Merkur Futur Adjustable Safety Razor Shave and Review 

Watching this in 2019....This is how I shave...No Gillette for me

This isn't shaving, this is an event!😎

I use the Futur but found the chrome handle a little slick to hold on to with wet or soapy fingers. I went by the pharmacy and got a foot of surgical tubing, and cut it to match the length of the handle. Made a BIG difference.

your shave videos are the only ones worth watching. thank you for helping all of us

Thank you so much for providing these videos. I got a Merkur Future around the holidays on the recommendation from a friend who also struggles with razor burn, but I've only had limited success until now. Thank you a thousand times over!

Brother, I gave up on disposable razors 13 years ago and I don't regret it! Initially the cost was alot more just to get started because I had to buy a razor (I went overboard and bought several...several vintage Gillette DE razors, and a Mehaz razor, and a clone Merkur Futur razor), shaving mug I "inherited", shave soaps, a stand, a badger brush, and some safety blades I picked up from the dollar store, along with some Old Spice aftershave. I probably spent around $125 but over the years I know I've saved hundreds of dollars not having to buy cartridges and disposable razors. I usually get my blades from Amazon or Ebay once a year for around $15 to $20, and I'm "good to go" for a year! My grandfather had a Gillette twist to open just like mine and now I understand why he used these razors. Older generations of men knew this was the way to shave and I'm glad I joined their ranks over a decade ago! Great video tutorial!

Still current and up to date here in 2021. Good video there Geo. Thanks

Love this razor - on a 3 pass shave it's perfect, you can avoid nicks and irritation by changing the settings through the passes. My settings are 5/3/1 for a perfect BBS shave. Well worth the price - buy it, you wont regret it...

I love mine. I've been shaving with it for almost 4 years now. I use feather blades and have setteled on the number 4 adjustment. I like that I can adjust it for a less aggressive shave if I have some irritation. I'm not too crazy about the slick handle. I always dry my hands off between passes. All and all, my favorite razor.

I bought the Merkur Futur a couple weeks ago. Love it! Ditched my Gillettes. One real hazard, though, is the unwrapping of the Feather blades. The waxy paper is a chore to undo and I've nicked my fingers each time when doing so.

Awesome tutorial. I just got a Merkur Futur myself (+ Feather blades), and I followed your advice. My first shave went pretty well, only about three tiny cuts that healed right up a few minutes later. I can't yet say it's the best shave I've ever had, but it's still pretty damn good, and I imagine my technique will improve the more I use it.

I wished this model had a but of super fine knurling but man is it well built. Used mine for about ten years or close to it now bough from you ages ago.

I use the Futur with a Feather blade, and TOBS Sandalwood , absolutely perfect shave every time.

You are the reason I started wet shaving. --CC

I'm just getting into the double edge shaving experience and I got the the Q shave razor that looks almost the same as futur at a fraction of the price. Works great! I really like that you can adjust the aggressiveness. Thanks for the videos!

I agree to Assurbanipal, i am german and i can say, that this isn't the german pronounciation. But no Problem, it's not important how to pronounce it, it's just a great and informative video which helps a lot to get into shaving like a real man :D greatings from Germany

I bought one 6 years ago because of your video. wow you look so young here.

I got the Futur after watching this. It's my first safety razor, and I will be trying it for the first time tonight. Wish me luck!

Great review. I love this razor. I'm lucky I can go against the grain for much of my face and finish in one pass. I used my Futur this morning with Prosao menthol shave cream and got a BBS shave that is still close at 8 pm! In the 1960s all the men in my barracks in the army used DE razors (Gillette mostly) and time wasn't a problem, though it don't think anyone made more than one pass. I have a heavy dark beard but I use this razor on 1 or 1.5 at the most. If you haven't tried DE shaving try it! The razors and blades are better than they were in the 1960s. Remember, all beards and all faces are different.

I'm highly considering this razor and a shave bowl from you. I have used a DE before but it was to light and I feel like I'm using pressure to compensate which is giving me razor burn sometimes.I want a new DE but I don't know if I need a more aggressive razor or less aggressive razor. I think this will fit perfectly into what I need. I used to watch your videos all the time and your the reason I got into straight razor and DE shaving. I can't use straights as well because of a severe car accident I got into when I was 11. I have a big scar on my face that I tend to cut into. That's the least of my worries because I lost a leg in that accident. But I found I don't only save money but shaving became a relaxing experience not a chore. It's so much better taking a good brush and lathering up some nice warm TOBS cream and applying it to your face. And slicing off hair so cleanly...It's a beautiful thing. I still miss my first Gillette DE. That gave me the best shaves. Sorry for the long comment. Thanks a lot for the videos. Take care!

As a German I really have to say that we don't pronounce Futur like 0:31 at all haha

Thanks again Geo. the Merkur Futur has to be the best razor ever. Just a delight to use

The Blade Runner font made me laugh. So relevant!

I have the same Edwin Jagger razor and got sick of it, I bought the Futur today and it gave me the best shave I have ever had. Even the old blades that sucked on the Edwin Jagger worked like magic in the Futur. You could make it more aggressive on your first pass, then lower it on your second pass, I didn't need a third which cut my shaving time in half.

This video taught me how to shave properly.

I found that the easiest way to adjust this razor is by putting it in your palm and just turning the handle to your setting or you can also put a towel in your palm if you're scared of cutting yourself when adjusting it. Maybe its not the best way but is the easy way that works for me.

I bought a Merkur Futur after having seen you talking about them and they are genuinely a fabulous razor, nice weight and feel. I love the deep section under the blade as I found other razors got clagged up with soap and hair. I was slightly concerned about the “slippery look” of the razor that people mention but it’s surprisingly grippy in use. I actually bought the matt chrome one with the intention that if it was slippery, I’d knurl it up on the lathe! Anyhow, brilliant piece of kit and I really appreciate your shaving vids.

Excellent tutorial. Clear and concise. The guy knows his stuff!

I have never had the need for a setting of 4. That is a pro's setting..... LOL . I have gone up to 2 but found 1 ideal with no irritation. Shave daily. Sometimes twice. Great review.

I bought this razor in satin finish. Absolutely hated it! Knicked myself to the point I boxed it up and put it away and went back to using my cheap Pawn Stars razor. Finally decided to pull the Futur back out and try it on it's lowest setting. I now love this razor. To solve the problem with slicing my hand I put the hand between the thumb and pointer finger on my left hand. I pull the head down into my hand while rotating.

I just bought one last week. I watched your video and I thought I was ready to go but I was cutting myself a lot. I'm going to take my time and practice a bit because I'm terrible at this. It takes time to learn.

The best razor ever. Even at 4 or 5 you get a smooth and clean shave. The great thing about it is that you can adjust the blade exposure according to its sharpness. Great for beginners. Because many times people buy a non-adjustable with far too little blade exposure and get a crummy, unclean shave.

It's 2021, and your videos are still relevant! good job :)

I have been shaving wrong my entire life. The quick way with mach3 etc type blades, this seems much more personal and a good way to clear your head.

The Futur razor vents water extremely well. Very easy to clean while shaving.

awesome brush + awesome bowl + awesome razor (chrome) + awesome blade + awesome geo + awesome shave = awesome video.

Hello GFB mate I really like this razor my only criticism is that it really needs some knurling on the handle and I have to be careful with a Feather blade in it a Rapira LUX is better for me :D

A good/safe way to adjust the futur is by placing the head of the safety razor on a flat surface and just grab and twist the handle.

Tank you for his tutorial! Greetz from germany

Futur - pronounced "Fyu Toor" Like "Future" but without the "choo" sound like we (English speakers) make. The Futur is my first (and only) safety razor, and I love it! I use Merkur blades. Sandalwood shaving cream from Art of Shaving, and the beautiful horn shaving bowl from Shave Nation. The Futur is heavy - no big deal. I let the razor do all the work on the down strokes, and up strokes require a minimal amount of energy (if you can't do the up strokes, go to a gym......or pick up a heavy book a couple times a day to increase muscle tone - sheesh!) LOL I keep mine at a medium setting (never adjusting) and, after just over a year of safety razor shaving, can get a nice shave without a nick or cut. The ONLY time I nick myself is when I use pressure - and I know it's MY fault. I always (always) have trouble on one part of my neck, so I've learned not to fight Mother Nature and just accept the closest shave I can get in that area. I LOVE my Merkur Futur/Merkur titanium blade combo - and have no interest in looking for any other combo. Those are my .02 cents. Happy shaving!

Tell me Geo! The end result , for almost all razor-blade combos, is a BBS face. Why don't we just have one DE RAZOR that all companies make? Would've saved me a lot of money! Whenever I set my eyes on a new product you endorse...I'm like..." This is the ultimate! I need this to make my life meaningful!" Take care! Dr. KB

i love your vids, so instructional...

Wow, you've turned shaving into an artform! Great turtorial for those who have time, but I don't think that most people spend even a 1/10 of that time shaving. For me, its a matter of 60 seconds if that! I will, however, consider doing that shave if I have a special event and time to do it. Keep up the good work!

Thanks for doing this review. I like this one better than the one that you did before with this razor. you're making my RAD flare up!

Geofatboy you are an awesome host! You are very detailed and articulate. You make me want to spend alot of money!

Hey Geo - I ordered a merkur futur from Shavenation after watching this video, must say it arrived right on time with excellent packaging. Can't wait to shave with it, I am a big fan of yours and love your videos. Keep it up!

Just got the same DE razor. Thanks for the awesome tutorial recommendations!

THIS IS WHAT RU-vid WAS CREATED FOR

Thank you for this! best shave I've had

He makes shaving fun for me. 😁😁😁

Your face-shave prep is outstanding - I'm taking notes lol. I think I need to spend more time conditioning my skin - thanks a ton!

Excelente video. Me ha gustado ver como funciona y toda la explicacion. Muchas gracias.

Thx Geo. You inspired me to shave with a safety razor. Maybe with some more practice i will try a Straigt Razor. Thx

Really liking that Futur. I think that will be my next razor for sure. Thanks Geo!

Wassup Geo. I'd just like to make a quick suggestion in adjusting the settings for the 'Futur'. The way I do it is, I place my thumb on the cap and cradle the base using my index and middle finger, you'll find this will give you a more stable control. (L/RHD) works well then twist to your desired number. Obviously do this with dry hands or even better set your desired settings prior to loading a live blade. Hope this helps mate. Be well Sir.

futur is pronounced foo-tour

Oh boy! That is quite a demonstration ! I guess this method is only feasable during the weekends... :-)

Waiting for my Futur to arrive tomorrow. Can't wait to shave with it. Btw, you forgot to clean the runways in the beginning :)

Hey man, thanks for the excellent video, I bought some Taylor's of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Cream today and I am waiting for my razor and gel in the post, I will be watching this a few times as it really is a brilliant video, two thumbs up!

Thanks GEO for the heads up on the bowl ! No big deal on the T&H cream I got enough trumpers,tabac,Taylor,proraso,vintage blade creams,AOS to get me by lol the Limes skin good is yummy!

People keep saying no more Gillette but they still own like 1/8 of all the DE razor companies and they still make many brands of Gillette razor blades today. "Not sold in most stores"

Hi geofatboy, love your videos, including this one. They're part of what got me (and my RAD) started a while ago. The guy below wasn't very helpful with his pronunciation comment. I would know exactly which razor you're talking about, but if you're interested, it's pronounced "foo-too-ah" with equal emphasis given to all syllables. "R's" at the end of words in German are silent like in English English.

I see my Mekur is on its way to PR! Thanks Geo! I can't wait man!

Came here to see if the Futur Razor is good or bad, but now I realize it is very relaxing, to watch how someone else is shaving his face

...from someone I trust and respect (I'm never quite sure about some of the 'ebay' vendors and some of the "mint" razors I have bought from them have been anything but). Take care Maestro! David P.S. My wife has now taken to calling you "The Shaving Man" (as in: “You’re not watching yet another of the shaving man’s videos are you?!”). Compared to some of the things that she calls me, I would take this as a compliment! LOL!

@gazza1286 Geo-Bowl arrived today - very prompt delivery from the US. many thanks Geo and the team.

@geofatboy It went well. Only one tiny nick on my chin. Have to admit I felt a bit shaky when I first started. It takes a little getting used to where the blade actually cuts, but it cut through my four day beard really well, AND it didn't even TUG or PULL. I have to say I love it more than any other razor I have ever had. I can't wait to try it with my lavender soap and feather de blades. Thanks again for opening my eyes, Geo! Wish you all the best.

@journeyonrrading, They last between 1-6 shaves, just depends on your beard thickness, how well you prep your beard, and even the blade manufacturer.

Thanks a lot for this amazing and detailed video!

Shidddd, I've never went pass the 1 setting with a Derby XTRA blade and I still get nicks here & there! But I do use extra virgin olive oil in my shaving cream for a smooth glide.

Hi Geo Another great video and it's nice to see you devoting a whole video to the Futur. That's a good tip to dry your hands prior to adjusting it; thanks for that. My Futur is still providing fantastic shaves and I wouldn't have considered it if you hadn't done your earlier video on it; so thanks for that as well. Have you noticed the very large blade gap on even the smallest setting of the Futur? It looks a little intimidating but this gap doesn't seem to relate to...

depends on your skins elasticity, which is how supple your skin is, the less supple, the more shaper the blade, if your 20-30 any blade is good 40 upwards prefer a feather blade. . which your skin becomes less supple. hope this helps

...the aggressiveness of the shave (something to do with the exposure of the blade to the face, I imagine). Anyway, hope all is Hunky Dory (my favourite David Bowie album, incidentally, but that's for another time) with you and yours. Your videos just get better and better! Fantastic stuff. Thank you, Sir. David P.S. My RAD has got me scouring the web for a top-end vintage Gillette (such as a President or Executive) as somehow my life is bereft without a 9th razor in my collection! LOL!

Man I love that shaving cream. It's definitely my favorite.

How much money you want to bet that if Geo was ever in a survival situation in the wild instead of trying to build a fire or shelter he would instead find some way to build a rudimentary razor and shave with it!

Great video Geo as always. Laughing at your pronunciation for "Futur" think you might be chancing your arm ( as we Irish say 😬) a little bit there. Nevertheless ur the best man. Cheers for taking the time to make the video. I'm adding this razor to my shaving war chest. 👍

I have to say, since I have started shaving with safety razor and a brush, my shaves are much better, and little to no irritation. Only thing is, I can't seem to shave my neck, the sides of the throat area mainly, without nicking myself.

Great video. Inspiring and informative!

I like watching your videos for remedial shaving technique. They are always informative and I get something from them. However, I thought this was a review of the Futur, not a how to video. Would you please post a review with some pros and cons of the Futur?

An absolute pleasure watching your videos. You have given me a bunch of useful info. I just bought the Futur razor the other day and so far things are going well. I noticed you use the feather blades which I am learning are known to be better than the Merkur blades. I have a question about straight razors as I would like to start using one of those as well. Have you ever used a japanese tamahagane blade? Thanks again for your awesome and informative videos.

Whatching this is 2021 I apply shaving oil If I haven't shaved for few days

I get these from my local supermarket. They work fine for me.

Great video Geo, keep them coming buddy !

Keep up the good work. You are doing a great job, luv your vids :)

Geo is the man!

Hey, i just watched this video and i realized I'm extremely primitive in shaving, i mean what i do is i get soap with my hands - i don't have a brush like that - and rub my cheeks and neck after i wet them with hot water, and then shave with a one-use commercial gillette or something, going only north to south. I don't have a thick beard allover yet, but it is thick as hell on the beard and upper neck, as well as sideburns. I didn't know why the hairs were pointing strange directions,(continued)

Excellent clip. You can hear the quality of a good setup...it chimes or rings a little as you take a pass. You sold me on buying one of these to complement my Edwin Jagger D89DBL - I went for the 'shaver porn' gold model. As for blades, I always say the sharper the better. I have to agree too that TOBS shaving cream is superior. It Lathers really easily and is super rich. I use the sandalwood as well and use the matching the Cologne - the smell reminds me of the barber shop I went to as a kid. f

QUALITY demonstration as always !!! Geo, I knew something good was coming. How'd you know I was in the market for a chrome FUTUR buddy? Hope you have 'em in stock, 'cause I want one. Unless you can talk me into the satin finish? Does the chrome Parker brush match close enough to the chrome FUTUR? I know they make a Futur brush, but don't see it on your site. Take care my shaving GURU.. YOU ARE THE SHAVING SOURCE, PERIOD!!!

Very useful =) Thank you for this video !

Shaving has gone from a necessary pain to a zen like experience (which I now look forward to) no more Gillette.

Geofatboy what would you recommend for a first adjustable the futur or fatboy or slim and why.

Looks like the first pass did the job to me!

rough patches left over. Everything else has remained constant, eg razor, brush, cream etc.. do you think its a dud blade? Or does it just not get on with my skin? Really weird as it was a great shave on Monday..... what do you think?

Great guide. Perfect.

Merkur Futur super razor🔥🔥🔥🔥👍👍👍👽🙏

My face is just not built for a good shave. I have ridges or valleys, meaning my skin doesn't even out for a good clean shave. Some hairs are always left unshaven. Experienced so many cuts the first time I used Futur.

Yes it is informative. However in another clip this gentleman is testing the Edwin Jagger Chrome Plated DE-razor. He, there thinks it's a good product. Well maybe it is for the newbee, but certainly not for us more seasoned users! We like this Merkur Futur far better! Btw. I already sold my Edwin Jagger, no use have it lying around dormant.

I found this razor to be slippery, even though I kept my hands dry. Last night I dipped the handle up to the break in "Plasti Dip" put some painter tape where you don't want the Plasti Dip, coverws the head with saran wrap, just in case and two coates and it looks and works amazing. $6 at Lowes or Home Depot. I did not get as good of a shave with this as I do the Muhle R41 and I am not sure why? The Muhle is definitely more aggressive than when the Futur is on setting 6.

Hey Geo, great vid, definitely very helpful. Would you recommend the Futur for beginners or rather start with something more simple? Some say it's way harder to maintain than the traditional models. Cheers

Thank you for a great video!