There have been two well done reviews of the Futur posted in the past few days here but they are both on the negative side. Neither reviewer had a favorable opinion of the Futur. I'd like to offer a review from the other side and some thoughts as to why I like this razor so much.
Let's begin by commenting on the most obvious features of this razor, the size of the head and it's weight. Yes it's a heavy razor and yes the head is larger than most any other razor except of course the Vision 2000. While many find these features to be a drawback I don't. The head is wider than other heads but not any taller per se. I don't find it any more difficult to get close under the nose than it is with a Super Speed or the 34C or 38C. The only razor I've tried that's easier to maneuver into this area is the Slim. A slight adjustment to my technique was all it took to reach up close under my nose.
The weight was only awkward for the first two shaves and not so much that I was put off. After two shaves the razor felt very natural in my hand and now my Slim, which has a decent amount of heft, would feel a bit light. The weight of this razor is a real benefit for those of us with heavy beards. Where the beard growth is very dense the weight really helps this razor plow through the stubble.
I'd like to offer some observations on the aggressiveness of this razor. It's widely opined that this razor is very aggressive and requires extreme care. Furthermore it's also said that beginners should avoid this razor. I don't share either of these opinions. Yes the Futur can be an aggressive razor at the higher settings but at the lower settings it's quite forgiving and let's face it, if you're new to wet shaving you need to be extra careful no matter which razor you try.
The Futur boasts the widest gap of almost any other safety razor, even at it's lowest setting. While this at first seems to support the idea that the Futur is super aggressive it really doesn't. Gap is only one factor in aggressiveness and some razors with very small gaps are quite aggressive. The Old Type is one example of this.
The gap on this razor is deceptive and I think this is because many people look at a razor's gap without considering the blade exposure. While these two factors are related they aren't the same thing. At the lower settings the Futur has a low blade exposure. Exposure is the amount of blade protruding beyond the tangent between the head cap and the safety bar. This low exposure on the lower settings combined with a very wide gap allows this razor to be gentle yet efficient. By contrast the Old Type has a very small gap but it has a lot of exposure making it quite aggressive. I was unable to shave with the Old Type without making my face feel like it had been worked over by a bunch of turn of the century union busters resulting in multiple nicks and weepers. Not so with the Futur. I really don't even think about wether I will draw blood with this razor.
One B&Ber mused that the wider gap may allow the skin to get caught more easily between the safety bar and the blade allowing for more frequent nicks. I actually think the opposite is true. The wider gap would actually mitigate agains the skin getting caught. I think a narrow gap will cause the skin to get pinched much more easily causing nicks and cuts.
So far I've tried, three Super Speeds including a Red Tip, a 34C and a 38C, the New and the Old Type, the De89 and the 2010 R41, and finally a Slim. Of all these the Slim set to 5 was the best razor providing great shaves but I still had trouble with occasional nicks on the chin which were happening more often than I'd like. I have the Futur set at 2.5 and I find this is the perfect balance between exposure and gap. The razor mows through my heavy beard without irritation and I feel very confident that I won't nick or cut myself. Set at 3 though the exposure increases noticeably and I get much more cautious with this razor. I don't even want to try it at 4. I really can't imagine how anyone could use this set at 6 but there are people that do. At higher settings the exposure increases as the tangent changes so of course and this razor can be quite aggressive if it's turned up.
I really like the snap on style head cap. Not only is it ingenious it makes blade changes quick and easy and I don't think it's any riskier than changing the blade on a three piece razor. In fact, in my opinion it's safer. The only real down side to the head design is in the adjustment. My advice is either take the blade out to adjust it or protect your hand with a towel before trying to adjust it with the blade still loaded. Many have cut themselves trying to adjust the razor with the blade installed. Like any sharp tool, a little respect and caution and you'll be able to use it safely.
I really like my Futur and I plan on using it for a very long time. It's very efficient at mowing through my beard and it doesn't irritate my skin. I realize that the Futur isn't for everyone but if you've got a heavier beard and you're frustrated with the performance of some of your other razors I suggest you give the Futur a try.
Let's begin by commenting on the most obvious features of this razor, the size of the head and it's weight. Yes it's a heavy razor and yes the head is larger than most any other razor except of course the Vision 2000. While many find these features to be a drawback I don't. The head is wider than other heads but not any taller per se. I don't find it any more difficult to get close under the nose than it is with a Super Speed or the 34C or 38C. The only razor I've tried that's easier to maneuver into this area is the Slim. A slight adjustment to my technique was all it took to reach up close under my nose.
The weight was only awkward for the first two shaves and not so much that I was put off. After two shaves the razor felt very natural in my hand and now my Slim, which has a decent amount of heft, would feel a bit light. The weight of this razor is a real benefit for those of us with heavy beards. Where the beard growth is very dense the weight really helps this razor plow through the stubble.
I'd like to offer some observations on the aggressiveness of this razor. It's widely opined that this razor is very aggressive and requires extreme care. Furthermore it's also said that beginners should avoid this razor. I don't share either of these opinions. Yes the Futur can be an aggressive razor at the higher settings but at the lower settings it's quite forgiving and let's face it, if you're new to wet shaving you need to be extra careful no matter which razor you try.
The Futur boasts the widest gap of almost any other safety razor, even at it's lowest setting. While this at first seems to support the idea that the Futur is super aggressive it really doesn't. Gap is only one factor in aggressiveness and some razors with very small gaps are quite aggressive. The Old Type is one example of this.
The gap on this razor is deceptive and I think this is because many people look at a razor's gap without considering the blade exposure. While these two factors are related they aren't the same thing. At the lower settings the Futur has a low blade exposure. Exposure is the amount of blade protruding beyond the tangent between the head cap and the safety bar. This low exposure on the lower settings combined with a very wide gap allows this razor to be gentle yet efficient. By contrast the Old Type has a very small gap but it has a lot of exposure making it quite aggressive. I was unable to shave with the Old Type without making my face feel like it had been worked over by a bunch of turn of the century union busters resulting in multiple nicks and weepers. Not so with the Futur. I really don't even think about wether I will draw blood with this razor.
One B&Ber mused that the wider gap may allow the skin to get caught more easily between the safety bar and the blade allowing for more frequent nicks. I actually think the opposite is true. The wider gap would actually mitigate agains the skin getting caught. I think a narrow gap will cause the skin to get pinched much more easily causing nicks and cuts.
So far I've tried, three Super Speeds including a Red Tip, a 34C and a 38C, the New and the Old Type, the De89 and the 2010 R41, and finally a Slim. Of all these the Slim set to 5 was the best razor providing great shaves but I still had trouble with occasional nicks on the chin which were happening more often than I'd like. I have the Futur set at 2.5 and I find this is the perfect balance between exposure and gap. The razor mows through my heavy beard without irritation and I feel very confident that I won't nick or cut myself. Set at 3 though the exposure increases noticeably and I get much more cautious with this razor. I don't even want to try it at 4. I really can't imagine how anyone could use this set at 6 but there are people that do. At higher settings the exposure increases as the tangent changes so of course and this razor can be quite aggressive if it's turned up.
I really like the snap on style head cap. Not only is it ingenious it makes blade changes quick and easy and I don't think it's any riskier than changing the blade on a three piece razor. In fact, in my opinion it's safer. The only real down side to the head design is in the adjustment. My advice is either take the blade out to adjust it or protect your hand with a towel before trying to adjust it with the blade still loaded. Many have cut themselves trying to adjust the razor with the blade installed. Like any sharp tool, a little respect and caution and you'll be able to use it safely.
I really like my Futur and I plan on using it for a very long time. It's very efficient at mowing through my beard and it doesn't irritate my skin. I realize that the Futur isn't for everyone but if you've got a heavier beard and you're frustrated with the performance of some of your other razors I suggest you give the Futur a try.
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