Thread: Merkur razors

I have a Feather DE, a vintage Gillette travel DE and my wife has a Merkur Futur. I don't use them much anymore, occasionally if I miss a spot at already have the straight cleaned off and put away I'll use the DE to get it but that's about it.

Still have a fondness for them, particularly the Gillette, since it's what put me on the road to getting better shaves. I'll never go back to disposables or electric but there's definitely nothing wrong with a nice DE shave.

Ant

Merkur HD, Slant, Gillette Super Speed and a few others I haven't used yet.

RT

I love my Gillette Superspeed, and I have a Gillette Fatboy that I have yet to try out.... So many razors, only a limited amount of stubble....

Josh

I've been having some fun lately playing around with a Gillette Slim Adjustable, with a Superspeed waiting it's turn.

I usually get better results on my neck with a DE, a straight does better everywhere else.

I'm actually glad this thread is here....
I have been thinking for some time that I should grab a DE razor for travel (it would be easier for overseas travel to have a DE as a carry on, than a straight razor). I did own the 'Vision' at one point, but was not sold on it, so I sold it! (that'll learn ya') And besides the 'Vision' was a bit cumbersome and much for a 'travel' razor in my opinion.

However, with that said, and me thinking that I'd like a small DE for travel I am torn between the Merkur 'Progress' and the 'Slant'. While the 'progress' has the option of adjustment I feel that I will find the one setting and stay with it, making the adjustment option obsolete.. The 'Slant' has an apparent slanted edge, which makes me think that it would have a shaving-slice similar to that I am use to with my straight razor....AND any angle there after (which I would have determined with the 'progress') could be acheived with overall angling of the razor. SO, I am somewhat leaning toward the 'slant' but am still not sure.


What would you DE-experienced guys recommend to a straight razor user?

C utz

I have a Merkur HD loaded with Derby blades in my rotation. I know it's blasphemy, but there are some parts of my shave I can get better with a DE. There are also some parts I can get better with a straight. I've been mixing it up lately using both.

Some of the guys at Badger & Blade refer to the Slant bar as Satan's Razor, opining it is a pretty aggressive cutter. I've never shaved with one so I can't tell you if this is true or not.

Cutz,

As usual it will boil down to what you get used to or your own personnel preference. You will probably get different answers from each and every one of us. Perhaps you could run a poll.

I myself only have my Merkur HD & Merkur Gold Slant which I reckon is simply the best. I also have a Schick Injector which I have only shaved with a few times and I wouldn't give you two bob for that shave, but others would disagree and say the Schick is a great shave. For me its just not close enough. Others say their superspeeds or fatboys are the one, but I cannot comment as I have never tried them.

So for what it's worth its the slant for me + Feather blades.

John

For DE comfort and shaving satisfaction I go to my Gillette Toggle - for absolute, near straight closeness, like John, I reach for the Merkur Gold Slant - for the ultimate closeness on my neck (better than I can get with my straight) I reach for a Bic Metal disposable.


(closeness???...is that really a word, or did I just make that up?....does it really matter?)

-whatever

-Lou

Cutz, this is my little DE travel razor (5/8 straight in the picture for size relationship). Works great though I don't travel much... really tiny all packed up. Still need to get a travel brush, etc. to go with it (used to occasionally use it with spray cream - yuck!)





Ant

Being fairly new to straight razor shaving, I shave with a Merkur Futur DE for 2-3 days following my straight razor experience. I am very familiar with the Merkur and get a great shave out of it while my face heals. Then I'm ready for another whirl with the straight.

I really like the heavy handle.