The best value I have in my accumulation of shaving brushes is my Simpson The Colonel X2L with a best badger knot. Of equal value is my shavemac with a 22mm finest knot. I use badger brushes primarily, but do intersperse them with boar brushes. The only time I use a synthetic is when I travel, because synthetic knots dry very quickly. I have yet to find a synthetic that can match the face-feel of a quality badger or boar; they whip up a good lather in no time flat, but their face-feel just doesn't cut for me; they feel springy and well...synthetic.