Arko Shaving Soap Stick vs Derby Extra Super Stainless

66 facts in comparison

Based on 723 Reddit opinions. Soap Stick leads by 26 points.

723 opinions
Soap Stick leads by 26pts
Reddit's Pick
Arko Shaving Soap Stick
89%
A-
Based on
777 Redditors
Winner

Arko Shaving Soap Stick

~$15.95
495 opinions

tldr; Highly praised for smooth and comfortable, close shaves.

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VS
Derby Extra Super Stainless
63%
C
Based on
396 Redditors

Derby Extra Super Stainless

~$7.99
228 opinions

tldr; Polarizing blade. Some love the smoothness, others find it tuggy. Cheap enough to try. Works great in mild razors.

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Shave QualityBlade FeelBuild QualityLather QualityErgonomics
SHA
BLA
🔧BUI
LAT
ERG
92
Points
79
Points

Score by Category

Shave Quality
88%46%
Blade Feel
0%48%
Build Quality
0%
Lather Quality
90%100%
Ergonomics
100%

Why is Extra Super Stainless better than Shaving Soap Stick?

  • Better lather (100% vs 90%)
  • ~$0.10 per blade cheap
  • Mild, smooth shave feel
  • YMMV - divisive blade
Based on 1,173 Reddit opinions
Clear Winner

Reddit prefers the Soap Stick

Winning by 26 points (89% vs 63%)

Better shave quality
Excellent value for the price point
May cause irritation for some users
High confidence (1,173 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 1,173 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Soap Stick
8.9/10
777 mentions
Super Stainless
6.3/10
396 mentions
VALUE
Soap Stick9.9/10
Super Stainless10.0/10
LATHER
Soap Stick9.0/10
Super Stainless10.0/10
SHAVE QUALITY
Soap Stick8.8/10
Super Stainless4.6/10
BLADE FEEL
Soap Stick0.0/10
Super Stainless4.8/10
BUILD QUALITY
Soap StickN/A
Super Stainless0.0/10
ERGONOMICS
Soap StickN/A
Super Stainless10.0/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Soap Stick: 1|Super Stainless: 3
Value
Soap Stick99%
Super Stainless100%
LatherSuper Stainless
Soap Stick90%
Super Stainless100%
Shave QualitySoap Stick
Soap Stick88%
Super Stainless46%
Blade FeelSuper Stainless
Soap Stick0%
Super Stainless48%
Build Quality
Soap StickN/A
Super Stainless0%
ErgonomicsSuper Stainless
Soap StickN/A
Super Stainless100%
Soap Stick89%
Super Stainless63%
Clear winner - Soap Stick leads by 26 points

Key Specs

SpecArko Shaving Soap StickDerby Extra Super Stainless
Type
Triple Milled Shaving Soap Stick
Key Ingredients
Tallow Fat, Glycerin
Scent
Fresh powdery fragrance, Lemon Fresh, Classic barbershop scent
Lather Quality
Rich, creamy, thick, lubricating
Country Of Origin
Turkey

Key Highlights

Arko Shaving Soap StickWinner
💰 Excellent value for the price point
⚠️ May cause irritation for some users
🪒 Delivers smooth, close shaves
⚡ Efficient cutting with fewer passes
💪 Solid construction and durable materials
Derby Extra Super Stainless
💰 ~$0.10 per blade cheap
⚖️ Mild, smooth shave feel
🎲 YMMV - divisive blade
🪒 Best in mild razors
📦 100-pack sampler staple
Some users report issues (22% negative)

Topic Battles

Soap Stick: 1|Tied: 1|Super Stainless: 3
Shave Quality
Soap Stick wins
Soap Stick
88%
Super Stainless
46%
Blade Feel
Super Stainless wins
Soap Stick
0%
Super Stainless
48%
🔧Build Quality
Soap Stick
Super Stainless
0%
Lather Quality
Super Stainless wins
Soap Stick
90%
Super Stainless
100%
Ergonomics
Super Stainless wins
Soap Stick
Super Stainless
100%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Arko Shaving Soap Stick

Best Praise
+32 pts
I understand Arko. Let's address your points: Smell: It's all down to personal preference. I personally don't mind the smell. Plus, it does fade a bit as it ages. Lather: Yes, this is a product best lathered with a brush. If you're having difficulty lathering, you possibly haven't rubbed enough on your face. Arko should be easy to lather. Container: Again, Personal preference. I unwrap enough the paper to shave with before I get in the shower. If the 'Arko man' on the wrapper is not your cup of tea a simple search for shave stick containers will give you some alternate options. I use a vintage metal Colgate shave stick container in my travel kit. You can always mash or grate it into the container of your choice if the shave stick format is not to your liking. Price: I'm not sure what to say here. It sounds like you paid a premium on purpose. Arko is cheap if you buy in bulk. If you wanted to try it before committing to a 12 stick box, the premium is worth it. Right? We're still not talking huge costs. Here in the UK a single Arko stick on Amazon is still cheaper than Proraso. Even if you compare cost per gram. This may vary depending on your location. In Italy for example, Proraso will be much cheaper. Finally: If you don't like Arko, don't buy it. No one is making you. Other shave sticks are available. Other cheap wet shaving options are available as well.
r/wicked_edge
View
Top Criticism
+21 pts
If Arko made a jumper it would be 100% polyester and smelly.
r/wicked_edge
View
3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Derby Extra Super Stainless

Best Praise
+21 pts
Derby Extra is pretty forgiving, so it's a pretty good place to start
r/wicked_edge
View
Top Criticism
+13 pts
Blades are entirely subjective and YMMV and everyone should find out for themselves. But ... I do hate Derbies.
r/wicked_edge
View
3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Arko Shaving Soap Stick
Derby Extra Super Stainless
$8$12$16Aug '25Aug '25Aug '25Aug '25Nov '25Nov '25Dec '25Dec '25Jan '26Apr '26Low: $14.99Low: $7.99Current: $15.95Current: $7.99
Arko Shaving Soap Stick
All-time low: $14.99(2024-03)
Derby Extra Super Stainless
All-time low: $1.99(2011-12)

Which is Better?

Arko Shaving Soap Stick Wins
89%
Stick
vs
63%
Stainless

Arko Shaving Soap Stick leads by 26 points based on 1,173 Reddit opinions.

Why Soap StickWinner
  • 💰 Excellent value for the price point
  • ⚠️ May cause irritation for some users
  • 🪒 Delivers smooth, close shaves
  • More discussed (777 vs 396)
Why Super Stainless
  • 💰 ~$0.10 per blade cheap
  • ⚖️ Mild, smooth shave feel

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

57%Positive
Positive
57%
Neutral
37%
Negative
6%
Based on 777 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

35%Positive
Positive
35%
Neutral
43%
Negative
22%
Based on 396 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Arko Shaving Soap Stick or Derby Extra Super Stainless?
Based on 1,173 Reddit comments, Arko Shaving Soap Stick is the preferred choice with 89% positive sentiment vs Derby Extra Super Stainless's 63%. Arko Shaving Soap Stick leads by 26 percentage points.
Should I buy Arko Shaving Soap Stick or Derby Extra Super Stainless?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Arko Shaving Soap Stick has stronger approval ratings (89% vs 63%). However, Derby Extra Super Stainless may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Arko Shaving Soap Stick?
Reddit users highlight: Excellent value for the price point. May cause irritation for some users. Delivers smooth, close shaves. With 777 mentions and 89% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Derby Extra Super Stainless?
Reddit users highlight: 0.10 per blade cheap. Mild, smooth shave feel. YMMV - divisive blade. With 396 mentions and 63% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,173 Reddit comments: 777 about Arko Shaving Soap Stick and 396 about Derby Extra Super Stainless. Data was sourced from Shaving gear community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

723 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/11/2026