Merkur 34C Review: Should You Buy It?

Product: Merkur 34C Review

Rating: 4.8/5 stars on Amazon with over 400 reviews

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Description

The Merkur 34C is another quality safety razor. It has a shorter, thicker handle than the 23C but is also heavier. The razor itself weighs 2.9 oz. almost double that of the 23C.

That extra weight will help the razor do the work for you when you shave so you don’t have to apply too much pressure.

It is only 3 inches long instead of 4.1 like the 23C. So, if you have bigger hands this might feel short to you. But the added weight should make up for it.

They used their regular closed comb that allows you to get a close shave without being too aggressive. This is like their open comb or slant combs.

Don’t worry though if you like a close shave simply do a second pass against the direction your hair grows after your first one. Just be careful if you get too close this could cause razor burns or some irritation if you have sensitive skin.

You may find the shorter handle easier to handle vs. the 23C which will give you more control over your shave.  Just make sure you use a quality shaving soap so the Merkur safety razor can slide effortlessly over your skin.

Some guys say that this is perhaps the easiest safety razor to find the shaving angle. As we mentioned, it does not have a big blade gap so it is definitely on the mild side compared to other safety razors.

That means the 34C could be a great first razor or a gift for someone who you know is new to wet shaving. This razor should be forgiving as well as easy to learn on.

This could also be a great razor for you if you have a light beard or sensitive skin since it is so mild. If you have a thicker beard you may want to look at other more aggressive razors.

Merkur 34C vs. 38C

If you like the combs on these Merkur razors but like an even heavier and longer razor, you may opt for the Merkur 38C, which is known as the heavy-duty Barber Pole razor.

It has a weight of 4 oz. and a length of 3.75 inches. So, it is even heavier than the 34C and almost as long as the 23C. This added weight should help the razor slide right down your skin without having to apply much pressure.

Cons

If you like an aggressive shave this may not be for you. There is not much of a gap in comb allowing for a less aggressive shave however this should help reduce the chance of you cutting yourself. So, a little bit of a trade-off there.

This seems to be the main complaint, is that guys feel it is too mild and they even have to use pressure to shave. While we don’t recommend that sometimes, with lighter razors some pressure is needed to get a close shave.

Some guys even mention they need a fourth pass to get a BBS shave.

Another common complaint is on how short the handle is. While this will give you better control if you have larger hands this may not be a great fit for you. However like we mentioned above the 38C could be a good alternative for this problem.

Most of the other complaints just seem to be those using a safety razor for the first time and not able to get the technique down.

If this is your first-time wet shaving it will take you a few times to get the right angle and find the right blades or shaving creams that work best for your skin and beard.

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Conclusion

The Merkur 34C is only a 2-piece razor that will make cleaning a breeze. If you are looking to switch from your cartridge razor for a more comfortable shave this could be the one for you.

Like with any razor you must also take into consideration what kind of razor blade you will be using. Some sharper blades like Feather or Astra may go well with this mild razor. The perfect razor blade for your skin can make all the difference in your shave as well.

The added weight and shorter handle should allow the razor to do more of the work for you. Just be sure to buy a couple different blades to try out to find the ones that you like.

Do you own a Merkur 34C? Let us know how you like it in the comments below!