by Buckbrick
To date I have tried a number of popular boar and badger brushes. I thought I compile a summary of what I feel about each of them, that might be useful if you want some benchmarking. Some like the Simpsons Duke 3 I bought after tons of research and analysing with couple of Simpsons afficionados here. The one single Omega – the 31020 – boar from Mr. M started my boar craze.
So here goes, with a dash of YMMV.
Firstly, 3 important things on brushes and my rating:
Density: 3-dense; 2-average density; 1-below avg density
Stiffness/Backbone: 3-Stiff; 2-average stiff; 1-floppy
Softness of tips: 3-Soft; 2-slightly scritchy; 1-scritchy
Loft/knot ratio:
>2.2-floppy. Suitable for creams
2~2.1-average scrubbiness. Suitable for creams and soft soaps; bowl and face lathering
1.7~2-scrubby. Suitable for hard soaps; face lathering
BADGERS
Simpsons Duke 3
Hair: best badger
Loft/knot: 49/24mm
Ratio: 2.04
Density: 3
Stiffness: 1.5
Softness: 2.5
Thoughts: A great all round brush with the famous 50/24 loft. Great especially on creams and soft soaps. Density lends some stiffness to the knot. But Duke’s grade of best badger are the softest in the business.
Simpsons Special S1B
Hair: best badger
Loft/knot: 40/19mm
Ratio: 2.1
Density: 2.5
Stiffness: 2
Softness: 2
Thoughts: Very short loft with loads of scrubbiness for a badger. Too small for my liking, but will make the ultimate travel brush.
BOARS
Omega 31020
Hair: Banded boar (Omega’s better grade, below premium)
Loft/knot: 57/25mm
Ratio: 2.28
Density: 2
Stiffness: 2.5
Softness: 2.5
Thoughts: My fav boar. This one strangely comes in a shorter loft than the siblings in the trinity I got. But this gives the brush the magical properties that all shavers want: backbone and soft tips. This guy has it. Wonderful brush to use with it’s solid and hefty acrylic handle.
Omega 31025 and 31064
Hair: Banded boar
Loft/knot: 60/25mm
Ratio: 2.4
Density: 2
Stiffness: 1.5
Softness: 2.5
Thoughts: Floppy’s the word. For boars, never ever go above 55mm if you want backbone.
Omega 10275
Hair: Banded boar
Loft/knot: 48/21mm
Ratio: 2.28
Density: 2
Stiffness: 3
Softness: 2.5
Thoughts: A mighty small brush and the price is a real steal. Die die must buy a few 
. Soft tips and wonderful backbone. For new shavers, just buy this and save some cash.
Omega 10029 Baby Pro
Hair: Boar
Loft/knot: 50/23mm
Ratio: 2.17
Density: 2
Stiffness: 3+
Softness: 1
Thoughts: Very stiff and scrubby. The ultimate in backbone. I bought this coz the 31020 once broken in, tend to be soft and a tad floppy. This grade of hair, once broken in, will be quite shiok.
Semogue Owners Club
Hair: Premium boar
Loft/knot: 55/24mm
Ratio: 2.29
Density: 2.5
Stiffness: 3
Softness: 1
Thoughts: Strictly for face latherers. The bloom is outrageous and too big for me. Hair is really scratchy and takes forever to breakin.
Vulfix Grosvenor 404
Hair: Boar/badger
Loft/knot: 53/21mm
Ratio: 2.52
Density: 2 maybe less
Stiffness: 2.3-3
Softness: 1-1.5
Thoughts: Mixing boar for backbone and badger for softness is innovative – would make a great brush, only if they use quality boar and badger. Mine is prickly and the boar don’t seem to split. 
Otherwise it comes with a killer solid resin handle. The best in it’s price range.
Wet Shaving in Singapore 