Well, I have had the Wicked Edge system for almost a month, and I have got to say, I love it. Both systems are like choosing between your children. They both CAN do anything, but they both excel differently. My comparison will be the Edge Pro Apex kit 4, VS. the Wicked Edge Pro Pack 1.
Edge Pro Kit 4
Wicked Edge Pro Pack 1 - major items not shown is the paperstone base, and the additional stones.
Cost: Winner: Edge Pro - The Edge Pro Apex model is much less expensive than the Wicked Edge. Most of this cost is that for the Wicked Edge, you are buying 2 of every grit stone, and they are diamond stones, which are more expensive than the inexpensive boride waterstones with the Edge Pro. The Wicked Edge will run you $390 for the Pro Pack 1, and the Kit 4 Edge Pro will run you $245. To put them both on the same playing field of ability, add the Ceramic stones to the Wicked Edge, however, you are adding more cost.
Speed: Winner: Wicked Edge - You are not flipping the knife, and you are not changing stances. You can get into a rhythm, and fly through knives when looking for a utility edge. You can sit down, relax and sharpen.
Quality: tie - Both products are made well. All of the accessories are well though out, with one exception. The flimsy blade holder for the Wicked Edge is bad. I really do not like it.
Full flat ground blades: Winner: Edge Pro - The Wicked Edge does FFG well, but requires a small special setup to hold the knife. You dont have to do it on chef's knives, I am speaking of thick pocket knives that are FFG, that a vise can't quite grab. The Wicked Edge will still be faster overall, but you just need to spend a little time that you do not spend with the Edge Pro
Parallel faces on spine of knife: Winner: Wicked Edge - Clamp it, find the sweet spot and go. The sweet spot is how the stones curve over the belly. There is an alignment gage to find the sweet spot and record it for future use.
Thin, flexible knives: Winner: Edge Pro - Length doesn't matter with the Edge Pro, because you are constantly putting the part being sharpened on the table, so there is no flexing of the knife away from the stone. This is the biggest downfall of the Wicked Edge.
Large thick knives: Winner: Wicked Edge - sturdy hold, super fast
Large thin knives: Winner: Edge Pro - same reasons as thin, flexible knives
Mirror Polish: Tie - Both systems give you great polishes. The Wicked Edge has to break in, as in, the stones need to wear in, and get better with time. The Edge Pro stones, are better out of the box, but both systems give great polished edge, with a slight edge on the Edge Pro, but not enough to call it a clear winner. My tip with the Wicked Edge when using the leather strops and diamond paste is to work the edge, and wipe any compound off the bevel every few strokes until it stops coming off the leather. The compound will cause a skating rink effect, and the leather will not work the steel, but instead slide around the compound and do nothing. Once it soaks into the leather, and the excess stops coming off, you will get great polish. The Edge Pro Tapes down to 6000 grit (additional purchase for 6000) on glass blanks provide a little better look on some steels, but it is a trade off either system. They are pretty equal.
Availability of aftermarket stones: Tie - Both systems have many aftermarket options. Shaptons, Choseras, Diamonds, leather, balsa, etc. Wicked Edge Sells the leather, balsa strops, as well as Naniwa Choseras, and diamond sprays. Edge Pro only sells tapes and stock stones, but Chefknivestogo, and Jende Industries can get you the aftermarket stones mounted on EP blanks. The Shaptons for the Wicked Edge are coming soon to the Wicked Edge Website. A full array of Naniwa Choseras for the Edge Pro is $215, mounted on EP blanks. The stones for the EP are thinner than the stones for the WE. A full array of Naniwa Choseras for the Wicked Edge is big bucks, at $570 mounted on WE paddles. The WE Choseras are thicker, and you are buying 2 of every stone, hence the cost. You can also flatten the WE stones on themselves, and on the same grit to each other because of the pairs. I own the EP Choseras, but not the WE Choseras, YET! The Choseras are the Ferrari of waterstones, and are a big upgrade over the Boride stock EP stones.
Sharpness: Tie - Both systems can produce equal results without a doubt. I still employ a kniveplus strop block, which is my favorite strop, and a Spyderco Sharpmaker Ulltra Fine stone for burr removal, and touch ups.
Additional info - When the Edge Pro doesn't work it is F***ING maddening. Some knives just do not seat right, but if you check bladeforums or Youtube, you can find solutions to most problems. Both systems benefit with some additional tools. Sharpie Markers, spritz water sprayers, illuminated eye loupes, alcohol wipes, paper towels, good lighting, and one last thing for both systems, an iGaging angle cube. If you want precise angles get this cube from
http://www.chefknivestogo.com/anglecube.html and get crazy precise results.
Sharpener specific gear:
Edge Pro - get this:
http://www.chefknivestogo.com/5drstcowhexk.html . This solves the accuracy of angles when the stones wear down and get flattened and are different thicknesses. Watch the video attached to the website to buy the collar to explain it better.
Also, the glass polishing blanks are dead flat and worth it in my book.
Wicked Edge - Loctite Purple 222MS . I do not use the dimple side of the angle readings. I spin the arms to the other side, and put some of this small screw, low strength purple loctite on the screw and it is just enough to stop the screw from backing off, and you do not need the screws to be super tight. Using the back side of the rail allows infinite adjustment for improved accuracy.
The future: I will most likely upgrade to an Edge Pro Professional some day. I have turned this into a small business of sharpening knives, just to pay for the equipment, so I can buy it for my own uses, and not have a ton of additional cost to have good stuff. I will also buy either the Shaptons or Choseras for the WE too.
I am happy with both purchases, and will keep both systems, although I did hope to sell one, I just can't. I love them both. They are a nice addition to the Spyderco sharpmaker and my bench stones.
Edit:
Customer Service: Winner: Wicked Edge (slight edge) - Both Ben Dale at Edge Pro, and Clay Allison of the Wicked Edge are two of the best guys when it comes to customer service. They are direct competitors, but they appreciate the competitive spirit of each others' products. Ben and Clay are both available to be called or emailed, and both are knife and sharpening nerds (in a good way), and are happy to talk to enthusiasts. Clay is a little more open to improvements over his stock diamond stones and leather strops, which is why he sells the Choseras, soon to be available Shaptons, and his awesome balsa strops, and diamond sprays. Ben sticks to his guns on the stock EP stones and lapping films. He doesnt believe anything else out there is worth replacing his stock stones. I think this is a blind spot of his, because tons of people are upgrading their stones, and he is losing out on the sales. The edge up, no pun intended on customer service, goes to Wicked Edge, because they have a small forum community, and I like that for obvious reasons. It is a small forums, with no more than 20-30 posts per week to keep up on. Ben and Clay both get A+ in my book, but Clay offers more options and a forum, so he gets extra credit.