Merkur Futur Adjustable Safety Razor, Satin Finish
[MRK-90700002]

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by Keith Hamill
05/28/2013

Thanks Graham for pointing out the positioning of the spring. I completely missed that. I made the adjustment you recommended and the razor is indeed more evenly balanced.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alan
04/22/2013

Big, bulky, cumbersome under your nose. The head stretches too far beyond the actual blade on either side. Not a fan. Will be replacing sooner rather than later.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Wes
03/19/2013

Got the futur shipped a couple days ago and and I also own a Patker 91R and today I used my futur for the first time. Loaded it with the merkur blade it came with and I had the best shave since I have been shaving and that would be 15 years. I don't think I will ever go back to the stupid cartridge/disposable pieces of junk ever again. Futur looks goods, feels good in hands and shaves awesome. If you are thinking of getting into wet shaving, don't think just do it and you will not regret it. Two thumbs up! Parker 91R is now for traveling ;)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(1 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by Geoff
09/17/2012

Just had the best shave of my life with this thing. Truly a perfect shave. The weight makes it very effective and satisfying to hold. It looks fantastic. Try 3 passes with settings 3 then 2 then 1. If I lost it I'd buy another one immediately.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/03/2012

Addendum to my review and the disassembly instructions posted by Keith Hamill; When repositioning the spring, ensure that the end gap of the spring (the end of the wind) is exactly facing one blade edge or the other. Having it face one end of the razor or the other will tilt the cap slightly, but measurably, on higher settings, essentially causing a different blade setting on one end vs. the other. The Futur also has a very slight curvature to the bars, allowing a slightly more aggressive shave in the center of the blade compared to the ends. A very well designed razor, but beware the negative reviews - they are usually from people who haven't taken the time to fully understand such a fine tool.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/02/2012

Using this razor without full knowledge of its capabilities is a recipe for disaster. It seems the company does little to educate users, unfortunately. This razor has a different blade exposure on each side. Look from the top with the setting on '1' to better see; one side has an apparently larger gap than the other. The side with the smaller gap has the blade exposed more, for a much more aggressive shave than the other side. If you look side-on under moderate magnification, you will see the greater exposure on one side. This is the way it is designed. If you are going to flip this razor around mid-shave, you had better have a reason. Secondly, I found some wobble in the head when setting anywhere above '1', causing an uneven blade exposure along the length of the blade. Some careful tweaks of the ends of the wings on the channel in which the cap rides with some pliers cured this and made it rock solid when changing adjustments. I would think I shouldn't have to hand tune it, but doing so, as well as taking it apart and putting a thin film of synthetic waterproof grease on the spring and all moving parts makes adjusting and using this razor a dream. Perfection once I examined, understood, and tuned it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Bill
06/22/2012

I've used other cheap safety razors and this was the first Merkur I've tried. I'll never use anything else. This is the best product you can buy.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 1 to 7 (of 20 reviews)

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by The Handsome Lawyer
05/01/2012

I cannot recall when I purchased this razor, but I know I have been using the Futur for more than 5 years now. If there is a perfect razor, this is surely it. Very well made. The adjustment mechanism is incredibly precise. These days I run it wide open to minimize the number of passes. I shave a lot. Sometimes twice a day if need be. The Futur is my go to razor. It always delivers a perfect shave with zero irritation and not a single weeper, ever. For me, no other razor comes close, and I have tried many. Technique is key with the Futur. Place the top of the head gently against your face. Now, with the handle sticking straight out, slowly tilt it toward the floor until the blade JUST STARTS CUTTING. That's your stroke angle. Master it and this razor will reward you with years of enjoyable shaving the same way it has for me.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Andre Fortin
03/03/2012

This razor is built like a tank, it is very heavy too...balance is an issue for me, the head of the razor weight more than the handle and the head of the razor is way to big I cannot shave properly under my nose. I'm using Feather blades with my Futur and man does it shave. You need a good shave prep for this one because it is unforgiving !

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
04/27/2011

Gives a nice smooth BBS shave. A few months ago I switched over to straight razor shaving. Since then I have come to appreciate adjustable safety razors even more. I can now dial these guys up to maximum and still get a nick free shave. All 3 Merkur models are excellent. Best bang for the buck is the Progress. Dialed up to maximum, they are equal to a straight razor shave. you have to treat them as a straight razor, moisten the beard, stretch the skin, etc...) I love these 3 Merkurs. They are all great. Dial them up and let the blade do the work. Don't push or force the blade. Dial them up and FEEL the blade gently gliding across your skin. Stretch the skin in the opposite direction that you pull the blade and you will be amazed at the smoothness of the shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neil
10/14/2010

I received this razor as a gift from my wife a couple of years ago. It has excellent weight and balance and give an unbelievable shave. Blade change is a snap. With the adjustments, I can even use it when I don't shave for 2 or 3 days by adjusting the blade height. It is best to adjust the blade with a towel in hand or without the blades in to reduce the risk of cutting your fingers. The adjustment required the head to turn and it is purposely stiff to maintain the selected height. I usually start with a higher number 3, and then dial it down to 1 for the final cleanup. Great razor, great looking, and easy to use.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Paul
05/24/2010

This razor + Astra blades = the best shave. This is my go-to razor & has excellent weight compared to some of my other razors. It is easy to maintain and operate & I highly recommend it for those who are looking at getting into wet shaving or for those who are looking to add to their collection of razors.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
02/28/2010

I found that by disassembling the Futur and loading the moving parts with lithium grease, it makes the adjusting a lot looser and smoother. Also it keeps out the soap scum. Compared to the Vision, (16 parts) the Futur, (4 parts) is a piece of cake to service. Just pop off the head, set it to it's #6 position or till it hits the detent and stops. Using the edge of a countertop, with one hand gripping the neck of the lower silo, push like hell on the middle part that the top cover snaps onto to compress the giant spring that you can't see yet. You should notice a large gap where the numbers are stamped. At this point, the detents are no longer touching and you can unscrew the handle all the way off very easily. Reverse the procedure to re-assemble. Make sure you keep the spring compressed while you are turning the handle so the detents do not touch. Once you screw it back down all the way and release the spring, everything will fall into place nicely.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Massimo
02/20/2010

this is a good razor but one must be carefully with it, the head size is to big making the nose and mouth area hard to get at and if it's the first time you use it you may get cut or early morning shaver like most make sure you are fully awake with this thing. The other problem is changing the ajustment with wet hand is a no no if your hand slip you'll cut your fingers it is a toy more then anything use a non adjustalbe with a little weight to it and you will save some money and get a better shave, one good point it is a well made toy.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 8 to 14 (of 20 reviews)

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by Keith Hamill
02/02/2010

Well, now I have finally tried all 3 adjustables. They all shave equally well. This one for me has the nicest feel and weight. If they would put some knurls or bumps for gripping and adjusting, it would be perfect.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vladimir
01/11/2010

Buying yourself a double edged razor may seem a little old fashioned to some. But after trying this razor, you will definitely change your opinion. As a wet shaver I got couple of safety razors from this website. All of them are very well made, never had any issues. Merkur Futur Adjustable Safety Razor is truly made to last long. Very easy to use even very good for beginners. It will save you money that you would have spent on disposable razors. Highly recommend it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neel
11/26/2009

This is my first DE Razor as before I was using a Gillette Mach 3 Razor and that caused me huge amounts of irritation for my sensitive skin. The Merkur razor solved all those issues. It has a great weight to it which I like. The adjustability of the razor is great for the tough the reach areas that need more of the blade exposure and areas that don't. I really don't have any issues with this razor and I would recommend it to anyone for a good starter or experienced DE razor.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
07/31/2009

I tend to agree with Markka's assessment. Nicely weighted but care needs to be taken when unlocking the head (yup, the instructions help, but hey, real men don't need . . .). Anyhow, my biggest complaint is that the grip is not knurled and I find that, when the razor is wet, my fingers don't grip it as well as I'd like. Otherwise, GREAT.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vic
04/25/2009

There is a learning curve with this razor but I believe it was worth it. This is an item that works well and will be handed down to another generation! I don\'t regret the outlay as I believe it to be a lifetime tool. It performs well with shortcomings that aren\'t worth mentioning.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Markka
02/18/2009

I switched to this razor after learning to shave with a double-edged blade in the "Merkur 33C Classic." I was specifically looking for something with more heft to it, adjustability didn't really factor in, just that I knew these were popular. It was a major difference, and I gave myself serious razor burn the first attempt. It was also far easier to nick myself. My next attempt was immediately better however; I was a lot more meticulous with lather. I soon discovered that shaving at the "3" setting was perfect for me, however, if I dialed it down to "1" (most sensitive) for a final pass, I could actually shave against the grain without irritation. This has been a major improvement to my shave. I'm now quite adept at using this, and can manage a great four-pass shave in under 10 minutes. While the razor has improved my shaving routing dramatically, I didn't give it a full five stars because I find it has two serious flaws: 1. The locking mechanism is pretty terrible. Be certain to push the cover up from underneath with your thumb like the included pictorial directions demonstrate (I'm an idiot and didn't look at them until later.) I used to lift from above with my fingers, but it slipped once, letting the revealed blade slice deeply into my finger. 2. It's difficult to adjust the razor mid-shave. There's not much to grip, and it's pretty stiff. I usually have to grab the head in my towel and turn it that way to ensure my fingers don't slip. I don't know that there's necessarily a better razor out there, but there's definitely room for someone to produce one. I'm finding that the satin finish grabs soap scum quite easily and sort of tarnishes that way. I could probably clean it all off by dunking it in boiling water. You may wish to consider spending a little more and get the chrome one, as my older little classic razor never got the built-up of residue that this razor does.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 15 to 20 (of 20 reviews)

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by Keith Hamill
05/28/2013

Thanks Graham for pointing out the positioning of the spring. I completely missed that. I made the adjustment you recommended and the razor is indeed more evenly balanced.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alan
04/22/2013

Big, bulky, cumbersome under your nose. The head stretches too far beyond the actual blade on either side. Not a fan. Will be replacing sooner rather than later.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Wes
03/19/2013

Got the futur shipped a couple days ago and and I also own a Patker 91R and today I used my futur for the first time. Loaded it with the merkur blade it came with and I had the best shave since I have been shaving and that would be 15 years. I don't think I will ever go back to the stupid cartridge/disposable pieces of junk ever again. Futur looks goods, feels good in hands and shaves awesome. If you are thinking of getting into wet shaving, don't think just do it and you will not regret it. Two thumbs up! Parker 91R is now for traveling ;)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(1 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by Geoff
09/17/2012

Just had the best shave of my life with this thing. Truly a perfect shave. The weight makes it very effective and satisfying to hold. It looks fantastic. Try 3 passes with settings 3 then 2 then 1. If I lost it I'd buy another one immediately.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/03/2012

Addendum to my review and the disassembly instructions posted by Keith Hamill; When repositioning the spring, ensure that the end gap of the spring (the end of the wind) is exactly facing one blade edge or the other. Having it face one end of the razor or the other will tilt the cap slightly, but measurably, on higher settings, essentially causing a different blade setting on one end vs. the other. The Futur also has a very slight curvature to the bars, allowing a slightly more aggressive shave in the center of the blade compared to the ends. A very well designed razor, but beware the negative reviews - they are usually from people who haven't taken the time to fully understand such a fine tool.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/02/2012

Using this razor without full knowledge of its capabilities is a recipe for disaster. It seems the company does little to educate users, unfortunately. This razor has a different blade exposure on each side. Look from the top with the setting on '1' to better see; one side has an apparently larger gap than the other. The side with the smaller gap has the blade exposed more, for a much more aggressive shave than the other side. If you look side-on under moderate magnification, you will see the greater exposure on one side. This is the way it is designed. If you are going to flip this razor around mid-shave, you had better have a reason. Secondly, I found some wobble in the head when setting anywhere above '1', causing an uneven blade exposure along the length of the blade. Some careful tweaks of the ends of the wings on the channel in which the cap rides with some pliers cured this and made it rock solid when changing adjustments. I would think I shouldn't have to hand tune it, but doing so, as well as taking it apart and putting a thin film of synthetic waterproof grease on the spring and all moving parts makes adjusting and using this razor a dream. Perfection once I examined, understood, and tuned it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Bill
06/22/2012

I've used other cheap safety razors and this was the first Merkur I've tried. I'll never use anything else. This is the best product you can buy.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Handsome Lawyer
05/01/2012

I cannot recall when I purchased this razor, but I know I have been using the Futur for more than 5 years now. If there is a perfect razor, this is surely it. Very well made. The adjustment mechanism is incredibly precise. These days I run it wide open to minimize the number of passes. I shave a lot. Sometimes twice a day if need be. The Futur is my go to razor. It always delivers a perfect shave with zero irritation and not a single weeper, ever. For me, no other razor comes close, and I have tried many. Technique is key with the Futur. Place the top of the head gently against your face. Now, with the handle sticking straight out, slowly tilt it toward the floor until the blade JUST STARTS CUTTING. That's your stroke angle. Master it and this razor will reward you with years of enjoyable shaving the same way it has for me.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Andre Fortin
03/03/2012

This razor is built like a tank, it is very heavy too...balance is an issue for me, the head of the razor weight more than the handle and the head of the razor is way to big I cannot shave properly under my nose. I'm using Feather blades with my Futur and man does it shave. You need a good shave prep for this one because it is unforgiving !

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
04/27/2011

Gives a nice smooth BBS shave. A few months ago I switched over to straight razor shaving. Since then I have come to appreciate adjustable safety razors even more. I can now dial these guys up to maximum and still get a nick free shave. All 3 Merkur models are excellent. Best bang for the buck is the Progress. Dialed up to maximum, they are equal to a straight razor shave. you have to treat them as a straight razor, moisten the beard, stretch the skin, etc...) I love these 3 Merkurs. They are all great. Dial them up and let the blade do the work. Don't push or force the blade. Dial them up and FEEL the blade gently gliding across your skin. Stretch the skin in the opposite direction that you pull the blade and you will be amazed at the smoothness of the shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neil
10/14/2010

I received this razor as a gift from my wife a couple of years ago. It has excellent weight and balance and give an unbelievable shave. Blade change is a snap. With the adjustments, I can even use it when I don't shave for 2 or 3 days by adjusting the blade height. It is best to adjust the blade with a towel in hand or without the blades in to reduce the risk of cutting your fingers. The adjustment required the head to turn and it is purposely stiff to maintain the selected height. I usually start with a higher number 3, and then dial it down to 1 for the final cleanup. Great razor, great looking, and easy to use.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Paul
05/24/2010

This razor + Astra blades = the best shave. This is my go-to razor & has excellent weight compared to some of my other razors. It is easy to maintain and operate & I highly recommend it for those who are looking at getting into wet shaving or for those who are looking to add to their collection of razors.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
02/28/2010

I found that by disassembling the Futur and loading the moving parts with lithium grease, it makes the adjusting a lot looser and smoother. Also it keeps out the soap scum. Compared to the Vision, (16 parts) the Futur, (4 parts) is a piece of cake to service. Just pop off the head, set it to it's #6 position or till it hits the detent and stops. Using the edge of a countertop, with one hand gripping the neck of the lower silo, push like hell on the middle part that the top cover snaps onto to compress the giant spring that you can't see yet. You should notice a large gap where the numbers are stamped. At this point, the detents are no longer touching and you can unscrew the handle all the way off very easily. Reverse the procedure to re-assemble. Make sure you keep the spring compressed while you are turning the handle so the detents do not touch. Once you screw it back down all the way and release the spring, everything will fall into place nicely.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Massimo
02/20/2010

this is a good razor but one must be carefully with it, the head size is to big making the nose and mouth area hard to get at and if it's the first time you use it you may get cut or early morning shaver like most make sure you are fully awake with this thing. The other problem is changing the ajustment with wet hand is a no no if your hand slip you'll cut your fingers it is a toy more then anything use a non adjustalbe with a little weight to it and you will save some money and get a better shave, one good point it is a well made toy.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
02/02/2010

Well, now I have finally tried all 3 adjustables. They all shave equally well. This one for me has the nicest feel and weight. If they would put some knurls or bumps for gripping and adjusting, it would be perfect.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vladimir
01/11/2010

Buying yourself a double edged razor may seem a little old fashioned to some. But after trying this razor, you will definitely change your opinion. As a wet shaver I got couple of safety razors from this website. All of them are very well made, never had any issues. Merkur Futur Adjustable Safety Razor is truly made to last long. Very easy to use even very good for beginners. It will save you money that you would have spent on disposable razors. Highly recommend it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neel
11/26/2009

This is my first DE Razor as before I was using a Gillette Mach 3 Razor and that caused me huge amounts of irritation for my sensitive skin. The Merkur razor solved all those issues. It has a great weight to it which I like. The adjustability of the razor is great for the tough the reach areas that need more of the blade exposure and areas that don't. I really don't have any issues with this razor and I would recommend it to anyone for a good starter or experienced DE razor.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
07/31/2009

I tend to agree with Markka's assessment. Nicely weighted but care needs to be taken when unlocking the head (yup, the instructions help, but hey, real men don't need . . .). Anyhow, my biggest complaint is that the grip is not knurled and I find that, when the razor is wet, my fingers don't grip it as well as I'd like. Otherwise, GREAT.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vic
04/25/2009

There is a learning curve with this razor but I believe it was worth it. This is an item that works well and will be handed down to another generation! I don\'t regret the outlay as I believe it to be a lifetime tool. It performs well with shortcomings that aren\'t worth mentioning.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Markka
02/18/2009

I switched to this razor after learning to shave with a double-edged blade in the "Merkur 33C Classic." I was specifically looking for something with more heft to it, adjustability didn't really factor in, just that I knew these were popular. It was a major difference, and I gave myself serious razor burn the first attempt. It was also far easier to nick myself. My next attempt was immediately better however; I was a lot more meticulous with lather. I soon discovered that shaving at the "3" setting was perfect for me, however, if I dialed it down to "1" (most sensitive) for a final pass, I could actually shave against the grain without irritation. This has been a major improvement to my shave. I'm now quite adept at using this, and can manage a great four-pass shave in under 10 minutes. While the razor has improved my shaving routing dramatically, I didn't give it a full five stars because I find it has two serious flaws: 1. The locking mechanism is pretty terrible. Be certain to push the cover up from underneath with your thumb like the included pictorial directions demonstrate (I'm an idiot and didn't look at them until later.) I used to lift from above with my fingers, but it slipped once, letting the revealed blade slice deeply into my finger. 2. It's difficult to adjust the razor mid-shave. There's not much to grip, and it's pretty stiff. I usually have to grab the head in my towel and turn it that way to ensure my fingers don't slip. I don't know that there's necessarily a better razor out there, but there's definitely room for someone to produce one. I'm finding that the satin finish grabs soap scum quite easily and sort of tarnishes that way. I could probably clean it all off by dunking it in boiling water. You may wish to consider spending a little more and get the chrome one, as my older little classic razor never got the built-up of residue that this razor does.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 1 to 20 (of 20 reviews)

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by Alan
04/22/2013

Big, bulky, cumbersome under your nose. The head stretches too far beyond the actual blade on either side. Not a fan. Will be replacing sooner rather than later.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Andre Fortin
03/03/2012

This razor is built like a tank, it is very heavy too...balance is an issue for me, the head of the razor weight more than the handle and the head of the razor is way to big I cannot shave properly under my nose. I'm using Feather blades with my Futur and man does it shave. You need a good shave prep for this one because it is unforgiving !

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Massimo
02/20/2010

this is a good razor but one must be carefully with it, the head size is to big making the nose and mouth area hard to get at and if it's the first time you use it you may get cut or early morning shaver like most make sure you are fully awake with this thing. The other problem is changing the ajustment with wet hand is a no no if your hand slip you'll cut your fingers it is a toy more then anything use a non adjustalbe with a little weight to it and you will save some money and get a better shave, one good point it is a well made toy.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neil
10/14/2010

I received this razor as a gift from my wife a couple of years ago. It has excellent weight and balance and give an unbelievable shave. Blade change is a snap. With the adjustments, I can even use it when I don't shave for 2 or 3 days by adjusting the blade height. It is best to adjust the blade with a towel in hand or without the blades in to reduce the risk of cutting your fingers. The adjustment required the head to turn and it is purposely stiff to maintain the selected height. I usually start with a higher number 3, and then dial it down to 1 for the final cleanup. Great razor, great looking, and easy to use.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
02/28/2010

I found that by disassembling the Futur and loading the moving parts with lithium grease, it makes the adjusting a lot looser and smoother. Also it keeps out the soap scum. Compared to the Vision, (16 parts) the Futur, (4 parts) is a piece of cake to service. Just pop off the head, set it to it's #6 position or till it hits the detent and stops. Using the edge of a countertop, with one hand gripping the neck of the lower silo, push like hell on the middle part that the top cover snaps onto to compress the giant spring that you can't see yet. You should notice a large gap where the numbers are stamped. At this point, the detents are no longer touching and you can unscrew the handle all the way off very easily. Reverse the procedure to re-assemble. Make sure you keep the spring compressed while you are turning the handle so the detents do not touch. Once you screw it back down all the way and release the spring, everything will fall into place nicely.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
07/31/2009

I tend to agree with Markka's assessment. Nicely weighted but care needs to be taken when unlocking the head (yup, the instructions help, but hey, real men don't need . . .). Anyhow, my biggest complaint is that the grip is not knurled and I find that, when the razor is wet, my fingers don't grip it as well as I'd like. Otherwise, GREAT.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Markka
02/18/2009

I switched to this razor after learning to shave with a double-edged blade in the "Merkur 33C Classic." I was specifically looking for something with more heft to it, adjustability didn't really factor in, just that I knew these were popular. It was a major difference, and I gave myself serious razor burn the first attempt. It was also far easier to nick myself. My next attempt was immediately better however; I was a lot more meticulous with lather. I soon discovered that shaving at the "3" setting was perfect for me, however, if I dialed it down to "1" (most sensitive) for a final pass, I could actually shave against the grain without irritation. This has been a major improvement to my shave. I'm now quite adept at using this, and can manage a great four-pass shave in under 10 minutes. While the razor has improved my shaving routing dramatically, I didn't give it a full five stars because I find it has two serious flaws: 1. The locking mechanism is pretty terrible. Be certain to push the cover up from underneath with your thumb like the included pictorial directions demonstrate (I'm an idiot and didn't look at them until later.) I used to lift from above with my fingers, but it slipped once, letting the revealed blade slice deeply into my finger. 2. It's difficult to adjust the razor mid-shave. There's not much to grip, and it's pretty stiff. I usually have to grab the head in my towel and turn it that way to ensure my fingers don't slip. I don't know that there's necessarily a better razor out there, but there's definitely room for someone to produce one. I'm finding that the satin finish grabs soap scum quite easily and sort of tarnishes that way. I could probably clean it all off by dunking it in boiling water. You may wish to consider spending a little more and get the chrome one, as my older little classic razor never got the built-up of residue that this razor does.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 1 to 7 (of 20 reviews)

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by Keith Hamill
05/28/2013

Thanks Graham for pointing out the positioning of the spring. I completely missed that. I made the adjustment you recommended and the razor is indeed more evenly balanced.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Wes
03/19/2013

Got the futur shipped a couple days ago and and I also own a Patker 91R and today I used my futur for the first time. Loaded it with the merkur blade it came with and I had the best shave since I have been shaving and that would be 15 years. I don't think I will ever go back to the stupid cartridge/disposable pieces of junk ever again. Futur looks goods, feels good in hands and shaves awesome. If you are thinking of getting into wet shaving, don't think just do it and you will not regret it. Two thumbs up! Parker 91R is now for traveling ;)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(1 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by Geoff
09/17/2012

Just had the best shave of my life with this thing. Truly a perfect shave. The weight makes it very effective and satisfying to hold. It looks fantastic. Try 3 passes with settings 3 then 2 then 1. If I lost it I'd buy another one immediately.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/03/2012

Addendum to my review and the disassembly instructions posted by Keith Hamill; When repositioning the spring, ensure that the end gap of the spring (the end of the wind) is exactly facing one blade edge or the other. Having it face one end of the razor or the other will tilt the cap slightly, but measurably, on higher settings, essentially causing a different blade setting on one end vs. the other. The Futur also has a very slight curvature to the bars, allowing a slightly more aggressive shave in the center of the blade compared to the ends. A very well designed razor, but beware the negative reviews - they are usually from people who haven't taken the time to fully understand such a fine tool.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/02/2012

Using this razor without full knowledge of its capabilities is a recipe for disaster. It seems the company does little to educate users, unfortunately. This razor has a different blade exposure on each side. Look from the top with the setting on '1' to better see; one side has an apparently larger gap than the other. The side with the smaller gap has the blade exposed more, for a much more aggressive shave than the other side. If you look side-on under moderate magnification, you will see the greater exposure on one side. This is the way it is designed. If you are going to flip this razor around mid-shave, you had better have a reason. Secondly, I found some wobble in the head when setting anywhere above '1', causing an uneven blade exposure along the length of the blade. Some careful tweaks of the ends of the wings on the channel in which the cap rides with some pliers cured this and made it rock solid when changing adjustments. I would think I shouldn't have to hand tune it, but doing so, as well as taking it apart and putting a thin film of synthetic waterproof grease on the spring and all moving parts makes adjusting and using this razor a dream. Perfection once I examined, understood, and tuned it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Bill
06/22/2012

I've used other cheap safety razors and this was the first Merkur I've tried. I'll never use anything else. This is the best product you can buy.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Handsome Lawyer
05/01/2012

I cannot recall when I purchased this razor, but I know I have been using the Futur for more than 5 years now. If there is a perfect razor, this is surely it. Very well made. The adjustment mechanism is incredibly precise. These days I run it wide open to minimize the number of passes. I shave a lot. Sometimes twice a day if need be. The Futur is my go to razor. It always delivers a perfect shave with zero irritation and not a single weeper, ever. For me, no other razor comes close, and I have tried many. Technique is key with the Futur. Place the top of the head gently against your face. Now, with the handle sticking straight out, slowly tilt it toward the floor until the blade JUST STARTS CUTTING. That's your stroke angle. Master it and this razor will reward you with years of enjoyable shaving the same way it has for me.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 8 to 14 (of 20 reviews)

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by Keith Hamill
04/27/2011

Gives a nice smooth BBS shave. A few months ago I switched over to straight razor shaving. Since then I have come to appreciate adjustable safety razors even more. I can now dial these guys up to maximum and still get a nick free shave. All 3 Merkur models are excellent. Best bang for the buck is the Progress. Dialed up to maximum, they are equal to a straight razor shave. you have to treat them as a straight razor, moisten the beard, stretch the skin, etc...) I love these 3 Merkurs. They are all great. Dial them up and let the blade do the work. Don't push or force the blade. Dial them up and FEEL the blade gently gliding across your skin. Stretch the skin in the opposite direction that you pull the blade and you will be amazed at the smoothness of the shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Paul
05/24/2010

This razor + Astra blades = the best shave. This is my go-to razor & has excellent weight compared to some of my other razors. It is easy to maintain and operate & I highly recommend it for those who are looking at getting into wet shaving or for those who are looking to add to their collection of razors.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
02/02/2010

Well, now I have finally tried all 3 adjustables. They all shave equally well. This one for me has the nicest feel and weight. If they would put some knurls or bumps for gripping and adjusting, it would be perfect.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vladimir
01/11/2010

Buying yourself a double edged razor may seem a little old fashioned to some. But after trying this razor, you will definitely change your opinion. As a wet shaver I got couple of safety razors from this website. All of them are very well made, never had any issues. Merkur Futur Adjustable Safety Razor is truly made to last long. Very easy to use even very good for beginners. It will save you money that you would have spent on disposable razors. Highly recommend it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neel
11/26/2009

This is my first DE Razor as before I was using a Gillette Mach 3 Razor and that caused me huge amounts of irritation for my sensitive skin. The Merkur razor solved all those issues. It has a great weight to it which I like. The adjustability of the razor is great for the tough the reach areas that need more of the blade exposure and areas that don't. I really don't have any issues with this razor and I would recommend it to anyone for a good starter or experienced DE razor.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vic
04/25/2009

There is a learning curve with this razor but I believe it was worth it. This is an item that works well and will be handed down to another generation! I don\'t regret the outlay as I believe it to be a lifetime tool. It performs well with shortcomings that aren\'t worth mentioning.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 15 to 20 (of 20 reviews)

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by Alan
04/22/2013

Big, bulky, cumbersome under your nose. The head stretches too far beyond the actual blade on either side. Not a fan. Will be replacing sooner rather than later.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Andre Fortin
03/03/2012

This razor is built like a tank, it is very heavy too...balance is an issue for me, the head of the razor weight more than the handle and the head of the razor is way to big I cannot shave properly under my nose. I'm using Feather blades with my Futur and man does it shave. You need a good shave prep for this one because it is unforgiving !

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Massimo
02/20/2010

this is a good razor but one must be carefully with it, the head size is to big making the nose and mouth area hard to get at and if it's the first time you use it you may get cut or early morning shaver like most make sure you are fully awake with this thing. The other problem is changing the ajustment with wet hand is a no no if your hand slip you'll cut your fingers it is a toy more then anything use a non adjustalbe with a little weight to it and you will save some money and get a better shave, one good point it is a well made toy.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neil
10/14/2010

I received this razor as a gift from my wife a couple of years ago. It has excellent weight and balance and give an unbelievable shave. Blade change is a snap. With the adjustments, I can even use it when I don't shave for 2 or 3 days by adjusting the blade height. It is best to adjust the blade with a towel in hand or without the blades in to reduce the risk of cutting your fingers. The adjustment required the head to turn and it is purposely stiff to maintain the selected height. I usually start with a higher number 3, and then dial it down to 1 for the final cleanup. Great razor, great looking, and easy to use.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
02/28/2010

I found that by disassembling the Futur and loading the moving parts with lithium grease, it makes the adjusting a lot looser and smoother. Also it keeps out the soap scum. Compared to the Vision, (16 parts) the Futur, (4 parts) is a piece of cake to service. Just pop off the head, set it to it's #6 position or till it hits the detent and stops. Using the edge of a countertop, with one hand gripping the neck of the lower silo, push like hell on the middle part that the top cover snaps onto to compress the giant spring that you can't see yet. You should notice a large gap where the numbers are stamped. At this point, the detents are no longer touching and you can unscrew the handle all the way off very easily. Reverse the procedure to re-assemble. Make sure you keep the spring compressed while you are turning the handle so the detents do not touch. Once you screw it back down all the way and release the spring, everything will fall into place nicely.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
07/31/2009

I tend to agree with Markka's assessment. Nicely weighted but care needs to be taken when unlocking the head (yup, the instructions help, but hey, real men don't need . . .). Anyhow, my biggest complaint is that the grip is not knurled and I find that, when the razor is wet, my fingers don't grip it as well as I'd like. Otherwise, GREAT.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Markka
02/18/2009

I switched to this razor after learning to shave with a double-edged blade in the "Merkur 33C Classic." I was specifically looking for something with more heft to it, adjustability didn't really factor in, just that I knew these were popular. It was a major difference, and I gave myself serious razor burn the first attempt. It was also far easier to nick myself. My next attempt was immediately better however; I was a lot more meticulous with lather. I soon discovered that shaving at the "3" setting was perfect for me, however, if I dialed it down to "1" (most sensitive) for a final pass, I could actually shave against the grain without irritation. This has been a major improvement to my shave. I'm now quite adept at using this, and can manage a great four-pass shave in under 10 minutes. While the razor has improved my shaving routing dramatically, I didn't give it a full five stars because I find it has two serious flaws: 1. The locking mechanism is pretty terrible. Be certain to push the cover up from underneath with your thumb like the included pictorial directions demonstrate (I'm an idiot and didn't look at them until later.) I used to lift from above with my fingers, but it slipped once, letting the revealed blade slice deeply into my finger. 2. It's difficult to adjust the razor mid-shave. There's not much to grip, and it's pretty stiff. I usually have to grab the head in my towel and turn it that way to ensure my fingers don't slip. I don't know that there's necessarily a better razor out there, but there's definitely room for someone to produce one. I'm finding that the satin finish grabs soap scum quite easily and sort of tarnishes that way. I could probably clean it all off by dunking it in boiling water. You may wish to consider spending a little more and get the chrome one, as my older little classic razor never got the built-up of residue that this razor does.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
05/28/2013

Thanks Graham for pointing out the positioning of the spring. I completely missed that. I made the adjustment you recommended and the razor is indeed more evenly balanced.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Wes
03/19/2013

Got the futur shipped a couple days ago and and I also own a Patker 91R and today I used my futur for the first time. Loaded it with the merkur blade it came with and I had the best shave since I have been shaving and that would be 15 years. I don't think I will ever go back to the stupid cartridge/disposable pieces of junk ever again. Futur looks goods, feels good in hands and shaves awesome. If you are thinking of getting into wet shaving, don't think just do it and you will not regret it. Two thumbs up! Parker 91R is now for traveling ;)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(1 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by Geoff
09/17/2012

Just had the best shave of my life with this thing. Truly a perfect shave. The weight makes it very effective and satisfying to hold. It looks fantastic. Try 3 passes with settings 3 then 2 then 1. If I lost it I'd buy another one immediately.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/03/2012

Addendum to my review and the disassembly instructions posted by Keith Hamill; When repositioning the spring, ensure that the end gap of the spring (the end of the wind) is exactly facing one blade edge or the other. Having it face one end of the razor or the other will tilt the cap slightly, but measurably, on higher settings, essentially causing a different blade setting on one end vs. the other. The Futur also has a very slight curvature to the bars, allowing a slightly more aggressive shave in the center of the blade compared to the ends. A very well designed razor, but beware the negative reviews - they are usually from people who haven't taken the time to fully understand such a fine tool.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/02/2012

Using this razor without full knowledge of its capabilities is a recipe for disaster. It seems the company does little to educate users, unfortunately. This razor has a different blade exposure on each side. Look from the top with the setting on '1' to better see; one side has an apparently larger gap than the other. The side with the smaller gap has the blade exposed more, for a much more aggressive shave than the other side. If you look side-on under moderate magnification, you will see the greater exposure on one side. This is the way it is designed. If you are going to flip this razor around mid-shave, you had better have a reason. Secondly, I found some wobble in the head when setting anywhere above '1', causing an uneven blade exposure along the length of the blade. Some careful tweaks of the ends of the wings on the channel in which the cap rides with some pliers cured this and made it rock solid when changing adjustments. I would think I shouldn't have to hand tune it, but doing so, as well as taking it apart and putting a thin film of synthetic waterproof grease on the spring and all moving parts makes adjusting and using this razor a dream. Perfection once I examined, understood, and tuned it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Bill
06/22/2012

I've used other cheap safety razors and this was the first Merkur I've tried. I'll never use anything else. This is the best product you can buy.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Handsome Lawyer
05/01/2012

I cannot recall when I purchased this razor, but I know I have been using the Futur for more than 5 years now. If there is a perfect razor, this is surely it. Very well made. The adjustment mechanism is incredibly precise. These days I run it wide open to minimize the number of passes. I shave a lot. Sometimes twice a day if need be. The Futur is my go to razor. It always delivers a perfect shave with zero irritation and not a single weeper, ever. For me, no other razor comes close, and I have tried many. Technique is key with the Futur. Place the top of the head gently against your face. Now, with the handle sticking straight out, slowly tilt it toward the floor until the blade JUST STARTS CUTTING. That's your stroke angle. Master it and this razor will reward you with years of enjoyable shaving the same way it has for me.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
04/27/2011

Gives a nice smooth BBS shave. A few months ago I switched over to straight razor shaving. Since then I have come to appreciate adjustable safety razors even more. I can now dial these guys up to maximum and still get a nick free shave. All 3 Merkur models are excellent. Best bang for the buck is the Progress. Dialed up to maximum, they are equal to a straight razor shave. you have to treat them as a straight razor, moisten the beard, stretch the skin, etc...) I love these 3 Merkurs. They are all great. Dial them up and let the blade do the work. Don't push or force the blade. Dial them up and FEEL the blade gently gliding across your skin. Stretch the skin in the opposite direction that you pull the blade and you will be amazed at the smoothness of the shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Paul
05/24/2010

This razor + Astra blades = the best shave. This is my go-to razor & has excellent weight compared to some of my other razors. It is easy to maintain and operate & I highly recommend it for those who are looking at getting into wet shaving or for those who are looking to add to their collection of razors.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
02/02/2010

Well, now I have finally tried all 3 adjustables. They all shave equally well. This one for me has the nicest feel and weight. If they would put some knurls or bumps for gripping and adjusting, it would be perfect.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vladimir
01/11/2010

Buying yourself a double edged razor may seem a little old fashioned to some. But after trying this razor, you will definitely change your opinion. As a wet shaver I got couple of safety razors from this website. All of them are very well made, never had any issues. Merkur Futur Adjustable Safety Razor is truly made to last long. Very easy to use even very good for beginners. It will save you money that you would have spent on disposable razors. Highly recommend it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neel
11/26/2009

This is my first DE Razor as before I was using a Gillette Mach 3 Razor and that caused me huge amounts of irritation for my sensitive skin. The Merkur razor solved all those issues. It has a great weight to it which I like. The adjustability of the razor is great for the tough the reach areas that need more of the blade exposure and areas that don't. I really don't have any issues with this razor and I would recommend it to anyone for a good starter or experienced DE razor.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vic
04/25/2009

There is a learning curve with this razor but I believe it was worth it. This is an item that works well and will be handed down to another generation! I don\'t regret the outlay as I believe it to be a lifetime tool. It performs well with shortcomings that aren\'t worth mentioning.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 1 to 20 (of 20 reviews)

 NextPreviousShow All

Newest First Lowest First Highest First Most Helpful First

by Keith Hamill
05/28/2013

Thanks Graham for pointing out the positioning of the spring. I completely missed that. I made the adjustment you recommended and the razor is indeed more evenly balanced.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Wes
03/19/2013

Got the futur shipped a couple days ago and and I also own a Patker 91R and today I used my futur for the first time. Loaded it with the merkur blade it came with and I had the best shave since I have been shaving and that would be 15 years. I don't think I will ever go back to the stupid cartridge/disposable pieces of junk ever again. Futur looks goods, feels good in hands and shaves awesome. If you are thinking of getting into wet shaving, don't think just do it and you will not regret it. Two thumbs up! Parker 91R is now for traveling ;)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(1 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by Geoff
09/17/2012

Just had the best shave of my life with this thing. Truly a perfect shave. The weight makes it very effective and satisfying to hold. It looks fantastic. Try 3 passes with settings 3 then 2 then 1. If I lost it I'd buy another one immediately.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/03/2012

Addendum to my review and the disassembly instructions posted by Keith Hamill; When repositioning the spring, ensure that the end gap of the spring (the end of the wind) is exactly facing one blade edge or the other. Having it face one end of the razor or the other will tilt the cap slightly, but measurably, on higher settings, essentially causing a different blade setting on one end vs. the other. The Futur also has a very slight curvature to the bars, allowing a slightly more aggressive shave in the center of the blade compared to the ends. A very well designed razor, but beware the negative reviews - they are usually from people who haven't taken the time to fully understand such a fine tool.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/02/2012

Using this razor without full knowledge of its capabilities is a recipe for disaster. It seems the company does little to educate users, unfortunately. This razor has a different blade exposure on each side. Look from the top with the setting on '1' to better see; one side has an apparently larger gap than the other. The side with the smaller gap has the blade exposed more, for a much more aggressive shave than the other side. If you look side-on under moderate magnification, you will see the greater exposure on one side. This is the way it is designed. If you are going to flip this razor around mid-shave, you had better have a reason. Secondly, I found some wobble in the head when setting anywhere above '1', causing an uneven blade exposure along the length of the blade. Some careful tweaks of the ends of the wings on the channel in which the cap rides with some pliers cured this and made it rock solid when changing adjustments. I would think I shouldn't have to hand tune it, but doing so, as well as taking it apart and putting a thin film of synthetic waterproof grease on the spring and all moving parts makes adjusting and using this razor a dream. Perfection once I examined, understood, and tuned it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Bill
06/22/2012

I've used other cheap safety razors and this was the first Merkur I've tried. I'll never use anything else. This is the best product you can buy.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Handsome Lawyer
05/01/2012

I cannot recall when I purchased this razor, but I know I have been using the Futur for more than 5 years now. If there is a perfect razor, this is surely it. Very well made. The adjustment mechanism is incredibly precise. These days I run it wide open to minimize the number of passes. I shave a lot. Sometimes twice a day if need be. The Futur is my go to razor. It always delivers a perfect shave with zero irritation and not a single weeper, ever. For me, no other razor comes close, and I have tried many. Technique is key with the Futur. Place the top of the head gently against your face. Now, with the handle sticking straight out, slowly tilt it toward the floor until the blade JUST STARTS CUTTING. That's your stroke angle. Master it and this razor will reward you with years of enjoyable shaving the same way it has for me.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 1 to 7 (of 20 reviews)

  NextPreviousShow All

Newest First Lowest First Highest First Most Helpful First

by Keith Hamill
04/27/2011

Gives a nice smooth BBS shave. A few months ago I switched over to straight razor shaving. Since then I have come to appreciate adjustable safety razors even more. I can now dial these guys up to maximum and still get a nick free shave. All 3 Merkur models are excellent. Best bang for the buck is the Progress. Dialed up to maximum, they are equal to a straight razor shave. you have to treat them as a straight razor, moisten the beard, stretch the skin, etc...) I love these 3 Merkurs. They are all great. Dial them up and let the blade do the work. Don't push or force the blade. Dial them up and FEEL the blade gently gliding across your skin. Stretch the skin in the opposite direction that you pull the blade and you will be amazed at the smoothness of the shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Paul
05/24/2010

This razor + Astra blades = the best shave. This is my go-to razor & has excellent weight compared to some of my other razors. It is easy to maintain and operate & I highly recommend it for those who are looking at getting into wet shaving or for those who are looking to add to their collection of razors.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
02/02/2010

Well, now I have finally tried all 3 adjustables. They all shave equally well. This one for me has the nicest feel and weight. If they would put some knurls or bumps for gripping and adjusting, it would be perfect.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vladimir
01/11/2010

Buying yourself a double edged razor may seem a little old fashioned to some. But after trying this razor, you will definitely change your opinion. As a wet shaver I got couple of safety razors from this website. All of them are very well made, never had any issues. Merkur Futur Adjustable Safety Razor is truly made to last long. Very easy to use even very good for beginners. It will save you money that you would have spent on disposable razors. Highly recommend it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neel
11/26/2009

This is my first DE Razor as before I was using a Gillette Mach 3 Razor and that caused me huge amounts of irritation for my sensitive skin. The Merkur razor solved all those issues. It has a great weight to it which I like. The adjustability of the razor is great for the tough the reach areas that need more of the blade exposure and areas that don't. I really don't have any issues with this razor and I would recommend it to anyone for a good starter or experienced DE razor.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vic
04/25/2009

There is a learning curve with this razor but I believe it was worth it. This is an item that works well and will be handed down to another generation! I don\'t regret the outlay as I believe it to be a lifetime tool. It performs well with shortcomings that aren\'t worth mentioning.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neil
10/14/2010

I received this razor as a gift from my wife a couple of years ago. It has excellent weight and balance and give an unbelievable shave. Blade change is a snap. With the adjustments, I can even use it when I don't shave for 2 or 3 days by adjusting the blade height. It is best to adjust the blade with a towel in hand or without the blades in to reduce the risk of cutting your fingers. The adjustment required the head to turn and it is purposely stiff to maintain the selected height. I usually start with a higher number 3, and then dial it down to 1 for the final cleanup. Great razor, great looking, and easy to use.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 8 to 14 (of 20 reviews)

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Newest First Lowest First Highest First Most Helpful First

by Keith Hamill
02/28/2010

I found that by disassembling the Futur and loading the moving parts with lithium grease, it makes the adjusting a lot looser and smoother. Also it keeps out the soap scum. Compared to the Vision, (16 parts) the Futur, (4 parts) is a piece of cake to service. Just pop off the head, set it to it's #6 position or till it hits the detent and stops. Using the edge of a countertop, with one hand gripping the neck of the lower silo, push like hell on the middle part that the top cover snaps onto to compress the giant spring that you can't see yet. You should notice a large gap where the numbers are stamped. At this point, the detents are no longer touching and you can unscrew the handle all the way off very easily. Reverse the procedure to re-assemble. Make sure you keep the spring compressed while you are turning the handle so the detents do not touch. Once you screw it back down all the way and release the spring, everything will fall into place nicely.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
07/31/2009

I tend to agree with Markka's assessment. Nicely weighted but care needs to be taken when unlocking the head (yup, the instructions help, but hey, real men don't need . . .). Anyhow, my biggest complaint is that the grip is not knurled and I find that, when the razor is wet, my fingers don't grip it as well as I'd like. Otherwise, GREAT.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Markka
02/18/2009

I switched to this razor after learning to shave with a double-edged blade in the "Merkur 33C Classic." I was specifically looking for something with more heft to it, adjustability didn't really factor in, just that I knew these were popular. It was a major difference, and I gave myself serious razor burn the first attempt. It was also far easier to nick myself. My next attempt was immediately better however; I was a lot more meticulous with lather. I soon discovered that shaving at the "3" setting was perfect for me, however, if I dialed it down to "1" (most sensitive) for a final pass, I could actually shave against the grain without irritation. This has been a major improvement to my shave. I'm now quite adept at using this, and can manage a great four-pass shave in under 10 minutes. While the razor has improved my shaving routing dramatically, I didn't give it a full five stars because I find it has two serious flaws: 1. The locking mechanism is pretty terrible. Be certain to push the cover up from underneath with your thumb like the included pictorial directions demonstrate (I'm an idiot and didn't look at them until later.) I used to lift from above with my fingers, but it slipped once, letting the revealed blade slice deeply into my finger. 2. It's difficult to adjust the razor mid-shave. There's not much to grip, and it's pretty stiff. I usually have to grab the head in my towel and turn it that way to ensure my fingers don't slip. I don't know that there's necessarily a better razor out there, but there's definitely room for someone to produce one. I'm finding that the satin finish grabs soap scum quite easily and sort of tarnishes that way. I could probably clean it all off by dunking it in boiling water. You may wish to consider spending a little more and get the chrome one, as my older little classic razor never got the built-up of residue that this razor does.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Andre Fortin
03/03/2012

This razor is built like a tank, it is very heavy too...balance is an issue for me, the head of the razor weight more than the handle and the head of the razor is way to big I cannot shave properly under my nose. I'm using Feather blades with my Futur and man does it shave. You need a good shave prep for this one because it is unforgiving !

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Massimo
02/20/2010

this is a good razor but one must be carefully with it, the head size is to big making the nose and mouth area hard to get at and if it's the first time you use it you may get cut or early morning shaver like most make sure you are fully awake with this thing. The other problem is changing the ajustment with wet hand is a no no if your hand slip you'll cut your fingers it is a toy more then anything use a non adjustalbe with a little weight to it and you will save some money and get a better shave, one good point it is a well made toy.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alan
04/22/2013

Big, bulky, cumbersome under your nose. The head stretches too far beyond the actual blade on either side. Not a fan. Will be replacing sooner rather than later.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 15 to 20 (of 20 reviews)

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Newest First Lowest First Highest First Most Helpful First

by Keith Hamill
05/28/2013

Thanks Graham for pointing out the positioning of the spring. I completely missed that. I made the adjustment you recommended and the razor is indeed more evenly balanced.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Wes
03/19/2013

Got the futur shipped a couple days ago and and I also own a Patker 91R and today I used my futur for the first time. Loaded it with the merkur blade it came with and I had the best shave since I have been shaving and that would be 15 years. I don't think I will ever go back to the stupid cartridge/disposable pieces of junk ever again. Futur looks goods, feels good in hands and shaves awesome. If you are thinking of getting into wet shaving, don't think just do it and you will not regret it. Two thumbs up! Parker 91R is now for traveling ;)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(1 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by Geoff
09/17/2012

Just had the best shave of my life with this thing. Truly a perfect shave. The weight makes it very effective and satisfying to hold. It looks fantastic. Try 3 passes with settings 3 then 2 then 1. If I lost it I'd buy another one immediately.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/03/2012

Addendum to my review and the disassembly instructions posted by Keith Hamill; When repositioning the spring, ensure that the end gap of the spring (the end of the wind) is exactly facing one blade edge or the other. Having it face one end of the razor or the other will tilt the cap slightly, but measurably, on higher settings, essentially causing a different blade setting on one end vs. the other. The Futur also has a very slight curvature to the bars, allowing a slightly more aggressive shave in the center of the blade compared to the ends. A very well designed razor, but beware the negative reviews - they are usually from people who haven't taken the time to fully understand such a fine tool.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/02/2012

Using this razor without full knowledge of its capabilities is a recipe for disaster. It seems the company does little to educate users, unfortunately. This razor has a different blade exposure on each side. Look from the top with the setting on '1' to better see; one side has an apparently larger gap than the other. The side with the smaller gap has the blade exposed more, for a much more aggressive shave than the other side. If you look side-on under moderate magnification, you will see the greater exposure on one side. This is the way it is designed. If you are going to flip this razor around mid-shave, you had better have a reason. Secondly, I found some wobble in the head when setting anywhere above '1', causing an uneven blade exposure along the length of the blade. Some careful tweaks of the ends of the wings on the channel in which the cap rides with some pliers cured this and made it rock solid when changing adjustments. I would think I shouldn't have to hand tune it, but doing so, as well as taking it apart and putting a thin film of synthetic waterproof grease on the spring and all moving parts makes adjusting and using this razor a dream. Perfection once I examined, understood, and tuned it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Bill
06/22/2012

I've used other cheap safety razors and this was the first Merkur I've tried. I'll never use anything else. This is the best product you can buy.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Handsome Lawyer
05/01/2012

I cannot recall when I purchased this razor, but I know I have been using the Futur for more than 5 years now. If there is a perfect razor, this is surely it. Very well made. The adjustment mechanism is incredibly precise. These days I run it wide open to minimize the number of passes. I shave a lot. Sometimes twice a day if need be. The Futur is my go to razor. It always delivers a perfect shave with zero irritation and not a single weeper, ever. For me, no other razor comes close, and I have tried many. Technique is key with the Futur. Place the top of the head gently against your face. Now, with the handle sticking straight out, slowly tilt it toward the floor until the blade JUST STARTS CUTTING. That's your stroke angle. Master it and this razor will reward you with years of enjoyable shaving the same way it has for me.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
04/27/2011

Gives a nice smooth BBS shave. A few months ago I switched over to straight razor shaving. Since then I have come to appreciate adjustable safety razors even more. I can now dial these guys up to maximum and still get a nick free shave. All 3 Merkur models are excellent. Best bang for the buck is the Progress. Dialed up to maximum, they are equal to a straight razor shave. you have to treat them as a straight razor, moisten the beard, stretch the skin, etc...) I love these 3 Merkurs. They are all great. Dial them up and let the blade do the work. Don't push or force the blade. Dial them up and FEEL the blade gently gliding across your skin. Stretch the skin in the opposite direction that you pull the blade and you will be amazed at the smoothness of the shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Paul
05/24/2010

This razor + Astra blades = the best shave. This is my go-to razor & has excellent weight compared to some of my other razors. It is easy to maintain and operate & I highly recommend it for those who are looking at getting into wet shaving or for those who are looking to add to their collection of razors.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
02/02/2010

Well, now I have finally tried all 3 adjustables. They all shave equally well. This one for me has the nicest feel and weight. If they would put some knurls or bumps for gripping and adjusting, it would be perfect.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vladimir
01/11/2010

Buying yourself a double edged razor may seem a little old fashioned to some. But after trying this razor, you will definitely change your opinion. As a wet shaver I got couple of safety razors from this website. All of them are very well made, never had any issues. Merkur Futur Adjustable Safety Razor is truly made to last long. Very easy to use even very good for beginners. It will save you money that you would have spent on disposable razors. Highly recommend it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neel
11/26/2009

This is my first DE Razor as before I was using a Gillette Mach 3 Razor and that caused me huge amounts of irritation for my sensitive skin. The Merkur razor solved all those issues. It has a great weight to it which I like. The adjustability of the razor is great for the tough the reach areas that need more of the blade exposure and areas that don't. I really don't have any issues with this razor and I would recommend it to anyone for a good starter or experienced DE razor.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vic
04/25/2009

There is a learning curve with this razor but I believe it was worth it. This is an item that works well and will be handed down to another generation! I don\'t regret the outlay as I believe it to be a lifetime tool. It performs well with shortcomings that aren\'t worth mentioning.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neil
10/14/2010

I received this razor as a gift from my wife a couple of years ago. It has excellent weight and balance and give an unbelievable shave. Blade change is a snap. With the adjustments, I can even use it when I don't shave for 2 or 3 days by adjusting the blade height. It is best to adjust the blade with a towel in hand or without the blades in to reduce the risk of cutting your fingers. The adjustment required the head to turn and it is purposely stiff to maintain the selected height. I usually start with a higher number 3, and then dial it down to 1 for the final cleanup. Great razor, great looking, and easy to use.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
02/28/2010

I found that by disassembling the Futur and loading the moving parts with lithium grease, it makes the adjusting a lot looser and smoother. Also it keeps out the soap scum. Compared to the Vision, (16 parts) the Futur, (4 parts) is a piece of cake to service. Just pop off the head, set it to it's #6 position or till it hits the detent and stops. Using the edge of a countertop, with one hand gripping the neck of the lower silo, push like hell on the middle part that the top cover snaps onto to compress the giant spring that you can't see yet. You should notice a large gap where the numbers are stamped. At this point, the detents are no longer touching and you can unscrew the handle all the way off very easily. Reverse the procedure to re-assemble. Make sure you keep the spring compressed while you are turning the handle so the detents do not touch. Once you screw it back down all the way and release the spring, everything will fall into place nicely.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
07/31/2009

I tend to agree with Markka's assessment. Nicely weighted but care needs to be taken when unlocking the head (yup, the instructions help, but hey, real men don't need . . .). Anyhow, my biggest complaint is that the grip is not knurled and I find that, when the razor is wet, my fingers don't grip it as well as I'd like. Otherwise, GREAT.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Markka
02/18/2009

I switched to this razor after learning to shave with a double-edged blade in the "Merkur 33C Classic." I was specifically looking for something with more heft to it, adjustability didn't really factor in, just that I knew these were popular. It was a major difference, and I gave myself serious razor burn the first attempt. It was also far easier to nick myself. My next attempt was immediately better however; I was a lot more meticulous with lather. I soon discovered that shaving at the "3" setting was perfect for me, however, if I dialed it down to "1" (most sensitive) for a final pass, I could actually shave against the grain without irritation. This has been a major improvement to my shave. I'm now quite adept at using this, and can manage a great four-pass shave in under 10 minutes. While the razor has improved my shaving routing dramatically, I didn't give it a full five stars because I find it has two serious flaws: 1. The locking mechanism is pretty terrible. Be certain to push the cover up from underneath with your thumb like the included pictorial directions demonstrate (I'm an idiot and didn't look at them until later.) I used to lift from above with my fingers, but it slipped once, letting the revealed blade slice deeply into my finger. 2. It's difficult to adjust the razor mid-shave. There's not much to grip, and it's pretty stiff. I usually have to grab the head in my towel and turn it that way to ensure my fingers don't slip. I don't know that there's necessarily a better razor out there, but there's definitely room for someone to produce one. I'm finding that the satin finish grabs soap scum quite easily and sort of tarnishes that way. I could probably clean it all off by dunking it in boiling water. You may wish to consider spending a little more and get the chrome one, as my older little classic razor never got the built-up of residue that this razor does.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Andre Fortin
03/03/2012

This razor is built like a tank, it is very heavy too...balance is an issue for me, the head of the razor weight more than the handle and the head of the razor is way to big I cannot shave properly under my nose. I'm using Feather blades with my Futur and man does it shave. You need a good shave prep for this one because it is unforgiving !

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Massimo
02/20/2010

this is a good razor but one must be carefully with it, the head size is to big making the nose and mouth area hard to get at and if it's the first time you use it you may get cut or early morning shaver like most make sure you are fully awake with this thing. The other problem is changing the ajustment with wet hand is a no no if your hand slip you'll cut your fingers it is a toy more then anything use a non adjustalbe with a little weight to it and you will save some money and get a better shave, one good point it is a well made toy.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alan
04/22/2013

Big, bulky, cumbersome under your nose. The head stretches too far beyond the actual blade on either side. Not a fan. Will be replacing sooner rather than later.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 1 to 20 (of 20 reviews)

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by Wes
03/19/2013

Got the futur shipped a couple days ago and and I also own a Patker 91R and today I used my futur for the first time. Loaded it with the merkur blade it came with and I had the best shave since I have been shaving and that would be 15 years. I don't think I will ever go back to the stupid cartridge/disposable pieces of junk ever again. Futur looks goods, feels good in hands and shaves awesome. If you are thinking of getting into wet shaving, don't think just do it and you will not regret it. Two thumbs up! Parker 91R is now for traveling ;)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(1 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by Keith Hamill
05/28/2013

Thanks Graham for pointing out the positioning of the spring. I completely missed that. I made the adjustment you recommended and the razor is indeed more evenly balanced.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alan
04/22/2013

Big, bulky, cumbersome under your nose. The head stretches too far beyond the actual blade on either side. Not a fan. Will be replacing sooner rather than later.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Geoff
09/17/2012

Just had the best shave of my life with this thing. Truly a perfect shave. The weight makes it very effective and satisfying to hold. It looks fantastic. Try 3 passes with settings 3 then 2 then 1. If I lost it I'd buy another one immediately.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/03/2012

Addendum to my review and the disassembly instructions posted by Keith Hamill; When repositioning the spring, ensure that the end gap of the spring (the end of the wind) is exactly facing one blade edge or the other. Having it face one end of the razor or the other will tilt the cap slightly, but measurably, on higher settings, essentially causing a different blade setting on one end vs. the other. The Futur also has a very slight curvature to the bars, allowing a slightly more aggressive shave in the center of the blade compared to the ends. A very well designed razor, but beware the negative reviews - they are usually from people who haven't taken the time to fully understand such a fine tool.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/02/2012

Using this razor without full knowledge of its capabilities is a recipe for disaster. It seems the company does little to educate users, unfortunately. This razor has a different blade exposure on each side. Look from the top with the setting on '1' to better see; one side has an apparently larger gap than the other. The side with the smaller gap has the blade exposed more, for a much more aggressive shave than the other side. If you look side-on under moderate magnification, you will see the greater exposure on one side. This is the way it is designed. If you are going to flip this razor around mid-shave, you had better have a reason. Secondly, I found some wobble in the head when setting anywhere above '1', causing an uneven blade exposure along the length of the blade. Some careful tweaks of the ends of the wings on the channel in which the cap rides with some pliers cured this and made it rock solid when changing adjustments. I would think I shouldn't have to hand tune it, but doing so, as well as taking it apart and putting a thin film of synthetic waterproof grease on the spring and all moving parts makes adjusting and using this razor a dream. Perfection once I examined, understood, and tuned it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Bill
06/22/2012

I've used other cheap safety razors and this was the first Merkur I've tried. I'll never use anything else. This is the best product you can buy.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 1 to 7 (of 20 reviews)

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Newest First Lowest First Highest First Most Helpful First

by The Handsome Lawyer
05/01/2012

I cannot recall when I purchased this razor, but I know I have been using the Futur for more than 5 years now. If there is a perfect razor, this is surely it. Very well made. The adjustment mechanism is incredibly precise. These days I run it wide open to minimize the number of passes. I shave a lot. Sometimes twice a day if need be. The Futur is my go to razor. It always delivers a perfect shave with zero irritation and not a single weeper, ever. For me, no other razor comes close, and I have tried many. Technique is key with the Futur. Place the top of the head gently against your face. Now, with the handle sticking straight out, slowly tilt it toward the floor until the blade JUST STARTS CUTTING. That's your stroke angle. Master it and this razor will reward you with years of enjoyable shaving the same way it has for me.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Andre Fortin
03/03/2012

This razor is built like a tank, it is very heavy too...balance is an issue for me, the head of the razor weight more than the handle and the head of the razor is way to big I cannot shave properly under my nose. I'm using Feather blades with my Futur and man does it shave. You need a good shave prep for this one because it is unforgiving !

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
04/27/2011

Gives a nice smooth BBS shave. A few months ago I switched over to straight razor shaving. Since then I have come to appreciate adjustable safety razors even more. I can now dial these guys up to maximum and still get a nick free shave. All 3 Merkur models are excellent. Best bang for the buck is the Progress. Dialed up to maximum, they are equal to a straight razor shave. you have to treat them as a straight razor, moisten the beard, stretch the skin, etc...) I love these 3 Merkurs. They are all great. Dial them up and let the blade do the work. Don't push or force the blade. Dial them up and FEEL the blade gently gliding across your skin. Stretch the skin in the opposite direction that you pull the blade and you will be amazed at the smoothness of the shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neil
10/14/2010

I received this razor as a gift from my wife a couple of years ago. It has excellent weight and balance and give an unbelievable shave. Blade change is a snap. With the adjustments, I can even use it when I don't shave for 2 or 3 days by adjusting the blade height. It is best to adjust the blade with a towel in hand or without the blades in to reduce the risk of cutting your fingers. The adjustment required the head to turn and it is purposely stiff to maintain the selected height. I usually start with a higher number 3, and then dial it down to 1 for the final cleanup. Great razor, great looking, and easy to use.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Paul
05/24/2010

This razor + Astra blades = the best shave. This is my go-to razor & has excellent weight compared to some of my other razors. It is easy to maintain and operate & I highly recommend it for those who are looking at getting into wet shaving or for those who are looking to add to their collection of razors.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
02/28/2010

I found that by disassembling the Futur and loading the moving parts with lithium grease, it makes the adjusting a lot looser and smoother. Also it keeps out the soap scum. Compared to the Vision, (16 parts) the Futur, (4 parts) is a piece of cake to service. Just pop off the head, set it to it's #6 position or till it hits the detent and stops. Using the edge of a countertop, with one hand gripping the neck of the lower silo, push like hell on the middle part that the top cover snaps onto to compress the giant spring that you can't see yet. You should notice a large gap where the numbers are stamped. At this point, the detents are no longer touching and you can unscrew the handle all the way off very easily. Reverse the procedure to re-assemble. Make sure you keep the spring compressed while you are turning the handle so the detents do not touch. Once you screw it back down all the way and release the spring, everything will fall into place nicely.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Massimo
02/20/2010

this is a good razor but one must be carefully with it, the head size is to big making the nose and mouth area hard to get at and if it's the first time you use it you may get cut or early morning shaver like most make sure you are fully awake with this thing. The other problem is changing the ajustment with wet hand is a no no if your hand slip you'll cut your fingers it is a toy more then anything use a non adjustalbe with a little weight to it and you will save some money and get a better shave, one good point it is a well made toy.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 8 to 14 (of 20 reviews)

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Newest First Lowest First Highest First Most Helpful First

by Keith Hamill
02/02/2010

Well, now I have finally tried all 3 adjustables. They all shave equally well. This one for me has the nicest feel and weight. If they would put some knurls or bumps for gripping and adjusting, it would be perfect.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vladimir
01/11/2010

Buying yourself a double edged razor may seem a little old fashioned to some. But after trying this razor, you will definitely change your opinion. As a wet shaver I got couple of safety razors from this website. All of them are very well made, never had any issues. Merkur Futur Adjustable Safety Razor is truly made to last long. Very easy to use even very good for beginners. It will save you money that you would have spent on disposable razors. Highly recommend it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neel
11/26/2009

This is my first DE Razor as before I was using a Gillette Mach 3 Razor and that caused me huge amounts of irritation for my sensitive skin. The Merkur razor solved all those issues. It has a great weight to it which I like. The adjustability of the razor is great for the tough the reach areas that need more of the blade exposure and areas that don't. I really don't have any issues with this razor and I would recommend it to anyone for a good starter or experienced DE razor.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
07/31/2009

I tend to agree with Markka's assessment. Nicely weighted but care needs to be taken when unlocking the head (yup, the instructions help, but hey, real men don't need . . .). Anyhow, my biggest complaint is that the grip is not knurled and I find that, when the razor is wet, my fingers don't grip it as well as I'd like. Otherwise, GREAT.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vic
04/25/2009

There is a learning curve with this razor but I believe it was worth it. This is an item that works well and will be handed down to another generation! I don\'t regret the outlay as I believe it to be a lifetime tool. It performs well with shortcomings that aren\'t worth mentioning.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Markka
02/18/2009

I switched to this razor after learning to shave with a double-edged blade in the "Merkur 33C Classic." I was specifically looking for something with more heft to it, adjustability didn't really factor in, just that I knew these were popular. It was a major difference, and I gave myself serious razor burn the first attempt. It was also far easier to nick myself. My next attempt was immediately better however; I was a lot more meticulous with lather. I soon discovered that shaving at the "3" setting was perfect for me, however, if I dialed it down to "1" (most sensitive) for a final pass, I could actually shave against the grain without irritation. This has been a major improvement to my shave. I'm now quite adept at using this, and can manage a great four-pass shave in under 10 minutes. While the razor has improved my shaving routing dramatically, I didn't give it a full five stars because I find it has two serious flaws: 1. The locking mechanism is pretty terrible. Be certain to push the cover up from underneath with your thumb like the included pictorial directions demonstrate (I'm an idiot and didn't look at them until later.) I used to lift from above with my fingers, but it slipped once, letting the revealed blade slice deeply into my finger. 2. It's difficult to adjust the razor mid-shave. There's not much to grip, and it's pretty stiff. I usually have to grab the head in my towel and turn it that way to ensure my fingers don't slip. I don't know that there's necessarily a better razor out there, but there's definitely room for someone to produce one. I'm finding that the satin finish grabs soap scum quite easily and sort of tarnishes that way. I could probably clean it all off by dunking it in boiling water. You may wish to consider spending a little more and get the chrome one, as my older little classic razor never got the built-up of residue that this razor does.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

Displaying 15 to 20 (of 20 reviews)

 NextPreviousShow All

Newest First Lowest First Highest First Most Helpful First

by Wes
03/19/2013

Got the futur shipped a couple days ago and and I also own a Patker 91R and today I used my futur for the first time. Loaded it with the merkur blade it came with and I had the best shave since I have been shaving and that would be 15 years. I don't think I will ever go back to the stupid cartridge/disposable pieces of junk ever again. Futur looks goods, feels good in hands and shaves awesome. If you are thinking of getting into wet shaving, don't think just do it and you will not regret it. Two thumbs up! Parker 91R is now for traveling ;)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

(1 of 1 customer found this review helpful)

by Keith Hamill
05/28/2013

Thanks Graham for pointing out the positioning of the spring. I completely missed that. I made the adjustment you recommended and the razor is indeed more evenly balanced.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Alan
04/22/2013

Big, bulky, cumbersome under your nose. The head stretches too far beyond the actual blade on either side. Not a fan. Will be replacing sooner rather than later.

Rating: [1 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Geoff
09/17/2012

Just had the best shave of my life with this thing. Truly a perfect shave. The weight makes it very effective and satisfying to hold. It looks fantastic. Try 3 passes with settings 3 then 2 then 1. If I lost it I'd buy another one immediately.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/03/2012

Addendum to my review and the disassembly instructions posted by Keith Hamill; When repositioning the spring, ensure that the end gap of the spring (the end of the wind) is exactly facing one blade edge or the other. Having it face one end of the razor or the other will tilt the cap slightly, but measurably, on higher settings, essentially causing a different blade setting on one end vs. the other. The Futur also has a very slight curvature to the bars, allowing a slightly more aggressive shave in the center of the blade compared to the ends. A very well designed razor, but beware the negative reviews - they are usually from people who haven't taken the time to fully understand such a fine tool.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Graham
09/02/2012

Using this razor without full knowledge of its capabilities is a recipe for disaster. It seems the company does little to educate users, unfortunately. This razor has a different blade exposure on each side. Look from the top with the setting on '1' to better see; one side has an apparently larger gap than the other. The side with the smaller gap has the blade exposed more, for a much more aggressive shave than the other side. If you look side-on under moderate magnification, you will see the greater exposure on one side. This is the way it is designed. If you are going to flip this razor around mid-shave, you had better have a reason. Secondly, I found some wobble in the head when setting anywhere above '1', causing an uneven blade exposure along the length of the blade. Some careful tweaks of the ends of the wings on the channel in which the cap rides with some pliers cured this and made it rock solid when changing adjustments. I would think I shouldn't have to hand tune it, but doing so, as well as taking it apart and putting a thin film of synthetic waterproof grease on the spring and all moving parts makes adjusting and using this razor a dream. Perfection once I examined, understood, and tuned it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Bill
06/22/2012

I've used other cheap safety razors and this was the first Merkur I've tried. I'll never use anything else. This is the best product you can buy.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by The Handsome Lawyer
05/01/2012

I cannot recall when I purchased this razor, but I know I have been using the Futur for more than 5 years now. If there is a perfect razor, this is surely it. Very well made. The adjustment mechanism is incredibly precise. These days I run it wide open to minimize the number of passes. I shave a lot. Sometimes twice a day if need be. The Futur is my go to razor. It always delivers a perfect shave with zero irritation and not a single weeper, ever. For me, no other razor comes close, and I have tried many. Technique is key with the Futur. Place the top of the head gently against your face. Now, with the handle sticking straight out, slowly tilt it toward the floor until the blade JUST STARTS CUTTING. That's your stroke angle. Master it and this razor will reward you with years of enjoyable shaving the same way it has for me.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Andre Fortin
03/03/2012

This razor is built like a tank, it is very heavy too...balance is an issue for me, the head of the razor weight more than the handle and the head of the razor is way to big I cannot shave properly under my nose. I'm using Feather blades with my Futur and man does it shave. You need a good shave prep for this one because it is unforgiving !

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
04/27/2011

Gives a nice smooth BBS shave. A few months ago I switched over to straight razor shaving. Since then I have come to appreciate adjustable safety razors even more. I can now dial these guys up to maximum and still get a nick free shave. All 3 Merkur models are excellent. Best bang for the buck is the Progress. Dialed up to maximum, they are equal to a straight razor shave. you have to treat them as a straight razor, moisten the beard, stretch the skin, etc...) I love these 3 Merkurs. They are all great. Dial them up and let the blade do the work. Don't push or force the blade. Dial them up and FEEL the blade gently gliding across your skin. Stretch the skin in the opposite direction that you pull the blade and you will be amazed at the smoothness of the shave.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neil
10/14/2010

I received this razor as a gift from my wife a couple of years ago. It has excellent weight and balance and give an unbelievable shave. Blade change is a snap. With the adjustments, I can even use it when I don't shave for 2 or 3 days by adjusting the blade height. It is best to adjust the blade with a towel in hand or without the blades in to reduce the risk of cutting your fingers. The adjustment required the head to turn and it is purposely stiff to maintain the selected height. I usually start with a higher number 3, and then dial it down to 1 for the final cleanup. Great razor, great looking, and easy to use.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Paul
05/24/2010

This razor + Astra blades = the best shave. This is my go-to razor & has excellent weight compared to some of my other razors. It is easy to maintain and operate & I highly recommend it for those who are looking at getting into wet shaving or for those who are looking to add to their collection of razors.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
02/28/2010

I found that by disassembling the Futur and loading the moving parts with lithium grease, it makes the adjusting a lot looser and smoother. Also it keeps out the soap scum. Compared to the Vision, (16 parts) the Futur, (4 parts) is a piece of cake to service. Just pop off the head, set it to it's #6 position or till it hits the detent and stops. Using the edge of a countertop, with one hand gripping the neck of the lower silo, push like hell on the middle part that the top cover snaps onto to compress the giant spring that you can't see yet. You should notice a large gap where the numbers are stamped. At this point, the detents are no longer touching and you can unscrew the handle all the way off very easily. Reverse the procedure to re-assemble. Make sure you keep the spring compressed while you are turning the handle so the detents do not touch. Once you screw it back down all the way and release the spring, everything will fall into place nicely.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Massimo
02/20/2010

this is a good razor but one must be carefully with it, the head size is to big making the nose and mouth area hard to get at and if it's the first time you use it you may get cut or early morning shaver like most make sure you are fully awake with this thing. The other problem is changing the ajustment with wet hand is a no no if your hand slip you'll cut your fingers it is a toy more then anything use a non adjustalbe with a little weight to it and you will save some money and get a better shave, one good point it is a well made toy.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith Hamill
02/02/2010

Well, now I have finally tried all 3 adjustables. They all shave equally well. This one for me has the nicest feel and weight. If they would put some knurls or bumps for gripping and adjusting, it would be perfect.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vladimir
01/11/2010

Buying yourself a double edged razor may seem a little old fashioned to some. But after trying this razor, you will definitely change your opinion. As a wet shaver I got couple of safety razors from this website. All of them are very well made, never had any issues. Merkur Futur Adjustable Safety Razor is truly made to last long. Very easy to use even very good for beginners. It will save you money that you would have spent on disposable razors. Highly recommend it.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Neel
11/26/2009

This is my first DE Razor as before I was using a Gillette Mach 3 Razor and that caused me huge amounts of irritation for my sensitive skin. The Merkur razor solved all those issues. It has a great weight to it which I like. The adjustability of the razor is great for the tough the reach areas that need more of the blade exposure and areas that don't. I really don't have any issues with this razor and I would recommend it to anyone for a good starter or experienced DE razor.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Keith
07/31/2009

I tend to agree with Markka's assessment. Nicely weighted but care needs to be taken when unlocking the head (yup, the instructions help, but hey, real men don't need . . .). Anyhow, my biggest complaint is that the grip is not knurled and I find that, when the razor is wet, my fingers don't grip it as well as I'd like. Otherwise, GREAT.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Vic
04/25/2009

There is a learning curve with this razor but I believe it was worth it. This is an item that works well and will be handed down to another generation! I don\'t regret the outlay as I believe it to be a lifetime tool. It performs well with shortcomings that aren\'t worth mentioning.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

by Markka
02/18/2009

I switched to this razor after learning to shave with a double-edged blade in the "Merkur 33C Classic." I was specifically looking for something with more heft to it, adjustability didn't really factor in, just that I knew these were popular. It was a major difference, and I gave myself serious razor burn the first attempt. It was also far easier to nick myself. My next attempt was immediately better however; I was a lot more meticulous with lather. I soon discovered that shaving at the "3" setting was perfect for me, however, if I dialed it down to "1" (most sensitive) for a final pass, I could actually shave against the grain without irritation. This has been a major improvement to my shave. I'm now quite adept at using this, and can manage a great four-pass shave in under 10 minutes. While the razor has improved my shaving routing dramatically, I didn't give it a full five stars because I find it has two serious flaws: 1. The locking mechanism is pretty terrible. Be certain to push the cover up from underneath with your thumb like the included pictorial directions demonstrate (I'm an idiot and didn't look at them until later.) I used to lift from above with my fingers, but it slipped once, letting the revealed blade slice deeply into my finger. 2. It's difficult to adjust the razor mid-shave. There's not much to grip, and it's pretty stiff. I usually have to grab the head in my towel and turn it that way to ensure my fingers don't slip. I don't know that there's necessarily a better razor out there, but there's definitely room for someone to produce one. I'm finding that the satin finish grabs soap scum quite easily and sort of tarnishes that way. I could probably clean it all off by dunking it in boiling water. You may wish to consider spending a little more and get the chrome one, as my older little classic razor never got the built-up of residue that this razor does.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars]    Was this review helpful to you? Yes No   

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