I recently received my 24mm 2b finest. My experience of badger brushes is limited to Simpsons, a SOC and some no logos. I can not fault the efficacy of the brush, I find it an excellent performer. To me, it is less dense than a Simpson Duke 2 (Best) but has similar back-bone and face feel. The knot when dry feels crispy and synthetic to me, indeed it feels more synthetic than my plissoft synthetics or should that be less natural? However when wet and loaded the tips feel soft. I prefer the scrub and back-bone of a large boar but the Maseto allows me a change of pace - a luxurious, soft tipped massage. As many have said before they really are very good brushes, that they are also terrific value puts a smile on this wet shavers face.