Merkur Futur Safety Razor - Polished Chrome

Was skeptical at first as a lot of reviews state the Futur starts very aggressive and just gets crazy more so. But I wanted an adjustable and just loved the look of the Futur.I am brand new to DE shaving. Got tired of crazy cartridge prices (after 25 years or so) but also if i get lazy for a few days or week, they plug up and i have to clean it continuously as I shave. I even got to the point of using clippers to trim it down before shaving. Being a redhead, I do have sensitive skin but i wouldn’t say a thick beard.I can say that with 1/2 dozen shaves so far that what you read on aggression is totally false. I don’t think its even possible to cut yourself with a Futur on 1. I use it like a disposable. Press as hard as i want and any direction and multiple passes. ... MoreWas skeptical at first as a lot of reviews state the Futur starts very aggressive and just gets crazy more so. But I wanted an adjustable and just loved the look of the Futur.I am brand new to DE shaving. Got tired of crazy cartridge prices (after 25 years or so) but also if i get lazy for a few days or week, they plug up and i have to clean it continuously as I shave. I even got to the point of using clippers to trim it down before shaving. Being a redhead, I do have sensitive skin but i wouldn’t say a thick beard.I can say that with 1/2 dozen shaves so far that what you read on aggression is totally false. I don’t think its even possible to cut yourself with a Futur on 1. I use it like a disposable. Press as hard as i want and any direction and multiple passes. I do not use a brush or gel or lather like the hole DE routine. I grab any hand soap thats in front of me, lather quickly in hand and apply. Same as I have done all my life. The only difference is that I will re-apply soap for 2nd shave. (disposables or cartridge style I never need to re-apply soap) But for the Futur, apply soap, go WTG, apply soap again, go ATG. Use setting 1. Works great. No problems around nose or ears. I can go as fast as I want. Never tried another DE razor - probably never will. I couldn’t see wanting anything more "mild" and I got plenty of steps to go wild.Happy Camper. Cheap blades (Astro SP $15 for 100 pack), great shave. And never any clogging. I believe the larger blade gap is for clogging issues, not setting the aggression as people jump to assume. I am sure it gets aggressive on 4-6. And one would have to learn the DE shave routine. But for me, it works exactly like i wanted it too. I have feather blades to try. I may have to be careful and "learn" them. But so far, the Astro combination is great.Another thing to note from other reviews online is that my top cap is tight. The blade exposure on each side is identical. And straight / parallel along the blade. But my razor goes from 0.5 to 6. Where as i have seen other reviews mention it goes from 1 to 6.5. Maybe a design change? or variances with build tolerances. Dunno. But I can attest that I got a good one.I don’t find any issues about slipperiness as some have had or assumed. (I hate the **** knurled look too) I am sloppy and quick shaver. Never a problem. And again, I don’t think one could cut themselves on low settings. Even pressing hard. (of course you might if you move blade sideways lol)Mercur Futur - Totally recommended. Newbies especially.

Hello,I recently started wet shaving, and just love the whole experience/process.I purchased a Merkur 23C and Merkur Futur, Kent silver tip badger brush, Proraso products etc, etc,from Fendrihan (great! service and fast shipping).The 23C is a great razor, great feel,look and extremely well crafted.The futur razor takes the craftsmanship to another level. It feels like it was chiseled from a block of metal.In addition it is arguably the finest looking safety razor l've seen, to date (spent many, many hours on the internet and youtube). My wife and son both agree.The Futur, sitting in it's stand, it is truly a piece of mechanical Art.My only mistake...it is not ideal for a beginner (like me). It's like getting your driver's licence and the next day ... MoreHello,I recently started wet shaving, and just love the whole experience/process.I purchased a Merkur 23C and Merkur Futur, Kent silver tip badger brush, Proraso products etc, etc,from Fendrihan (great! service and fast shipping).The 23C is a great razor, great feel,look and extremely well crafted.The futur razor takes the craftsmanship to another level. It feels like it was chiseled from a block of metal.In addition it is arguably the finest looking safety razor l've seen, to date (spent many, many hours on the internet and youtube). My wife and son both agree.The Futur, sitting in it's stand, it is truly a piece of mechanical Art.My only mistake...it is not ideal for a beginner (like me). It's like getting your driver's licence and the next day tracking a Porsche 911 Turbo:).My 1st shave was not good (nick's and razor burn). I will blame myself, mostly, due to lack of experience.I then began a much more thorough preshave regiment. Showering, peshave oil, preshave cream, and only doing 2 passes, derby extra razor blade (less aggressive). Followed by, a post shave moisturizer, for sensitive skin, Proraso green balm etc.The improvement was "significant". It may not be bbs, too hard to achieve with my "very sensitive skin"...but, definitely a great shave.I only set it at .5. I suspect, with time and experience, l may get to number 2...but, not yet.So, for an intermediate and advanced wet shaver,...l believe, you'll love the heft,look and feel of the Futur. It will plow through the thickest growth and should provide an amazing! shave.For beginners, you could try it (like me)...but, there's definitely a learning curve (this razor requires attention and respect, due to it's aggressiveness).Having said that, l love! it...the look is "extraordinary" (l picked the polished version and no it's not slippery, just keep your hands clean). The feel and sound are also top notch.Once you mastered the technique (very little pressure required)...it may just become your favourite safety razor.Recommended.

Absolutely amazing!

This is one amazing safety razor! It feels and looks expensive and I'm sure that, with the right care, it will last a lifetime. Some people say this is an aggressive razor, but at its lowest setting I found it to be extremely mild and safe. I have coarse beard and very sensitive skin and haven't feel the need to go higher than 2. Apart from the high price tag, I would easily recommend this to a wet shaving newcomer. Plus, with 6 adjustable settings there's a lot of room to grow as you gain experience and want something more aggressive. I'm hoping that I found my one razor for life - and can now stop purchasing these damn things (although there's just an undeniable charm about them). PS: if you're concerned about the usual "negative" points raised about this safety ... MoreThis is one amazing safety razor! It feels and looks expensive and I'm sure that, with the right care, it will last a lifetime. Some people say this is an aggressive razor, but at its lowest setting I found it to be extremely mild and safe. I have coarse beard and very sensitive skin and haven't feel the need to go higher than 2. Apart from the high price tag, I would easily recommend this to a wet shaving newcomer. Plus, with 6 adjustable settings there's a lot of room to grow as you gain experience and want something more aggressive. I'm hoping that I found my one razor for life - and can now stop purchasing these damn things (although there's just an undeniable charm about them). PS: if you're concerned about the usual "negative" points raised about this safety razor, don't be! Adjusting the settings and changing the blades in this safety razor is super easy and absolutely safe. Really!

Awesome razor.

I’ve been a slant head wet shaver for quite a few years, finding their efficiency helpful in minimizing razor burn as fewer passes and buffing is needed for me when I use these. Recently my shaving schedule has become more irregular because of work scheduling , and I wanted to try an adjustable razor so I can customize the amount of aggressiveness needed based on stubble length, and I settled on the Futur to try. Wow-what a razor! I started with the 1 setting coupled with not very aggressive Voskhod blades to start, and I’ve been amazed at the results . BBS on daily shaves with that setting and blade combination so far. I can’t feel the blade when shaving, but I can hear it as feedback is plentiful. I like heavier razors, and like others I use, the Futur requires no ... MoreI’ve been a slant head wet shaver for quite a few years, finding their efficiency helpful in minimizing razor burn as fewer passes and buffing is needed for me when I use these. Recently my shaving schedule has become more irregular because of work scheduling , and I wanted to try an adjustable razor so I can customize the amount of aggressiveness needed based on stubble length, and I settled on the Futur to try. Wow-what a razor! I started with the 1 setting coupled with not very aggressive Voskhod blades to start, and I’ve been amazed at the results . BBS on daily shaves with that setting and blade combination so far. I can’t feel the blade when shaving, but I can hear it as feedback is plentiful. I like heavier razors, and like others I use, the Futur requires no pressure to do the job. So far on daily shaves I haven’t needed to do any cleanup passes. It’s well known that the head of this razor is big, but it hasn’t presented any difficulties for me getting under my nose, although this is clearly an individual issue based on one’s own anatomy. The fit and finish is great, as you would expect, and the I like the bright finish. As with any razor, this isn’t for everyone, but I’ve been delighted so far with the Futur.

Closest shave

I bought this few months ago. However only used it couple of times. You need to be careful when using it at the beginning. It is quite an aggressive razor. The only reason I have not used it much as you cannot rush through your shaves with this one until you get used to it. I am sure I will start using it regularly once I get comfortable shaving with this. The razor can be adjusted to different settings for closer shave. The closest setting is aggressive. Good Product though....feels like strong and solid built.

Merkur Futur - Buyer's Remorse

I wanted this razor because my beard has the consistency of copper wire. I thought that the ability to adjust the blade to a more aggressive angle would allow me to get a closer shave in fewer passes than my Merkur 180 does. It actually does this pretty well, for the most part.Unfortunately the blade head is so large that I have found it impossible to closely shave my upper lip directly under my nose without gashing myself. Bear in mind that I have been using mild Derby blades, have been trying to shave this area with the blade on the least aggressive #1 (ish, more on that later) setting, and that I have about 3 years of experience using a DE safety razor, and have been shaving for about 33 years altogether.The calibration is also off, right out of the box, ... MoreI wanted this razor because my beard has the consistency of copper wire. I thought that the ability to adjust the blade to a more aggressive angle would allow me to get a closer shave in fewer passes than my Merkur 180 does. It actually does this pretty well, for the most part.Unfortunately the blade head is so large that I have found it impossible to closely shave my upper lip directly under my nose without gashing myself. Bear in mind that I have been using mild Derby blades, have been trying to shave this area with the blade on the least aggressive #1 (ish, more on that later) setting, and that I have about 3 years of experience using a DE safety razor, and have been shaving for about 33 years altogether.The calibration is also off, right out of the box, running from something like .5 to 5.5 rather than the 1-6 actually marked on the shaft. This is a minor issue but reported problems of this sort are the reason I avoided the Merkur Progress with a somewhat smaller blade head.Finally the smooth handle looks very nice (I bought the chrome finish), but it can be quite slippery, to the point of making it difficult to safely turn the handle to adjust the blade angle. Knurling such as the Merkur 180 and other models have might be a good addition.So currently I am using the Futur for the large areas of my face, and touching up the tight spots with my 180.All in all I wish I had saved the $68 and continued making a few extra passes with my old safety razor.

My New Favorite Razor

A great razor. Even though I ordered it, I wasn't sure I'd like it because of some negative comments in reviews, such as slippery to hold , extremely aggressive, can't shave under nose. But I experienced none of those things. It didn't slip out of my hand at all (although I do have large hands--not sure how someone with small hands would find it), and I had no problem at all shaving under my nose. In fact, I got 99% of it with just vertical strokes, the rest with a short horizontal stroke right up against the nose. And as far as the aggressiveness, I usually prefer a mild razor so I was apprehensive about this aspect of it. I shaved with it on 1 and wow, what a smooth, comfortable, really close shave with no nicks of any kind. And as for feedback, another wow--more ... MoreA great razor. Even though I ordered it, I wasn't sure I'd like it because of some negative comments in reviews, such as slippery to hold , extremely aggressive, can't shave under nose. But I experienced none of those things. It didn't slip out of my hand at all (although I do have large hands--not sure how someone with small hands would find it), and I had no problem at all shaving under my nose. In fact, I got 99% of it with just vertical strokes, the rest with a short horizontal stroke right up against the nose. And as far as the aggressiveness, I usually prefer a mild razor so I was apprehensive about this aspect of it. I shaved with it on 1 and wow, what a smooth, comfortable, really close shave with no nicks of any kind. And as for feedback, another wow--more than my Progress! Fit and finish excellent.

My new favorite razor

I love German engineering and this razor is the epitome of German engineering. Very clean design and beautiful to look at and hold. I love the chrome finish on this. This razor is heavy at 4.5oz but it's bulk is what makes it a joy to shave with. The weight helps gravity to do it's job and move itself across your face. You can set the razor to be very aggressive and the weight can move it faster than you might like. 1 is the least aggressive and 6 the most aggressive. I first set it to 3 which was a little too aggressive for my first shave with it. My second shave I set it to 1 and then over the next few shaves worked my way back to 3 which is a good setting for me. Now I have the hang of this and I am getting great shaves with it. I also picked up the case for this ... MoreI love German engineering and this razor is the epitome of German engineering. Very clean design and beautiful to look at and hold. I love the chrome finish on this. This razor is heavy at 4.5oz but it's bulk is what makes it a joy to shave with. The weight helps gravity to do it's job and move itself across your face. You can set the razor to be very aggressive and the weight can move it faster than you might like. 1 is the least aggressive and 6 the most aggressive. I first set it to 3 which was a little too aggressive for my first shave with it. My second shave I set it to 1 and then over the next few shaves worked my way back to 3 which is a good setting for me. Now I have the hang of this and I am getting great shaves with it. I also picked up the case for this so I can bring it with me when I travel. You won't regret buying this razor.

New Wet Shaver's Review Mekur Futur 701 Chrome

I am a new wet shaver. I liked what some reviews had to say about this razor. I started on 1.5, and now use 2 (you can crank up to 5 - maybe if you had a thick beard?), Using a quality blade and proper technique, you should get a baby butt shave with three passes. Down, Across, Against. I get a nick once in a while mostly from not controlling the stroke and contour around lip. Maybe one weeper on my neck. Shaver is heavy and solid. Changing blades requires prying top off and popping in a new blade, pretty simple if you keep things level. Only issue is being chrome, it can get slippery to hold if you are not careful. with the blade exposure rinse off is quick and easy with a few flicks in warm water in the sink. I have to say I am overall pleased with the product. I ... MoreI am a new wet shaver. I liked what some reviews had to say about this razor. I started on 1.5, and now use 2 (you can crank up to 5 - maybe if you had a thick beard?), Using a quality blade and proper technique, you should get a baby butt shave with three passes. Down, Across, Against. I get a nick once in a while mostly from not controlling the stroke and contour around lip. Maybe one weeper on my neck. Shaver is heavy and solid. Changing blades requires prying top off and popping in a new blade, pretty simple if you keep things level. Only issue is being chrome, it can get slippery to hold if you are not careful. with the blade exposure rinse off is quick and easy with a few flicks in warm water in the sink. I have to say I am overall pleased with the product. I might look at others, but for now I am good.

Slippery in the shower

I have had this razor for five years now, and have finally decided to move on. It is the only safety razor I have owned. I chose this model of safety razor because it looks so good, and complemented my newly renovated bathroom's decor. I use Nivea Shaving Cream in the squeeze tube, and shave in the shower. The razor becomes so slippery that I drop it if I don't concentrate. The top comes off on impact, and I need to fumble the handle, top and blade together with slippery fingers. The snap-on top requires that you carefully position the blade before reassembly, and that you take care not to bump it when snapping the top on. The shave quality itself is good. I use Dorco blades. I am going to switch to something with a longer, knurled handle - Merkur 23C, 24C or WCS ... MoreI have had this razor for five years now, and have finally decided to move on. It is the only safety razor I have owned. I chose this model of safety razor because it looks so good, and complemented my newly renovated bathroom's decor. I use Nivea Shaving Cream in the squeeze tube, and shave in the shower. The razor becomes so slippery that I drop it if I don't concentrate. The top comes off on impact, and I need to fumble the handle, top and blade together with slippery fingers. The snap-on top requires that you carefully position the blade before reassembly, and that you take care not to bump it when snapping the top on. The shave quality itself is good. I use Dorco blades. I am going to switch to something with a longer, knurled handle - Merkur 23C, 24C or WCS 78S top my list.