At the risk of upsetting SYD and losing my discount on discounted menthol creams, I gave up on Smogs because they were fickle. I upsized believing I'd not have lather problems, but they all seemed to do it. My 830 tuned into a boiled noodle after 3 weeks. It got replaced for free, the second did the same.
Omegas knots are 'honest'. They don't squeeze a tiny knot into a funnel cup. So if it's 23mm that's roughly the size of the knot. Smogs are more like 18 and that pinched splay makes them seem bigger and is why they go weird when damp.
Break in with boars is mostly a YKW myth, where you're supposed to put up with crap performance for a month or 2000 shaves, whichever comes sooner. Yes, they soften over time, but they should all work as expected from Day 1. All my omegas have. They just need a lot less soaking when they've had a run in.
Omegas knots are 'honest'. They don't squeeze a tiny knot into a funnel cup. So if it's 23mm that's roughly the size of the knot. Smogs are more like 18 and that pinched splay makes them seem bigger and is why they go weird when damp.
Break in with boars is mostly a YKW myth, where you're supposed to put up with crap performance for a month or 2000 shaves, whichever comes sooner. Yes, they soften over time, but they should all work as expected from Day 1. All my omegas have. They just need a lot less soaking when they've had a run in.