Merkur Razor Reviews 2025: Find the Perfect Shave for You

Men are realising that the traditional wet shave is the way forward, casting aside those gimmicky multi blade razors in favor for a better men’s shave, a shave with a safety razor but when you make the switch, which safety razor is the one you should go for?

Well we believe that whether you are new to wet shaving or just looking to try out for another de razor there’s nothing better than a Merkur razor, Merkur have a vast range of safety razors.

Merkur razors come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so we’re sure you can find a Merkur safety razor from the our collection of Merkur razors that will suit your particular tastes and shaving style.

So you may be wondering why are men moving from the disposable razor over to something like a Merkur razor?

Well for some it may be for the simple sake of nostalgia, it may be for that better shave that a Merkur razor will most certainly provide over and above anything a cartridge razor or a disposable can give.

The problem that people face when switching to wet shaving is the lack of knowledge, not just about how to use a Merkur safety razor, but also how to find the right Merkur safety razor from the vast amount of Merkur safety razors in the first place.

Now you may have noticed we’re saying Merkur safety razor and not just safety razor, whilst Merkur safety razors are not the only brand of safety razors available to those who wet shave, this article is focusing solely on Merkur safety razors, we love Merkur razors and believe that you can get your best shave whilst using a Merkur razor.

Though that does not mean that Merkur razors are your only option.

There are many other brands which are just as good, which we’ve provided more info for.

Merkur Razor Terminology – What You Need to Know

When you search online for a Merkur razor or Merkur razor blades, you’ll notice a variety of terms popping up repeatedly. Whether you’re in the UK, Canada, or shopping for a Merkur razor 34C, Merkur razor stand, or even Merkur razor parts, understanding these terms will help you choose the right model—especially if you’re looking for the best Merkur razor for sensitive skin or the best Merkur safety razor for women.

One of the first things you’ll encounter is the difference between open comb and closed comb (also called straight or solid bar). These refer to the section where the double edge razor blade is exposed:

• Open Comb Merkur Razor – Allows more of the Merkur razor blade to contact your hair, with the comb guiding stubble directly toward the cutting edge. This is often the preferred style for thick or coarse hair, offering an efficient, aggressive shave.

• Straight/Solid Bar Merkur Razor – Reduces how much of the blade touches your skin, making it gentler. This is the go-to option if you want the best Merkur razor for sensitive skin as it helps reduce irritation.

No matter the bar type, pairing it with the best blades for a Merkur razor ensures a smooth, close shave.

Another important term is handle length (also called grip length). Merkur safety razors come in both short and long handle versions:

• Short Grip Merkur Razor – Offers better control of pressure and is more forgiving for beginners, making it a great choice for first-time users.

• Long Grip Merkur Razor – Requires slightly more pressure to keep the blade cutting at the right angle and is often preferred by those with coarse hair. However, they can be less forgiving and increase the chance of nicks if handled incorrectly.

Whether you’re in the market for a Merkur razor review, a travel-friendly option, or you’re after the best Merkur double edge razor, knowing this terminology will help you choose a model that matches your needs. From finding the right Merkur razor blades to selecting a Merkur razor stand for stylish storage, understanding these terms ensures you get the most out of your shaving experience.

The Merkur Razors we reviewed for this article

 

Our Reviews of the Best Merkur Safety Razors

The Merkur 34C Heavy Duty Classic Safety Razor is one of the most popular choices among wet shavers worldwide.
Featuring a short, easy-to-control grip, this double-edge (DE) razor offers an ideal balance between the weighted head and comfortable handle length, making it perfect for precision shaving.

Crafted from durable chrome-plated zinc, the Merkur 34C delivers both style and strength. When paired with the right double-edge razor blades, it becomes a smooth, forgiving razor—ideal for beginners and experienced shavers alike.

Its straight bar design minimizes the risk of nicks and cuts, giving you a clean, irritation-free shave. While the chrome plating may chip over time, it’s purely cosmetic and doesn’t impact performance.

If you’re looking for a reliable, beginner-friendly Merkur razor, the 34C remains a top choice for achieving a close and comfortable shave every time.

Merkur Classic Straight Safety Razor, MK-33C

Features

• Merkur of Solingen have been producing high quality safety razors and shaving equipment for over seventy years
• Regardless of whether you prefer a thorough clean shave or want to give your beard the right contours, when you purchase Merkur products you acquire a piece of highest shaving culture for a cultivated start to the day
• Merkur offers the right model and appropriate accessories for every beard type, thus ensuring the best conditions for an effective wet shave

This Merkur Razor is the Merkur 33c Heavy Classic Style.

This is another short grip DE Razor.

This Merkur safety razor is finished in what we think is an attractive polished chrome.

The thickness of this DE razor’s handle is slightly smaller than the handle of the Merkur 34c, so if you have smaller hands or if you’re a woman who wants to use a de razor then this could be a very good choice for you.

Like the previous Merkur razor this is an excellent DE razor for the novice user as when paired up with the right double edged razor blades it is incredibly forgiving.

This Merkur safety razor is a great de razor for men who tend to have average coarseness facial hair which requires shaving everyday.

The only downside we found with this de razor was that the head of the razor is rather light which meant it was a bit of a struggle to shave if you have thick facial hair without having to apply additional pressure.

That additional pressure applied to the DE razor can leave to potential nicks, until you’ve learnt to develop a proper technique to use this de razor.

MERKUR 15C Double Edge Safety Razor in Bright Chrome with an Open Comb Design, Standard Handle, Made in Germany, Plastic-Free, Three-Piece Design, and Straight Bar

Features

• Open comb construction which leads to a very close shave
• proven quality
• Stylist approved

This Merkur Razor is the Merkur 15C Classic.

This de razor is an open comb razor like the Merkur 33c, however unlike that de razor this merkur safety razor is capable of tackling the coarse or dense facial hair, that the Merkur 33c razor could not.

We loved the look of this Merkur safety razor, its polished chrome and knurled handle really looked fantastic sat on the shaving stand.

The short grip handle allows extra control for the novice user, so nicks whilst shaving with this merkur razor shouldn’t be an issue.

Though there is an issue with this Merkur safety razor and that is that it needs to be paired up with the right doubled edged razor blades.

If you pair this merkur safety razor up with a forgiving blade like the Derby extra, you may not get the closeness that you desire.

So we recommend you look at Kai or Feather double edged razor blades.

MERKUR 25C Double Edge Safety Razor in Bright Chrome with an Open Comb Design, Long Handle, Made in Germany, Plastic-Free, Three-Piece Design, and Straight Bar

Features

• Chrome Plated safety razor for use with double edge blades
• proven quality
• Stylist approved

This Merkur Razor is the Merkur 25C.

This is a long handled de razor with an open comb.

The shave from this de razor is aggressive enough to tackle any facial hair type.

Pair this Merkur razor up with the right double edged razor blades and you could shave an angry badger with ease, and trust us, that’s quite a feat.

This grip of this de razor features a non-slip design, this is to ensure that even if you use this Merkur safety razor in the shower you are full of confidence in knowing that the Merkur razor won’t slip and produce nicks.

If you’re a novice user who’s thinking of moving to a long handled de razor, you must keep in mind that this type of razor is not the most forgiving, so if you technique isn’t perfect you will end up those unwanted nicks.

We advise you pair this Merkur de razor up with something like the feather double edged razor blades, you want the type of double edged razor blades that are incredibly sharp.

This Merkur Razor is the Merkur 23C.

This is another long grip de razor.

This Mekur razor has a straight bar.

It’s clear that this Merkur safety razor has been designed for those men who have coarse or dense facial hair and sensitive skin, which is why there’s a long grip with a heavy head, but then a straight bar to ensure less skin irritation.

That aside, having a long grip means that this Merkur razor is less forgiving than a short gripped de razor.

If you’re skin is rather sensitive we recommend that you pair this Merkur safety razor up with a less aggressive double edged razor blade, such as a Wilkinson sword double edged razor blades.

Our Thought For The Two Best Merkur Razors

This list covers what we think are the best Merkur safety razors on the market are, but there are a lot of razors in this list and how can you narrow the list down to that one Merkur razor for you?

Well firstly read our reviews and see if the descriptions describe your type of shave.

Merkur Classic Straight Safety Razor

Features

• Merkur of Solingen have been producing high quality safety razors and shaving equipment for over seventy years
• Regardless of whether you prefer a thorough clean shave or want to give your beard the right contours, when you purchase Merkur products you acquire a piece of highest shaving culture for a cultivated start to the day
• Merkur offers the right model and appropriate accessories for every beard type, thus ensuring the best conditions for an effective wet shave

Though in our opinion if you are a novice in the world of de razors and wet shaving or you have sensitive skin then the best Merkur razor for you is most likely the Merkur 33C Classic.

We believe that this is the best Merkur razor for you because it has a nice short grip which gives a forgiving shave as well as a straight bar design which will reduce friction which in turn reduces skin irritation.

You can reduce the skin irritation even further by pairing this de razor up with a set double edged razor blades that aren’t incredibly sharp like the Derby extra blade.

Merkur-Razor Merkur Safety Razor #25c,

Features

• Chrome Plated safety razor for use with double edge blades
• proven quality
• Stylist approved

Now if you are a gentleman with coarse of thick facial hair, then we suggest you look at the Merkur 25C as this may be the best Merkur razor for you.

The open combed de razor design paired up with its long handle provides you with a very close shave, even if you are attempting to take down a forest every day.

You can further optimize your shave with this DE razor by paying it up with some incredibly sharp double edged razor blades such as these awesome Feather double edged razor blades.

Loved the article? Why not check out more of our shaving articles or if you want, you can see more from safety razors