Top 10 Best Double Edge Safety Razors

1. Wet Shaving Club Baili BD191 Safety Razor

Wet Shaving Club is a retailer that seeks to make wet shaving as affordable and stress-free as possible. Unlike other services, it imposes no subscriptions or monthly charges. Instead, you just order its bundles and deals when you need them.

Its cheapest razor is excellent for beginners and even experienced shavers. It’s a Chinese Baili BD191, which is well known on the market as a well-made and affordable razor. It’s also retailed by Vikings Blade but it costs somewhat more under that brand.

As part of the deal, the razor comes with 105 South-Korean Dorco razor blades, which is a generous amount for what Wet Shaving Club claims is a year’s worth. Indeed, we’d go as far to say that it’s almost two years of shaving if you do it just twice a week!

If you’re new to safety razors and don’t want to spend too much, Wet Shaving Club offers the best option for getting started. We suggest that you also check out its deals for soaps and brushes, too.

2. Edwin Jagger Double Edge Safety Razor

An overall ideal choice for both starters and seasoned enthusiasts alike, Edwin Jagger’s standard safety razor offers a mild yet close shave. This gleaming chrome-plated razor has an attractive design, which is light in the hand.

Furthermore, the head features a scalloped closed comb design, which precisely guides the hairs without being aggressive. The blade gap is very narrow, which is ideal to newcomers and those with sensitive skin.

At 3.3 inches (8.5 cm) long, the handle is of average length but should be fine for even the largest mitts. Replacing the blade is an easy task and the razor unscrews into three-pieces. This also offers the opportunity for customisation with different heads as your progress in your shaving experience.

Finally, the Sheffield-based UK company are known for their premium shaving products yet this comes at a reasonable price. It can be found on Amazon.com for only $29, which is an excellent price for such a quality razor.

3. Rockwell Model T Stainless Steel Razor

After the success of the Rockwell Razors 6C and 6S, the brand sought a more ambitious project. At the time, safety razors with butterfly mechanisms had become a rarity. Furthermore, adjustable butterfly razors were practically non-existent.

Therefore, Rockwell Razors sought to develop the Model T, a contemporary approach to two timeless and celebrated functions that could only be found on separate vintage razors.

At 101g, it’s even lighter than the 6S despite its mechanism and stainless steel construction. Moreover, it has a long handle, which comes in at 3.5 inches rather than the 3.35 inches of the previous model.

Indeed, the Model T is an upgrade in every shape and form. Although it’s quite an investment, you’ll never want another razor after picking up the Model T.

4. Feather AS-D2 Double Edge Razor

Feather is best known for its celebrated Japanese-made stainless steel razor blades that offer a superior shave to most other brands. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that its safety razor is equally lauded.

Balanced and finely engineered in Japan, it features a long 92 cm handle and weighs just 90g despite being made entirely from stainless steel. Indeed, it’s quite pricey at $160. However, many owners of the Feather AS-D2 love it for what it offers: a perfectly balanced and finely made razor without any frills.

5. Rockwell 6S Stainless Steel Safety Razor

After a highly successful Kickstarter campaign in 2014, Rockwell Razors released their first line of premium safety razors. What made them stand out from other offerings was the replaceable plates that allow you to customise the shaving experience.

This means that you can adjust the aggressiveness of your shave simply by changing the metal plates. The razor comes with a total of three, which can be flipped over for different shave levels.

Being stainless steel rather than chrome, the Rockwell 6S is far more robust and durable. It won’t be prone to chipping and is more resistant to oxidisation.

Similarly, the razor is well-designed with a weighty balance, which is perfect for those who like to use gravity to shave rather than apply pressure. Overall, the 6S is very well designed with details on the side of each plate as well as deep knurling of the handle for an improved grip.

Although slightly pricey at $100 directly from Rockwell, it is unparalleled in offering the best quality shave for a BBS (baby butt smooth) finish. Furthermore, it is well-built with materials that will last several lifetimes.

Otherwise, Wet Shaving Club has partnered with Rockwell and retails the razor for a little less at $95. On top of that, it’s part of the club’s bundle deal and it includes a year’s worth of razor blades!

Like the sound of the Rockwell 6S and want to learn more? Read the full Rockwell Razors review!

6. Merkur 23C Long Handled Safety Razor

Germany is well-known for its precision and high-quality razor designs. Merkur is a celebrated heritage brand that offers one of the best shaving experiences possible.

A typical complaint of many safety razor users is that the handles can be a little too short for comfort. While short handles come with their own advantages, you’ll soon discover that you’ll develop a shaving technique based on personal preferences.

Therefore, Merkur’s 23C offers an extra-long handle that is almost 10 cm in length! For men with larger hands or who prefer a fuller handle, this will be much more convenient to use when you shave.

If you prefer the short-handled version, Wet Shaving Club sells the 34C as part of a starter bundle, which includes a year’s supply of razors for $34!

7. Mühle R41 Open Tooth Double Edge Razor

Open comb razors are a great choice for men with thicker beard growth. However, with so many options, it’s hard to find a good quality open tooth razor to suit your needs. German brand Mühle’s R41 is renowned for being the most aggressive razor on the market.

Open tooth razors are best reserved for more experienced wet shavers. Nevertheless, the R41 is the perfect choice if you’re in a hurry and don’t have enough time in the morning for multiple passes. Applying only minimal pressure will remove even 3 or 4 days of growth with ease.

Note that the original version was considered too aggressive by some experts. Therefore, Mühle redesigned the top cap for a milder experience. Still, if you’re looking for a BBS shave in single pass, look no further.

The newer two-piece version of the Mühle is heavier than the original three-piece release at around 2.99 Oz (85 g) as opposed to 2.3 Oz (65 g). This is actually ideal since open tooth razors are quite aggressive, you need the extra weight to stay in control.

Finally, at only $44 on Amazon.com, the Mühle R41 is a relatively cheap option but it’s most expensive than some others here. Therefore, be sure that an open-tooth razor is the right design for you with our guide to safety razor types.

8. Merkur Progress Adjustable Double Edge Razor

As a heritage alternative to the Rockwell Razors Model T, the Merkur Progress is a very versatile razor choice. Featuring a classic design and mechanism, you just need to turn the knob at the base of the handle to adjust the blade gap.

This allows you to choose the right blade exposure for your mid-shave. For example, if you have a sensitive neck you can lower it to a milder setting before moving onto the tougher parts of your face. Compared to some adjustable razors that only offer different base plates to replace, this offers excellent convenience.

The Merkur Progress can be found on Amazon.com for as little as $58. This is indeed a more expensive choice but it’s cheaper than the Rockwell Model T. However, the versatility it offers is comparable to having several razors in one packaging.

9. Merkur 39C Slanted Double Edge Razor

Slanted safety razors are something of a curiosity. However, there are many wet shavers that swear by the unique design. The Merkur 39C is the best slanted modern safety razor available.

Interestingly, the Merkur 39C is often heralded as the best choice for coarse beards or even sensitive skin. However, you’d assume that if it catered to the former, it wouldn’t be suitable for the latter. Not so, and you can learn more about slant heads in our dedicated guide.

Depending on how you use it, the Merkur 39C can be either very aggressive or relatively mild. Nevertheless, it’s highly recommended for shavers with some decent experience as it can be very hard to master. A knurled grip ensures that you retain complete control when holding it.

If you are looking for a slant head razor, you could do much worse than the Merkur 39C. There is also a short-handled version called the 37C. However, these are quite hard to find these days.

10. Vikings Blade The Emperor “Meiji” Razor

Australian brand Vikings Blade has distanced itself from the more traditional safety razor designs and has instead opted for a contemporary look. The result is a jet black stainless steel razor with a brass cap and red details.

While more conservative members of the shaving community may be put off by this direction, it may well attract a younger crowd. Furthermore, Vikings Beard has a variety of different designs with less striking finishes.

The Emperor is another adjustable razor with a butterfly opening. As mentioned earlier, this was quite rare. However, thanks to brands like Rockwell, it seems to have made a significant comeback.

What sets the newer designs of Vikings Blade is the “bowing” finish. This razor has two symmetrical burrs on the door corners which slightly bend the blade. Although it seems unusual at first, it provides heightened feedback and a smoother shave without having to go in aggressively.

Finally, the Emperor is also quite hefty. At 124 grams, it’s even the heaviest razor blade on this list despite its small size.

11. Weishi Nostalgic Butterfly Razor

Weishi is a Chinese brand that produces very affordable safety razors that are surprisingly good quality given the price. At just $17, Weishi offers a long-handled butterfly razor.

Unlike the other butterfly razors on this list, the Weishi Nostalgic isn’t adjustable and is more in keeping with the traditional designs of the 1950s. That being said, it comes in a gunmetal chrome colourway, which offers a more modern touch.

Despite its low price, the Weishi Nostalgic is rugged and hardwearing. It also offers an excellent shave that is consistent and comfortable with every pass.