Best safety razors
A practical guide to choosing your next razor, with original photos and full hands-on reviews.
Photography from the Tools of Men archive
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Find your fit
A smaller shortlist. A clearer starting point.
Which safety razor should you choose?
Start with the Merkur 34C if you want a compact first razor. Prefer more handle? Look at the DE89 or the heavier 38C. The 37C and Futur are more specialized choices for a different kind of shave.
These picks come from my hands-on review archive. Each one links to the original test, so you can see the shave, the setup, and the details behind the recommendation.
A note on the reviews. This guide was updated in October 2026 using our original 2020–2021 tests. It is an editorial refresh, not a new round of shaving tests. How we chose these razors.
Explore the picks
Our picks
Five razors. The reasons to choose each, and the compromises to know.
Merkur 34C
Our starting pick
Two-piece · fixed head · short handle
Start with the 34C if you want a straightforward, compact safety razor. Its short, textured handle gives you a small tool to steer, and the two-piece design keeps blade changes relatively simple. You turn the knob at the base to release the cap.
In my original review, it felt noticeably smaller than the 38C I usually used. The shave was comfortable, and the head was easy to work around the mustache. That combination makes it my starting recommendation here—provided you actually like a short handle.
Why consider it
Compact head and textured grip; an uncomplicated place to start.
What to keep in mind
The short handle can feel cramped if you prefer a longer grip. A mild-feeling shave still requires care.
The 34C’s cap lifts off while the handle and base plate stay together. Original 2021 review.
Compare the 34C and 38C
Edwin Jagger DE89
A longer-handle alternative
Three-piece · fixed head · smooth chrome handle
The DE89 is the alternative I would look at if the 34C seems too short. The smooth chrome version shown here has a longer handle and a three-piece construction: the cap, base plate, and handle separate for a blade change.
With a Derby Extra blade in the original test, it gave a comfortable shave through thick stubble and was manageable around the mustache. One pass gave a satisfactory result, though further passes would have been needed for a closer finish.
Why consider it
A comfortable result in our test, with more handle to hold than the 34C.
What to keep in mind
Check the handle finish when buying. The smooth chrome version shown here does not have the 34C’s knurled texture.
The smooth chrome DE89 tested in the full review; other handle finishes differ. Original 2021 review.
Merkur 38C
For a heavier, longer handle
Two-piece · fixed head · barber-pole handle
The 38C is the one to consider if a substantial handle matters more to you than a compact razor. It pairs a long barber-pole grip with a two-piece design. In the hand, it feels quite different from the shorter 34C.
My original test produced a comfortable shave, with some stubble left after one pass. I liked its mild feel and how readily the head rinsed. Pick it for the grip and weight you prefer, rather than expecting the extra heft to deliver a closer shave by itself.
Why consider it
More handle to work with and a reassuringly substantial feel.
What to keep in mind
Heavier is not automatically easier to control. If you like a light, compact tool, the 34C is a better starting point.
The 38C’s longer, heavier handle is the main reason to choose it over the 34C. Original 2020 review.
Compare the 34C and 38CMerkur 37C
For trying a slant head
Two-piece · slant head · short handle
Already comfortable with a safety razor and curious about a slant? The 37C gives you that different head design without a long handle or an adjustment dial. Its short, knurled grip will look familiar if you have considered the 34C.
The original shave was comfortable, with no redness or tightness reported afterward. That is a useful observation from the test, not proof that the slant will outperform a straight bar for everyone. The blade, preparation, and technique also contributed to the result.
Why consider it
A comfortable result in our original test and a small, textured handle.
What to keep in mind
It is a specialist alternative, not an essential upgrade. There is no adjustment dial, and it keeps the short-handle compromise.
The 37C combines a compact grip with a visibly slanted head. Original 2021 review.
Merkur Futur
Adjustable, with caveats
Adjustable head · snap-on cap · smooth handle
The Futur earns a place here for readers who specifically want to adjust the blade gap. It is a large, heavy razor with a smooth handle and a snap-on cap, so the handling is quite different from the 34C or DE89.
This recommendation comes with a real reservation: even at the lowest setting, the original test felt aggressive and left some tenderness. I would not choose it as a first safety razor. Read the full review before deciding whether the adjustment is worth those compromises for your routine.
Why consider it
Adjustable blade gap for someone who already knows what shave feel they want.
What to keep in mind
The lowest setting did not feel mild in our test. Its weight and smooth grip also take getting used to.
The Futur’s dial changes the blade gap; the tested finish is brushed chrome. Original 2021 review.
Compare the Futur and Progress
How to choose
Handle, head, and blade. Find the differences that matter to your routine.
Start with the way you shave
If this is your first safety razor, start with the 34C or DE89. Choose between their handle designs before looking for a more specialized head. The 38C is the heavier, longer-handled alternative; the 37C and Futur are options for readers who specifically want a slant or adjustment.
Start with the handle you want to hold
A short handle can be easy to maneuver, but it can also feel cramped. A longer handle gives you more room to place your fingers. Neither is automatically better for a particular hand size. The original review photos show each razor in use so you can judge its proportions.
Separate the razor from the blade
These razors use replaceable double-edge blades. The blade you choose can change the experience, so a small blade sampler is a more useful starting point than buying a large supply of an untried brand. A comfortable result in our review is not a guarantee of the same result for every reader.
Compare the full cost of switching
Allow for the handle, replacement blades, and any shaving supplies you actually need. Prices and bundles change; check the exact model and included accessories at the retailer.
Give technique some attention, too
A different razor does not remove the learning curve. Use light pressure and pay attention to the direction your hair grows. Our shaving grain mapper lets you record that pattern, and the safety-razor shaving guide covers the routine.
How we review
The original shaves, photographs, and observations behind this guide.
Real razors. Original reviews.
This shortlist draws on my published razor reviews from 2020 and 2021. The photographs show the razors I used, and the full reviews include the original shaving conditions, design details, and observations.
The October 2026 update reorganizes that work into a buying guide. It is not a new round of testing or a claim to have tried every current razor. Shave results describe those individual tests; your blade, preparation, technique, and preferences can change the experience.
Follow the evidence
- Merkur 34C: the original 2021 review
- Edwin Jagger DE89: the original 2021 review
- Merkur 38C: the original 2020 review
- Merkur 37C: the original 2021 review
- Merkur Futur: the original 2021 review
We checked the current Merkur model classifications and Edwin Jagger range when updating the guide. Retailer stock, finishes, bundles, and prices can vary.
Originally published September 5, 2023. Revised October 7, 2026.
Explore all hands-on reviews