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Few of us love to shave. But the right razor can speed up the process and leave a smooth shave without irritation.
Over the last decade, we have bought and tested nearly 100 razors. Our team of grooming experts has multiple facial hair types to throw every conceivable razor at: three blades, four blades, five blades, disposables, safety razors, electric, rotary, and foil.
The Gillette ProGlide Shield is a 5-blade model that won us over for its build quality and pivoting head, which provides an extra close shave. If you're on a tight budget, the Schick Quattro Titanium is much more affordable but still offers a reasonably good shave.
We've added a few of our favorite electric options to the mix here, but we also have a full lineup of just electric razor recommendations you can check out. If you're not one to sport a clean-shaven face, we have also tested beard trimmers, and if you need to tame other types of facial hair, a nose hair trimmer could come in handy.
Editor's Note: We updated this review on March 13, 2025 by rewriting our award sections to be more concise, with more insights from testers.
Multi-pivot blade head, provides excellent low-irritation shave, easily follows contours of face and neck, rinses quickly, metal handle with quality rubber grip, eco-friendly
Eco-friendly, built to last, easy to grip, very close shave, classic design
Blade head follows facial contours, pivots in multiple directions, excellent top side precision trimmer, easy to rinse, very simple blade swap process
Excellent lubrication strip, double pivoting design, provides smooth shave, flip-top edging blade, easy-to-grip handle, reusable, easy to grip, great for sensitive skin
Durable, more eco-friendly, easy to rinse, stylish, provides a close shave
Reusable cartridge razor, metal handle, great pivoting head, trimmer blade, rinses very easily, solid and well-balanced, good shave
All metal, less waste, easy to replace blades, great style, shaves well, balanced
Inexpensive, reusable, excellent rubber grip, great top side edging blade
Unique blade head pivoting system, comfortable handle, provides above-average shave, excellent top side trimming blade, easy to rinse
Excellent handle, well built, offers decent shave, easy to grip
Above-average shave quality, comfortable handle, easy to control
Lacks top side trimmer, basic design, average shave quality, difficult to rinse, blades dull quickly
One-and-done design, very small handle, lackluster pivoting head, difficult to rinse, cheap
Bottom Line
Our favorite overall razor when considering durability, cost, design, and shave quality. In side-by-side comparison testing, this razor was simply hard to beat
This hefty classic transcends time, and transforms shaving from a must-do routine into an personalized form of art and tradition
This razor's multi-directional pivot head allows the blade to maintain near-perfect contact against the skin, delivering a smooth shave, even in hard to reach spots
A top notch cartridge razor that offers a dual pivoting system that perfectly contours the face, resulting in a close, irritation-free shave
A sleek, modern take on the traditional safety razor style, ideal for both beginner and experienced wet shavers
A solid 5-blade cartridge razor that shaves well and is built for extensive use
A very stylish safety razor that offers a unique look and a great twist open top that makes blade changing a lot quicker and easier than traditional safety razors
A dependable 4-blade cartridge razor that provides a quality shave at a reasonable price
A decently priced reusable cartridge razor that provides and above-average shave, but lacks a little in design and quality
A beefier disposable five-blade razor that is well-balanced, well-built, and capable of several close shaves before it's time to be placed in the round file
A solid 4-blade design that blurs the line between a cartridge and a disposable razor
A very affordable cartridge razor, but you may get a better quality and more comfortable shave with different model on our list
An average 3-blade razor that will save you a little money but stays firmly in its lane when it comes to producing an average shave
A basic, inexpensive disposable model that performs well in a pinch, great for beginners, and perfect for travel scenarios where size and weight are a factor
A very affordable 2-blade that is extremely compact, lightweight, and easy to pack — just don't expect a perfect shave
Multidirectional pivot keeps blades in contact with skin
Excellent hydration strip
Rinses easily
REASONS TO AVOID
Handle ergonomics needs improvement
Top precision trimmer blade is average
The Gillette ProGlide Shield is our top pick for its smooth, high-quality shave. It has a low-friction glide and blade that pivots in multiple directions to hug facial contours. It's five blades, guided by a micro-thin comb-like strip, cut stubble cleanly without tugging. Our test team raves, “It's unmatched in side-by-side tests.”
Enhanced lubrication strips minimize irritation, outshining the otherwise stellar Gillette ProGlide. Blade swaps are effortless, and the unobstructed design simplifies rinsing, solidifying the Shield as a standout. “I've never had a closer shave,” one tester adds.
The ProGlide Shield delivers consistently superior shaves across multiple uses, outshining most rivals in our tests. Its minor flaws--a slightly less ergonomic handle, a need for grippier rubber accents, and a so-so precision trimmer--pale next to its high performance and durability. “I barely noticed the blade dulling after a week,” one tester says.
While the Schick Hydro Sensitive matches it in some areas with a longer, lighter handle, it's trickier to clean and swap cartridges, losing out overall. The budget-friendly Schick Quattro Titanium offers a solid four-blade shave, but the ProGlide Shield's ease and quality win. “It's worth every penny for the smooth finish,” another tester insists.
The top-performing ProGlide Shield features a five-blade head with integrated micro-comb and lubrication strips to reduce friction and irritation when gliding across the face, while its FlexBall technology means it can easily follow the contours of your face and neck to do the job.
Number of Blades: 4 + 1 edging blade | Style: Refillable cartridge
REASONS TO BUY
Four-blade system shaves well and glides comfortably
More affordable than most refillable cartridges
Comfortable, well-weighted handle
REASONS TO AVOID
Hair and grime get stuck more easily between blades
The Schick Quattro Titanium offers a smooth, close shave with its four-blade system, blending ergonomic design, a rubberized grip, and solid performance. “It shaves as well as many pricier options,” a tester notes, highlighting its value at a fraction of the cost of modern multi-blade razors like the Gillette ProGlide.
While budget five-blade options like the BIC Flex 5 Titanium Disposable exist, they fall short on quality. Spending over double on the Gillette ProGlide Shield gets you extras like lubrication and pivoting tech, but for affordability and reliability, the Quattro Titanium shines. “I love how it balances cost and comfort,” another tester says.
The Schick Quattro Titanium excels with its affordable four-blade shave, though its closely spaced blades trap hair and grime more than some three- or five-blade rivals. Frequent rinsing helps, and its value shines. “I love its performance for the price,” a tester says.
For easier cleaning and slightly better glide, the five-blade Harry's Truman or Gillette Fusion5 edge it out, while three-blade disposables like the Gillette Sensor3 Sensitive lag behind. Still, the Quattro Titanium remains a top pick. “It's tough to beat at this cost,” another tester notes.
We weren't sure how it would stack up in testing with only four blades in its cartridge, but the results are in, and the Schick Quattro Titanium achieves what all other razors claim to strive for: an excellent shave at a very reasonable cost.
Number of Blades: 1 + 1 | Type of Style: Double edge safety razor
REASONS TO BUY
Excellent handle has ideal heft, shape, and grip texture
Shaves very closely
Classic looking design
Built to last
REASONS TO AVOID
Slower shaving process
More aggressive shave can lead to irritation
Challenging to rinse
Technique requires practice
The Vikings Blade The Godfather Stonehenge is our top double-edge safety razor, boasting a hefty 5.7-ounce build, superior shave, and durable design—ideal for seasoned or eco-minded shavers. Its ergonomic, textured handle ensures control, outshining rivals like Bevel. “It feels like a heavy-duty tool,” a tester says.
Though less forgiving than five-blade options like the Gillette ProGlide Shield or Schick Hydro Sensitive, its mild DE blades deliver a standout shave with practice. “I mastered it faster than expected,” tester Jason Wanlass notes. For less effort, multi-blade models suffice, but this razor's quality is worth it.
The Godfather Stonehenge offers a stellar close shave, though its safety razor design requires practice—especially for multi-blade users—and may cause slight irritation. It lags in ease of cleaning and blade replacement, scoring low across all razor types. “I love the shave, but it's a bit tricky to clean,” a tester admits.
Experienced shavers will appreciate its quality, outpacing the Bevel Safety and Vikings Blade Chieftain Odin in handling, despite their modern and ornate designs. At 20%+ less cost, it's the budget-friendly pick among top-tier safety razors. “I found it worth the effort,” another tester says.
The Godfather Stonehenge is not average by today's standards, with a highly textured and notably heavy metal handle and simple double-edge blade design. But with a little bit of technique, this safety razor delivers where it counts: a superior shave.
The BIC Flex 5 Titanium Disposable is our top disposable razor, featuring a wide, rubber-gripped handle with a weighted ball-bearing for control and a standout edging blade for sculpting. “I love its precision,” a tester says, noting its edge over typical throwaways.
While the BIC Flex 4 Sensitive Hybrid scores similarly, its flimsier build and missing grooming blade disappoint. The Flex 5's sturdy design and added features win out. “It feels premium for a disposable,” another tester adds.
The BIC Flex 5 Titanium's five-blade design underperforms many options in our tests. I left stubble after multiple passes. That said, it does beat most disposables except the BIC Flex 4 Sensitive Hybrid. “I need patience for a smooth shave,” lead tester Jason Wanlass says. Its head also clogs, complicating rinsing.
Still, it's our top disposable for its features, but reusable options like the Schick Quattro Titanium (four blades, similar price) or Gillette Fusion5 (five blades, slightly pricier with easy refills) offer better shaves and value. “I'd switch to the Fusion5 for less hassle,” another tester notes.
The BIC Flex 5 Titanium offers several surprise features compared to other disposable options, including its extra wide ergonomic handle with rubber grips and metal ball-bearing and an edging blade for grooming beards and sideburns.
Run Time on Full Charge: 60 minutes | Usage Options: Wet & Dry
REASONS TO BUY
Offers a solid shave
Travel case charges the razor
Self-cleaning station
Locking pivot head
Extended battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
Pricey
Cleaning fluid requires regular maintenance
Not the best trimmer
Runs a little loud
Want to upgrade from a classic handheld razor to a modern, tech-savvy option? After testing numerous electric razors, we're obsessed with the Braun Series 8 with PowerCase for its stellar shaving performance. It offers wet or dry settings for a smooth, irritation-free shave—perfect even in the shower—plus a powerful motor that cuts through stubble fast. We measured the rechargeable battery lasting 132 minutes and it recharged fully in just an hour. Our tester only plugged it in every few weeks.
Our testers couldn't stop raving about it: “It's all I need. I took it on all my travels and never felt it was too bulky,” one said. The self-cleaning base keeps it low-maintenance, and the travel case doubles as a charger, eliminating the need for a cord on long trips. If you're looking for convenience, performance, and portability in an electric razor, this is the one to beat.
The Braun Series 8 with PowerCase delivers premium features at a higher upfront cost than basic models, though it's more affordable than Braun's luxury razors while retaining nearly all their perks. Ongoing expenses—like self-cleaner fluid and blade replacements—add up, making it pricier than manual razors. The budget-friendly Braun Series 3 ProSkin is a solid starter for newcomers hesitant to splurge. The Series 8's pop-up trimmer is decent but thin and sticky, falling short of the best we tested.
“You get what you pay for, and then some,” one tester raved, praising its unbeatable close shave. It's a top-tier daily razor for those prioritizing performance, but luxury seekers might eye the Braun Series 9 Pro for extra features. On a tight budget? The classic Gillette ProGlide Shield offers great value at a fraction of the cost.
Our test team took an extra close look at the Braun Series 8, noting its impressive battery life as well as the super smooth shave it offers on both wet and dry settings. A self-cleaning base and a travel-charging case are added bonuses, making this a high-value option for all it offers.
Run Time on Full Charge: 50 minutes | Usage Options: Wet & Dry
REASONS TO BUY
Great pivoting foil heads
Uses USB cable to charge
Super quick cleanup
Great slip-proof grip
REASONS TO AVOID
Safety cap falls off
Trimmer arm doesn't slide well
No travel lock
The Braun Series 3 ProSkin, a budget-friendly base model, offers solid construction and functionality, making it a top value pick. It won't deliver a world-class shave—upgrade to the Braun Series 8 for that—but it handles whiskers well enough for work, dates, or daily life. Key perks include long run time, a comfy grip, wet/dry use, and easy maintenance.
“I love how the USB charging cord lets you power up anywhere—super easy to toss in a bag without worry,” a tester said, highlighting its travel-friendly design with widely available USB ports. It's a practical, no-fuss choice for a reliable shave on a budget.
Our testing showed the ProSkin's flaws—stiff trimmer arm, loose travel cap, no power button lock, and weak power for thick whiskers—but its low price and value shine through. The Remington F5 Foil is another budget-friendly electric option with a decent shave.
“I'm impressed by how much value you get for the price,” a tester said. For even less, the Gillette ProGlide Shield or Schick Hydro Sensitive manual razors deliver solid performance without power concerns.
The Braun Series 3 ProSkin has a nicely balanced and comfortable grip, above-average pivoting heads, works well both wet and dry, and is super easy to clean, making it an excellent value all around.
Waterproof: Showerproof | Power Source: Rechargeable Battery
REASONS TO BUY
Precise
Compact
Good power and run time
Showerproof
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited cutting-length options
Lacks nose and ear hair-trimming attachments
Requires replacement blades
The Philips Norelco OneBlade Face and Body Hybrid seems delicate but excels at thick beards and body grooming. “The OneBlade delivers one of the smoothest, cleanest shaves we saw,” a tester raved, rivaling disposables and dedicated electrics. Its compact, waterproof design is shower-friendly and easy to clean.
This model's pivoting blade heads glide smoothly, with replaceable blades for precision. While we loved the Braun Series 8 for all-around performance, the OneBlade stood out for precision and body grooming.
However, it lacks larger guards for long, thick beards and focuses on close shaves and shorter styles. Blade replacements add upkeep costs, and the small plastic parts may break or get lost.
Try a manual razor like The Godfather Stonehenge by Vikings Blade, which cuts waste and costs for cheaper precision. “I swear by its exceptional results,” a tester said. Multi-blade Gillette ProGlide or electrics like the Braun Series 7 and Braun 9-in-1 Trimmer offer broader grooming options if budget allows.
Highly capable at a budget price, the Philips Norelco OneBlade surprised us with its clean lines and the reliably high-quality beard and mustache trims it delivered, all packaged in a nicely compact, easy-to-transport, waterproof design.
Credit: GearLab Staff
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That's a wrap! Putting our razors away after a day of side-by-side testing.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
How We Test Razors
Navigating the grooming market is tough with its vast options and tricky jargon. We bought top razors at retail—2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-blade designs, disposables, cartridges, and double-edge safety razors—for hands-on testing. Each was tested over multiple shaves with consistent prep and gel; safety razors got shave soap and a badger brush for a classic touch. We compared them side-by-side—shaving, rinsing, contouring, grip, even splitting our faces between products—to guide you to the best choice.
Our razor testing is divided into five different metrics:
Shave Quality (25% of overall score weighting)
Glide and Comfort (25% weighting)
Handle Ergonomics (20% weighting)
Build and Durability (20% weighting)
Ease of Cleaning and Blade Replacement (10% weighting)
All of our testing is based on side-by-side comparisons of how each product competes against the other.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Why Trust GearLab
This in-depth review is brought to you by Jason Wanlass and Nick Bruckbauer. Leveraging his nearly seven years of experience at GearLab, Jason, a former journalist and outdoor enthusiast, meticulously analyzes all the products on our list. With a keen eye for detail and a user-centric approach honed from his own daily shaving routine, Jason excels at finding hidden features that elevate a product from good to great. His background in journalism translates into insightful reviews that cover everything from camping gear to home appliances.
Nick is a civil engineer with a B.S. Degree from Purdue University who enthusiastically uses research, objective testing, and data to solve real-world problems. In recent years, he's turned his analytical mind to evaluating a wide range of home and outdoor products to share his expertise with others. With coarse, dark hair and soft, sensitive skin, Nick has also been on a lifelong journey to optimize his shaving ritual to mitigate his constant struggle with bumps, irritation, and frequent ingrown hairs.
Testing this razor's ability to glide smoothly, contour evenly, and shave cleanly.
Testing this model's ability to rinse clean on the first try.
Our testing included side-by-side use of different models for ultimate comparison.
The largest portion of our testing time was spent actually using the razors hands-on over several months.
How to Pick the Best Razor
Trying to decide on the right razor? We've compiled a list of four key considerations, including blade type, budget, and lifestyle, to help narrow the selection process.
Electric or Manual?
The choice between the two is ultimately a personal preference, but considering how each style performs is still a good idea. An electric razor offers convenience and is generally less irritating on the skin. A manual razor offers a closer shave and provides more precision in your routine to achieve certain lines and shapes. If you are on the fence, consider how often you shave, how much time you have, and how close of a shave you prefer.
The Gillette Sensor2 Pivot is one of the most basic razors in our lineup.
For those on a time crunch, electric razors are great for their ease of use and versatility, whether in the shower, traveling, or just needing a quick touch-up.
Manual and electric razors both have their pros and cons. While electric razors are kinder to the skin, they tend to be much more expensive than manual razors.
What About Blade Type?
Choosing between cartridge and safety blades is also a personal preference, each having strengths and weaknesses. A cartridge razor fits the bill if you value convenience and ease of use. In contrast, a safety razor requires practice and precision but creates a great shave and works well with sensitive skin. Both require blade replacement, but in most instances, a cartridge is easier to change.
How Much Time Do You Have?
Those who value their time before work know how important saving a few extra minutes is in the morning. Finding a razor that is efficient and quick can be one of the most important aspects when looking for a razor. If you know you're tight on time, electric razors are by far the most efficient option. If you absolutely prefer handheld razors, then cartridge-style razors are the route to go over safety razors. Other features, such as quick rinsing and well-designed pivot heads, also make a difference in your shave's overall time and quality.
Does the Handle Matter?
Finding a razor with a quality handle can improve your shaving experience and avoid unwanted knicks and slips. Additionally, a good razor handle helps improve the maneuverability around your face and can make shaving smoother and require fewer strokes. Look for a well-designed, ergonomic handle if you plan to use your razor in the shower.
No one razor is designed the same. Handle design and blade type can greatly impact the functionality of each razor.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
How Much Does it Cost to Replace the Blade?
When calculating a razor's lifetime cost, factor in the initial price plus replacement blade expenses. Razors often come with blade bundles, and replacements vary in price and quantity—some even offer discounted subscriptions. Prices fluctuate with frequent discounts, complicating cost-per-blade comparisons across products.
Check replacement blade costs before choosing a razor for your needs. Larger blade bundles typically lower the per-blade price. Disposables are cheapest overall, despite full replacement. Cartridge razors sit mid-range, with top models pricier. Safety razors, though costly upfront, can compete long-term with bulk blade buys.
A well-designed handle improves the ergonomics and precision of each stroke.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Analysis and Test Results
Much more goes into a comfortable, high-quality shave than just the blade quality of your preferred tool. To find the best products, we evaluated each product across five performance metrics: shave quality, glide and comfort, handle ergonomics, build quality and durability, and ease of cleaning and blade replacement. We recommend taking note of the high performers in whichever metrics you prioritize for your personal needs.
What's the Best Value?
Beyond performance, we assess razor value, finding that top price doesn't always mean top quality—there's a sweet spot for most. On a budget, the Schick Quattro Titanium delivers solid performance for less. The mid-range GillettePro Glide Shield is a favorite for affordability and quality. For a premium option, the Godfather Stonehenge by Vikings Blade offers a stellar shave with style but ranks among the priciest; blades are separate, raising initial costs, though cheaper per-blade long-term.
Shave Quality
We rated shave quality by how well blades cut hair and left skin smooth. Closer shaves from sharper, aggressive blades can increase irritation, bumps, or ingrown hairs—details we cover in glide and comfort ratings—but here, we focus solely on closeness and quality.
The Gillette ProGlide Shield and Gillette ProGlide, both 5-blade razors, tied for best shave quality, offering close, smooth cuts effortlessly. The Schick Hydro Sensitive also excelled equally. Smoothness and glide—detailed later—set their rankings apart, but all left skin smooth and fresh.
The ProGlide Shield's 5-blade design obliterates nearly every whisker on its first pass.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Similarly, the Schick Quattro Titanium provided excellent shave quality. It is our favorite 4-blade design and one that we'd highly recommend with its affordable price and excellent value. The Quattro has similar shave quality as its 5-blade competitors but causes slightly less irritation due to having one less blade.
The Schick Hydro 5 Sense easily gobbles up whiskers because its pivoting system allows its blades to maintain constant contact with the face, chin, and neck.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
We also tested two top double-edge safety razors and felt The Godfather provided the closest high-quality shave, followed closely by the Bevel Safety. The Godfather gets the nod here with a slightly more aggressive blade that shaves more closely than the Bevel.
Rounding the learning curve takes a little time when mastering the Vikings Blade. Slow and steady is the key to success.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Glide and Comfort
While most shaving tools will do a decent job of closely trimming your hair, what separates the highest-performing products from the pack is how smoothly they glide and how comfortable your skin feels afterward. Sometimes, the additional blades in modern designs that help achieve a smooth, close shave can also stretch and tug at your skin and make it feel depleted. Products that pull or tug at the skin too much can also lead to bumps and ingrown hairs.
Most razors trim hair decently, but top performers excel in smooth gliding and post-shave comfort. Extra blades in modern designs can enhance closeness but may tug skin, leaving it irritated or prone to bumps and ingrown hairs.
Testing the Schick Hydro 5 Sense's double-jointed pivots. Both the blade head and the handle neck independently move.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
The Gillette ProGlide, Gillette Fusion5 , and Harry's Truman also do an excellent job at balancing comfort with a high-quality shave but have a little more friction and don't seem to glide quite as smoothly as our top two models.
Up, down, and side to side. The Gillette ProGlide and ProGlide Shield have the most dynamic pivoting systems on the market.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Our safety razors, the Vikings Blade, Bevel Safety, and Vikings Blade Chieftain Odin, also stand out in this metric for their smooth, comfortable glide. Each is a good option for those inexperienced with a double-edge safety model but looking to transition. This type of tool requires more patience and finesse than modern multi-blade cartridges, but these models have a mild enough blade to balance a close shave with a smooth glide and limited irritation. One potential drawback to these types of razors is they lack pivoting heads, which requires the user to actively adjust for the contours of the face and neck.
Testing our Bevel Safety Razor against a week's worth of whisker growth.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Handle Ergonomics
Any tool is only as useful as the person operating it, and razors are no different. It doesn't matter how well the blades work if you don't have confident, precise control over them. A product's handle ergonomics is an essential piece of the shaving experience. A handle with a curved, ergonomic shape, some kind of textured grip, and a little bit of an added weight tend to allow you to operate the most efficiently.
The standout performer in this category is the Vikings Blade The Godfather Stonehenge. This razor's heavily weighted metal handle offers a nicely curved shape and textured grooves for added grip. The handle inspires confidence in the task at hand, and its heavier weight allows you to use gentle grip pressure to still achieve a close shave. This product is much heavier than anything else in our lineup and gives the perception that it's built to last a long time.
It's weighted, solid, textured, and flared, which is why the Vikings Blade's metal handle is so easy to hold.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Next is the Schick Hydro Sensitive, which has our favorite handle for a refillable cartridge design. The handle feels slightly heavier than most other cartridge designs and has a soft rubberized texture to provide a confident, no-slip grip. The upper moisturizing pods also flip away to allow more control and precision for trimming around sensitive areas like below your nose.
The upper hydrating strip flips away to provide more precise control over the blades.
Flipping the hydrating strip out of the way makes it easier to reach tight spaces like underneath the nose.
The Schick Hydro Sensitive has a soft handle but is heavy enough to feel confident in hand.
Eight other models on our list, including the Amazon Basics 5-Blade MotionSphere, BIC Flex 4 Sensitive Hybrid, Harry's Truman, and several models from Gillette and Schick, earned respectable honorable mentions in this category, thanks to their simple handle designs with a nicely curved shape and large rubber inserts. They also include an additional single precision-trimming blade for edging along beards or sideburns.
The Solimo has a comfortable, nicely weighted handle with a rubberized grip.
With its simple, ergonomic design, the Quattro Titanium has a comfortable and useful handle.
The Quattro Titanium has a smooth rubberized grip that makes it easy to hold and comfortable.
Build Quality and Durability
In this metric, we evaluated the overall build quality of each product, including the handle materials, the initial blade quality, and the connection points between the handles and the blades or cartridges. We won't discuss blade sharpness or long-term durability since there are so many factors that vary from person to person, including hair and skin coarseness, shaving cream type, and rinsing and storing habits. We focus on each model's initial quality and durability for a handful of shaves throughout our testing period.
The obvious thousand-pound gorilla in this metric is the hefty Vikings Blade The Godfather Stonehenge, followed closely by the Bevel Safety The Bevel is constructed with a chromium-plated solid brass handle, while the Godfather Stonehenge is made from 304L stainless steel.
We put each product to the test through several shaves to examine their overall quality and durability.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Both products have a heavy-duty feel and inspire confidence in their durability. They are also designed to use replaceable double-edge blades that are typically affordable and can be mixed and matched to suit your skin and hair type. The Vikings Blade's shear heft and density allowed it to outscore the Bevel and the Vikings Blade Chieftain Odin in this metric.
Both the Vikings Blade model (left) and the Bevel Safety model (right) are well-constructed and are among the most durable products in our lineup.
The Vikings Blade The Godfather disassembled. All parts are high-quality and fit together nicely.
The Vikings Blade models are some of the most durable models in our lineup.
Next up are the Gillette ProGlide Shield, Gillette ProGlide, and the Vikings Blade Chieftain Odin. All three models have well-engineered metal handles that outshine the rest of the cartridge models on our list. Each is very balanced and has a hefty feel, which conveys a sense of quality not found in disposable models.
Finally, the Schick Hydro Sensitive boasts an above-average build quality. Its handle has more heft to it than most other products. It also provides an outstanding balance between shave quality and a smooth, comfortable glide. At the absolute bottom end of the spectrum, you'll find three options from Gilette: the Sensor2 Plus, Sensor3 Sensitive, and Sensor3 Smooth Shave Disposable.
The Hydro Sense 5 has a solid build quality in addition to its excellent shave and glide characteristics.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Ease of Cleaning and Blade Replacement
Though perhaps not as crucial as other performance metrics, a product's ease of cleaning and blade replacement are critical elements to its longevity and continued shave quality. Models that are difficult to rinse, easily get jammed up with hair and grime, or trap moisture can cause the blades to rust or wear prematurely, which all tend to quickly diminish the shave quality and comfort. Designs with nicely spaced, easily rinsed, and dried blades tend to last longer. Similarly, once it does come time to change to a new blade, most products have a simple button to pop the old cartridge out and a new one in, but some operate a little easier than others.
Our favorite products in this performance metric are some of the Gillette models. The Gillette ProGlide and Gillette ProGlide Shield are extremely easy to rinse clean and have exceptional blade replacement systems. Another high-scoring model for this metric is the Vikings Blade Chieftain Odin. Changing blades on the Chieftain Odin is fun and mildly addicting. More importantly, this model's twist-open design is much faster than most safety razors. It's also a little safer and makes cleaning a breeze.
Doin' the twist with our Chieftain Odin.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
The Harry Truman also earned high marks in this metric. This razor is easy to rinse, and its blade replacement system is quick and effective, although not as effective as the Gillette system.
Getting a thorough rinse. The backside of the Harry's Truman blade heads is almost completely open, making it a breeze to clean.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
The Gillette Sensor3 Smooth Shave Disposable has a similar 3-blade design as the Gillette Sensor3 Sensitive, which does an excellent job of preventing grime from building up between the blades. When either razor has reached the end of its usable lifespan, simply discard the entire disposable handle and blade and replace it with a new one.
With a smaller head and only three blades, the Sensor3 is easier to clean than most others. When the blade is worn out, simply throw it away and grab a new one.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Disposable razors don't typically provide the best shave, and they're certainly a poor choice for the environment. Plastics take centuries to biodegrade, creating a huge waste stream in addition to the water and foam that we already use to shave. It's difficult to recycle plastic parts since it's so hard to separate them from metal, so most disposable razors and cartridges end up in a landfill. If you must go with disposables, consider choosing , a brand that has a recycling program that will let you mail your used razors back to them.
A generous gap between the blade and razor head, allows to the Bevel to rinse clean quickly and thoroughly.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Most 5-blade cartridges struggle in this metric because their blades are so tightly packed together, making it easy for hair, shaving cream, or moisture to get trapped between them. However, the Gillette ProGlide Shield, Gillette ProGlide, and Gillette Fusion5 all perform better than most 5-blade models in this area, thanks to a wide-open backside of the blade head. Additionally, each model makes blade replacement super easy — just push and click it into place.
Push. Click. Pull. Swapping blade cartridges on our Gillette ProGlide Shield is as easy as One. Two. Three.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Conclusion
The shaving marketplace is filled with many similar-looking competing products, and it can be daunting to sort through the mess of adverts to determine which product is right for you. We hope that our extensive head-to-head tests and attention to detail have helped you understand your options better and will help you choose the product that best suits your shaving needs.
