Help me pick a modern razor

[goby]

I have gone through 6 vintage Gillettes and settled on the Rocket HD. It a great razor and I prefer it to the Slim, Old, and Superspeeds. The only vintage that interests me that I haven't tried is a Red Tip.

I'm not a collector. I just want the best shave (but I'm not anal about it---I'm not going to try EVERY razor). So I want to get a Merkur, Muhle, or EJ (no PILS or Feathers). It seems like many Merkurs have the same head, and some EJ's have a Merkur head, right?

I like heavy razors. I've never tried a slant. I prefer the Rocket over the Slim, but a modern adjustable is not out of the question. I think weight is the most important thing.

I will be getting of the BST, and seeing if it outperforms the Rocket HD, and then selling the "loser." Oh, and I've been DE shaving for about a year now, so my technique is fine.

So what should I get?

 

[Uncle Erik]

IIRC, the new EJ/Mühle head is exclusive to their brands. They used to use a Merkur head, however.

Hands down, my favorite modern razor is the EJ DE89L. It always gives me excellent shaves and the build quality is top notch. You can't go wrong. I also have the Mergress, Futur, Vision, R41, and Goodfella. I find all of them to be good to great shavers and I'd recommend any of them except the Vision. My Vision is fine and works great for me, but I acknowledge the troubles others have had with handling and/or reliability.

Still, the DE89L is the best of the lot.

 

[filedog]

The EJ DE87 is one of my two favorites, the other being the Fatboy. I have tried several vintage Gillettes, the EJ is the only modern one I've used. It does have excellent build quality, looks great, and gives me a great shave.

 

[The Last Chimney]

Everybody should try a slant at least once, and Merkur is the name to beat. The 39c is a heavy-handled slant.

The EJ DE86/87/89 has gotten a lot of love here, but it's not an especially heavy razor unless you get a custom handle for it.

If you can get over the styling of the Merkur Futur, that's probably the heftiest Merkur out there, and one that's gotten some good reviews.

 

[breadstick]

I only have 3 razors but the EJ89L is by far the best. I would recommend this to everyone that hasn't tried it yet.

 

[Dave Deluxe]

I'd recommend the EJ 89L, I like it so much, I stopped using my other "vintage" DE razors. The 89L is the only DE in rotation with my SE razors.

DD

 

[xillion]

I'd recommend the EJ 89L, I like it so much, I stopped using my other "vintage" DE razors. The 89L is the only DE in rotation with my SE razors.

DD

+1

The Edwin Jagger DE89L is an absolutely fantastic razor. It looks great and shaves even better. You will not be disappointed.

 

[Jaymo]

I use my EJ DE87 more than any of my other razors. It's just that good.

 

[Sir Ronald]

You gotta try the Merkur HD. After all the Gillettes I've collected I always come back to the HD when I want that perfect shave. It's a modern day classic. It's gentle with a red IP or savage with a Feather. With an Astra it's somewhere in the middle and perfect.

 

[JDV]

I can recommend the EJ DE89L. I just had my first shave with mine today, and it is I also love my 34C HD. I can't comment on the slant yet, but I have a 39C on the way. I hear it's not called the "Sledgehammer" because it's dainty.

 

[johnmrson]

The EJ DE89 is a great razor and if you don't have one, you should give serious consideration to getting one.

 

[StillShaving]

Check out one of the Merkur Barberpole designs, they are heavier so they should have the heft you are looking for. They are available in safety bar, open comb, and slant design. I have used all three but have a slight preference for the open comb version as I found it nearly foolproof while allowing a close shave. But all 3 heads designs are good and give a close shave without issues.

The Merkur Progress, Futur, Vision are more modern adjustables with many fans and some detractors.

 

[Blondie]

The Merkur HD is heavier than your Rocket HD, so if that is your favorite razor, and you like that weight, you can go with an HD Slant, get a little more weight, and a really great shave. The Edwin Jagger DE89L is just about the same weight as the Merkur HD to me, but I have not actually put it on a scale. Either way, we are talking a difference of less than 10 grams, and if you can feel that, you are a better man than me.

My suggestion? Buy them both. The EJ is about $32 shipped from QED, and I think Slants are about 45 over at WCS.

FWIW, I have tried the Red Tip, and at that time, I got my closest shaves with it. After the slant, I rarely use the Red Tip. The slant is not the wicked demon many profess it to be, but it will give you one of the most effortless close shaves you've ever had.

 

[saltypete]

+1 for a Merkur Slant. I have never regretted buying one. In fact, as much as I love my vintage Gillettes, if I could choose one razor to shave with for the rest of my life, it would be the slant.

Pete

 

[honed]

A Merkur slant!

The Barberpole 39C is probably the most powerful DE ever made.
And its little brother, the 37C ain't bad either.
And their "dangerous" reputation is clearly overstated.
Just a magnificent tool for shaving

 

[PhatMan]

Goby,

Of the eight or so of the current production DEs I have, I have been most impressed by the Muhle R109; a super razor

Have fun !

regards

Russ

 

[DerFly]

My oh my, how opinions differ!

I, like you, have settled on vintage Gillettes, including a Rocket HD, Slim, Fattie and SA. There's also a 40s SS that makes it into the rotation from time to time.

The EJ whilst being a very impressive razor, I found it just slightly too mild as compared to my Gillettes. About a 3 - 4 on the adjustable scale, very similar toa 40s SS which I also find just a touch too mild. Not having tried the other, I cannot say if the 89 is the best modern razor though common opinion seems to suggest this.

If you can get your hands on a loaner, do so. Then again, you can buy an 89 and sell it off later, write of the loss (which will be minimal) to experience as I did.

Cheers,
DF

 

[goby]

Thanks everyone,

I think the EJ and the Slant are the top vote getters. I think I will get one of each and see which I prefer.

Thanks again.

 

[Darjeeling Express]

Thanks everyone,

I think the EJ and the Slant are the top vote getters. I think I will get one of each and see which I prefer.

Thanks again.

Excellent decision, you will keep them both. If you like heft, get the Barber Pole 39C Slant.

 

[StreetGlide Steve]

Thanks everyone,

I think the EJ and the Slant are the top vote getters. I think I will get one of each and see which I prefer.

Thanks again.

I have both, the slant is much more aggressive and does a great job. The EJ is much better, just feels right, better quality and always a consistant shave. Agreed get both and trade off.