Merkur is a German company with rich tradition and history in the wet shaving industry. They make some of the best safety razors on the market, which many of you are probably already familiar with.
But that’s not all they make. They also make shaving brushes, stands and razor blades.
So today we are going to take a look at their double edge razor blade, the Merkur Super, and see how it holds up.
Merkur double edge razor blades are known for providing a really smooth shave from a moderately sharp blade. They definitely aren’t as sharp as the sharpest tier of blades on the market (Feather, Astra Superior Platinum, Gillette Silver Blue) but they are a noticeable step up from the blades that are ultra-smooth.
Merkur uses high quality materials and has tremendous quality control standards when manufacturing these premium blades. So when you buy Merkur Super blades, you can rest assured that these blades will always be the highest quality.
Does that mean these are great blades for every wet shaver? Of course not. YMMV and they may not be aggressive enough for your beard or face, but the quality of the final product will always be second to none.
Alright, let’s get into the details and see if these moderately sharp blades are a good option for you.
Pros
- Great for men that want a more mild shave
- Some wet shavers claim longer durability
- Excellent quality control — premium product
- Nice mix of sharpness and smoothness
Cons
- Premium product
Product Overview
Since Merkur is a German company, their razor blades are manufactured in Germany. Merkur Super de blades are made from a durable stainless steel, but they are finely coated with Teflon which helps with the durability and ensure that the blade glides smoothly over the shaving surface.
There’s nothing much else to really take note of with the blades themselves. They fit all standard safety razors. On one side of the blades the words “Merkur Super” and “Made in Germany” are stamped on while the other side has the words “Stainless Rostfrei” and “Platinum Coated” stamped on them. Rostfrei essentially just means stainless steel in German.
Lots of safety razor blades come in packs of 5, but Merkur blades are packaged in packs of 10. Merkur de blades are most commonly sold in packs of 10, 30, 50 or 100. So if you order a pack of 100, you would actually just be ordering 10 packs of 10 basically. The blades inside the plastic dispensers are individually wrapped in paper.
Key Features & Characteristics
German Engineering: Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Merkur
What words come to mind when you think of the German companies Mercedes-Benz and BMW? Luxury? Top quality? Excellent engineering and design. Well all those adjectives that describe those high class car companies also apply to Merkur and their razor blades.
There’s nothing particularly innovative about the design of Merkur’s double edge razor blades, but everything about them says premium. They are precision razors with a nice Teflon coating.
German’s have a high standard when it comes to product quality and you can be assured these are manufactured in a reputable facility instead of some shady manufacturing plant.
Moderately Sharp but Still Smooth
Merkur double edge razor blades are a moderately sharp razor blade. They definitely aren’t mild like a Shark or Derby Extra, but they definitely are not as sharp as a Feather. I’d rate them as about a 7/10 on the sharpness scale.
The blade was plenty sharp for me and I have probably an average beard thickness and my hair is a little more on the coarse side. What makes this blade stand out though is that even though it is moderately sharp, it is still incredibly smooth.
It took a few passes to get my face baby butt smooth, but I never had irritation when using the Merkur de blade.
This is such a key feature. There are lots of double edge blades that are sharp or very sharp, but not all of them can deliver a smooth and irritation-free shave. And after all, what’s the point of getting a super close shave from a sharp blade if you’re face doesn’t feel good afterwards?
Regarding the sharpness, I would add that it seemed like the blades got a slight boost in sharpness after the first shave. This isn’t all that uncommon. With lots of blades, the first pass is almost like a honing pass and the blade really settles in and is at its peak performance on the next couple of shaves.
Great for Beginners and Wet Shavers that Need a Smoother Touch
Merkur’s double edge blades might not be quite sharp enough for men that really need an aggressive shave, but there are some wet shavers I think this blade would be great for.
The first group is newbie wet shavers. I think any guy that is new to wet shaving and still learning how to use a safety razor properly would really benefit from this blade. It’s sharp enough to easily cut through your hair so you can learn proper form, but it’s smooth enough so it won’t punish your face for every mistake you make. Will it prevent all nicks and cuts and razor burn? Of course not, no blade can.
I also think this is a great blade for men with sensitive skin. It’s sharp enough so that even men with medium thick beards or coarse hair can use it, and it’s smooth enough so that it won’t cause irritation.
Men that need an aggressive blade but have sensitive skin really have it tough because most blades are either sharp and not smooth or smooth but not sharp enough. Merkur’s de blade does a great job of being just sharp enough for most men, but remaining smooth.
Model of Consistency
I already touched on this a little earlier, but one of the best features a razor blade can have is that it delivers consistent performance. You don’t want a set of blades where one blade is sharp and the next blade isn’t even close in sharpness.
Consistency with blades is key because it allows you to know what to expect with each blade and learn how to shave with it. Merkur really knocks it out of the park when it comes to consistency.
Durable: Retains Sharpness and Smoothness Well
Merkur blades are made with top quality materials and have an excellent design, and as a result they are very durable. I think they last slightly longer than the average de blade. For example, I can usually get 4 or 5 shaves out of most blades. But with Merkur’s, I can comfortably stretch it into 6 or 7 shaves. I’m hesitant to go much longer though.
I’ve seen claims online of guys being able to get 20 or 25 shaves out of one blade though, and I’m a little skeptical of that. I just don’t see how or why these blades would be able to last 4 or 5 times longer than other blades.
If you’re one of the guys that has been able to do this though, please tell us all — what’s your secret???
How Do Merkur Blades Compare
With Other Double Edge Blades?
Personna Lab Blue
Personna Lab Blue blades are an excellent blend of sharpness and smoothness. These things are really popular for a reason: they are sharp enough for men that have a thick, coarse beard but smooth enough for men that don’t want an overly aggressive shave. If you want something slightly sharper than the Merkur blades, these are a great option.
Gillette Silver Blue
The Gillette Silver Blue double-edge blades are another great option for men that need an above average sharp blade that is also relatively smooth. I’m not sure why these aren’t even more popular than they are, but they are an excellent option.
Shark Super Chrome
If you’re looking for an even smoother blade than the Merkur blades, Shark Super Chromes blades are a great option. These are some of the smoothest blades on the market. They are moderately sharp but probably not quite as sharp as the Merkur. If you’re looking for a good, affordable smooth blade though, this is a great option.
Need a litte more help to find the right blade for your safety razor? Then checkout my guide on what I think are the best double-edge razor blades on the market. It has all the information you need to find exactly what you're looking for.
