Simpson Commodore X1 best badger shaving brush.

Another perfect brush for facelathering,and this one on a price range that puts to shame other brushes more expensives : the Commodore X1 in best badger.

I tested this brush a couple months ago and I later sold it,which I truly regret since I havent found another brush with its characteristics,to be honest.

This brush had the following specs :

• 20 mm knot
• 44mm loft
• 89 mm total height
  

so we have a small brush,perfect for facelathering.

The brush its,as the other Simpson brushes,really well made and finish,with one of the most ergonomic handles out there.If I have to choose the most ergonomic Simpson handle that I have tried so far,I would say it was the 57,followed by this one and the 55.

Also its a pretty looking classic handle and Im surprised that havent been copied/imitated by other brands too.

I have tried some other Simpson "small" brushes ,like the 55,Duke 2 or the Berkeley,and I can honestly say that this one was more packed with badger hair than the Duke 2 and almost twice as much as the 55 or the Berkeley.Maybe the person who made this brush was having a wonderful day and reflect it by packing the brush with extra hair :

Since shaving brushes are artisan products,are subject to changes from one brush to another.I found strange than the Simpson 55,being almost 30 dollars more expensive than the Commodore X1,had less hair,with the same knot.The Simpson Duke 2,with 2 mm more of knot was packed with the same hair than the X1.Here a pic of those 3 brushes :

For me,this was a great brush.Not my fav one of all times,but a great brush for what I paid for,around 50 dollars.Facelathering with it was a pleasure,since it was so well packed with hair,but it wasnt a lather hog,maybe due to the short of its loft.Also the tips were soft,not silvertip soft,but close enough,with almost no scritch or scratchiness at all.If I add a ergonomic handle I have a good brush for its price,specially,as I say,for the facelathering task.

Sometimes you can get a pleasant surprise when buying a shaving brush which you think its not going to be better than more expensive brushes : this is what happened to me with this brush and Im glad I was able to tested it and discovered that not always paying more means getting better.

Great review as usual Tieste. It's a bummer that you sold the brush and like you said, you could buy a new one and it's not going to be as densly packed.

I was looking at this brush and the Colonel a few weeks ago. Landed on the Colonel. Maybe I should have tried this one as I'm not the most happy with the Colonel. The Colonel is a fantastic brush, don't get me wrong, but doesn't quite match up with my preferences which is no fault of the brush or maker. I picked up a PJ2 that looks like it will be delivered tomorrow. I hope it fits with my style. If not, I may give this or the X2 a try next. I hope not as all these brushes are not inexpensive and I want to keep my stock to only about 4 or 5 brushes!

Great Review. This is one I've been considering but I didn't know much about it. It just seems like a great value. You can't go wrong with a Simpson.

One of the brushes that's making me waffle back and forth between Simpson and one of the less expensive (but still quality maker) silvertip brushes.

Thanks for the review, it's good food for thought.

Very good review, Teiste. I bowl lather, and the X1 does very well at that too (as do the other X's, the Dukes, and the 50 series).

I prefer the bigger siblings. My X3 is a bit more scritchy than 58 but nothing can beat the price/value ratio of the Commodores.

I love that slender waist! Must be a really comfortable grip. And Simpson's "best" is my favorite badger of any brush.

I recently acquired a "new to me" X1 but as we all know they have "variable" specs. The factory does what they can to make them all the same, but odd ball knots get thrown in. Mine has, near as I can measure, 39mm of loft. That's no big deal 'cause I like small brushes. I've been using it for the past few days and I call it a winner.

It makes enough lather for my shaves, plus extra. One might not think so to look at the diminutive size of it, but it does.

OK, I didn't really need another badger, but I just couldn't resist. But I have enough now! No really!

Anyway, yes, it's a nice brush!

My X2 is my only Simpson and I find it to be an excellent brush. It picks up hard soaps easily, whips cream around like nobody's business, holds plenty of lather for 3+ passes, and has amazing flow through. Again it has the most popular of Simpson hair, Best, and it works well for me. Not too soft, but also no scritch or scratch. I also wouldn't call it a scrubby brush. This is more of a swedish massage type brush, definitely no deep tissue work being done here but it certainly gets the job done splendidly and looks gorgeous in the process. For the money it's hard not to consider the Commodore range as your first, or hundredth Simpson brush.

Teiste, another great review!

Outstanding review from Tieste as usual. This is one Simpsons brush that hasn't made it in to my collection, but I must agree it represents sound investment and I've only ever heard positive remarks about it.

Excellent review Teiste. This brush as well as a 57 are on my list of brushes to try someday.

(05-18-2012, 05:01 PM)Johnny Wrote: Excellent review Teiste. This brush as well as a 57 are on my list of brushes to try someday.

Johnny, be sure not mix up your 57s

The fifties range is another great offering, I particularly like the 57!

And the year was no doubt memorable too, but not for me, a few decades too early!!!

(05-18-2012, 06:04 PM)ben74 Wrote: The fifties range is another great offering, I particularly like the 57!

And the year was no doubt memorable too, but not for me, a few decades to early!!!

You missed out on a good time. The 50's were great.

(05-18-2012, 11:45 AM)edgerunner Wrote: I prefer the bigger siblings. My X3 is a bit more scritchy than 58 but nothing can beat the price/value ratio of the Commodores.

Beautiful pair!

Great post Teiste however for me, this is the only Simpson that I'm not too keen on.

The Commodore was my first brush. I bought it from Phil at Bullgoose. He said it would work well with both soap and cream, and it does. If this was the only brush made, I would be happy! Today my Commodore is in a rotation of nine brushes. It earned that distinction by always doing a good job with anything I have thrown at it.

Here is my X1 - together with a Berkeley 46





The X1 has a slightly shorter loft, but maybe more knot.
I usually prefer brushes with more loft and less backbone - like my Vulfix 2235 Super Badger. But I am really growing on this brush! It does a light massage to the face, it is also a little "prickly".
However, it is a very good brush. It lathers - for its size - like a champ. I love the handle - it't so comfortable to hold. Btw, the Berkeley belongs to my father-in-law.

(05-18-2012, 04:49 PM)ben74 Wrote: Outstanding review from Tieste as usual. This is one Simpsons brush that hasn't made it in to my collection, but I must agree it represents sound investment and I've only ever heard positive remarks about it.

Now, that is a schock to me!!