MERKUR FUTUR 701 Adjustable Double Edge Safety Razor - Bright Chrome | Adjustable Razor With Dial | Made in Germany | Plastic-Free | Snap-On Cap Design | Straight Bar

Five stars but be very CAREFUL! This is not a beginners razor. Even at level 1, it is pretty aggressive in compared to other razors at that same level. I sliced my finger pretty bad when trying to adjust to a higher number while shaving. If you want to adjust it, use a towel but never do it directly with your hand. It was a bloody experience for me. The head is dangerously slippery when trying to adjust and you can get a nasty cut like I did. I'm an experienced wet shaver and accidents happen to anyone like in my case. This is a beautiful shaving instrument and very efficient but not for beginners. Even me as an experienced wet shaver, I got several nicks with my new Astra blade. Please be careful! Buy it, it's beautiful, different, and efficient.

Overall great razor but choose the blades you use wisely this razor works great with just about every blade except feather for me

Work's great heavy. Very aggressive I have tried all the settings ended up with 1 lol even 3 bout cut my neck off. Don't get in a hurry with this.

My hair is curly. Because I have beard that is very thick in some spots but rather thin in others, and further because I have sensitive skin, it was impossible to shave with a cartridge razor without getting shaving bumps. I switched to a safety razor ten years ago; during that time I extensively used 4 different safety razors.Contrary to the assertions of many reviewers, there are only a few relevant factors in choosing a safety razor: A) blade exposure, angle, and gap; B) handle weight and shape; and C) durability. Let me dispatch with the other possibilities, first. 1) Reviewers complain that the Futur is slippery because there is no knurling on the handle, but this is ridiculous--it is just as slippery as any other nickel-plated razor of the same weight. 2) Reviewers complain that the twist mechanism is unsafe--anyone exercising common sense should be able to figure out how to hold the razor while turning the handle to adjust the blade without cutting themselves. 3) Reviewers complain that the top bar of the razor is too big for them to shave under their nose--but again, common sense would suggest that, for people with shallow nose:lip angles, pulling downward on the upper lip before making a with-the-grain pass will allow for a proper shave of the area. Finally, 4) reviewers complain that the blade is exposed for too long while being changed--but, again, any normal adult should be able to handle a double edge razor blade without cutting themselves. I use the Futur to shave my face and head multiple times per week for months, with and against the grain, and I have never cut myself.This review will compare the Merkur Long Handle 3 Piece (i), Short Handle 2 Piece (ii), and Futur (iv), as well as the Parker Long Handle Super Heavy (iii).i) Is the least aggressive of the four. So little of the blade is exposed, and it is at such a shallow angle and with so little spacing between the safety bars, and it is so light, that I cannot get a with-the-grain shave without either applying pressure or making multiple passes. Either way, for someone with a moderate to heavy beard, this razor may give you irritation. It is, however, a great candidate for travelling, since the 3 pieces mean it disassembles flat.ii) Is the second least aggressive. I get a good shave after one with- and one against-the-grain pass, and a very close shave after a second against the grain pass. However, it is still light enough that I need to apply pressure while going over the thicker areas of my beard. This is the razor I would recommend for most first time wet-shavers.iii) This is the most aggressive of the fixed blade safety razors. It is sufficiently heavy that absolutely no additional pressure is needed, and the razor provides a rather close shave after one with- and one against-the-grain pass. I use this razor when I have shaved within the last 36 hours or whenever I travel. It is evident from the construction that it is extremely durable, as compared to the Futur.iv) This adjustable razor has the blade angle of ii) at setting 1 and of iii) at setting 3; at setting 6 it is considerably more aggressive than anything else I have tried. I use this razor whenever my head or beard has been growing for more than 36 hours--first pass with-the-grain setting 6, second pass against-the-grain setting 3, which provides a rather close shave even if I have a week of beard/hair growth. A third pass against-the-grain at setting 6 provides an extremely close shave.Furthermore, the large gap between the safety bars make it possible to cut through a week of growth with only a few strokes-per-pass, since unlike other razors, the cut hairs do not clog the spaces between the blade and safety bars. This is the only true safety razor (that is, a fixed blade razor with top and bottom safety bars) I have tried where this is the case, and for that reason, I highly recommend it for anyone who infrequently shaves their face or head.However, the mechanism which holds the top safety bar in place, thereby securing the razor blade, seems considerably less durable than any other mechanism I have seen: the inward and downward pressure of two thin metal rods is all that holds the top bar in place, as opposed to one large (i & ii) or two medium (iii) screws. For this reason, and also because of its weight, this is by far the least drop resistant of the razors. I would not travel with it.For those of you considering the Merkur Progress, I would simply say: if your beard is medium thickness or if you have sensitive skin, the Futur is likely the better bet. The Progress is even more aggressive than the Futur, so even on the lowest setting, it is impossible to simulate the Short Handle 2 Piece.For those of you considering the Parker Variant, you should be aware that you might have to exchange the one you receive for a new one--there seems to be an issue where the blade sits unevenly and insecurely when you get a lemon, making an otherwise great razor unusable. A good Parker Variant is likely comparable, if not superior, to the Futur. But both have their durability/manufacturing/shipping issues.

Purchased this razor 3 months ago. Being new to wet shaving, I've undergone a considerable learning curve having converted from disposable razors. I think I can now safely say that much that is written about the FUTUR is deceptive.Just finished shaving this morning. For the 3rd day straight, I leave the bathroom with a truly exceptional shave. I think this is due to my increased mastery of HOW to shave than with characteristics of the FUTUR itself.Descriptions of this razor as aggressive more accurately describe the user than the razor. Setting the razor at 1 or 6 makes little difference once the user realizes the goal is to simply guide the razor across the surface of the face rather than forcing (applying unnecessary pressure to) the razor to do what it's designed to do. Pre-shave preparation helps considerably in allowing the FUTUR to do this.In short, I simply love this razor. I would however advise choosing a different razor if you haven't yet mastered basic wet shaving skills. If you haven't, it's prudent to apply the same common sense a person might apply when using ANY sharp object or tool in close proximity to one's face.UPDATE: 03/30/19With nothing better to do I decided to browse Amazon for a new safety razor. Found the MERKUR Futur listing and decided to read reviews of other users. I was surprised to learn that I purchased this razor August 2015...I've been using the same razor nearly 4 years.At age 57. I was a wet shave novice when I first purchased the Futur. I knew nothing about so-called aggressive razors...I just purchased it on a whim. Perhaps it was the style that impressed me...it definitely looked more efficient than the beauty shop adjustable I had at the time.And, oh the changes since my first purchase. Armed with various shaving soaps, brushes, bowls, mugs and assorted wet shaving gear I embarked upon my wet shaving journey. It used to take me damn near 40 minutes to shave back then. Had to wake up an hour early just to shave. Today I slap on some preshave oil, a light lather of glycerin soap or a dab of Creamo Creme (depending on how I feel) and get a smooth shave in about 15 minutes. It would take considerably less time were I not a stickler for feeling no stubble whatsoever.I've learned that the secret to the MERKUR Futur is, it's only as aggressive as YOU are. If you're heavy handed you're gonna have problems with it. If you have a light touch and allow the weight of the Futur to glide the blade (I use Personna or Feather) across the surface of the face (hence my choice of Cremo Creme) you can take as many passes necessary to achieve your desired closeness. My shaves, thanks to the Futur, have become relatively effortless since I first began. Slap on some witch hazel and a bit of Cremo moisturizer afterwards and I'm good to go.So what about my new razor?Well...I think I'll stick with what I have.