Let's Use Duke Cannon Products
Happy Monday, fellow wet shavers. John here, Cape Cod Wet Shaving. Coffee of the day is Stop & Shop breakfast blend. Still on the store brand. It’s genuinely good, so I’m not apologizing.
Today is a let’s-use video, meaning I’m going through a full line of products, one of which I’ve never actually tried before. But I’m also doing something I almost never do, and I want to address it upfront: I’m pushing an affiliate code. You know me. I don’t do that. I’ve lost count of how many videos I’ve wrapped up and then thought, oh right, I had a code for that. Eh, whatever. I’m not a salesman. And when I see guys give rave reviews and hit you with their code right after, there’s always that question - do you actually like it, or are you working for the money? That’s why I almost never push them. When I tell you I’m doing it today, I want you to know it’s because I genuinely like this brand, and because of what they do beyond the products themselves.
The brand is Duke Cannon.
Why I’m Actually Pushing This One
The code is CAPECODWETSHAVING, all caps, for 15% off. Link is in the video description. I’m not leading with that because it’s the point. It isn’t. I’m doing this video because I’ve been getting deep into their beard line lately, and the more I looked into what Duke Cannon does for veterans, the more I wanted to put them on the radar.
I come from a Navy and Army family. My wife is active duty Coast Guard. I’m prior Coast Guard. When a brand says they support veterans and first responders, I actually read what they’re doing about it.
The Veterans Mission
Every year, Duke Cannon donates 5% of their net profits to the Duke Cannon Veterans Fund. They also offer discounts for military, law enforcement, and first responders. And the list of organizations they support is worth going through, because it’s not window dressing.
The Gary Sinise Foundation. Honor Flight Network, which transports veterans to national memorials for honor and remembrance. Magnus Veterans Foundation helps veterans and families heal through community fellowship. The Veteran Resilience Project, therapy access for Minnesota veterans dealing with trauma and PTSD. Every third Saturday, support for veterans facing challenges in employment, finances, relationships, health, and faith. Project Echelon, a cycling team supporting veterans through physical activity and self-discovery. The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, working on housing and ending veteran homelessness. And each quarter, they pick one organization to support - past recipients have included K9s for Warriors, the Green Beret Foundation, and the Fisher House.
They’re headquartered in Minneapolis, which explains the Minnesota lean. But the scope goes well past local obligation. That’s a real list.
That’s why this video exists.
The Beard Line
Duke Cannon is what started pulling me away from Every Man Jack for beard wash. I like Every Man Jack. That sandalwood scent is phenomenal, and I’ll say that plainly. But I notice the post-wash softness lasts longer with Duke Cannon’s wash, and the scent is nice too - citrus, works well. I’m just a sandalwood guy, so it’s a personal preference thing, not a knock. I’ve also been using their beard balm and beard oil, and I want to get my hands on the brushless version of the wash.
If you’ve been thinking about adding a beard care routine alongside your wet shaving, Duke Cannon’s lineup is worth a look.
Big Softy Shave Cream
The shave cream for today is their Big Softy. Tube format. Mentholly, fresh, aloe vera scent out of the tube. The ingredients list stearic acid, which is usually a good sign for lather. I’ll be honest, though - a few videos ago I used a tube with stearic that absolutely refused to lather. Think it was Popote. So I wasn’t counting on anything.
This one lathered. Not spectacularly. It dissipated faster than I’d like, and I’ll admit my shave mug was a little too small for the job. But the slickness is the story here. Even when the lather thinned out, the slip didn’t quit. Blade was cutting right through everything, clean. I got to the point where I thought about adding more cream and then decided there was no need. It was still working.
What it doesn’t do is leave that dry, tight feeling Cremo is known for. I’m on my second bottle and just starting to make a dent in it. Eleven dollars.
Duke Cannon Ice Cold Balm
I mailed some of this to my buddy Craig in Scotland. Eleven dollars for the balm, eleven for the cream, thirty-eight dollars in shipping. About sixty bucks total. Money well spent. Hope you enjoyed it, Craig.
I put this on without shaving sometimes, just for the cooling and the hydration. It’s that good. It’s a staple for any wetshaving den. Been having it around for years and never thought to pair it with the shave cream until recently, which in hindsight seems obvious.
The Hardware
Razor is my blue tip Gillette Slim. Blades are Treat German Sharp, which I don’t reach for that often, but they worked well here. Brush is my Shamrock Shaving boar - I call it the Nor’easter, beautiful brush. It retained way more water than I expected for a boar. Had to squeeze it out before loading, which was a little annoying, but it built the Big Softy up fine. I was also breaking in a new shave mug, which I should have sized up, but that’s on me.
Pre-shave face wash was a Midway Citrus Cedarwood puck. Six dollars. They also make a big bar format if you want more mileage out of it.
A Bit of Company History
Duke Cannon was founded on Veterans Day 2011. I have to assume that was deliberate. Their first product was the Big Ass Brick of Soap, a nod to the large rectangular milled soap bars that were issued to American troops during the Korean War. The same facility that made those bars for the troops makes Duke Cannon’s bar soaps today. The bars are triple milled - they’re huge and they last forever. I’ve got one in the shower right now, a couple weeks in with regular use, and I’m barely past the middle of it. Scent is Sawtooth, a nice woody fragrance. If that’s your thing, they also make it as a cologne - glass bottle, proper fragrance.
That’s the rundown. Code’s CAPECODWETSHAVING for 15% off, link in the description. Worth checking out.