Item Description
As no one else has posted a review of the Merkur Futur I felt that this would be a good opportunity to contribute to the forum.
The Futur was the first DE razor that I used, and despite some recent instances of blood loss I still rate this razor very highly.
Firstly, it is a very good looking piece of equipment, it eschews the the bulky space age lines of the Vision and the ornateness of the 1904 Classic, in favor of clean, crisp minimalist lines. Although a razors appearance should be a secondary consideration for a prospective buyer, how many of us can honestly say that looks do not play a role in the decision making process; and on that score the Futur is the best razor out there.
On taking the razor out of its box, you are greeted by a very solid and impressive looking tool. The Futur exudes class, beyond its visually pleasing exterior it comes across as a dependable and well made item. The adjustment mechanism is solid and has a good feel to it and there is a positive response when you change the settings.
I was so impressed by this razor, that when I subsequently purchased an HD, I thought that I had been fobbed off with a toy from a Christmas cracker, next to the Futur it was too small and too lightweight to be taken seriously.
The first time you use this razor you should be suitably impressed by its weight. It has enough presence to allow strict adherence to the principle of no pressure, the Futur having enough heft that you can let it glide over your face and still get a close shave.
On wide open areas of the face it is a very well balanced razor that performs well.
However, there are design problems. For example, the method of blade replacement involves actually pulling the head off of the razor, bringing your fingers into dangerously close proximity with the blade.
Also, the handle has no grip, this makes it very difficult to hold when your hands are wet, and given the size and weight of the razor this can make it somewhat difficult to manoeuvre.
In fact the lack of manoeuvreability is the major problem with this razor, the aforementioned problems, combined with the actual size of the head mean that the Futur is totally unsuited to precision work.
With regard to the aggressiveness of this razor, I think it is down to common sense on behalf of the user, the potential for injury is there, but if you are sensible and have a deft touch this razor is very easy to tame, in spite of its awkwardness under certain circumstances.
In conclusion, I still like the Futur, given the proper respect it is still a very good razor, but my positive comments may just be down to the fact that I started out with this razor, I would imagine the transition from an HD to this maybe more difficult.
The Futur is a truly classic design, but certain design flaws undermine its true potential.
Warm regards,
Alex
The Futur was the first DE razor that I used, and despite some recent instances of blood loss I still rate this razor very highly.
Firstly, it is a very good looking piece of equipment, it eschews the the bulky space age lines of the Vision and the ornateness of the 1904 Classic, in favor of clean, crisp minimalist lines. Although a razors appearance should be a secondary consideration for a prospective buyer, how many of us can honestly say that looks do not play a role in the decision making process; and on that score the Futur is the best razor out there.
On taking the razor out of its box, you are greeted by a very solid and impressive looking tool. The Futur exudes class, beyond its visually pleasing exterior it comes across as a dependable and well made item. The adjustment mechanism is solid and has a good feel to it and there is a positive response when you change the settings.
I was so impressed by this razor, that when I subsequently purchased an HD, I thought that I had been fobbed off with a toy from a Christmas cracker, next to the Futur it was too small and too lightweight to be taken seriously.
The first time you use this razor you should be suitably impressed by its weight. It has enough presence to allow strict adherence to the principle of no pressure, the Futur having enough heft that you can let it glide over your face and still get a close shave.
On wide open areas of the face it is a very well balanced razor that performs well.
However, there are design problems. For example, the method of blade replacement involves actually pulling the head off of the razor, bringing your fingers into dangerously close proximity with the blade.
Also, the handle has no grip, this makes it very difficult to hold when your hands are wet, and given the size and weight of the razor this can make it somewhat difficult to manoeuvre.
In fact the lack of manoeuvreability is the major problem with this razor, the aforementioned problems, combined with the actual size of the head mean that the Futur is totally unsuited to precision work.
With regard to the aggressiveness of this razor, I think it is down to common sense on behalf of the user, the potential for injury is there, but if you are sensible and have a deft touch this razor is very easy to tame, in spite of its awkwardness under certain circumstances.
In conclusion, I still like the Futur, given the proper respect it is still a very good razor, but my positive comments may just be down to the fact that I started out with this razor, I would imagine the transition from an HD to this maybe more difficult.
The Futur is a truly classic design, but certain design flaws undermine its true potential.
Warm regards,
Alex
