Here are my two synthetic knots that I have and absolutely love..
Pictured on the right is my 26mm G5C knot (fan knot made in Japan) which i purchased from
AP Shave Co the other pictured on the left is a 24 mm Lansky HD (bulb knot) which i purchased from a store in Australia. What differs these from the yaqi synthetics is way they feel on the face when face lathering. They mimic the face feel of a natural badger brush (not quite but reasonably close), so they dont have the fake springy feeling of the yaqi giving it a more natural, luxurious feel when face lathering.
I, like you, also much preferred a synthetic to a badger when I started wet shaving but this changed once I got my first decent quality badger and learnt how to properly face lather with one. I love using both badger and synthetics equally but have to say that lathering with a nice badger is the most luxurious feeling you can get..
Does the badger make better lather? in my opinion, no.. the lather quality is the same but face feel is much nicer on the badger.... In saying that I still believe it is easier to build a lather with a good synthetic
Out of the G5C and the Lansky HD I cant really say I prefer one over the other but I do love both a lot and each do have a different feel when face lathering. If i was to get another it would probably be a lansky HD but in 28mm, just for variety
Handles for both knots were made here in Australia by our talented resident brush maker
@TroyTools