor that covers my weekend. Opened up, it's an aggressive "in your face"razor that makes short work of giving you a BBS.

SOTD240220

21/02/2024 - Yaqi Ultima Open Comb
The Yaqi is the last one released of the modern OC adjustables.

It gives a very decent shave. Like the other OC Razors its also more efficient than the Solid Bar Ultima, but with the cost of blade feel.
Because of the closeness of the previous days shave, I dialed this to 5 for the first pass and up to 7 for the second and touch-up passes.

I ended up with a BBS but by late afternoon, the stubble was definitely more than the previous day.

 

SOTD240221

What conclusions can I draw.

What is the most efficient shaver:
This is the easy question - Its the Pearl by a fair distance (as I expected). That razor is really a whisker slaying machine.

The harder question is which is the smootest or most refined shaver:
Its a very close call between the Yaqi and the Taiga but the Taiga just edges it out.

And the question that everyone wants to know which is of course the hardest, Were I forced to choose just one:
I really don't know. Some days it would be the Pearl and others it would be the and the Taiga. I'm extremely fortunate not to have to.

Thats as best an answer that I can give you....