Yesterday I received my new Merkur Futur. I'm not exactly sure why I bought this razor, but I guess I just had a hankering to try an adjustable razor again and I always found the design of the Futur ... interesting. My previous adjustables (not counting razors with multiple plates, as I consider an adjustable to be a razor you can adjust "on the fly") were a Gillette "Black Beauty" back when it was not a vintage razor and a Merkur Progress.
I chose the shiny chrome version, and it is certainly quite shiny given the mass of this razor. It doesn't look like any other razor I've used or seen. In general I prefer double edge razors with small, thin heads like the Game Changer, but the unusual design of the Futur somehow appeals to me. The obvious, unanswered question was, how well does this razor work?
So this morning I gave it a try. I loaded it with a Personna Red blade as it is one I find works well without drama in most razors, and chose the medium setting, #3, for the first shave. My initial reaction was surprise at how maneuverable it is despite its size. Even getting under my nose was not a problem. At this setting it provides good audible feedback and a very smooth and comfortable shave. I had some concern about the smooth handle and rubbed my fingers on an alum block, but I never had any issues with grip. I completed my normal two pass shave with a bit of touch up in quick order and was rewarded with a comfortable and reasonably close shave. Although the two don't look anything alike, the smoothness of the shave and the results remind me of my Edwin Jagger DE89.
Tomorrow I'll move up to 4 and see how that goes. Can this razor deliver the closeness of my Game Changer OC or even my Rocca? If so, how comfortably can it do it?
I chose the shiny chrome version, and it is certainly quite shiny given the mass of this razor. It doesn't look like any other razor I've used or seen. In general I prefer double edge razors with small, thin heads like the Game Changer, but the unusual design of the Futur somehow appeals to me. The obvious, unanswered question was, how well does this razor work?
So this morning I gave it a try. I loaded it with a Personna Red blade as it is one I find works well without drama in most razors, and chose the medium setting, #3, for the first shave. My initial reaction was surprise at how maneuverable it is despite its size. Even getting under my nose was not a problem. At this setting it provides good audible feedback and a very smooth and comfortable shave. I had some concern about the smooth handle and rubbed my fingers on an alum block, but I never had any issues with grip. I completed my normal two pass shave with a bit of touch up in quick order and was rewarded with a comfortable and reasonably close shave. Although the two don't look anything alike, the smoothness of the shave and the results remind me of my Edwin Jagger DE89.
Tomorrow I'll move up to 4 and see how that goes. Can this razor deliver the closeness of my Game Changer OC or even my Rocca? If so, how comfortably can it do it?