Omega Boar Brush - Small Brush Quartet

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I have been searching for my "Goldilocks" Omega small boar brush lately. Four of Omega's small boar brushes have stood out for me, the 10066, 10077, 10051 aka "Chunky Chubb" and the 10290 aka Baby Pro.

FullSizeRender.jpg
* Left to right...10077, 10051 "Chunky Chubb", 10290 "Baby Pro", 10066.

The efficacy of Omega's boar brushes in general, are great they make lather easily, feel great on the face and are inexpensive. It sometimes feels that their is a reverse relationship between the price of Omega's boars and their performance; with some of their lowest price brushes performing the best. I suspect the light-weight plastic handles, primary colours and lack of any perceived feeling of quality will be a deal breaker for many but they are robust, well constructed brushes that perform superbly. No finicky performance, peeling handle paint, shedding knots or brewers droop - they just work.

Although the difference in knot sizes of these four brushes is small they each feel very different in use. Specs are approximate and taken from vendor descriptions:

10077 Height 98mm Loft 50mm Knot 21mm
10051 Height 93mm Loft 51mm Knot 23mm
10290 Height 105mm Loft 51mm Knot 22mm
10066 Height 105mm Loft 54mm Knot 24mm

The Omega 10077 Boar Brush has the smallest knot of the quartet. It comes in three colours (green, blue, red). It has good backbone, more than the 10066, less than the "Chunky Chubb" or "Baby Pro". All of the brushes will easily hold enough lather for three passes and give a scrubby face feel. The handle of the 10077 is comfortable in use. If however you are use to the Pro 49 handle and it's superb ergonomics you maybe disappointed. Although this is a great brush in use, for me the knot was just perhaps a tad too small and the handle a tad too short not significant but noticeable for me when in direct comparison with the other trio.
FullSizeRender.jpg
*10077

The Omega 10066 Boar Brush gets much love on the forums and is a favourite for many new and seasoned shavers alike. It is easy to understand why; the 10066 achieves a terrific balance of backbone, scrub, soft tips (when broken in) comfortable, ergonomic handle and it looks good, to my eyes at least. It splays more than any of the other trio of brushes here and without a light touch you can find yourself lathering with the bristle shafts rather than the tips. I would recommend this brush to any one coming to boar brushes for the first time or seasoned boar fans who have not yet given it a go. The 10066 is an exemplar of how a boar brush can perform and feel and a useful reference point for judging other boar brushes. Other forum members have also commented on the brushes' indestructability with some 10066's clocking-up many years of daily shaving without loss of performance; for some this is the only brush they use - it's balanced performance is that good.
FullSizeRender.jpg
*10066

The Omega 10290 Baby Pro Boar Brush, looks small and feels insubstantial, but boy oh boy does this brush perform. I have yet to find a brush with more back bone or enjoyable scrub, including the Omega Prorasso. The handle feels great in the hand to me albeit a little light, the focus of the knot is superb and it maintains its focus even after many, many lathering's. The amount of lather the brush will hold belies its size. This is a diamond in the rough; and unbeatable for those that love scrub and want to give their face a workout in the morning. This brush will exfoliate your face like no other. That said the Baby Pro will not suit everyone, in many ways the brush has an extreme face feel and performance.

FullSizeRender.jpg
* 10290 Baby Pro

The 10051 Chunky Chubb Boar Brush feels comfortable in the hand and also performs superbly. It comes in three colours (orange, green and yellow). Another small brush yet it just feels right. For me this brush hits a rare sweet spot. It does not have the backbone of the 10290 Baby Pro, but more backbone than the 10066 and the 10077. The face feel and scrub it gives is different to the others, enjoyable but difficult to articulate. You can feel every bristle, it has scrub and softness, a little splay, not as much splay as the 10066 but more than the other two. When I use other brushes, I miss using the Chunky Chubb; it would be easy for me to maintain monogamy with the 10051.
FullSizeRender.jpg
*10051 Chunky Chubb

The Baby Pro and the Chunky Chubb will remain in my brush rotation; they are superb performers. All of the above brushes are inexpensive and worth a punt if you feel like giving something new a go or challenging your own comfort zone if you are primarily a Semogue boar user or only use one type of brush...say synthetics or badgers.
 
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I have been searching for my "Goldilocks" Omega small boar brush lately. Four of Omega's small boar brushes have stood out for me, the 10066, 10077, 10051 (aka Chunky Chubb" and the 10290 (aka Baby Pro).

View attachment 34865
* Left to right...10077, 10051 Chunky Chubb, 10290 Baby Pro, 10066.

The efficacy of Omega's boar brushes in general, are great they make lather easily, feel great on the face and are inexpensive. It sometimes feels that their is a reverse relationship between the price of Omega's boars and their performance; with some of their lowest price brushes performing the best. I suspect the light-weight plastic handles, primary colours and lack of any perceived feeling of quality will be a deal breaker for many but they are robust, well constructed brushes that perform superbly. No finicky performance, peeling handle paint, shedding knots or brewers droop - they just work.

Although the difference in knot sizes of these four brushes is small they each feel very different in use. Specs are approximate and taken from vendor descriptions:

10077 Height 98mm Loft 50mm Knot 21mm
10051 Height 93mm Loft 51mm Knot 23mm
10290 Height 105mm Loft 51mm Knot 22mm
10066 Height 105mm Loft 54mm Knot 24mm

The Omega 10077 Boar Brush has the smallest knot of the quartet. It comes in three colours (green, blue, red). It has good backbone, more than the 10066, less than the "Chunky Chubb" or "Baby Pro" All of the brushes will easily hold enough lather for three passes and give a scrubby face feel. The handle of the 10077 is comfortable in use. If however you are use to the Pro 49 handle and it's superb ergonomics you maybe disappointed. Although this is a great brush in use, for me the knot was just perhaps a tad too small and the handle a tad too short not significant but noticeable for me when in direct comparison with the other trio.
View attachment 34867
*10077

The Omega 10066 Boar Brush gets much love on the forums and is a favourite for many new and seasoned shavers alike. It is easy to understand why; the 10066 achieves a terrific balance of backbone, scrub, soft tips (when broken in) comfortable, ergonomic handle and it looks good, to my eyes at least. It splays more than any of the other trio of brushes here and without a light touch you can find yourself lathering with the bristle shafts rather than the tips. I would recommend this brush to any one coming to boar brushes for the first time or seasoned boar fans who have not yet given it a go. The 10066 is a exemplar of how a boar brush can perform and feel and a useful reference point for judging other boar brushes. Other forum members have also commented on the brushes' indestructability with some 10066's clocking-up many years of daily shaving without loss of performance; for some this is the only brush they use - it's balanced performance is that good.
View attachment 34869
*10066

The Omega 10290 Baby Pro Boar Brush, looks small and feels insubstantial, but boy oh boy does this brush perform. I have yet to find a brush with more back bone or enjoyable scrub, including the Omega Prorasso. The handle feels great in the hand to me albeit a little light, the focus of the knot is superb and it maintains its focus even after many, many shaves. The amount of lather the brush will hold belies common sense. This is a diamond in the rough; and unbeatable for those that love scrub and want to give their face a workout in the morning. This brush will exfoliate your face like no other. That said the Baby Pro will not suit everyone, especially those that prefer softness and cloud like face feel. In many ways the brush has an extreme face feel and performance.

View attachment 34871
* 10290 Baby Pro

The 10051 Chunky Chubb Boar Brush has a comfortable hand feel and also performs superbly It comes in three colours (orange, green and blue). Another small brush yet it just feels right. For me this brush hits a rare sweet spot. It does not have the backbone of the 10290 Baby Pro, but more backbone than the 10066 and the 10077. The face feel and scrub it gives is different to the others, enjoyable but difficult to articulate. You can feel every bristle, it has scrub and softness, a little splay, not as much splay as the 10066 but more than other trio.
When I use other brushes, I miss using the Chunky Chubb; it would be easy for me to maintain monogamy with the 10051.
View attachment 34872
*10051 Chunky Chubb

The Baby Pro and the Chunky Chubb will remain in my brush rotation; they are superb performers. All of the above brushes are inexpensive and worth a punt if you feel like giving something new a go or challenging your own comfort zone if you are primarily a Semogue boar user or only use one type of brush...say synthetics or badgers...or indeed have not warmed to other small Omega boars previously.
I need a chunky chubb! :) P
 
I have been searching for my "Goldilocks" Omega small boar brush lately. Four of Omega's small boar brushes have stood out for me, the 10066, 10077, 10051 aka "Chunky Chubb" and the 10290 aka Baby Pro.

View attachment 34865
* Left to right...10077, 10051 "Chunky Chubb", 10290 "Baby Pro", 10066.

The efficacy of Omega's boar brushes in general, are great they make lather easily, feel great on the face and are inexpensive. It sometimes feels that their is a reverse relationship between the price of Omega's boars and their performance; with some of their lowest price brushes performing the best. I suspect the light-weight plastic handles, primary colours and lack of any perceived feeling of quality will be a deal breaker for many but they are robust, well constructed brushes that perform superbly. No finicky performance, peeling handle paint, shedding knots or brewers droop - they just work.

Although the difference in knot sizes of these four brushes is small they each feel very different in use. Specs are approximate and taken from vendor descriptions:

10077 Height 98mm Loft 50mm Knot 21mm
10051 Height 93mm Loft 51mm Knot 23mm
10290 Height 105mm Loft 51mm Knot 22mm
10066 Height 105mm Loft 54mm Knot 24mm

The Omega 10077 Boar Brush has the smallest knot of the quartet. It comes in three colours (green, blue, red). It has good backbone, more than the 10066, less than the "Chunky Chubb" or "Baby Pro". All of the brushes will easily hold enough lather for three passes and give a scrubby face feel. The handle of the 10077 is comfortable in use. If however you are use to the Pro 49 handle and it's superb ergonomics you maybe disappointed. Although this is a great brush in use, for me the knot was just perhaps a tad too small and the handle a tad too short not significant but noticeable for me when in direct comparison with the other trio.
View attachment 34867
*10077

The Omega 10066 Boar Brush gets much love on the forums and is a favourite for many new and seasoned shavers alike. It is easy to understand why; the 10066 achieves a terrific balance of backbone, scrub, soft tips (when broken in) comfortable, ergonomic handle and it looks good, to my eyes at least. It splays more than any of the other trio of brushes here and without a light touch you can find yourself lathering with the bristle shafts rather than the tips. I would recommend this brush to any one coming to boar brushes for the first time or seasoned boar fans who have not yet given it a go. The 10066 is an exemplar of how a boar brush can perform and feel and a useful reference point for judging other boar brushes. Other forum members have also commented on the brushes' indestructability with some 10066's clocking-up many years of daily shaving without loss of performance; for some this is the only brush they use - it's balanced performance is that good.
View attachment 34869
*10066

The Omega 10290 Baby Pro Boar Brush, looks small and feels insubstantial, but boy oh boy does this brush perform. I have yet to find a brush with more back bone or enjoyable scrub, including the Omega Prorasso. The handle feels great in the hand to me albeit a little light, the focus of the knot is superb and it maintains its focus even after many, many lathering's. The amount of lather the brush will hold belies its size. This is a diamond in the rough; and unbeatable for those that love scrub and want to give their face a workout in the morning. This brush will exfoliate your face like no other. That said the Baby Pro will not suit everyone, in many ways the brush has an extreme face feel and performance.

View attachment 34871
* 10290 Baby Pro

The 10051 Chunky Chubb Boar Brush feels comfortable in the hand and also performs superbly. It comes in three colours (orange, green and blue). Another small brush yet it just feels right. For me this brush hits a rare sweet spot. It does not have the backbone of the 10290 Baby Pro, but more backbone than the 10066 and the 10077. The face feel and scrub it gives is different to the others, enjoyable but difficult to articulate. You can feel every bristle, it has scrub and softness, a little splay, not as much splay as the 10066 but more than the other two.
When I use other brushes, I miss using the Chunky Chubb; it would be easy for me to maintain monogamy with the 10051.
View attachment 34872
*10051 Chunky Chubb

The Baby Pro and the Chunky Chubb will remain in my brush rotation; they are superb performers. All of the above brushes are inexpensive and worth a punt if you feel like giving something new a go or challenging your own comfort zone if you are primarily a Semogue boar user or only use one type of brush...say synthetics or badgers.
Where can I buy the Chunky Chubb?
 
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I have an orange chunky chubb on order :) you can't have too many brushes right? P.

I'd be interested in how it will compare to the Omega 011829, the latter seems to the king of scrubby Omega brushes and 10051 seems to be the standard range Omega with the great reputation for being a scrubby delight.

***
Fine write up though @Missoni. I've been doing the very best to avoid adding any more brushes to my growing collection but I'm after reading this write up my plans have changed...
 
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