Without a doubt I consistently get my closest shaves with a stick. A friend says that's because I don't take enough time building a face lather when I use a cream or a soap in a puck or a tub, whereas rubbing the stick directly to my face really gets the soap where it needs to be. Either way, they are a great option. The Arko, Palmolive and Wilkinson sticks are among the greatest bargains in shaving, while I find the Speick, Valobra, and the DR Harris sticks as good as the most expensive soaps on the market. Those six are the only sticks I have tried. Every man needs to try a shave stick at least once!