photo from redditMerkur Safety Razor
by Merkur
4 endorsements on r/BuyItForLife first recommended in Jul 2025
German-made stainless steel double-edge safety razor that uses inexpensive replaceable blades. A classic BIFL shaving tool redditors report using reliably for a decade or more.
Added Jul 5, 2026, Updated Jul 6, 2026
Why it's buy-it-for-life
Multiple long-term owners report 10-20 years of daily use on the same razor, with only cheap replacement blades as an ongoing cost — one owner estimates spending under a dollar a year on shaving.
What owners say
Two long-term owners describe using their Merkur for around fifteen years, one alongside 100 Feather blades bought for $120 and still shaving three times a week, the other having switched away from disposable Gillettes and calling the ongoing blade cost pennies per shave. It's also named alongside Mühle and Rockwell as one of the well-regarded screw-top safety razors worth choosing over a cheaper 'butterfly' design.
What redditors say
Recommended on reddit as recently as July 2025
I bought this Merkur razor when I was 19... I spent less than a dollar on shaving needs per year.
Purchased the Merkur about 15 years ago... Have not used disposable since.
I bought a merkur futur about 20 years ago and I just store it in my brush case, but this is a work of art.
I have the same razor and I gave up traveling with it. That damn thing got me searched 100% of the times I traveled with it.
I have one of these! Love it! It's lasted for around 10 years.