First safety razor shave done tonight with the Qshave adjustable razor. Wow is what i have to say about double edge safety razor shaving! I had a 7 day growth and it cut through my beard effortlessly. I couldn’t believe how simple and effective just one blade would be. Why in the hell did men switch to cartridge razors?! This was the best shave of my life! I will never go back to cartridge shaving again! Thanks geofatboy for all your videos! You converted me!
I may be late to answer, but cartridge razors are legal to take to flight is one of the selling point, it can auto adjust itself to your face(The only pro for cartridges imo) and looks professional and modern(Even if they're a scam, no one cares if it sounds cool with 7 blades in one face) Another I think is because it's outdated(If it's new, it's good, right?) and ppl fear that someone will take a razor blade and slit their wrist
@@tydshiin5783 What? DE safety razors can be used on board as long as there is no razor blade involved or a place for it. Just make sure to remove your razor blade every time you board a plane, seaboat, or cruise ship before going through TSA screening. The only thing I can't do is use a straight razor because it could be mistaken for a knife weapon carrier. Because traditional wet shaving companies carry a travel kit with shaving soap, a small or unknown size shaving brush, a shaving bowl or shaving scuttle, and a DE safety razor, DE still wins!
@@tydshiin5783 @KJ7Element2, Lastly just for your reference in cartridge razor history cheers!. King C. Gillette the founder of Gilette company was not responsible for this. Idea came from Wittinson sword company from 1962 introduce to new CEO Gilette in 1970. So they start producing first Gilette cartridge razor in 1971. King C. Gillette die in 1932 and new CEO take over, I bet if King C. Gillette was alive he be still and prob reject the idea.
It's really because most cartridges are proprietary so they don't have to worry about third parties cutting into their margins. Gillette previously created another type of double edge razor when third party companies were taking away their business making blades that fit in their safety razors.
Hey Geo. just wanna say thanks so much for what you do. 20 year old guy who always had issues with acne. Watched your videos. Got a DE razor and it changed my life. Completely cleared up my skin within 3 weeks. You have no idea how much you’ve changed my life mate! Thanks so much!
You're still the best on RUclips when it comes to shaving tutorials Geo. You're my best watch for no nonsense, expert, manly shaving advice. Thanks buddy.
I've shaved with everything from the Gillette Aristocrat to the Fatboy. Long time collector of vintage razors. This razor does not disappoint. I bought it on a whim. Great to see a modern day razor produce a great shave for very little funds. It's a great razor! I need one of those stands. Nice shave Geo!!
Another great review, thank you for sharing it! I've never used the Merkur Futur, but I bought a QShave clone on a whim. I have to say, it was the best $15.00 I have ever spent. The QShave is now one of my favorite razors. For the price, the fit and finish is excellent. I've never had any issues with blade alignment. If you're on a budget, this is a fantastic razor.
Thanks, I'm glad to hear that you've used it for a while and haven't had any adverse issues with it. Good to hear that there are no dependability issues.
I have to be honest.... I love watching these videos. They have made me go out and buy some new products (armed with useful information) and enjoy being at the bathroom sink/mirror again. Well done! Does anyone else think he looks a bit like Danny Aiello?
I wish I had a store like yours in Europe. Thank you for teaching me how to wet shave... I clean my neck, and clear my runways since my first wet shave.
Great Review! I am shaving since last week with the QShave Futur Clone with the same Astra blade and also Proraso soap and it works pretty good. I shave on position 4 and the QShave does his job very well in all shaving directions. Thank you!
I have the Merkur Futur and also the Chinese fake version as well. I am not sure if it is the Qshave but it came with a stand all for $15. At first I had the original Merkur Futur so I though I buy the fake one for the stand. It doesn’t fit so I started using the fake Futur and guess what that cheap bastard is my everyday shaver now. It is lighter and a bit thinner than the Futur but for some reason it feels so much better. Save your money! Buy the fake one!
Not fake, considering it hasn't the same name as the German one and also the patent of the Merkur expired decades ago. It's a copy. But let's be honest: why spend 70$ on a German one that's made from poor zamak, aka pot metal, when you can get one from the same metal at 1/5 of the price? 70$ would have been a fair price for a brass razor or a stainless steel one...
@@andreidanielpetre I was reading a review on amazon about the quality of the chinese version being proper crap and it not working as well as the Merkur. The photos of the metal coating flaking off and the feel of the shave not being as good. I'm undecided on a razor to buy, however I am not spending 70 bucks on one. I can buy several hand jobs for that in Thailand.
Thanks much, Geo! Loved the video! As a licensed US Customs Broker, I can fill the commentators here in on a couple of facts; 1) As these are made in China, they are imported into the US and declared and duties and fees paid to Uncle Sam; so no harm to the USA for letting these come in. 2) If Merkur was still in possession of a valid patent or trademark in the US, they could register it with Customs and request that Customs enforce the trademark/patent 3) Importations of this razor would be alerted to Customs and they would seize any shipment coming in for trademark infringement. Moral of the story; if Merkur wanted to (or was legally able to) protect their trademark design, they would. Methinks that it expired. That, or Merkur has no interest in defending it legally. So shed no tears for our German brethren! Now, for the shave; I'm interested in the Snake Bite soap and A/S. Does it smell "menthol"-ly? Does the aftershave have that "Cat o' Nine Tails" feel? Thanks again!!!! (yes, the bowl is amazing!)
I’ve bought two QShaves. One was $1.77 with $1.99 shipping. The other was $.99 with free shipping. I got a great shave with it. I have 45 different razors, most being modern artisan or commercial razors as well as vintage Gillette and Gems. For what this QShave is, I feel it’s decent.
Very informative and helpful regarding the Qshave Futur knock-off and the Snake Bite shaving soap. Great tip on using the alum on the fingers to tighten/straighten your cheeks on the 3rd pass. Some good subtle humor, too. Thanks.
Ok, tried mine tonight after just getting it today. OMG! I love it. I have the smoothest shave I've had thus far in my less than a month of DE Wet Shaving. I didn't know how those Apache Personna Blades would be but used one. It was better than the Derby's I use that came with my first razor. I have a close smooth and no weepers shave tonight. I didn't know if I had enough experience to use an adjustable, but I respect my equipment and didn't let it intimidate me hahaha. Good buy. I got mine with the stand. Will definitely do more business with Shave Nation.
I've already ordered a Qshave, it will arrive in a couple of days. And I'm expecting also a pack with Astra, Personna, and Feather blades. Bought a new brush, Semogue 1305, Portuguese made (yes, I'm Portuguese) and I'm excited to try these new shaving tools, although I'm not new to wet shaving (we call it Classic Shaving here). I'm just tired of shaving with a crappy cheap razor with crappy blades, because in local supermarkets we can't find these things, 99% of men still use cartridge razors and shaving foam, it's awfull...!! And it's a shame, because here in Portugal we make excellent shaving creams (Musgo Real) and excellent shaving brushes. Nonetheless, thanks Geofatboy for an excellent video! Very helpful! And I believe you have very good products, unfortunately we pay heavy importation taxes here everytime we buy something online that's beyond 22 euros...
Thats an awesome bowl that your daughter made! I have a scuttle that my daughter made for me that is my go to every morning. Hats off to talented daughters that work in ceramics.With that said.. I don't have a Futur but do use the Q shave and get incredible shaves with it!
Another great video Geo. I appreciate the thorough review of the razor. The full shave is well done as always. Men who use cartridge razors should have to watch a video like this all the way through. The cost, even for initial outlay, is minimal in comparison. The feeling you get, both from shaving and after you're done, is second to none. I almost want to buy this razor, almost. I have a Futur already.
Just had my first shave with a merkur on setting 1 and it's the closest shave I've had. I usually use my trusty Rockwell 6s on the number 5 plate which is a great razor. The merkur is great quality and I will be experimenting with it over the next few weeks but helps bells it's a beauty of a razor and not for beginners.
Aloha! The biggest difference I find between the Qshave and the Merkur is that the alighment of the blade and the blade reveal needs to be looked at carefully in the Qshave before you shave. When you snap the top on the Qshave, I personally would not recommend just lathering-up and shaving. Look at the blade carefully and make sure it is aligned properly and that BOTH sides of the razor are giving you the same agressiveness setting (the reveal opening between blade and razor is the same on both sides). If they are different or the blade is out of alignment, re-set the blade by undoing and replacing the cap on the razor, making sure it is secure when you re-apply the cap. You can also lightly twist the cap back and forth to seat the cap a bit better or push it a bit more firmly down and that sometimes helps get the blade or blade reveal back into symmetry. Other than that, this is a great razor for the money. I tend to use it as my travel DE and keep the Merkur at home. If I lose the Qshave in a hotel or it gets damaged in travel, no biggie.
Like your channel a lot. You are a honest guy, this review proved that. Really like to watch your videos. Keep them coming! Greatings from the Netherlands.
Used the qshave 10 min ago with feather blades all I can say is dang them blades are sharp no pulling at all and the razor is awesome just head kinda big but one pass and super smooth
Hi Geo, you are da man. The reason I started de shaving in the first place. Keep these awesome videos coming. Thanks again for all the tips, tricks, and information. All the best
You are reading my mind. I was just thinking about, how good it was to see a review on this razor. Especially comparing with the original. And even with my favorite blade. I already bought this razor, and waiting for it to arrive. Great review, thank you very much!
After watching this video, I couldn't resist grabbing one of these for £6 off AliExpress. Ever since I saw the Futur, I wanted to play around with it, but God forbid I spend £55 on it. Let's hope this one does a good job. :)
I've had my futur for god knows how long and it's still my best DE. The only thing I've ever thought could make it better would be a little bit of knurling just in the grip, just to help avoid any slips.
or make its custom if its a real futur its worth it see my Instagram @fchydroprinting we do laser work could laser some grip and designs on there also do custom coatings like this rubber grip like clear coat works great!
The review on the Snake Bite products were priceless! haha! I think I might try the soap, but I'm going to stay away from the aftershave. Thanks for the review!
dont want to offend anyone but its just a simple safety razor. what can be so exciting about it to make it worth 100$ or whatever. 10$ is all you need and this ones makes a good one for that purpose. your example with the Toyota got that perfectly, great video!
Damn I got the Qshave long handle regular TTO and I see this adjustable for the same price. Gotta say I like the one i got better but the adjustble one maybe more versatile. If i needed it badly i could use my beard trimmer 1st then a mild shaving razor but i mainly shave my neck and cheek as I have a beard. Cant wait to get it in on Tuesday and try it. I am new to DE shaving and thanks to Dollar Tree I picked my 1st one up on a whim to see how well it worked and it shaves ok for a $1 razor and 5 blades. Bet the qshave and astra blades will be even better. Been using equate 4 blade cartridges for a while and even those are pricey so while I am down to my last blade I thank the dollar tree razor for turning me onto a much more affordable option now in the DE razor market. Really feels much smoother with 1 blade vs 4 blades pulling at your hair instead of gliding effortlessly with a DE
Im actually kind of shocked that you liked this razor. I was expecting you to absolutely slate the crap out of it as its a cheap knock off of the Futur. Great educational video, cheers dude
Such good stuff. Haven't seen your vids in a while. It was long(not complaining), but I stayed to the end because you do such a great job of explaining things. Thanks. BTW I love the invisible bowl.LOL
I have a cheepo razor that was supposed to be high quality but it doesn't give you a very close shave so I've been looking for a way better one that doesn't irritate my face. This one looks great thanks for the video.
Picked up one of these today as I fancied trying an adjustable versus my Edwin Jagger. Zero complaints. Truly super smooth shave. I had around 5 days growth and I went with the 6-3-1 approach and there was no snagging or anything (I opted for a Derby blade versus my usual feathers). The only thing I would say is that the 6 pass was noticeably louder versus the EJ and that took me by surprise initially. Going to give it a day or so and try it with a feather, but have to say very impressed by the Qshave.
Been noticing with my 2 mild safety razors that after 3 passes i still have to do some clean up spots. I ordered this qshave adjustable and I am thinking mayb le more aggressive will get most of it on the 1st pass. The old schick krona i have and the qsjave tto long handle appear to be very mild when I look at em. I use astra blades also. Been really enjoying the shave process though. Takes longer but i set aside time for it where before I sprayed cream and lathered up, busted out the cartridge and was done shaving in about 2 minutes and never used aftershave. Now I have the razors,soap,brush and even got some old school aqua velva aftershave so I can "pamper" myself now in my shaving process. I enjoy the attention to detail rather than just mindlessly blasting through it.
I really enjoyed this review Geo great job. I've seen a few people review knockoffs of the Merkur Futur just lately. Many of them who have tried a real Merkur Futur say the knockoffs are good but you can't beat the real thing. I've had my Futur for 4 years now, it was my first safety razor as well so it's close to my heart and I love it. Cheers. Steven.
Hi Geo thx for the mention, great video... thx for using the green bowl, love that bowl... i have this razor and alltho i have never tried the Futur, i love my clone.. its a great shave and i think a great build...
I want to switch from the Gilette crap to a real razor and my budget is arround 15 euros. That's how how found about this Chinese razor. Also I was wondering if it was worth it and this video definitely brought the answer. I am ordering it tomorrow. Thank you!
You make shaving look easy. My hair doesn't seem to melt off as easy. Perhaps I should increase my blade setting on first pass like you did on my '76 Gillette Black Beauty. Thanks for sharing these videos with us.
First timer here. Nice comparison 👍🏻. Ive always wondered about the Q shave Future copy. I like the Cadillac vs Toyota comparison. I can dig that 😉. Great shave . I’ll be back. Once again great info and well done . Cheers from the wet coast of Canada.
I got my first DE razor a few weeks ago, which was the Q Shave. I dunno about other razors for obvious reasons but legit, it's a great razor. The idea of the clip is a bit iffy, as I feel the butterfly door mechanism is a bit more reliable in terms of keeping the blade symmetrical on each side. But as a guy with little experience shaving with a DE razor, I'll say now, you can't go wrong with the Q Shave. I've got a few nicks here and there over the past few weeks, but that was just because of rookie mistakes rather than the razor itself.
bought one a few years back and really loved it but at some point about a year ago the adjustment mechanism stopped working. Next time will stump up for the quality German engineering of the Merkur!
I ordered mine off of Amazon as a kit. It came with the stand and my first name lazer etched on the handle. Although it is supposed be made in China, the first origin scan from U.S.P.S. was from Frankfurt. Apparently, the Germans don't have much of a problem with this duplication. The blade shaved very closely (without nicks) using a sharp/quality blade. The Qshave blades in the package (made in the U.S.A), however, were only good for the trash as they were dull. The Qshave blades tugged and pulled and took extra passes to clean up the shave, but still no nicks. The handle is slick when making adjustments. This is no different than the Futur. The gearing was very stiff (with my example), but easy to turn. I would suggest using only high-quality blades with this razor, such as Polsilver, Astra SP or Feather (for example). The weight of the razor does the work. When I compare this razor to my Gillette slim-adjustable, it is merely a novelty in comparison. Both in terms of the quality of materials and engineering that went into it.
Thanks Geo for the perspective, you filled in some pieces I curiously had some questions about. Good story. I think more younger men that I talk to like the instructional aspect of the videos, while us older guys like when you do product reviews. Does that make sense? So tips are good for the young guys, and we like to see the latest razor or shaving cream. You turned me on to the Jagger 89l razor along along with Taylor Street Gold Bond. I suggest contacting some of the product mfg's for more sample testing of their products if you arent already. Thanks for the info you share.
Geo, excellent video. One thing I noticed between the clone and the original is that the original is much more aggressive, even on the number 1 setting - so much so, in fact, that I sent it back.Your comment, please. I definitely like the engineering on the original Merkur, and I can afford it, but even at the lowest setting, it was too aggressive. Could I have gotten a bad one? - I did get the polished chrome model.
Thanks again Geo have one of these and this video will save me from slashing my face to bits LOL!! as I realized 6 was a aggressive but not that aggressive I use 4 right now but am going to try your down size shave method as it makes sense. The one thing I didn't quite catch was the stick you use is that an alum block?? as I use an alum stick/pencil to seal small nicks. Thanks a again for a great tutorial from a very likeable fellow!!
Thank you for the video. I follow your channel anyway and have been looking to buy another DE razor lately with some birthday money. I would love to have the money to buy the Merkur Futur but in the UK you are looking at £64 +. The cheaper variants I can pick up for £15. Your video was a suggestion by RUclips and I am very happy and feel more confident about buying a cheaper razor after watching your video. I have currently been using an Edwin Jagger for some years now occasionally switching to my Parker Shavette if I feel braver. Tbh I shave more with my DE razor but I want to try a more aggressive adjustable razor with a longer handle. This one fits the bill. Thank you. I looked at buying one of your new indestructible bowls but to get to the UK you were looking at over $80. A bit to rich for me.
I bought the Ming Shi and it has blade exposure issues. Not even on both sides. One side shaves closer, one barely. I used it once and will probably throw it in the can. Spend the extra and get the real deal. I hate clones, but for $10 wanted to give it a try. Economical if you want to just test drive the design. Not my favourite to be honest. Much prefer my Parker Variant. To each his own.
How's the plate removed and put back in ? Does it just snap into a spring loaded receiver ? with water and cream exposure the springs will wrought and the receiver will become loose.
I’ve had both of these for some time and both shave very well. However with my Q-shave I get an asymmetrical shave. One side is slightly more aggressive than the other. It’s not a huge problem, and I don’t know whether this is true of all of them.
Hola. Saludos cordiales desde Medellín, Colombia. Acá 1 dolor cuesta 3.700 pesos Colombianos. Total pensar en una maquina como la Alemana es para personas con un presupuesto MUY elevado. Mi hijo viajó a los EEUU el día de ayer y uno de los regalos que nos queremos hacer es una maquina de afeitar de este tipo, que consideramos se acomoda al tema ambiental y reduce costos mensuales (usamos Gillette Match III y ya está muy costosa - COP 13.500 cada repuesto). Después de ver muchos videos y opciones, creo que vamos a optar por la QShave.
Hi Geo. Thank you for this interesting comparison video. I am glad you are satisfied with your Qshave. I am not as lucky. My Qshave has two major issues: irregular blade alignement and irregular blade exposure. On top of this, the adjustment does not seem to work properly. It's a fail for me.
It’s not a big deal, I have no regrets. I bought this razor at AliExpress for only $ 6.98 with free shipping, because I eventually wanted to try out an adjustable razor. I never bought one, because I have always been sceptical about reliability and precision of these adjustment mechanics on DE-razors. Just for the sake of it, I opened a dispute on AliExpress, mentioning the issues. Who knows, I might get a refund or a new razor. And if not, that’s ok, too. As soon as my wallet stretches out that far, I would rather look out for a razor with interchangeable base plates like a Rockwell 6S.
Is it just with safety razors that you use a 3 pass? With multi blade disposables I would lather up and shave everything in one application of my shave cream.
I have a feeling that apart from the weight the spring tension between the original Merkur and the clone is different. I just bought the clone in black version and looking to find the spring that comes in the futur. Gonna grease the clone up with some silicone and change the spring (if i can find the part). As for the 25 grams of weight, you can just add some ballast in the shaft. Thats me in DIY mode.
I just bought a QSHAVE razor and in my opinion the only set that will remove the beard out of my face is number 6 which to me is not aggressive at all, I was lookin for it to be more aggressive, also I feel that it has more blade exposure in one side that the other, I have try it with different blades: ASTRA, VOSKHOD and GILLETTE PERMASHARP and had the same experience with all the blades. Do you think I have a bad unit?
Great shave...and I was intrigued by the Fine soap and after shave.... might try the soap as I really like Progresso green but I really don't enjoy a stinging after shave
I'm surprised Merkur couldn't take any kind of legal action here. Even if the mechanism patents ran out, wouldn't they still have the overall look of the product as a trademarked design?
Somebody told me that you were a Marine. Must be something about us Marines, drilled into us, that still require a super clean and close shave. (health and safety inspections).
![Megan Thee Stallion - Bigger In Texas [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QxTkZTLWdo4/mqdefault.jpg)
You do a great job teaching while you shave. I appreciate that. Thank you!
Thanks very much Mark, I truly appreciate that!
First safety razor shave done tonight with the Qshave adjustable razor. Wow is what i have to say about double edge safety razor shaving! I had a 7 day growth and it cut through my beard effortlessly. I couldn’t believe how simple and effective just one blade would be. Why in the hell did men switch to cartridge razors?! This was the best shave of my life! I will never go back to cartridge shaving again! Thanks geofatboy for all your videos! You converted me!
I may be late to answer, but cartridge razors are legal to take to flight is one of the selling point, it can auto adjust itself to your face(The only pro for cartridges imo) and looks professional and modern(Even if they're a scam, no one cares if it sounds cool with 7 blades in one face)
Another I think is because it's outdated(If it's new, it's good, right?) and ppl fear that someone will take a razor blade and slit their wrist
@@tydshiin5783 What? DE safety razors can be used on board as long as there is no razor blade involved or a place for it. Just make sure to remove your razor blade every time you board a plane, seaboat, or cruise ship before going through TSA screening. The only thing I can't do is use a straight razor because it could be mistaken for a knife weapon carrier.
Because traditional wet shaving companies carry a travel kit with shaving soap, a small or unknown size shaving brush, a shaving bowl or shaving scuttle, and a DE safety razor, DE still wins!
Good one!
@@tydshiin5783 @KJ7Element2, Lastly just for your reference in cartridge razor history cheers!. King C. Gillette the founder of Gilette company was not responsible for this. Idea came from Wittinson sword company from 1962 introduce to new CEO Gilette in 1970. So they start producing first Gilette cartridge razor in 1971. King C. Gillette die in 1932 and new CEO take over, I bet if King C. Gillette was alive he be still and prob reject the idea.
It's really because most cartridges are proprietary so they don't have to worry about third parties cutting into their margins.
Gillette previously created another type of double edge razor when third party companies were taking away their business making blades that fit in their safety razors.
Hey Geo. just wanna say thanks so much for what you do. 20 year old guy who always had issues with acne. Watched your videos. Got a DE razor and it changed my life. Completely cleared up my skin within 3 weeks. You have no idea how much you’ve changed my life mate! Thanks so much!
That is an awesome testimonial!
You're still the best on RUclips when it comes to shaving tutorials Geo. You're my best watch for no nonsense, expert, manly shaving advice. Thanks buddy.
I've shaved with everything from the Gillette Aristocrat to the Fatboy. Long time collector of vintage razors. This razor does not disappoint. I bought it on a whim. Great to see a modern day razor produce a great shave for very little funds. It's a great razor! I need one of those stands. Nice shave Geo!!
Dude, that is the brush I made for you. Still making them too!!!! I dont have a site so you would have to email me.
shoot me an email deruitem@gmail.com
Matt DeRuiter I would love to buy this shaving brush, would you be able to let me know from where I could buy this?
How much are the brushes?
Matt DeRuiter are you still making them?
Years later after discovering your videos, I still owe a lot to your teachings. Sometimes nothing is better than a good shave!
Thank you for your past and continued support! I couldn't have said it better myself.
I know I'm 5 years too late but thank you for putting subtitles on your videos. Makes the experience 100x better!
Another great review, thank you for sharing it!
I've never used the Merkur Futur, but I bought a QShave clone on a whim.
I have to say, it was the best $15.00 I have ever spent. The QShave is now one of my favorite razors.
For the price, the fit and finish is excellent. I've never had any issues with blade alignment.
If you're on a budget, this is a fantastic razor.
Thanks, I'm glad to hear that you've used it for a while and haven't had any adverse issues with it. Good to hear that there are no dependability issues.
I`m just wondering what color to get lol
gotta love the Chinese when design patents expire.
or even when they don't, they don't care, theyr government doesn't care equally as much
A company I worked for said you shouldn’t even bother taking out patents for China. You will just give them the design
I have to be honest.... I love watching these videos. They have made me go out and buy some new products (armed with useful information) and enjoy being at the bathroom sink/mirror again. Well done! Does anyone else think he looks a bit like Danny Aiello?
Awesome!
I wish I had a store like yours in Europe. Thank you for teaching me how to wet shave... I clean my neck, and clear my runways since my first wet shave.
That's Awesome Leo! Thanks very much.
Great Review! I am shaving since last week with the QShave Futur Clone with the same Astra blade and also Proraso soap and it works pretty good. I shave on position 4 and the QShave does his job very well in all shaving directions.
Thank you!
Still holding up?
I have the Merkur Futur and also the Chinese fake version as well. I am not sure if it is the Qshave but it came with a stand all for $15.
At first I had the original Merkur Futur so I though I buy the fake one for the stand. It doesn’t fit so I started using the fake Futur and guess what that cheap bastard is my everyday shaver now.
It is lighter and a bit thinner than the Futur but for some reason it feels so much better.
Save your money! Buy the fake one!
Not fake, considering it hasn't the same name as the German one and also the patent of the Merkur expired decades ago. It's a copy. But let's be honest: why spend 70$ on a German one that's made from poor zamak, aka pot metal, when you can get one from the same metal at 1/5 of the price? 70$ would have been a fair price for a brass razor or a stainless steel one...
@@andreidanielpetre I was reading a review on amazon about the quality of the chinese version being proper crap and it not working as well as the Merkur. The photos of the metal coating flaking off and the feel of the shave not being as good. I'm undecided on a razor to buy, however I am not spending 70 bucks on one. I can buy several hand jobs for that in Thailand.
I agree with you , stick to Qshave from Ali or wish
Thanks much, Geo! Loved the video! As a licensed US Customs Broker, I can fill the commentators here in on a couple of facts;
1) As these are made in China, they are imported into the US and declared and duties and fees paid to Uncle Sam; so no harm to the USA for letting these come in.
2) If Merkur was still in possession of a valid patent or trademark in the US, they could register it with Customs and request that Customs enforce the trademark/patent
3) Importations of this razor would be alerted to Customs and they would seize any shipment coming in for trademark infringement.
Moral of the story; if Merkur wanted to (or was legally able to) protect their trademark design, they would. Methinks that it expired. That, or Merkur has no interest in defending it legally. So shed no tears for our German brethren!
Now, for the shave; I'm interested in the Snake Bite soap and A/S. Does it smell "menthol"-ly? Does the aftershave have that "Cat o' Nine Tails" feel?
Thanks again!!!! (yes, the bowl is amazing!)
Thanks for all that interesting info Chris!
Yes, the Fine Snakebite is very "mentholy" as you put it. Take a whiff and you'll catch my drift :)
Is the QShave the same razor as the Ming Shi?
Wow! I didn’t know the great Larry Bundy was a wet shaving enthusiast. Came across this totally by accident. Awesome.
Nope they have different manufacturer as far as i know.
I have KENEM-X which is another clone.
I’ve bought two QShaves. One was $1.77 with $1.99 shipping. The other was $.99 with free shipping. I got a great shave with it. I have 45 different razors, most being modern artisan or commercial razors as well as vintage Gillette and Gems. For what this QShave is, I feel it’s decent.
Very informative and helpful regarding the Qshave Futur knock-off and the Snake Bite shaving soap. Great tip on using the alum on the fingers to tighten/straighten your cheeks on the 3rd pass. Some good subtle humor, too. Thanks.
Ok, tried mine tonight after just getting it today. OMG! I love it. I have the smoothest shave I've had thus far in my less than a month of DE Wet Shaving. I didn't know how those Apache Personna Blades would be but used one. It was better than the Derby's I use that came with my first razor. I have a close smooth and no weepers shave tonight. I didn't know if I had enough experience to use an adjustable, but I respect my equipment and didn't let it intimidate me hahaha. Good buy. I got mine with the stand. Will definitely do more business with Shave Nation.
The comparison Cadillac vs Toyota made me smile. But I got the point.
Love your reviews, keep up the good work.
Many have said-Toyota's are probably better cars right?
But still-Those Caddy's❤️
I've already ordered a Qshave, it will arrive in a couple of days. And I'm expecting also a pack with Astra, Personna, and Feather blades. Bought a new brush, Semogue 1305, Portuguese made (yes, I'm Portuguese) and I'm excited to try these new shaving tools, although I'm not new to wet shaving (we call it Classic Shaving here). I'm just tired of shaving with a crappy cheap razor with crappy blades, because in local supermarkets we can't find these things, 99% of men still use cartridge razors and shaving foam, it's awfull...!! And it's a shame, because here in Portugal we make excellent shaving creams (Musgo Real) and excellent shaving brushes.
Nonetheless, thanks Geofatboy for an excellent video! Very helpful! And I believe you have very good products, unfortunately we pay heavy importation taxes here everytime we buy something online that's beyond 22 euros...
You could probably shave with sandpaper and get no irritation. I'm envious of you
Thank you so much for pronouncing it FutuR and not "future" like so many other native English speakers.
Got mine today and absolutely can't wait to try it! Thanks for the Derby Shave Stick too! Absolutely speedy delivery.
Why does a woman shave her face? Do you have a beard or what?
Man you go really fast, I can`t do that, I`ll look like I`ve been in an accident lol
Take your time practice makes perfect
you and me both brother. lol
After shaving for a year I was able to start shaving like him. Practice helps
Thats an awesome bowl that your daughter made! I have a scuttle that my daughter made for me that is my go to every morning. Hats off to talented daughters that work in ceramics.With that said.. I don't have a Futur but do use the Q shave and get incredible shaves with it!
Another great video Geo. I appreciate the thorough review of the razor. The full shave is well done as always. Men who use cartridge razors should have to watch a video like this all the way through. The cost, even for initial outlay, is minimal in comparison. The feeling you get, both from shaving and after you're done, is second to none. I almost want to buy this razor, almost. I have a Futur already.
Thanks Ronnie, Another Greek guy named Aristotle said it first: Anything worth doing is worth doing well!
Bought one of QSHAVES from you. It is my go to razor now, thanks in part to your review.
I like black of course and the way it slides out is pretty sweet! Your killing me brother! 😆 love your channel. Hooked on DE shavers now. 🇨🇦
Thank you for your support Bernie!
Just had my first shave with a merkur on setting 1 and it's the closest shave I've had. I usually use my trusty Rockwell 6s on the number 5 plate which is a great razor. The merkur is great quality and I will be experimenting with it over the next few weeks but helps bells it's a beauty of a razor and not for beginners.
Thanks for sharing!
6c, 6s меньше агрессивные бритвы, удобнее брить под носом. Какая бритва - станок вам больше нравится?
It's aggressive, even on its lowest setting imo. Definitely not for the beginner wet shaver, but it delivers bbs when used properly.
Aloha! The biggest difference I find between the Qshave and the Merkur is that the alighment of the blade and the blade reveal needs to be looked at carefully in the Qshave before you shave. When you snap the top on the Qshave, I personally would not recommend just lathering-up and shaving. Look at the blade carefully and make sure it is aligned properly and that BOTH sides of the razor are giving you the same agressiveness setting (the reveal opening between blade and razor is the same on both sides). If they are different or the blade is out of alignment, re-set the blade by undoing and replacing the cap on the razor, making sure it is secure when you re-apply the cap. You can also lightly twist the cap back and forth to seat the cap a bit better or push it a bit more firmly down and that sometimes helps get the blade or blade reveal back into symmetry. Other than that, this is a great razor for the money. I tend to use it as my travel DE and keep the Merkur at home. If I lose the Qshave in a hotel or it gets damaged in travel, no biggie.
Like your channel a lot. You are a honest guy, this review proved that. Really like to watch your videos. Keep them coming!
Greatings from the Netherlands.
If you are not Dutch, you are not much.
Used the qshave 10 min ago with feather blades all I can say is dang them blades are sharp no pulling at all and the razor is awesome just head kinda big but one pass and super smooth
Well detailed and presented in a very easy to watch manner. You do excellent work.
Hi Geo, you are da man. The reason I started de shaving in the first place. Keep these awesome videos coming. Thanks again for all the tips, tricks, and information. All the best
You got it Jason! I'll keep putting them out there!
Hi Geo, it was really an interesting presentation that you had done. Plus now inknow how to shave properly using a razor blade. Thank You 👍
Great video Geo! I've recently gone back to de safety razors, and I have to say that your videos have helped me tremendously. Thank you so much!
You are reading my mind. I was just thinking about, how good it was to see a review on this razor. Especially comparing with the original. And even with my favorite blade. I already bought this razor, and waiting for it to arrive. Great review, thank you very much!
Thanks Dismont, when you get the razor you'll enjoy it even more!
This was cool to watch. Seems quite relaxing to watch 🤣 Makes me wanna shave. Learnt a lot 👌🏽
Thanks Philip!
After watching this video, I couldn't resist grabbing one of these for £6 off AliExpress. Ever since I saw the Futur, I wanted to play around with it, but God forbid I spend £55 on it. Let's hope this one does a good job. :)
A toyota is far more supreme than a cadillac.. you do realize that? In sales, engineering and quality.
I've had my futur for god knows how long and it's still my best DE. The only thing I've ever thought could make it better would be a little bit of knurling just in the grip, just to help avoid any slips.
You mean something like this: shavenation.com/collections/merkur-safety-razors/products/merkur-futur-polished-chrome-adjustable-safety-razor
or make its custom if its a real futur its worth it see my Instagram @fchydroprinting we do laser work could laser some grip and designs on there also do custom coatings like this rubber grip like clear coat works great!
The review on the Snake Bite products were priceless! haha! I think I might try the soap, but I'm going to stay away from the aftershave. Thanks for the review!
Man thanks, straight to the point, professional ,no water ))
dont want to offend anyone but its just a simple safety razor. what can be so exciting about it to make it worth 100$ or whatever. 10$ is all you need and this ones makes a good one for that purpose. your example with the Toyota got that perfectly, great video!
One can never be too safe with any razor. Good advice given in this review!
Thanks for that.
Damn I got the Qshave long handle regular TTO and I see this adjustable for the same price. Gotta say I like the one i got better but the adjustble one maybe more versatile. If i needed it badly i could use my beard trimmer 1st then a mild shaving razor but i mainly shave my neck and cheek as I have a beard.
Cant wait to get it in on Tuesday and try it. I am new to DE shaving and thanks to Dollar Tree I picked my 1st one up on a whim to see how well it worked and it shaves ok for a $1 razor and 5 blades. Bet the qshave and astra blades will be even better.
Been using equate 4 blade cartridges for a while and even those are pricey so while I am down to my last blade I thank the dollar tree razor for turning me onto a much more affordable option now in the DE razor market.
Really feels much smoother with 1 blade vs 4 blades pulling at your hair instead of gliding effortlessly with a DE
Thanks Mix, When you want to step up your game: shavenation.com/collections/safety-razors
Wow! For a quarter of the cost of the Futr, a good bargain. Ordered one from you with the stand.
R u shaving downstairs
Im actually kind of shocked that you liked this razor. I was expecting you to absolutely slate the crap out of it as its a cheap knock off of the Futur. Great educational video, cheers dude
Such good stuff. Haven't seen your vids in a while. It was long(not complaining), but I stayed to the end because you do such a great job of explaining things. Thanks. BTW I love the invisible bowl.LOL
Thank you for this great review. Awesome. And you pronounced the"Futur" very nice in German. Great Job!😊👍
Great Video Geo! I have had a Q-shave for about a year now, it's a great razor for the price, but I agree 100% with you, not as good as the futur.
Just listening to the razor shaving your face made my skin jealous lol i always pop the shit out of my face when i shave
I have a cheepo razor that was supposed to be high quality but it doesn't give you a very close shave so I've been looking for a way better one that doesn't irritate my face. This one looks great thanks for the video.
Good clip. Thank you. Have used Merkur and it's great with Aftra blades. A good presenter!
Picked up one of these today as I fancied trying an adjustable versus my Edwin Jagger. Zero complaints. Truly super smooth shave. I had around 5 days growth and I went with the 6-3-1 approach and there was no snagging or anything (I opted for a Derby blade versus my usual feathers). The only thing I would say is that the 6 pass was noticeably louder versus the EJ and that took me by surprise initially. Going to give it a day or so and try it with a feather, but have to say very impressed by the Qshave.
Been noticing with my 2 mild safety razors that after 3 passes i still have to do some clean up spots. I ordered this qshave adjustable and I am thinking mayb le more aggressive will get most of it on the 1st pass. The old schick krona i have and the qsjave tto long handle appear to be very mild when I look at em. I use astra blades also.
Been really enjoying the shave process though. Takes longer but i set aside time for it where before I sprayed cream and lathered up, busted out the cartridge and was done shaving in about 2 minutes and never used aftershave.
Now I have the razors,soap,brush and even got some old school aqua velva aftershave so I can "pamper" myself now in my shaving process. I enjoy the attention to detail rather than just mindlessly blasting through it.
Time to step up to a more aggressive razor it sounds like.
Love your accent dude 😂 gives me Mafia member vibes lol
The QShave is one of the best, if not the best, values in wet shaving today.
Probably a very valid point Mark.
Love your videos just ordered the Qshave I’m in Australia
I really enjoyed this review Geo great job. I've seen a few people review knockoffs of the Merkur Futur just lately. Many of them who have tried a real Merkur Futur say the knockoffs are good but you can't beat the real thing. I've had my Futur for 4 years now, it was my first safety razor as well so it's close to my heart and I love it. Cheers. Steven.
Thanks very much Steven, Agreed, that first safety razor holds a sweet spot in the heart. Mine was a 1959 Gillette Fatboy!
Great shave! I love watching your videos. I learn something new every video i watch! :)
Thanks Sam, love to hear that!
Hi Geo thx for the mention, great video... thx for using the green bowl, love that bowl... i have this razor and alltho i have never tried the Futur, i love my clone.. its a great shave and i think a great build...
Thanks for requesting Michael, glad you enjoyed it.
a shame that the green bowl and the blue screen dont get along lol and funny how you start of burying the razor but then it won you over :D
I want to switch from the Gilette crap to a real razor and my budget is arround 15 euros. That's how how found about this Chinese razor. Also I was wondering if it was worth it and this video definitely brought the answer. I am ordering it tomorrow. Thank you!
Ho'w it working for you?
Nice rundown on the Q razor Geo. Thank you.
Thanks Brian, glad you liked it.
What a nice razor! I love my shavenation bowl, I've tried many others but none compare
That's awesome Adam-Thanks!
adam briar can't bear the SN bowl. You have to get it to appreciate it. The videos don't tell the whole story.
Fantastic review, just bought the q shave and I’m very impressed.
You make shaving look easy. My hair doesn't seem to melt off as easy. Perhaps I should increase my blade setting on first pass like you did on my '76 Gillette Black Beauty. Thanks for sharing these videos with us.
Don't give up, keep experimenting until you get the shave you desire.
First timer here. Nice comparison 👍🏻. Ive always wondered about the Q shave Future copy. I like the Cadillac vs Toyota comparison. I can dig that 😉. Great shave . I’ll be back. Once again great info and well done . Cheers from the wet coast of Canada.
These razors are so noisy, I love it
In Italy we say that they "sing", especially regard handmade straight razors such as Mastro Livi's ones.
The thin blades sing and the thick ones can't even carry a tune!
I got my first DE razor a few weeks ago, which was the Q Shave. I dunno about other razors for obvious reasons but legit, it's a great razor. The idea of the clip is a bit iffy, as I feel the butterfly door mechanism is a bit more reliable in terms of keeping the blade symmetrical on each side. But as a guy with little experience shaving with a DE razor, I'll say now, you can't go wrong with the Q Shave. I've got a few nicks here and there over the past few weeks, but that was just because of rookie mistakes rather than the razor itself.
You speak the truth! You can't go wrong with an adjustable for under $20
bought one a few years back and really loved it but at some point about a year ago the adjustment mechanism stopped working. Next time will stump up for the quality German engineering of the Merkur!
I ordered mine off of Amazon as a kit. It came with the stand and my first name lazer etched on the handle. Although it is supposed be made in China, the first origin scan from U.S.P.S. was from Frankfurt. Apparently, the Germans don't have much of a problem with this duplication. The blade shaved very closely (without nicks) using a sharp/quality blade. The Qshave blades in the package (made in the U.S.A), however, were only good for the trash as they were dull. The Qshave blades tugged and pulled and took extra passes to clean up the shave, but still no nicks.
The handle is slick when making adjustments. This is no different than the Futur. The gearing was very stiff (with my example), but easy to turn. I would suggest using only high-quality blades with this razor, such as Polsilver, Astra SP or Feather (for example). The weight of the razor does the work. When I compare this razor to my Gillette slim-adjustable, it is merely a novelty in comparison. Both in terms of the quality of materials and engineering that went into it.
The sharpest blades by far are Feather, many agree on this. If you want USA then try Personna, which is good but not as sharp as Feather.
What is the best setting for a 2 day stubble in an adjustable razor ?
Thanks Geo for the perspective, you filled in some pieces I curiously had some questions about. Good story.
I think more younger men that I talk to like the instructional aspect of the videos, while us older guys like when you do product reviews. Does that make sense? So tips are good for the young guys, and we like to see the latest razor or shaving cream. You turned me on to the Jagger 89l razor along along with Taylor Street Gold Bond.
I suggest contacting some of the product mfg's for more sample testing of their products if you arent already. Thanks for the info you share.
Thank you James. That's an interesting thought. I guess I need to mix it up more to keep everybody happy. Thanks for mentioning it.
Geo, excellent video. One thing I noticed between the clone and the original is that the original is much more aggressive, even on the number 1 setting - so much so, in fact, that I sent it back.Your comment, please. I definitely like the engineering on the original Merkur, and I can afford it, but even at the lowest setting, it was too aggressive. Could I have gotten a bad one? - I did get the polished chrome model.
I love my qshave futur :)
Nice! What's not to love?
What a nice, educating, video from a very nice gentleman! Thank you and God bless you, Geo! :-)
Well, that was very sweet. Thanks so much!
You are welcome, sir! :-)
Thanks again Geo have one of these and this video will save me from slashing my face to bits LOL!! as I realized 6 was a aggressive but not that aggressive I use 4 right now but am going to try your down size shave method as it makes sense. The one thing I didn't quite catch was the stick you use is that an alum block?? as I use an alum stick/pencil to seal small nicks.
Thanks a again for a great tutorial from a very likeable fellow!!
9:30 we can watch through the bolw :D sweet!
Mr. Truth knows-it's a magic bowl...
@@geofatboy lol!
Thank you for the video. I follow your channel anyway and have been looking to buy another DE razor lately with some birthday money. I would love to have the money to buy the Merkur Futur but in the UK you are looking at £64 +. The cheaper variants I can pick up for £15. Your video was a suggestion by RUclips and I am very happy and feel more confident about buying a cheaper razor after watching your video. I have currently been using an Edwin Jagger for some years now occasionally switching to my Parker Shavette if I feel braver. Tbh I shave more with my DE razor but I want to try a more aggressive adjustable razor with a longer handle. This one fits the bill. Thank you. I looked at buying one of your new indestructible bowls but to get to the UK you were looking at over $80. A bit to rich for me.
do you think this would be ok on the head? i primarily need this for shaving my head and occasionally the face. Thanks for the video. great job
I bought the Ming Shi and it has blade exposure issues. Not even on both sides. One side shaves closer, one barely. I used it once and will probably throw it in the can. Spend the extra and get the real deal. I hate clones, but for $10 wanted to give it a try. Economical if you want to just test drive the design. Not my favourite to be honest. Much prefer my Parker Variant. To each his own.
Well that dates this video, lmao. Happy belated father's day, Geo.
Thank you!
How's the plate removed and put back in ? Does it just snap into a spring loaded receiver ? with water and cream exposure the springs will wrought and the receiver will become loose.
I’ve had both of these for some time and both shave very well. However with my Q-shave I get an asymmetrical shave. One side is slightly more aggressive than the other. It’s not a huge problem, and I don’t know whether this is true of all of them.
If you like a good tingle, the PAA frostbyte/ice line is particularly nice.
I just purchased a shave factory version of that razor in a nice box has a stand and 5pk Astra green blades for £13,37p in the UK
Hola. Saludos cordiales desde Medellín, Colombia. Acá 1 dolor cuesta 3.700 pesos Colombianos. Total pensar en una maquina como la Alemana es para personas con un presupuesto MUY elevado. Mi hijo viajó a los EEUU el día de ayer y uno de los regalos que nos queremos hacer es una maquina de afeitar de este tipo, que consideramos se acomoda al tema ambiental y reduce costos mensuales (usamos Gillette Match III y ya está muy costosa - COP 13.500 cada repuesto). Después de ver muchos videos y opciones, creo que vamos a optar por la QShave.
Hi Geo. Thank you for this interesting comparison video. I am glad you are satisfied with your Qshave. I am not as lucky. My Qshave has two major issues: irregular blade alignement and irregular blade exposure. On top of this, the adjustment does not seem to work properly. It's a fail for me.
Sorry to hear that do you have any recourse from your seller?
It’s not a big deal, I have no regrets. I bought this razor at AliExpress for only $ 6.98 with free shipping, because I eventually wanted to try out an adjustable razor. I never bought one, because I have always been sceptical about reliability and precision of these adjustment mechanics on DE-razors.
Just for the sake of it, I opened a dispute on AliExpress, mentioning the issues. Who knows, I might get a refund or a new razor. And if not, that’s ok, too. As soon as my wallet stretches out that far, I would rather look out for a razor with interchangeable base plates like a Rockwell 6S.
After forking out on other Merkurs, I think I'll try this Q Shave. Being lighter its suits my crampy hands better I hope.
Is it just with safety razors that you use a 3 pass? With multi blade disposables I would lather up and shave everything in one application of my shave cream.
Depends on your beard, you can do 1-2-or 3 passes. Stop anywhere along the way when you feel smooth enough.
I may buy both. One to keep at home one to travel with lol.
I have a feeling that apart from the weight the spring tension between the original Merkur and the clone is different. I just bought the clone in black version and looking to find the spring that comes in the futur. Gonna grease the clone up with some silicone and change the spring (if i can find the part). As for the 25 grams of weight, you can just add some ballast in the shaft.
Thats me in DIY mode.
I just bought a QSHAVE razor and in my opinion the only set that will remove the beard out of my face is number 6 which to me is not aggressive at all, I was lookin for it to be more aggressive, also I feel that it has more blade exposure in one side that the other, I have try it with different blades: ASTRA, VOSKHOD and GILLETTE PERMASHARP and had the same experience with all the blades.
Do you think I have a bad unit?
If you are looking for an aggressive razor try the R41: shavenation.com/search?q=r41
If you put it on setting 6 and push down the top you can rotate the handle further. This will effectively make setting 1, 7 and so forth
Great shave...and I was intrigued by the Fine soap and after shave.... might try the soap as I really like Progresso green but I really don't enjoy a stinging after shave
Bryan, if you like the Proraso menthol and eucalyptus, you'll love the Snake Bite!
Hello, Geo.
Could you tell me which is the most strongest mint powerful soap and after shave? I love when they sting and refresh powerfully.
Thanks.
If you like sting then try the Fine Snake Bite lineup: shavenation.com/search?q=fine+snake+bite
@@geofatboy Thanks! 🤗👍
I think you gave it a fair review
Thanks!
I'm surprised Merkur couldn't take any kind of legal action here. Even if the mechanism patents ran out, wouldn't they still have the overall look of the product as a trademarked design?
Somebody told me that you were a Marine. Must be something about us Marines, drilled into us, that still require a super clean and close shave. (health and safety inspections).